Taking the train from London’s Liverpool St to the Essex port of Harwich on the Friday night, you board one of Stena Line’s massive superferries for the overnight journey to Holland. With 11 decks and a capacity of 1200 people, this is a serious vessel. The first order of business was checking into our cabins, which came complete with comfy beds, outside views and a flat screen TV. 

The spacious cabins aboard the Stena Hollandica

Having settled in, we headed down to the main deck to the Metropolitan restaurant for dinner and a few brews. The last overnight ferry I went on was one from Melbourne to Devenport (Spirit of Tasmania for all your Aussies) and the food offerings on that paled in comparison to the sensational spread Stena Line put on.

The bloody delicious chicken stir-fry I had for dinner

After a fair few Heinekens (hey, we were going to Holland right?) it was time to turn in and I nodded off to the gentle sway of the ferry breaking through the waves of the North Sea.

Arriving in Holland

Waking up on board involves being roused by the sounds of Bob Marley’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” over the loudspeaker at the confronting time of 6:30am, which is definitely the most unique way I’ve ever rolled out of bed on a Saturday morning. The masses hit the breakfast buffet on the main deck for bacon and eggs and we are ready to roll.

Waking up to sunrise over the North Sea coast off Holland

Once you disembark at Hook of Holland in the morning, you jump on a train directly on the dock to Amsterdam. After a one hour journey, you’re in the centre, ready to get amongst the Van Gogh and the coffee shops. By the time we arrived at Amsterdam Centraal station it was only 9:30am, so we had the entire day ahead of us to explore.

We’d been hooked up with a guided tour of the city from Viator, which involved an extensive walking tour of the Red Light District, learning about the girls in the windows and the coffee shop trade that has made Amsterdam famous. 

It all started in the 1600s, when Amsterdam was a busy port during colonial times. Holland was out in the Caribbean and what is now Indonesia, trading like crazy with the locals and making tons of cash. When Dutch sailors returned home after months away, you can guess what the first thing they wanted was. Yep, booze and sex. So this district of Amsterdam turned into a huge collection of dens of iniquity, serving up loads of alcohol and sex for sale.

These days the Red Light District is still making a roaring trade, with the laneways filled with 290 red-lit windows each with a girl showing off her product to passing blokes. As our guide heartily informed us, the going rate is €50 and apparently the average duration is just 7 minutes. That’s an expensive ride if you ask me.

When it comes to the coffee shops, they’re a very serious affair. They serve no alcohol inside and can’t advertise outside either. It’s legal to smoke weed in Holland but illegal to grow and sell it apparently, so some of the supply chain still comes from shady means. Ignore what the press has been saying recently about them outlawing smoking weed for tourists. That’s only localised to the city of Maastricht in the south-east of the Netherlands due to them being all up in arms about it and such. It’s still all good to go in Amsterdam.

Do like the Dutchies do in Jordaan

After learning about the ins and outs of the Red Light District, we trundled over to a street behind Dam Square and picked up a few bikes. No trip to Amsterdam is complete without mounting up on a bike and touring around the canals and laneways. Given that all my previous trips to the Dam weren’t what you could call “cultured”, this was actually my first go on a bike in the city. Because of this, I couldn’t wait. The sun came out and we started off on a tour around the Jordaan neighbourhood.

Jordaan is an area west of the central part of Amsterdam that feels a lot more working class. Here there are no flashy bars, coffee shops, girls in windows or drunk chavs. The canals are lined with houseboats and families punt up and down them in their own little boats. There are quaint little cafes and parks to hang out in. It’s an old immigrant area and all the houses are original, having been built on mud foundations in the 1600s.

We parked out bikes up outside the old Heineken brewery and jumped on a boat to see the city from a different perspective. Being able to cruise back through Jordaan and out into the IJ (bay) in front of Centraal Station allowed me to see the city differently, all the while having important sights pointed out by the onboard guide.

Soon enough, the afternoon drawed to a close and it was time for us to jump on the train back to Hook of Holland for the evening sailing back to England. Even though this was just one day out, I’d seen so much of Amsterdam that I’d never seen before.

Why sail rather than fly?

Taking the slow route on a ferry is a great alternative to battling it out with families at Gatwick on a flight to Amsterdam. You get this feeling of “yeah, this a SEA JOURNEY” and it has a bit of nostalgia attached to it. Arriving refreshed after a full nights sleep and a good meal, ready to take on Holland really represents a viable alternative to trudging through airports in my books.

Disclaimer: The journey over was provided by Stena Line and our tour in Amsterdam was provided by Viator, but as always all views are my own.

And then it began.

Straight away we were into doing abs work – situps, planks and leg lifts – and running around the basketball court shooting for the net from all angles. Next up was our assessment, designed to work out how fit you are when you begin. This involved doing as many burpees, sit-ups and push-ups you can in 2 minutes each followed by a 2 mile run around a track (oh how I’d become familiar with that running track..). First day we were woken at 5:30am by blaring pop music through the dorms and ushered out onto that running track. First order of the day – a 4 mile run. I don’t think I’ve ever run so far in my life, let alone before sunrise.

The Training

Dave and Z, the two US military instructors kept us on our toes. Threats of pushups if we were late to get together and singing cadences as we ran definitely instilled the military feel. They made sure we were always pushing ourselves and that we got the best results. But in the downtime, they were two really down to earth, cool people that completely dispel the stereotypes of military drill instructors. Their knowledge of nutrition, physical and training and the science behind it totally blew me away. You can tell they’ve spent ages studying how our bodies work and how to get the most out of them.

The bungee cords and weighted vests – just a selection of the gear I had a go with during the weekend bootcamp.

The training was so varied. Everything from using the everyday equipment around us like park benches for dips, bench presses and squats to doing lunges whilst carrying heavy 15 kg powerbags above our heads across the football pitch. There was also loads of pushups, sit ups and star jumps. And did I mention burpees? They’re tough man..

On the last day, we completed an 8 mile hike around the estate of nearby Harewood House. It took ages (almost 5 hours), was physically hard (I was wearing one of the weighted vests from the photo above) and involved dodging cows, but we did get to see a lot of the picturesque Yorkshire countryside.

