Those of you lucky enough to have tickets to the game, however, have much more on your minds.Indianapolis is a city of almost a million people, the largest in the state of Indiana and the Midwestern epicenter of pleasantries, good warm food and cozy winter nights. In addition to the game of the year there is plenty to see and do in this metropolis, which means research, patience and a little bit of savvy. We’ve distilled out some of the best data in the community for your planning pleasure.

A great central research point can be found in the Associated Press article highlighting the best things to see and do in Indy. It’s chock full of juicy suggestions ranging from a visit to Butler University to see the Hinkle Fieldhouse to a stop at the Slippery Noodle for a historic drink.

Which reminds us. Drinking is going to be a serious part of your weekend in Indianapolis, so make sure that you’re well prepared for your journey. Metromix has an interesting cross section of dive bars with tepid reviews, and you’ll even find our personal favorite on that list: Dormans in East Indy. True story: last time we were in Indy for a conference we wandered into Dormans in the middle of the night and left with an invitation to a friendly resident’s home for dinner the next day. We took up that invitation for one of the most memorable meals of our lives. May you have similar luck.

Another great resource is over at CNN Travel, where Katia Hetter gives us a rundown with tips ranging from the varied music scene to local food to kids activities. Make sure that you also check out the comments section below the article for some healthy tips from the readers — it’s those that often contain the most interesting insight.

Finally, don’t forget to keep track of social media for some on-the-fly destination tips. Travel writer Kelsey Timmerman (@KelseyTimmerman) hails from the area and is always full of useful information. Hashtag #superbowl is where official tweets from the even will be landing, so if you have questions you can always lob them into twitter for the teeming millions to respond. Chances are, however, that you’ll find enough real-life tips among the residents to help you on your way.

Explore the red rocks of Sedona: Families who love outdoor adventure will love Sedona. A drive along Red Rock Scenic Byway is always stunning but hiking or mountain biking on one of the area’s many trails is a great way to fully immerse your family in the beauty of the region. If the weather is warm, a trip to Slide Rock State Park is mandatory. There you can slide down the slick rock chutes and into the red rock rimmed Oak Creek. As you can imagine, the park is quite popular during those hot Arizona summer days.

See one of the world’s natural wonders: At 277 miles long, up to 18 miles across and over a mile deep, the Grand Canyon is most definitely a site every American should see. Carved by the relentless effects of water and wind, Grand Canyon National Park offers many different opportunities for exploration. Children as young as 7 can take a burro ride deep into the canyon while viewing its beauty from above as well as below. Parents of teens and preteens can take the kids on a Colorado River rafting trip and see parts of the canyon that only a small percentage of visitors ever see. Of course, people of all ages will enjoy the various rim trails, just keep a good grip on your little ones!

Hang out with the Saguaros: The Saguaro cactus, with its statuesque stance and outstretched arms, is an Arizonan landmark. Saguaro National Park, flanking either side of north Tucson, is dedicated to preserving forests of these beautiful cacti and is a great place for kids to learn more about the Sonoran desert. The park has a Junior Ranger program and once kids complete all the tasks inside their booklet, they will receive a coveted Junior Ranger badge.

Bring the history, life, and beauty of the desert to your family: Located a short distance from the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is another great place to enjoy the beauty of the desert in a kid-friendly environment. Part zoo, part museum, and part botanical garden, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum celebrates all that is wonderful about the desert in an environment that is accessible to the casual visitor. My family loved the recreated cave environment, digging for “dinosaur fossils”, and spotting javelinas, coyotes, and mountain lions in their enclosures which seemed to meld into the surrounding desert environment.

Take them out to the ball game: Attending Spring Training in is a rite of passage for any baseball fan and the Cactus League in the Phoenix metro area hosts 15 major league teams as they prepare for the regular season. The atmosphere of a spring training game is more casual, and families will find that the “cheap seats” in the grass behind the outfield are the perfect spot to spread out a blanket, enjoy an ice cream cone, and let the kids be kids as they catch a bit of baseball fever. Spring Training begins the first week in March and runs through the first week in April, the perfect time to take advantage of your children’s Spring Break from school.

