Super Bowl Village: My Favorite Photos

Earlier this week, I offered up my tips for visiting the Super Bowl Village in Indianapolis with kids. I've heard from a lot of people who visited this week, and the consensus seems to be that it was such a great experience for adults and kids alike. As thousands of Giants and Patriots fans arrive over the next few days, I wanted to share a few of my favorite moments from our day:

My husband snapped this picture (he wanted me to be sure to give him photo credit). I've always loved Monument Circle because its the symbol of the city and the hub of downtown activity (and I got engaged there 9 years ago!)

Even the planters around downtown were showing the football love.

Super Dad at the Super Bowl!

A lot of people think cold weather cities don't make good Super Bowl venues. But I bet you can't watch the crew from Ice Brigade sculpt in Miami!

It was hard to get Big Arrow to pause for a picture because he was too busy having fun on the football field at Touchdown Alley.

Gotta end with the zipline. Watching people fly overhead never got old. Be sure to see my video of the zipline to get the full experience.

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicous Baby.

Super Bowl Village with Kids

As I mentioned last week, the Super Bowl has come to Indianapolis. Yesterday we spent several hours strolling through the Super Bowl Village and experiencing what one of the largest and most elaborate sporting events in the world really entails. It was incredible and I'm so glad we braved the crowds and the cold temperatures, because it was totally worth it.

I've already been asked by dozens of friends and family for advice on visiting, so here's a breakdown of how we spent our day in the Super Bowl Village.

Insider Tip: Park on the east end of downtown. And dress warm!

We parked in a lot on the east end of the action (near the City County Buiding) and we began the day by bundling up the boys and hitting the pavement. We've actually had some relatively warm, sunny days this weekend, with hopefully more to come this week. But it is very windy between the tall buildings downtown, so be sure to bring along hats, gloves and scarves.

Insider Tip: Enjoy lots of free entertainment all along Georgia Street.

Over the last few years, the City of Indianapolis completely redid an entire downtown street (Georgia Street) which runs from Bankers Life Fieldhouse (where the Indiana Pacers play) all the way to Lucas Oil Stadium and the Convention Center (where the Super Bowl will be played and where the NFL Experience is headquartered). This street is now Super Bowl Village, basically a free festival with concerts, street performers, concessions and bars all along the way. Along with several other downtown streets, it is closed to traffic and entirely pedestrian this week.

Big Arrow loved this juggler on stilts.

Insider Tip: Warm up inside The Huddle

During our stroll along Georgia Street, we made a couple of pitstops. Once, we warmed up inside "The Huddle," which is a heated lounge area in a former department store (the old Nordstroms, for you locals). This is a great spot to grab a beverage, rest your legs and use the bathroom.

Insider Tip: Don't miss Monument Circle for the big XLVI letters.

Then we ventured north on Meridian Street to Monument Circle to see all the Indy Cars, one for each NFL team. It was quite a sight to behold.

Can't resist a plug for the home team.

Insider Tip: End your visit in Touchdown Alley and the zipline.

From there, we continued west on Georgia Street and headed to Touchdown Alley. It's basically a smaller version of a football field, complete with astro turf. It was full of kids running around (and parents acting just as young at heart as the kids... I love that!) Big Arrow could have stayed here for hours.

The most exciting part of the day was watching the zipliners fly overhead as we played on the field below. I can't quite put into words what it's like to watch people zooming through the air in the middle of a large city with a party raging below. But here's a little video I took to give you a sense of it.

We had too much fun for just one post. So I'll be sharing more pictures later this week. Be sure to check back.

Other Insider Tips:

• If your kids are a little older, or you're a big football fan, consider purchasing a ticket for the NFL Experience. It looks great, but our boys are still a bit young for that.
• If you're visiting with a baby or need any type of special medical care or attention, there's a Super Care Clinic inside Union Station. Moms are welcome to nurse or pump inside the clinic. (I didn't actually use this myself and nursed Little Arrow during lunch instead, but it was a big relief to know there was a quiet, warm place to do that if I had needed to.)
• When you find yourself in need of a restroom, look down the alleys. On just about every alley downtown, you'll see a white trailer. This is a heated restroom with running water. We saw very few lines at these trailers when we were there.

This biggest complaint I hear from people about the Super Bowl experience is how expensive it is. But I'm happy to report we spent less than $50 for an entire day of fun ($7 to park and about $40 for a nice lunch). There's so much to see and do that's all for free, so don't let money get in your way of a good time this week.

Like what you see? Then "like" Arrows Sent Forth on Facebook and keep up with all our adventures.

Chicago Bound

My husband is heading to Chicago next week for work (and the Arrows and I are tired of being left behind!), so we're tagging along to to visit a few friends, hopefully hit a museum or two, and enjoy a little getaway. It's been over a year since I roamed Chicago with Big Arrow. I'm looking forward to doing it again with both Arrows. Expect to hear more about that soon, but for now I'll post a couple of photos of The Bean, just one of many iconic Chicago landmarks.

Hard to believe Big Arrow was barely walking in this picture! Now he'd probably try to see how many times he could run around it.

You can read more about our visit to Millennium Park here.


What's your favorite thing to do in the Windy City?


This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis

Big Arrow decorates a card for one of the thousands of visitors coming to Indy for Super Bowl XLVI.
Visitors staying in downtown hotels will receive one of these personalized welcome cards from Hoosier kids.