The team together about half way through the hike around Harewood House.

I had to ditch the weighted vest about three-quarters of the way through, but it was a great feeling knowing we’d hiked so far together and all completed it.

Duking it out with the drill instructors

Let me tell you a bit more about the bungee cords in that photo above. Basically it’s a long stretchy cord that one person straps to their waist while another person loops the other end around them. You place some obstacles and finally a medicine ball 10-20 metres away and one person has to run and get the ball while the other makes it as hard as possible for them by leaning their weight on the bungee cord.

How did I fair? Well I managed to drag Z all the way down the football pitch because she didn’t have the strength to hold me back, haha. I got to the medicine ball, turned around and smiled victoriously. She had a laugh about it and we exchanged places, this time it was my turn to keep her from reaching the end. How did I do? Well let’s say she only managed to dig a big hole in the grass.

I also got a chance to do some boxing with Dave a few times. He’s a martial arts champ and knows how to fight, showing me the right form for jabs and hooks. Because we didn’t have any heavy bags, I basically got to beat the crap out of Dave. After I told the rest of the group that I got the chance to wail into him, they were well jealous.

The Food

The food was tightly controlled by the organisers to ensure our diets were completely devoid of caffeine, salt and sugar. It wasn’t as bad as it sounds – we were served really nice curries with brown rice one night for dinner and salmon with quinoa on another. Breakfast was at 7am each morning and was protein heavy. I piled on the scrambled eggs, poached eggs and tuna to make sure I got the amount your muscles need to grow. You get snacks throughout the day also to keep you going, like sunflower seeds, flapjacks and fruit. Let me tell you, a flapjack is a welcome treat after you’ve done 23409 squats and run 20 laps around a basketball court.

What did I take away from bootcamp?

I’ve definitely learnt that I need to be eating more protein based foods e.g. eggs, meat, fish, etc with every meal. So now I’ve upped my protein intake considerably and am already starting to see good results in the form of muscle mass gains. I learned how damaging alcohol is to our bodies and have since cut it out where I can.

I’ll also be training harder at the gym. Dave’s continuing chants of “go deep!” during squats and lunges resonate with me back in London in the gym, reminding me that you can’t expect results if you don’t push yourself till it hurts.

It was without a doubt a huge challenge both mentally and physically. Motivating yourself to get up at such an ungodly hour is tough, and the constant training takes it out of you, but I really enjoyed pushing myself and seeing what my fitness level was like. I learned tons about nutrition from the trainers. I got to meet some cool new people and we shared our pain. It was full on, but I’d definitely give it another go.

I went on the 4 day weekend bootcamp as a guest of Lifestyle 247, but all sweaty, muscle aching opinions are my own.

Ørestad

A planned development about 15 minutes from the centre of Copenhagen, Ørestad is a long strip of residential high-rises, hotels, office buildings, parks and shopping precincts that really provides a remarkable impression of Danish architecture. It represents the pinnacle of Danish design, city planning, education, commerce and transport, all in one location not far from Downtown.

Apartment blocks in Ørestad

Each apartment in this development has its own front garden thanks to the sloping roof.

Large open park areas for hanging out, playing football or having a barbeque.

The entire area is served by the Metro and is only 8 minutes to Copenhagen airport and 8 minutes to the Ørestad Bridge which connects Denmark with Skåne in Sweden.

Bella Sky Hotel

Hailed as one of the most stylish hotels in Copenhagen, Bella Sky is located right next to the Bella Centre conference and exhibition precinct and stands as a landmark of Ørestad.

Bella Sky’s inviting foyer

But the treat was definitely ascending to the sky bar, where we were afforded 360 degree views all over Ørestad and Greater Copenhagen.

Grand piano in Bella Sky’s top floor bar.

Showcasing the coolest of Danish furniture, the Bella Sky bar is the ideal place for a meal as dusk descends over Denmark. The duo of towers cast an imposing shadow over Ørestad, making this hotel more than just a place to have a drink or hang your hat for the night.

Torvehallerne

Jayne had this place on her list from the moment we arrived in Copenhagen. We jumped on our bikes and rode to the north side of the city to check out this highly regarded local favourite. A glass walled indoor market in the working-class-turned-cool Norrebro neighbourhood, Torvehallerne is a mix of organic bakeries, coffee shops and fruit and veg vendors.

Torvehallerne essentially showcases the best of all of Copenhagen’s boutique cafes, bakeries and brunch houses. And is home to my favourite, The Coffee Collective.

Undoubtedly the best coffee joint in CPH, they have two outlets in the city and have a solid reputation with the locals of producing a quality cup of joe.

If you like your coffee, there’s nowhere else to go than The Coffee Collective when you’re in Copenhagen.

Copenhagen Cooking

Finishing up the weekend, we returned to the Admiral Hotel to sample a cross section of Copenhagen’s Cooking Festival, held this year from August 24th to September 2nd. Copenhagen’s 10 top restaurants including Restaurant Jacobsen, The Lodge, STURE and Marv & Ben brought their A game and dished out everything from roast duck and porchetta to chocolates and craft beer.

I’d been to Copenhagen once before, but experiencing Wondercool Copenhagen showed me a different, more refined side of the city that involved films, caviar, architecture and cycling. I’d been converted by the things the Danes do best. If I wanted to live anywhere in Scandinavia, it’d be Copenhagen, hands down.

Disclosure: this trip was provided complimentary by Visit Copenhagen but as always, opinions are my own.

The hills of ANZAC Cove shortly after dawn. Photo by Priceypoos on Flickr.

What is ANZAC Day?

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. It involved the troops of Australia and New Zealand coming together during World War 1 to create a joint force to fight with Britain in the Great War against Germany and the Axis.

War Cemetery at ANZAC Cove. Photo by louisemakesstuff on Flickr.

On April 25th 1915, the battle of Gallipoli took place between the Turks and the ANZACs. The ANZACs landed on sheer cliff faces (not sandy beaches as the British predicted) and had to scale the rocks to fight the Turks. The ANZACs ended up retreating and it was a massive failure for us and many lives were lost on both sides. But it was kind of a “baptism of fire” and something that proved our mettle as two nations on the world stage. The Australians and Kiwis fought with such honour, courage and tenacity that it established a strong national sense of pride that continues to this day. It started what is now known as the “spirit of the ANZACs“.