Read about about more fun activities for kids in Arizona here.

Photo courtesy of dbking at Flickr.

Sculpture Garden Ice Rink

Skating outdoors always offers the beauty of nature. However, Sculpture Garden Ice Rink at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC offers both a skating experience in the crisp winter air and the stunning backdrop that is the National Archives. Kids will not only enjoy the ice rink itself, but also the walk through the National Mall that includes several iconic structures like the Capitol. Open November through mid-March.

• For other ice skating rinks in the DC area.

Skating at Millennium Park. Photo courtesy of Culture Mob

Millennium Bean Ice Rink

The Millennium Bean Ice Rink has a stunning view of Chicago’s skyline for adults and kids to enjoy as they whirl around on the ice. Admission is free, which is great if you have your own skates. Rentals are available for $10. The rink is open through March 13, 2011 weather permitting.

• For other ice skating rinks in Chicago.

Photo courtesy of Flickr/ Powellizer

Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center

There’s something special about being able to skate beneath the magnificent tree at Rockefeller Center with the kids. Set in the heart of New York City, families flock here to get a taste of winter under the beauty of Rockefeller Center and the watchful eye of the gilded Prometheus statue. Open November through April. Check the website for hours. Lessons are also available.

• For other ice skating rinks in NY.

Remember all three of these places are often a zoo on the weekends. Visit Monday through Friday in the morning to avoid the crowds and keep it fun for the entire family.

Check out Trekaroo’s 10 Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks for Families for more ideas.

By my calculation, even if you break a serious once-a-day venti latte habit for 12 months, you’ll still only save enough for about an airline ticket or two. If you’re a family of four, you’ll have to save a lot more than that.

My husband and I are taking our kids to the Galapagos Islands next year. The trip is way outside of our budget, but we’re going anyway. You can do the same. Here are five ways you can save for a really big trip.

Tighten your spending

We started by refinancing our mortgage, shopping around for cheaper insurance and applying for a no-fee cash rewards credit card. Not only did it immediately improve our bottom line, it also got us thinking about where our money was going.

We also decided to buy a lot more of our groceries at Costco and Trader Joe’s and to try to do more meal planning every week.

Treat less

Next we looked at our discretionary spending. This was easy since we use www.mint.com, but any accounting software or website works. We decided to keep the house cleaners and gardeners, but eat less take out, buy fewer clothes, and stay home for Christmas and spring break.

Doing without spa treatments, new clothes and home improvements is far from easy. Fight temptation by rubber banding a photo of your destination around your credit card to remind you what you’re saving for. It’s kooky, but it works.

Make more money

Saving is all very well, but it can get a little monotonous after a while. Another great way to fund your travel is to actually work more. I’m a freelancer, so any time I want to make more money I just put in longer hours.

It’s not quite so easy for salaried employees, but it’s not impossible either. Take on a consulting project in addition to your regular job. Tutor high school students in French. Have a huge garage sale. If you’re really ambitious, do all three.

Find cheap fun

It’s easy to feel unhappy when you cut back on eating out, going out and shopping. Combat feelings of deprivation by inviting friends over for an inexpensive home-cooked dinner and some board games. You can also camp, spend an afternoon at the beach or go to a local museum on free admission day (usually the first Tuesday or Wednesday of every month).

You can also schedule a family movie night even if you’ve canceled your Netflix account. Subscribe to the www.wowbrary.org weekly newsletter and you’ll be first to know when your local library buys books, movies and music. Put yourself on the waiting list and read, watch and listen for free. You’ll have so much fun you’ll forget you’re making sacrifices at all.

Taking a road trip to visit libraries with your family can be a fun adventure.  Imagine the stories your children will be able to tell someday about the year that your family explored the architecture of the world’s most beautiful libraries while reading a great book or two along the way. Here are just a few recommendations for some truly unique libraries that are worth your visit.

The Library of Congress - What library road trip would be complete without visiting the nation’s oldest institution?  The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with almost 145 million items on 745 miles of bookshelves. The collections include more than 33 million books and other print materials, 3 million recordings, 12.5 million photographs, 5.3 million maps, 6 million pieces of sheet music and 63 million manuscripts.

