When you’re born and raised in Indianapolis, the city stays with you even if you move thousands of miles away. And, if you’re anything like this author, the reasons that made you love Indy in the first place end up bringing you back to it. Here are nine reasons why my heart will always be in Indianapolis.

1. The Canal Walk

The Canal is one of Indy’s most beautiful features. This body of water runs throughout downtown Indy and features a lovely walking and biking path. Whether as a source of navigation or sightseeing, the Canal Walk takes you throughout downtown and is a perfect place for a romantic walk by the water.

2. Holliday Park

Sure, the state parks in Indy are must-sees but, in my opinion, one park stands above the rest. Holliday Park is an iconic park in the city, a park I grew up playing and hiking in. It features an extremely cool art installation known as The Ruins (pictured above) and is the perfect place for a picnic or hike.

3. The Indiana Pacers

This town may have turned into a football town, but basketball still has a huge place in the past and present of Indianapolis. The Indiana Pacers are ingrained in this city’s culture and Hall of Fame Pacer Reggie Miller is still a hero to Indy.

4. The Rich History

It’s the birthplace of one of the greatest authors of the 20th Century, Kurt Vonnegut. It’s the resting place of gangster John Dillinger and it features the home of President Benjamin Harrison. There’s a lot of history throughout Indianapolis and you can experience much of it firsthand.

5. The Cultural Trail

This urban bike and pedestrian trail was created for the purposes of enriching the lives of residents and uniting downtown’s various neighborhoods. It’s succeeded at both and become an absolute must when traveling throughout downtown Indianapolis. It’s a wonderful place to walk, sightsee, and navigate downtown on foot.

6. The Multitude of Music Venues

People don’t talk enough about how great the music scene in this city really is. While it’s not LA or New York, Indy features many music venues that offer the sounds of nearly every genre you can imagine. Whether you’re catching an arena show at a place like Bankers Life Fieldhouse or a small, intimate concert at The Vogue in Broad Ripple, Indianapolis brings out some of the best and brightest in the music industry.

7. Seasons

There’s something to be said about Midwestern seasons. Indianapolis has a gorgeous autumn that features leaves in what feels like every color of the rainbow. The winter is not without its charms, especially during the holidays when snow covers the ground. Spring brings gorgeous flowers and trees, while the early days of summer provide perfect opportunities for hiking, biking, and basking in the sun by the pool.

8. The Food

Whether it’s a steak from St. Elmo or the delicious grilled cheese from Milktooth pictured above, the food is a major source of enjoyment for Indy residents. There’s no shortage of wonderful options for any meal of the day and new establishments are seemingly added every month. It's no wonder why Indianapolis was named one of Zagat’s 26 Hottest Food Cities of 2016.

9. The Skyline

The Indianapolis skyline simply leaves you breathless. It’s a gorgeous aspect of the city, one that never gets old no matter how many times you see it. It’s beautiful at sunrise, sunset, and every moment in between.

What keeps your heart in Indianapolis? Why do you love living here? Let us know in the comments below!