Dawn Service at ANZAC Cove. Photo by nznationalparty on Flickr.

ANZAC Day is a national holiday in Australia and New Zealand, and remembrance services are held all across each country (and indeed internationally, I went to the London service last year) on the 25th of April each year. From the largest capital cities to the smallest country towns, many people attend to remember the fallen. It’s a very solemn affair – a time to reflect on all the Australians that have died in wars we’ve participated in.

Who’s sponsoring us?

Chris and I decided to team up with a few organisations to get us to Gallipoli and to find somewhere swish to stay in Istanbul. We ended up picking two of the best in the business – Hostelbookers and Intrepid Travel.

The guys over at Hostelbookers have chipped in and provided 5 nights accommodation at the new #bunk hostel in the Beyoğlu area of Istanbul. We were looking for a hostel ideally located to check out the historic Byzantine and Ottoman sights of Istanbul, yet somewhere new that didn’t look like some old blokes kitchen.

Enter #bunk hostel – a brand new boutique hostel just across the river from the massive mosques in an area that Chris’ barber described as “the Chelsea of Istanbul”. Check out the photo above and in the link, this hostel looks properly posh!

Intrepid Travel have been totally awesome and provided us with the 2 day ANZAC Day tour to Gallipoli also. They’re the experts when it comes to tours like this and we’re amped to be working with them. The tour kicks off at 10am on the day before ANZAC Day, camping out overnight on ANZAC Cove to view the dawn service and then driving back to Istanbul later that day.

Get Excited and Keep Updated!

Having spent 5 years in the Army Cadets in Australia, I’ve participated in my fair share of ANZAC Day services, but this one will be uniquely different. This is really huge for me because it’s somewhat of a pilgrimage for Australians and ANZAC Day is held in such high regard in Australia as it’s our unique (shared with the Kiwis) day of remembrance.

The trip will take place from the 23rd to the 28th of April, so make sure you keep updated through Facebook and twitter as we share photos, thoughts and videos along the way!

Hamburg isn’t usually mentioned in the same breath as the heavyweights such as Amsterdam and Prague, but this city has been entertaining travellers from across Europe and the world for centuries. It’s status as a free trading port has meant it’s been frequented by every Tom, Dick, Jorge and Hans since the Hanseatic League was in town in the 14^th century.

Julie Falconer had already covered 48 hours in Hamburg for us, so it gave me the opportunity to see what this Northern German city had to offer once the sun went down and the beers started flowing.

Pre-Game Preparation at the Generator

The most important thing before a bender is to establish a base. Drop your gear, find your bearings and maybe get some food into you. Generator Hostel is a top choice for reasonably priced beds in Hamburg, and their digs are properly trendy and located right next to the Central Station (Hauptbahnhof).

To get the night off to a good start, get down to Generator’s massive bar at the back of the hostel for happy hour from 5pm to 7pm each night. €1,50 beers, €3,50 cocktails and  €1,50 shots ensure pre-drinks aren’t expensive drinks.

They also put on themed nights/days and you’re bound to meet all walks of life. Aussies travelling, German college students smashing back pints of Erdinger and playing card games, or maybe middle aged couples enjoying a schnapps.

Stepping out in Sternschanze

Sternschanze is an area in Hamburg just north of St Pauli and near the big exhibition centre (Messe) and TV Tower (Fernsehturm) that was once a run down squatters paradise. Today it’s been redeveloped into a trendy neighbourhood with independent clothes shops, cafes and bars, all still retaining their ghetto, graffiti look. When it comes to bars, there are tons all up and down Schulterblatt and on Neuer Pferdemarkt.

Bedford Café is a cosy little place in the long strip of bars on Schulterblatt that greets you with a red curtain inside the entrance. The alfresco seating out the front and a smattering of tables inside are accompanied by a modest bar with a quick serving bartender. The walls are finished in a pale white hue, drowned in red light and the unfinished wooden tables are topped with red tulips and circled by black leather chairs.

The ceiling is adorned in chandeliers upon which wrought iron cherubs perch and the non-pretentious crowd hang out and chat, enjoying the ambience of the low lighting and mellow tunes in the background. This is a great relaxed place to kick off the night slowly or to wind it down after a big one.

The Next Day

The next morning, you’re going to feel bloody terrible. The 99 cent bar will have ensured this. Nurse your hangover in the morning with Generator’s breakfast spread. For €4,50 you get your pick of bread rolls, cereal, meat, cheese, coffee machine, juice and fruit. Go on, drown yourself in that coffee.

Sobering Up

I knew Hamburg had a bit of a reputation for putting on a good night, but I didn’t expect to wind up on Sunday a broken man, curled up on a couch in the hostel having been thoroughly dominated by Hamburg’s bar scene. Next time you and your mates are after somewhere to nick off to for a boozy weekend with a cheap place to sleep, forget Amsterdam or Prague. Get your arse to Hamburg and knock back 5 beers for me in the 99 Cent Bar.

Disclosure: my flights to Hamburg and accommodation were provided by Generator Hostel but I paid for all my own (loads of) beer and food. Opinions are as always, my own.

Having already covered a guide to spending 48 hours in Copenhagen once before, I was keen to see what else outside of the regular tourist trail the Danish capital could serve up. After arriving late on Friday night and checking into the former seafarers warehouse Admiral Hotel, we got some rest before tackling Copenhagen head on Saturday morning.

After a hearty Scandinavian breakfast in the hotel, we hopped on the bikes provided to all guests of the waterside hotel and made tracks to our first stop on day one – the nearby Danish Design Museum. Four centuries of furniture and decorating arts are represented here in what was the former Royal Frederik’s Hospital. Here we learned about famous Danish designers like Arne Jacobsen and how much they’d contributed to great industrial and home design trends over the last fifty years.

This yellow and blue sofa was one of the most striking items in the collection. Even though it was designed in the 1950′s, the look and style remains timeless and creates a cool retro vibe that I would definitely trade my own sofa at home for.