If high-brow literature and beautiful artifacts aren’t enough to bribe your kids to visit this wonderful library, perhaps a visit to the world’s largest comic book collection could tempt them. The Library’s Serial and Government Publications Division contains 5,000 titles and 100,000 issues). The oldest comic book in the collection is “Popular Comics,” dated February 1936.

The Seattle Public Library – You may not necessarily think of a library as a tourist attraction, but the Seattle Public Library attracts more than 8,000 visitors a day since remodeling in 2004.  The new Central Library Tours last approximately one hour, while general tours have a greater focus on the services of the library and the functions of the various levels and spaces. In addition, the architectural tours focus more on the structure and design of the building.

The renovation of the Seattle Public Library cost $196.4 million and it has a contemporary look and feel that is innovative in both form and function. Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and former Seattleite Joshua Ramus were principal designers on the project, working closely with the Library’s board, staff and the public during its development phase.

The Central Library’s total program area now sprawls across 362,987 square feet and includes a fun coffee shop, a place to buy chocolates and even a retail shop where you can pick up special gifts. There is so much beauty to see in this library that you could even enjoy a virtual tour of this spacious library on their website.

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum - Regardless of your political stance, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library is an architectural delight to behold. You can visit this fabulous library in the striking I.M Pei building on Boston’s waterfront. The building was designed by renowned modernist architect I. M. Pei, and the library offers soaring lines that characterize the hopes and dreams epitomized by the Kennedy presidency.

Located on Columbia Point, the library (and museum – more on that in a bit) are set on a 9.5 acre park landscaped with pine trees, shrubs and wild roses reminiscent of the landscape of Cape Cod familiar to President Kennedy.  If you visit in the summer or fall, President Kennedy’s 26-foot sailboat Victura is on display on the museum grounds at the edge of Boston Harbor.

While you are visiting the library, you can also tour the museum and relive the powerful story of the Kennedy years. Through the three theaters, period settings and 25 dramatic multimedia exhibits, you will enter the recreated world of the Kennedy presidency for a firsthand experience of the former president’s life, legacy and leadership. Museum admission is $ 12.00 for adults, seniors (62 and over) and students (with valid college ID) $10.00, Ages 13-17 $9.00, Children 12 and under are free.

Books For Kids – Did you know that Homewood Suites itself is a proud supporter of libraries? They have opened several in conjunction with the nonprofit organization Books for Kids, which builds libraries and donates books for children low-income neighborhoods. You can actually visit one of their great libraries if you happen to be in the Memphis or DC area!

Here are a few strategies to help you gear up for rain and deal with it if it happens on your family vacation.

Pack the right stuff

Waterproof shoes, rain coats and umbrellas for a family of four take up a lot of space in your luggage, but don’t be tempted to leave them behind. It’s better to have and not need them than the other way around. Having the right outerwear is absolutely crucial to surviving a wet weather vacation.

In my experience, the part of your kids that will get the wettest is their pant legs. To avoid this, buy their raincoats big and roll up the sleeves to give them lots of leg coverage. Rain boots are a must, because it’s the gap between the top of their shoes and the bottom of their jackets that will get soaked.

Dealing with wet shoes

A couple years ago, my son and I got absolutely drenched from head to toe at Sea World in Orlando, Florida. Unfortunately, we had each only packed one pair of non-sandal shoes. If this happens to you, here’s what to do: First, unlace your shoes and lift the tongues as high as you can. Next, pull out the insoles if possible and dry them separately. Finally, stuff them with newspapers and leave them near the heat register overnight. They’ll be dry, or close to it, by morning.

What if the rain doesn’t stop?

Anyone can deal with one or two days of rain. It’s the third or fourth consecutive days that sap your will to live. (Trust me on this; I lived in England for two years.) If you’ve had your fill of sightseeing in the rain, don’t feel like you have to keep your chin up.

If you’re in a big city, go to a movie and console yourself with a huge bucket of buttered popcorn. Find an indoor mall where you can stroll while sipping hot beverages. A big, kid-friendly museum makes a nice outing, especially if it has a café.