It's an exciting time to be a Hoosier, as we prepare to welcome the world to Indianapolis for the Big Game (as in Super Bowl XLVI). The preparations have been under way for years and I'm looking forward to seeing the city shine on such a large stage.

Even if you're not into football, there's some fun things happening in conjunction with the game. I wrote about the Super Bowl Village for Visit Indiana here. We're hoping to bring the Arrows to experience some of that fun this weekend when it opens (likely before the tens of thousands of visitors descend on the city). From free concerts to a giant zipline, it looks like a once-in-a-lifetime atmosphere.

And this summer, I really want to take the boys on a "mural hunt" around downtown. The City and the Arts Council of Indianapolis created a "46" for XLVI public art project that I wrote about for Visit Indiana here. There are now 46 murals all over Indianapolis showcasing the city's cultural vibrancy. I love that the Super Bowl will leave such a lasting legacy around town.

The Village and the murals are just a few of the dozens of events and attractions revolving around the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. More information on Indianapolis hosting the Super Bowl is available here.

And if you're planning a trip to Indianapolis for the Super Bowl and want some recommendations on things to do around the city and state, please visit my Indiana Adventures page for a few ideas. I also wrote a post about off-the-beaten-path attractions and dining recommendations for families visiting Indianapolis at the R We There Yet Mom blog a while back.

If you're looking for more objective reviews of the city as a destination, here are a couple of articles from the mainstream press previewing Indianapolis as a host for the Super Bowl.

• Indy offers fans big attractions, compact space from Sports Illustrated
• Game On from American Way

Enjoy the game!

Hike at Tangeman Woods

Like much of the country, we've had an unusually warm winter thus far. So we've tried to make the most of this rarity and get outside with the two Arrows as much as possible. When we felt we had our fill of the backyard and nearby playground, we planned a late afternoon hike at Tangeman Woods here in Columbus, Indiana.

Part of the Sycamore Land Trust network of nature preserves throughout southern Indiana, it was a fun, 3/4 mile trek through ravines and hillsides.

Because we weren't familiar with the trail, we decided to "wear" about Big Arrow and Little Arrow. I was glad we did... the sun may have set on us before Big Arrow would have finished the hike on his own two feet because portions of the trail were steep.

While we missed the leaves on the trees, there was still plenty of nature to be found, even in winter. Like this skull my husband found. (Not really my cup of tea, but Big Arrow thought it was awesome.)

On our next warm day, I'd like to try out nearby Touch the Earth Natural Area. We drove by it and thought it looked a little more toddler-friendly and quieter. (Tangeman Woods borders busy State Road 46, so you could see and hear traffic throughout the hike. It didn't ruin the experience, but I like hikes that are a bit more serene.)

If You Visit:
Tangeman Woods Nature Preserve
9441 Old Nashville Road, Columbus, IN
Park at the Harrison Township Volunteer Fire Department. The trail begins and ends here.
The property is free, but there is no staff and no amenities (like restrooms). There are many restaurants just a few miles east in Columbus.
A detailed map is available here.
Insider Tip: If you're hiking with kids, challenge them to find each of the 59 numbered sign posts. We let Big Arrow walk the last 1/4 mile of the trail and he loved running from post to post. Plus, it helps ensure you to stay on the trail.

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.

Gray Brothers Cafeteria

Cafeterias have long held a place in Hoosier diners' hearts. But most of the cafeterias that used to dot just about every town on the map in Indiana have sadly long since been replaced by chain restaurants. There's one exception to that: Gray Brothers Cafeteria in Mooresville, Indiana. Known as much for the line that stretches out the door as its traditional and homey food, it is only about 15 minutes from where I grew up.

I remember eating there for the first time when we moved to Indiana, and how foreign it seemed to my very New England family. But we quickly learned our way around the cafeteria line. Before long, the enormous dining rooms, roaring fire places, and crisp, juicy fried chicken seemed like home to us.

To read more about the cafeteria dining experience at Grays, read my post about Gray Brothers Cafeteria for Visit Indiana here. Or watch a clip about Gray Brothers when it was featured on Man v. Food on the Travel Channel here.

A couple of months ago, at the height of my pregnancy cravings, I visited my parents for dinner. Cue my dad walking in the door with the unmistakeable Grays takeout bags. I hadn't been to Grays in years, but it still tasted exactly the same.

It really is as good as it looks.

If You Visit:
Gray Brothers Cafeteria
555 S. Indiana Street, Mooresville, IN
Insider Tips: The line moves fast, but if you don't have time, head to the carry-out entrance on the northside of the building and get your meal to go.

You can also order whole pies. Trust me, once you try them, you'll agree that one slice just isn't enough.

This post is a part of Wanderfood Wednesday at Wanderlust and Lipstick.

Look down.

About a year ago, I did a Photo Friday post with pictures I took while looking up. This time around, I thought I'd share a few snapshots from times I've looked down. (Well... sort of. No one wants to see a bunch of pictures of my feet, right?) Enjoy!

Looking down at the red bricks that mark the path of the Freedom Trail during our trip to Boston last summer.

Big Arrow spinning down a slide at a playground in Redington Beach, Florida, during our trip to St. Pete last February.

Taking in a holiday performance by a local school group when we visited the Indiana State Museum in December.

This post is a part of Photo Friday at Delicious Baby.