After soaking up the clean lines and colour of the Design Museum, we all jumped on our bikes and made our way to Nikolaj, Copenhagen’s contemporary art centre. Housed in a former church, Nikolaj is now home to various art installations over it’s three floors that change throughout the year. On our visit, we were treated to the Fokus Video Art Festival. I’d never really been to an video festival before but it’s intriguing to see the kind of clips people come up with. And the bean bags were comfy.

Next, it was time for the main event – the Lumpfish Roe Rally. We met Copenhagen’s food aficionados, also on bikes, in a menswear boutique in the middle of the city, ready to sample each restaurant’s interpretation of Scandinavia’s caviar. After a quick speech, we were off peddling or way to the first stop at the Orangeriet. Housed in a conservatory on the fringe of a royal park, Orangeriet provided us our first taste of lumpfish roe and set the standard for the rest of the tour.

Lumskebugten was the highlight of the caviar ride for me. It was here that we tried out Danish schnapps (Aquavit) and managed to snaffle some free wifi also. With a hearty “skål!” we knocked back the aquavit and tucked into the caviar. Lumskebugten is a harbour side restaurant with a long history of entertaining and cooking for the Danish royal family and is a great intimate venue for a meal.

After a long day of riding our bikes to the six different restaurants, we decided it was time to sample something a little more substantial in picturesque Nyhavn. We parked up our bikes and entered down into the depths of a warm split level restaurant to thaw out and tucked into more of the local fare, this time in the form of burgers and beers.

In Denmark there is a vibe they have called “hygge” (pronounced “hoo-gaa” as I found out after being corrected by our guide for saying it completely wrong) which basically means cosy, warm and together with family/friends. I first learned about it back in 2010 and Abi from Inside the Travel Lab captures well what hygge means to the Danes. It was here, downstairs in a little grill house in Nyhavn that I captured the above shot and thought “yeah, I feel pretty cosy right now”.

This was only day one of a two day quick jaunt over to Copenhagen with Visit Copenhagen. Make sure you come back in a few weeks to find out about the cutting edge architecture and coffee shops we discovered.

Disclosure: this trip was provided complimentary by Visit Copenhagen but as always, opinions are my own.

The Swedish capital is riding a wave of publicity at the moment following the release of the US remake of ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ which was filmed here. Stockholm was already enjoying success attracting visiting fans of the Stieg Larsson books and the original TV series (more details here), not to mention those with an interest in Abba, Swedish design and the beautiful city itself.

Sprawling over 14 islands connected by 57 bridges, there is plenty of space to breathe its clean air. Only a third of the capital is urbanized; the remainder is either green space or water. This is a city that takes the environment seriously – in 2010 Stockholm became the first winner of the European Green Capital Award.

Stockholm has more than enough to experience in a weekend, but whatever you do, make sure you include the following on your itinerary.

Things to See and Do

Most of the main sights are found in the centre of this compact city and you won’t be wasting much time travelling between them – a great advantage when visiting a destination for a short break.

Gamla Stan

You’ll hardly be the first to go there, but no visit to Stockholm would be complete without wandering the cobbled medieval streets of Gamla Stan (Old Town). Since this is the original heart of the city it’s also a fitting place to start your trip.

Aside from the predictable souvenir shops there are also a number of unusual and interesting stores in this area. Fair trade toys, Swedish candy canes and handicrafts made by blind artisans are among the items on sale here, but you’ll need to head off the main drag (Västerlånggatan) and explore the alleyways and parallel streets to find them.

Stadshuset (City Hall)

This huge brick building on the waterfront was originally intended to be painted blue, but fortunately the architect had a change of heart after seeing how good his creation looked in the sunlight. It’s an impressive place with a 106m high tower offering great views (open summer only).

You can take a guided tour all year round during which you can follow in the footsteps of past Nobel Prize winners. They get to enjoy a banquet in the Blue Hall which unfortunately is missing from the tour agenda, but that is perhaps a little too much to expect. After dinner the recipients, guests and royalty dance the night away in the Golden Hall, so called because its walls are covered in 18 million gold mosaic tiles showing scenes from Swedish history. Stadshuset is not even a hundred years old – it opened in 1923 – but its design, based on the city hall of Siena in Italy gives it a Renaissance look. On top of the tower you can see three gold crowns (Tre Kroner) – Sweden’s national coat of arms. Free entry with Stockholm Card.

Vasa Museum

Next it’s time for some nautical history. Jump on a ferry (or take the bus, tram, walk or cycle) to the Vasa Museum for a lesson in the perils of vanity. The story of the Vasa warship is not quite as glorious as its wonderfully-preserved appearance might suggest.

She was built in 1620 for the Swedish king in his war with Poland. With 64 cannons over two gun decks the warship was the biggest in the fleet but fatally unstable. Despite nearly capsizing during testing with only 30 men she was put to sea, only to list to one side after a few minutes and sink having travelled just 1,300 metres.

A third of the crew perished – many more would have died if the Vasa had made it to its planned stop in the archipelago to pick up another 300 soldiers. Discovered in 1956 and raised in 1961, a custom-designed museum became her final resting place in 1991. The Vasa is the best-preserved and biggest ship of its kind on the planet as the water in which she lay is a hostile environment for shipworm – the usual suspect in the destruction of wooden ships on the ocean floor.

Come early in the high season to avoid the queues, watch the film first then have a look at this flawed masterpiece, and remind yourself of the fate of its crew by viewing the skeletons exhibited near the base of the ship. If you need refreshment after all that there is an excellent café/restaurant here too. Free entry with Stockholm Card.

Ostermalms Saluhall

Dating back to 1888, this food hall was considered one of the best in the world when it opened – a title it continues to hold today. It retains many of its original details with each stall having a carved wooden stand and sign and remains THE place in Stockholm for food lovers.

Many stallholders have been selling their wares for here for generations and you’ll find fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and seafood with the emphasis on high quality and organic produce. You can also choose from a dizzying variety of fresh bread, cheeses, speciality teas and coffee and those with a sweet tooth (all of us?) are well catered for with a barely resistible array of chocolate goodies.

When you’re done shopping (or browsing) there are plenty of places to sit down and eat a tasty lunch or snack.