When all else fails, consider holing up in your hotel and just enjoying the amenities. Order room service, swim in the (hopefully indoor) pool, and order up a pay-per-view movie or three. After a few hours inside with your kids, you’ll be ready to brave the inclement weather again in no time!

That’s why most smart service companies create loyalty programs. It’s a good way to reward the frequent visitor for continued service, and it incentivizes them to return for further business.

Most reward programs are sectioned off into tiers with varying levels of rewards for higher volume travelers. For example, at Hilton Honors – and by extension Homewood Suites – levels of status can be reached by staying a certain number of nights per year. When travelers join the program, they start out at the “blue” level, which affords basic time-saving features like pre-loaded room preferences and other data when checking into a hotel.

After for staying at 10 nights at a Hilton property, members are upgraded to silver, while 25 and 50 nights bring gold and diamond status respectively. Each of these tiers bring their own respective rewards. At the gold level, for example, visitors are rewarded with free Internet, point bonuses and space available room upgrades. At the diamond level, those perks multiply.

So there’s obvious value in joining a membership program, irrespective of the brand or the status that you attain. Even at the lowest level, having your data on file helps speed the process of check in and bill payment. (The less time you spend in the throes of transit, the better your state of mind is, too.)

And let’s not pretend that the hotel and airline industries aren’t taking their cut of the value as well. Knowing your preferences helps them keep track of your travel trends and subsequently how to market their product to you. Once you have status, they also know that you’ll often go an extra mile just to stay at their property (to earn more status) so it’s possible for them to reap a bit of extra profit. But for the perks and amenities that come with earning status, it’s worth it.

Still, you can’t eat in every night, especially on the family vacation.  Ready to risk a sit-down restaurant?  Good for you!  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  Here are a few strategies to make it go smoothly.

Go Early

Not only will your kids be fresher at 5:30 than 7:30 p.m., you’ll also be a lot less likely to disturb other diners if you’re there first.  Plus the service will be quick since the kitchen won’t be backed up.

Preview the Menu

Even if the restaurant you choose doesn’t have a children’s menu, make sure they have the basics (plain chicken, plain pasta, or whatever gets under your kids’ radar).  Bread baskets are good to have too.

Stick with One Course

Since you never know when the wheels are going to come off, it’s best to skip appetizers, soups, and salads.  Servers sometimes offer to bring the kids’ food with the adults’ starters, but this can backfire too.

Bring your Own Cups

Bringing your own plastic, spill-proof cups for kids under five means you’ll have one less thing to worry about.  Moving all glasses, plates, and cutlery out of reach of infants and toddlers is smart too.

Pack Diversions

Don’t count on the restaurant to have crayons, bring your own.  When we travel, we bring a bag of special toys, games, and books that are only to be played when we’re sitting at a restaurant.  An iPhone loaded with fun kids apps can be a lifesaver too, as long as you turn the sound off and have one for each kid.

Ask for the Check with Your Dinner

Ask your server to bring your check with your entrees, and hand over your credit card immediately.  This can save you 10-15 minutes if the restaurant gets busy later or if your server goes on break at exactly the wrong time.

Good luck and bon apetit!

Here is my advice for traveling to the mountains in the winter.Avoid altitude sickness: It’s not uncommon for travelers to high altitudes – especially above 8,000 feet – to experience dizziness, headaches or nausea. That’s what the thin air will do to folks – even children – from sea level. To avoid these side effects, consider taking some time at a “halfway point” before ascending to a ski resort – say, spend a night at mile-high Denver before moving on to Vail for the week.

Also, drink a lot of water before you even set foot on a plane, and then drink a lot of water once you arrive at altitude to stay hydrated.  Lay off excessive alcohol and caffeine, take it easy your first couple days in the mountains and eat light meals to further avoid altitude sickness.

Review winter driving tips: If you’re driving to the mountains in your own car, pack a basic “winter survival kit” for the trunk. This would include a flashlight, batteries, blanket or sleeping bag, snacks, water, gloves, boots and a first-aid kit.

