When I'm not on the road working as an anonymous AAA inspector, racking up mileage and perfecting my in-car karaoke voice, I call downtown Indianapolis my home. In a few days, Indianapolis will take center stage as host of the Super Bowl, arguably America's largest sporting event.

As Super Bowl XLVI draws near, the city and residents are excitedly preparing to welcome a vast number of visitors. As someone who works daily to inform our members about high quality hotels, restaurants and attractions, I am equally excited to share this great city. ... Read More

Thousands of visitors are expected to fill the streets of Indianapolis throughout the week leading up to Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5, 2012.

While many of those out-of-town guests will dedicate their time in the Circle City to football-related activities, it’s important to realize that Indianapolis has many other types of attractions and offerings. ... Read More

Indianapolis is buzzing in anticipation of hosting Super Bowl XLVI on Feb. 5, 2012. While final preparations are still being made, it’s important for both local residents and out-of-town guests to understand how standard traffic patterns are going to change for the event, especially around Lucas Oil Stadium, the Indiana Convention Center and the Super Bowl Village along the downtown area’s Georgia Street.

In fact, the Indianapolis Host Committee has prepared a variety of tips (noted below) to help with navigation into and around the Circle City.... Read More

What does fresh baked bread with apple butter have in common with the clip-clop from a nearby horse-drawn carriage? They are two of the reasons I love traveling to the ‘Amish Country’ of northern Indiana. With a number of charming small towns and welcoming locals, it’s a fun place to explore on a weekend getaway.

The Amish are a Christian sect and subgroup of the Anabaptists. Most people cite horse-drawn carriages, plain clothes and a denial of modern technology when describing the Amish, and all of these things are expressions of devotion to their religious beliefs.... Read More

I still remember the words as if I’d heard them yesterday… ”Johnny, would you please run down the hill and fetch us some water from the well?”

As a shy and somewhat puzzled eight-year-old, I vividly recall looking over to my parents at that point for guidance. I was at Conner Prairie interactive history park in Fishers, Indiana and I was smart enough to know that I was part of a pretend classroom setting with other children my age while we all gathered in a 1800s-style school house; but did the lady calling me Johnny really want me to get some water for the class? As I began to stand, my father smiled and motioned for me to sit down.... Read More

As a longtime member of the Indianapolis Zoo, I’ve certainly seen my share of lions and tigers and bears over the years (yes, all three are well represented there). But no matter how often I visit, I never grow tired of the facility, which is located in downtown Indianapolis’ White River State Park.

The Indianapolis Zoo, which initially opened in 1964 on East 30th Street in Indianapolis but moved to its current location... Read More

As a writer (at least I pretend to be), there’s a special place in my heart for poets. In the state of Indiana, no poet is more famous than James Whitcomb Riley. For those whom share my enthusiasm for - or at least curiosity about - him, a visit to the James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home near downtown Indianapolis is a must.

Riley, the second son and third of six children, was born in Greenfield, ... Read More

One of the perks of being an inspector for AAA is the opportunity to explore a new or interesting area. Indiana is a large part of my territory and one such area that I love traveling to is Bloomington and Brown County. Whether you want to take in the college town vibe of Bloomington or enjoy the natural setting of Brown County, this autumn season may be the perfect time to enjoy a weekend getaway. ... Read More

This post, the third in a series, was written by Christie Hyde from AAA’s national office as she accompanies the winners of the 2010 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition, students McKenzie Nordland and Jonathan Anderson of Valley City, N.D., as they travel to job shadow the Roush Fenway racing team.

The competition winners had three NASCAR events on the agenda and during most NASCAR race weekends, when events are in the same town they take place at the same racetrack. However, Indianapolis is unique. The premiere NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at the infamous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, while the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series hold events at O’Reilly Motorsports Park, located six miles away.... Read More

Okay, I have to admit it. Even to this day, as a somewhat-close-to middle-aged adult, I still can’t help but giggle a little when I hear something about French Lick, Indiana. Let’s face it, the name of the southern Indiana town where NBA legend Larry Bird grew up is unusual, to say the least, though its origins as a French trading post near a salt lick explains it.... Read More