Rosendals Trädgård (Rosendal’s Garden)

Continuing on the food theme, Rosendals Trädgård is one of Stockholm’s unique treasures. It’s a classy garden centre located on the leafy island of Djurgården and you’ll soon forget how close to the city you actually are. The highlight here is the café, which sells some of the city’s best cakes, sandwiches, pastries, soups and salads all made on the premises from organic and biodynamic ingredients, many of which come from the garden itself (if in season). It’s a popular place in the summer months with plenty of room to sit in the sun.

You can use the tram to get out to Rosendals followed by a short (and very pleasant) walk. Even better, do a circuit of Djurgården on a City Bike and stop off at the café here for a break.

Fotografiska

One of the more recent additions to Stockholm’s cultural scene, Fotografiska is also one of its best. After a grand opening in 2010 the national museum of photography has rapidly become a world-class centre for modern photography.

Some of the international names to have already exhibited at Fotografiska include Annie Leibovitz, Lennart Nilsson and Robert Mapplethorpe. Rather than just hanging pictures on walls, the museum encourages debate and interaction with courses and seminars and also houses an academy.

Again, there is an excellent café and restaurant here with spectacular views (it is right on the waterfront) and if you have a Stockholm Card (see below) admission is included so it’s basically a no-brainer. Free entry with Stockholm Card.

Food/Drink

Stockholmers take food seriously, and there is great rivalry with Copenhagen for the title of Scandinavia’s restaurant capital. The Danes may be winning at the moment but don’t be fooled; there are some great culinary experiences to be had here. Prices are high but so is quality – if you are on a really tight budget you are definitely in the wrong place but you will have realised this long before dinnertime comes around… With the selections below I’ve tried to include something for everyone.

Bianchi

An interesting combination this – Italian café and bicycle repair shop. Bianchi obviously did their research when deciding to locate their first bicycle café here – the Swedes drink more coffee than most other nations and also love their bicycles.

They also serve good food and its central location makes it a convenient place for a breather. Sip your cappuccino and munch on a ciabatta to the sound of the mechanics tinkering away in the back room.

Akkurat

After something a little stronger than coffee? While Stockholm is far behind arch-rival Copenhagen on the craft beer front, it is home to this British-style boozer which has an extraordinary selection of beer and whiskies.

They had 26 beers on tap, 450 bottled varieties and 400 whiskies when I was there, and the beer selection changes almost daily. You can also book a tasting session and enjoy live music on Sunday nights. Food is also available (as it has to be by law in all places which serve alcohol in Sweden).

Hermans

Vegetarians are catered for in a big way at Hermans, but carnivores should head over here too for both the excellent food and the amazing view over the city and waterfront. The fixed price buffet is top value (possible one of the best dining deals in Stockholm) and is available for both lunch and dinner. If the weather permits, the restaurant adds a barbeque out on the terrace in the evening.

Hermans does a great job in promoting vegetarian food by providing such a choice; fifteen different salads, three warm dishes, rice, potatoes and bread – each weekend sees a different theme so the buffet will have an Indian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Mexican or Scandinavian flavour.

Restaurang AG

You’ll find this meat-lover’s heaven on an anonymous side street in Kungsholmen. Restaurant AG is located in an old silverware factory and many of the original industrial features remain – think exposed pipes, lots of metal and white tiles from the 1930s. When you ascend the spiral staircase the first thing you see is a huge glass cabinet with huge chunks of meat hanging from hooks – ageing right in front of you.

They do offer some vegetarian and seafood dishes (or you can simply have a drink at the bar) but make no mistake, meat is what this place is all about. It’s pretty much essential to make a reservation (which you can do online) and definitely recommended – make sure you arrive hungry. The food is delicious and perfectly cooked – these guys know what they’re doing and the entire experience will be a memorable one.

Bakfickan

In the same building as the more exclusive (and expensive) Operabaren is Bakfickan, which means “hip pocket”. This is an informal and intimate counter restaurant with space for just 28 who sit either at the bar or at one of the small tables.

From Nobis website Bakfickan has been serving high-quality, reasonably-priced traditional Swedish food since 1962 and is a good place to get to know the locals given the fact that you’ll be sitting so close together. An excellent place to stop for lunch or a drink – make sure you try the meatballs here.

…and don’t forget to Fika

Justin covered the Swedish custom of fika in his article on Malmö and naturally the Swedish capital has numerous places to indulge in this wonderful ritual. But if you’re in Gamla Stan head down to the waterfront and pop into Albert & Jacks at Skeppsbron 24.

Here the emphasis is on simple, top-quality ingredients. Excellent coffee – and the cakes are well worth an extra trip to the gym.

How to get there

Norwegian flies direct to Stockholm Arlanda from London Gatwick airport which is usually the cheapest option. SAS and British Airways fly out of Heathrow and bargains can be had with a little luck. Don’t even consider Ryanair as they serve two other airports - 100km and 130km outside Stockholm respectively.

Getting from the Airport to the City

You can get from the airport to town in 20 minutes on the sleek Arlanda Express. It’s a good idea to book the ticket online in advance as you will save a little cash (there are good deals for weekend travellers) and it’s one thing less to worry about. After purchasing all you need to do is present the credit card you used to the conductor. No wasting paper here.

A bit of orientation

Here’s a handy map laying out all the sights mentioned above to give you an idea of where things are in Stockholm. Click on the markers to see the sight listed and zoom and pan around to see more of the map.

View 48 hours in Stockholm in a larger map

Where to stay

I have stayed at three places, the Nordic Light hotel which is right next to where the airport train arrives so very convenient. It is a little pricey though. Further out is the Comfort Hotel Stockholm, which is a few stops away on the metro. My favourite is the Best Western Time Hotel. It is less central but hits the standard/value sweet spot. An enticing, and cheaper, prospect is Långholmen which is a former prison now run as a hotel during the winter and a youth hostel in the summer. Beds in a cell start around SEK 220 per night for IYHF members.

Get around in Stockholm

Stockholm has excellent public transport although you’ll probably prefer to walk. The T-bana (metro) is easy to understand and covers most areas; buses cover the rest. I recommend buying a Stockholm Card as you get free transport as well as free admission to many of the city’s best sights. Pick one up on arrival at the airport tourist office.