Of course, you’ll always want to have with you an ice scraper/snowbrush, jumper cables and road flares. Ask your car-rental company for the same, and if they don’t provide them, pack your own, or consider picking up provisions upon arrival at your mountain destination. Similarly, you’ll want to rent a 4WD SUV or other car that’s recommended for winter driving. If it’s been a while since you’ve driven in snow, check out these tips from AAA.

Pack appropriate clothing: If you’re planning on enjoying  any sort of outdoor activities in the mountains – skiing, snowmobiling, sledding or skating – make sure you pack (or plan to shop for) base layers that will wick away moisture and keep you warm and dry. Long tops and pants made from silk or polyester or other technical fabrics are heaps better than wearing a cotton T-shirt that will get wet when you sweat, and then stick close to your skin. Other key articles of clothing: warm, waterproof boots; hat, scarf and mittens, and a waterproof shell and fleece or winter parka.

While these trips certainly result in some family fun, I think that big cities, which are often overlooked in the winter months, offer some terrific vacation opportunities as well. Hotel rates are often lower during the winter months, and cities offer all sorts of seasonal fun.

Bundle up in your pea coat, mittens, and that brand new scarf you got for Christmas and enjoy what three of my favorite cities – San Francisco, Chicago and New York City – have to offer this winter!

San Francisco

San Francisco’s winter temperatures are quite mild compared to the rest of the country, with an average winter high close to 60 degrees. This means that spending a day exploring the playgrounds and gardens of Golden Gate Park, walking a trail near Land’s End or just frolicking on Baker Beach with the Golden Gate Bridge as your backdrop are all year-round possibilities.

Of course, rainy days are always an inevitability during the winter months in the Bay Area, but San Francisco has plenty of indoor activities to keep families occupied. My family loves House of Air, a warehouse filled with trampolines in the city’s Marina District. Families can bounce to their heart’s content in a room that is wall to wall trampolines or get out some aggressions in the dodgeball room. There is even an inflatable bounce area designed for toddlers. Some other good rainy day options include the California Academy of Sciences, The Exploratorium and The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

New York City

No matter what the weather might be, New York City continues to be the city that never sleeps, making it a great destination 24/7/365. During the winter months, Central Park is still a fine place to visit, with sledding on Pilgrim Hill, horse drawn carriage rides (as long as the temperature is above 19 degrees), cross-country skiing after a big snow, and ice skating at Wollman or Lasker Rink. On Saturday, February 11, 2012 there will be an Ice Festival featuring master carvers from Okamoto Studio transforming simple blocks of ice into iconic Central Park images.

Even if the weather is frightful, a Broadway show is not to be missed, and kid-friendly shows like Lion King, Mary Poppins and Wicked are great introductions to the theater for first timers. Museums such as the American Museum of Natural History, Ellis Island Immigration Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are all great educational activities. Since NYC is also the shopping capital of the country, be sure to do some kid friendly shopping at FAO Schwarz, Toys R Us Times Square or American Girl Place.

Chicago

One of my family’s favorite outdoor winter activities is ice skating, and Chicago offers two very special places to perfect those figure eights. The first is Millennium Park’s McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, which is open now through March 11, 2012. The park is the city’s newest gathering place with free cultural events and family activities scheduled year round. Plus, it is always fun to get a picture of the reflection of your family ice skating in Cloud Gate, the park’s trademark mirrored bean sculpture. Now through April 8, families can also enjoy “skating in the sky” on the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center. Be sure to spend some time taking in 360-degree views at the observatory. On a clear day, it is possible to see four different states! More outdoor fun can be found on sleigh rides at parks around Chicago including Cornell Park, Cricket Hill Fields, Indian Boundary Park and Stout Park.

If you would rather spend some time indoors and away from the cold, Chicago’s museums are great places to spend the afternoon. Many of the museums offer free days during the winter months, allowing even the most budget-conscious families an opportunity to explore someplace new. Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, The Field Museum and Chicago Children’s Museum are all extremely popular with families.

What’s your favorite city for winter fun? Let us know in the comments!