City Bikes

From April to October you should take advantage of the City Bike scheme. You will first need to buy a card from one of the local transport centres which are preloaded for a minimum of 3 days. Find a bike stand; hold the card against the reader and you will be allocated a specific bike.

Off you go – you can use a single bike for 3 hours at a time between 6 am and 10 pm. Have a smartphone? Download the app and get updated info on available bikes. More info here: Stockholm City Bikes.

Budget

No prizes for guessing that Stockholm is very expensive – but don’t let that put you off. As long as you go in with your eyes (and wallet) open you’ll be fine. A beer will set you back about SEK 70 (more if you’re drinking something exotic at Akkurat), and expect to pay at least SEK 250 per meal. The Stockholm Card costs SEK 625 for 2 days and will probably pay for itself if you plan to do a few of the things on this list. Where admission is free with the Stockholm card I have pointed this out.

Conclusion

Living in Norway as I do I am lucky to be able to visit Stockholm regularly and even find it cheap (everywhere on the planet is cheaper than home). It’s a stylish and beautiful place, with great food, friendly people and many unique and interesting traditions. Above all it’s a city that will reward the visitor in spades – so start saving your pennies. Come to Stockholm with enough of them and you will have an experience unlike any other.

Things to See and Do

There’s absolutely no shortage of stuff to see in Rome. Ruins of the Empire, the Vatican and remnants of medieval Italy are all on show around every corner. Rome definitely makes for a packed 2 or 3 day trip full of history, culture and fantastic food.

Colosseum

Probably one of the most iconic sights in Rome, the Colosseum really makes you go “whoa” when you see it for the first time. And once you make your way through the labyrinth like insides and out into the expansive open space in the middle, you get a real feel for how epic this place is.

Completed in 80 AD, it was used for gladiatorial battles, animal hunts and all other kinds of civic entertainment. Primarily, it was there to keep the Roman public happy. Happy people = no revolt against the Emperor. During it’s heyday in the second century, it could seat 50,000 people.

The outer wall stands partially and was rebuilt somewhat, but the inner wall is all that remains because of earthquakes and stone pillaging to build some of the churches in Rome.

Make sure you buy your tickets in advance online and book the guided tour also, it’s totally worth it. Your ticket also includes entrance to the Palatine Hill and Roman Forum.

Palatine and Roman Forum

Step foot into what was once the civic and political beating heart of the Roman Empire. From here the Romans plotted their domination of Britain, the expansion into the Middle East and stepping foot onto Africa.

There’s unfortunately not that much left of what would have been a beautifully decorated site of imperial grandeur, but walking around you can kind of still get a feel for it all. Situated right next to the Colosseum, combining these three attractions into half a day or so makes sense.

The Pantheon

Another example of epic ancient Roman architecture, this time smack-bang in the heart of central Rome. The Pantheon dominates the Piazza della Rotonda and was built back in the 2nd century by Marcus Agrippa to honour a load of mythical gods.

It’s one of the best preserved Roman buildings still around and today is used as a Roman Catholic church (big surprise really). Entry is free, so just waltz on in, take a seat in the pews and get a feel for the tremendous history this place encompasses.

Vatican City

One of the draw cards of Rome, Vatican City is the home of the Roman Catholic Church and essentially its own country (even though there’s no border or anything). It’s very touristy (read: expensive) around the Vatican, so don’t go signing up for any tours or buying any food around here.

St Peter’s Basilica

The centrepiece of the church, St Peter’s is an enormous space that sums up everything Catholicism is about. The ceiling is bloody massive and so high that you feel about 2 feet tall when you’re walking around inside. The whole joint is made of marble and gold and is filled with incredible works of art. Really, this is one of the most beautiful churches in the world.

Make sure you take the lift and the stairs to the top of the dome, as the view over Rome is incredible as seen below.

Vatican Museum

Make no mistake, this museum is HUGE. There is tons to see, like old Roman and Greek statues, paintings, maps and other works of art. Basically everything the Vatican has collected over the past 1500 years or so is in this museum. It’ll take loads of time to cover and it’ll be very crowded, so take the express route once you’re inside to just see the cool stuff.

It’s also here where you’ll find the Sistine Chapel. It’s RIGHT at the end of the museum, so they make you trundle through the rest of the joint just to see the famous bit. It isn’t very jaw-dropping once you get in there, but the mural by Michelangelo on the ceiling is quite impressive and depicts a lot of scenes from the bible.

And finally, the double spiral staircase at the end is quite cool.

Food and Drink

Rome is all about the food really, and who doesn’t LOVE Italian food? Pizza, pasta, wine, beer – you could gorge yourself all weekend on so many different amazing foods that they’d have to roll your ass back to your home city.

Pizza places are dotted all over the city and it’s not hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. More authentic places won’t have loads of tacky advertising trying to get you inside, so just exercise some street smarts when choosing your pizzeria.

AL 34

Ristorante AL 34 was recommended to me by a mate and it surely didn’t disappoint. We waltzed in on our first night and were met by friendly waiters, a heated outdoor frontage and an extensive menu of reasonably priced Italian favourites.

This should be your first port of call on the night you get into Rome as it gives you a great introduction into what Roman dining is all about, without the cheesy sales tactics and laminated menus being thrown at you as you walk by.

Trattoria Der Pallaro

Tucked away down a side street, this trattoria is the only place with lights on in what looks like a car park once you find the joint. It’s special because of a few reasons:

1. You get greeted by an old Italian lady when you first walk in that doesn’t speak a lick of English and just guides you to a table.
2. You have to walk through the massive kitchen to get to said tables.
3. It’s 5 courses, set menu, and you just get what the chef is cooking that night (usually antipasti, a pasta dish, meat dish, dessert and a digestif).
4. It’s a flat rate €20 per head.

This my friends, is the authentic Roman restaurant experience.

Trastevere

The old, traditionally less favourable south part of Rome, this is the place to go to sample a few more diverse, less touristy restaurants and bars. Narrow, long and windy streets are filled with cafes and bars, and chances are you’ll come across locals out for a meal in this part of town.

Venture down the main drag of Trastevere to take your pick of one of many restaurants, a lot of which now do not serve pizza in order to focus on what they do best – meat and pasta.

How to get there

The usual suspects fly to Rome as it is the largest hub for aviation in Italy. easyJet will be your cheapest followed by British Airways, Alitalia etc. Don’t go Ryanair unless you like torturing yourself to save a few euros.

Once you’ve landed at Rome’s Fiumicino airport, take the Leonardo Express into the city. It’s not really “express” because it does stop along the way and it’s also not very fast, but it’s the only real direct way into the city without forking out loads for a taxi.

A bit of orientation

Here’s a handy map laying out all the sights mentioned above to give you an idea of where things are in Rome. Click on the markers to see the sight listed and zoom and pan around to see more of the map.

View 48 hours in Rome in a larger map

Get around in Rome

Rome is easily traversed on foot as the old medieval centre is quite compact and it’s great to just meander in the laneways discovering churches, pizza joints and large picturesque piazzas. The only thing that isn’t immediately central is the Colosseum, but it’s still walkable in 30 minutes or so from downtown. Otherwise if you need to get across town, take the metro.

Where to stay

We got a great deal on an easyJet holiday to Rome, which set us back about £200 each for 3 nights including flights, pretty decent value. As part of the package, we stayed at the Twentyone Hotel in the north part of the city within walking distance of the Vatican. It’s a bit of boutique joint, with arty looking headboards above the beds and black finishing all around.

The wifi was free and fast and we were treated to some great views over the streets below from our balcony. Showers were of the power variety and the staff were friendly and spoke great English. Breakfast wasn’t a lavish affair, but got the job done with pastries, cereal and some sliced meat. If you’re after something a little more substantial there are a few cafes opposite the hotel.

easyJet holidays make these kind of city breaks super easy to book and crack on with, It’s definitely worth checking out their deals to Rome, have a look at their packages here.

Budget

Rome isn’t too bad in terms of cash. Considering Italy is completely boned for money, they’re not trying to totally destroy you financially here. A meal will be under €20 and a beer will be about €5-€6 each. Typical European capital city prices really.

Conclusion

Really, if you haven’t hit Rome yet, you’re doing yourself a massive disservice. Leading up to the trip, I was like “yeah, Rome should be cool, it’s really old and there’s tons of history and the food is good”, but this was so far off the mark once I arrived. The city just captivates you with the architecture, the history around EVERY corner and the food. Oh man THE FOOD.

Seriously, get your arse to Rome to see what is truly one of the greatest cities in the world.

Stuttgart is well known for Mercedes and Porsche but it’s also the small but wonderful capital of Swabia. Lying in a beautiful southern region of Germany, it’s the home of pretzels, good wine, festivals and fast cars. For some people, it’s everything they need.

Things to See and Do

Architecture

It’s wonderful to walk through Stuttgart’s streets and to enjoy the beautiful landscape. Because of its location, you can do most within walking distance and in a short time you can visit expansive squares, gorgeous castles and buildings of different architecture styles.

Photo by jonk on Flickr.

Above you can see the wonderful Castle Place (Schlossplatz) in the heart of Stuttgart. In the back of the castle you find the Castle Garden, the Opera, and the world famous ballet. If you are interested in culture, make sure you check out inside in these awesome buildings. Otherwise, it’s a great space during a sunny day to eat an ice cream or just hang out and people watch.

Wilhelma Zoo

There are a lot beautiful zoos worldwide, but I love the Wilhelma because it’s also known as the “Alhambra of the Neckar” (a river of Stuttgart). The atmosphere of the animals and plants in front of such fantastic architecture in the Moorish style in the center of Stuttgart is extraordinary.

You can gaze upon more than 10,000 animals, exotic plants, and garden art exhibits as well as many beautiful hiding places to relax. It is not just a zoo but a botanical garden and a historical park of the 19^th century. The park is the size of 40 football pitches and while you’re there, you can relax and view the beautiful landscaping.

Mercedes-Benz and Porsche Museums

I can’t really tell you which museum is better, as they’re both fantastic highlights of architecture. If you have enough time I would recommend to visit both, otherwise you have to choose which kind of cars you prefer. I promise you though, both museums are very interesting just for the engineering value, even if you aren’t a huge car lover.

If you are looking for other museums also, Stuttgart has you covered. For example the House of History, “Staatsgalerie”, and the Dinosaur museum are very interesting and popular.

Karlshöhe

One of the most beautiful places in Stuttgart is the Karlshöhe. It’s a 343 metre high mountain in Stuttgart’s South West. For the most rewarding route, you can  climb up through the vineyards, and you’ll get a beautiful view over Stuttgart. If you visit this beautiful place during the day you can enjoy a beer and a “red” sausage in the beer garden (only open in summer). If you visit by night you can also enjoy a beautiful sunset overlooking Stuttgart.

To reach the top of Karlshöhe’s you can start at Tübinger Street by climbing some of the various stairs, called “Stäffeles” that are used to connect the town and the upper housings besides the vineyards. The “Stäffele” called Willy-Reichert-Staffel is the best one to climb to reach the Karlshöhe.

Shop off the beaten path

Stuttgart offers a lot of opportunities to spend your money! But if you want to have a look for something a bit more extraordinary, I would advise you to buy something from the Stuttgart based fashion label “Blutsgeschwister” (Breitestr 4) or to have a look into the fashion store with the name “Kauf dich Glücklich”, what means more or less “Shop till you are happy”! (Lange Straße 6).

Celebrations & Events

There are many fascinating events in the city. In the summer for example you can enjoy the Summer Celebration with music, food, and drinks. The Wine Village is also very popular, with the wine of the surrounded regions on offer to sample.

But my highlight is the Christmas Market in December with its small cabanas with hot wine, a lot of food, crafts, Christmas accessories and jewelry. It is world famous and not to be missed during the winter months.

Food and Drink

Stuttgart offers food for everyone. You can get typical German food but also find cuisine from kitchens all over the world.

Stäffele

The Stäffele in Stuttgart offers real German Food served in a traditional atmosphere. In my opinion they have the best German Kitchen with good German Beer in Stuttgart. You know, there are many traditional restaurants, but the Stäffele is the best.

The atmosphere is awesome, the service is great and the food is fantastic. Everything here is freshly made. In my opinion it is really difficult to find a perfect restaurant, but this is pretty close and you can get a main dish for less than €10.

Pane e Vino

If you would like to eat traditional Italian food, I recommend Pane e Vino. Two old Italian gentlemen greet you with a lot of spirit and their handmade pasta and pizza with a well matched wine. If you’d prefer just a drink, it’s also possible to just have a glass of wine at the bar.

If you are interested, one of the gentlemen will regale you with stories about their life and consumption and let you test their fancy food. A main dish will cost from €10.

Café Heller

It’s not only a café, as you can have breakfast until 4pm, there’s handmade cake and a daily choice of freshly prepared food. It’s a very nice cafe to sit outside and enjoy the good weather. Often we went there to have breakfast and then we saw the menu of daily food and switched to lunch! You can have breakfast here from €4 and main dishes from €7.

How to get to Stuttgart

It is easy to get to Stuttgart from everywhere in Europe, with most major airlines flying there. All major air carriers and some low cost airlines like TuiFly and Air Berlin fly to Stuttgart. Additionally, the city is also well connected by rail, with Deutsche Bahn (DB) connections to all over Germany, France and the Netherlands . There is also an S-Bahn train connection from the airport to the city that only costs 3,40 euros.

Getting around in Stuttgart

You can reach most of the beautiful highlights of Stuttgart by foot, but if you don’t feel like walking, the public transportation in Stuttgart is awesome. A day ticket for one person costs €6.30 and a single ticket is €1.90 for two hours in the city. If you would like to leave the center you can also take a day ticket and use the trains or S-Bahn. To take a taxi is a bit more expensive and you’ll pay €10-12 for a 10 min ride.

Where to stay

Stuttgart has a really good selection of accommodation on offer. You can stay in every kind of hotel or hostel, but Ibis hotels are perfect for city trips. It’s not high class, but it is ok and one night for two person costs €59 normally. You’ll find them in the city centre, making them a good choice for location.

Otherwise you can take a Motel One, but you have to take the metro to get to the centre (10 min) and it costs about €45. Check out the hotel booking sites for ideas on prices and features.

Budget

Accommodation is the main expense in Stuttgart. But you can get a room for low in a lot of hostels. Food and alcohol are ok, and usually a main dish doesn’t cost more than €10. Fortunately most attractions, beside the museums, are free to visit.

Conclusion

Stuttgart is a wonderful city that’s not too large to take on in a weekend. It’s a city with many highlights in nature, architecture, culture, food, wine and beer. For a different side of Germany, it’s definitely worth a quick jaunt to explore.

Things to See and Do

Children’s Museum

If have kids with you, the Children’s Museum is a must-see. If you don’t have kids, you should visit anyway.

Photo by clarkmaxwell on Flickr.

The Indianapolis Children’s Musuem is one of the best in the world, with exhibits covering a wide range of topics that are educational, interactive, and interesting, all at the same time. You know you’ve found the right building when a dinosaur is smashing into it.

Broad Ripple

Take a stroll through Broad Ripple Village, a few miles north of Downtown.

The pedestrian-friendly streets and canal-straddling sidewalks boast some of the region’s best shopping and eating spots.

Speedway

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the only local icon visible from space, which should draw you to its size for its own merits.

Photo by danielmorrison on Flickr.

Even if you don’t visit Indy during the biggest race, the 500, you can still explore the unique racing museum and the vast center of the loop.

The Canal

The White River Canal snakes through the area slightly south of Downtown, connecting the Eiteljorg Museum, the Indiana State Museum, and the NCAA Museum in a carefully designed route ornamented with art and classical architecture.

Just as exciting as the endpoint is the ride itself, whether you’re jogging, riding a one, two, four, or six-seater bike, or pedaling a paddle-boat.

Food and Drink

Goose the Market

Directly north of Downtown is small but valuable deli, oddly named Goose the Market. In it, you can find a variety of fresh, premium, and exotic meats, as well as sandwiches made with said meats.

Photo by kimmanleyort on Flickr.

The downstairs sports a cozy bar and some tables for wine-tasting, but be warned: there’s not much room. Prepare for it to be swamped at lunch, even if you’re just grabbing some of their famous gelato.

Yats

Yats, with several locations in the greater Indianapolis area, is becoming a local legend. For a couple bucks, you get a heaping plateful of Cajun food.

The menu is somewhat random but always guarantees a mildly spicy combination of rices, beans, and meats.

3 Days in Paris

The City Market is a historic building a few blocks from the center of Downtown. It buzzes at lunchtime, when government workers and other locals flock to the assembly of eateries inside this vast, hollow building. My favorite is the crepe place, 3 Days in Paris. You can order either a healthy, egg-based breakfast crepe or an indulgent desert crepe.

Sun King

Sun King Brewing has quickly become Indy’s proudest local brewery. The beer is relatively cheap and very unique. Fridays are a special hotspot, when locals pick up “growlers” of the brews for an astounding $5.

Photo by Indiana Public Media on Flickr.

How to get there

By plane

Airline passengers will have the luxury of passing through a brand-new terminal, built in 2008. The wings are typical but the center is a giant, open hub sure to relieve you of stress developed on your cramped plane ride. Getting downtown is as easy as hitching a ride on a frequent bus line.

By bus

If you’re lucky enough to live in the scenic Midwest, you may be able to take the Megabus, a low-cost, regional bus line that lets you travel through major Midwestern cities for less than $50 a trip. Greyhound will be at least double the price, but offers more amenities and greater reach.

By car

Driving to Indianapolis is a terrific idea if you’re planning on being mobile and versatile while here. See below for more advice about driving in Indianapolis.

A bit of orientation

Here’s a handy map laying out all the sights mentioned above to give you an idea of where things are in Indianapolis. Click on the markers to see the sight listed and zoom and pan around to see more of the map.

View 48 hours in Indianapolis in a larger map

Get around in Indianapolis

By bus

The bus system, IndyGo, works in a spoke system. Buses depart from downtown to metropolitan locations, especially on the northside. If you’re staying downtown and looking to explore some of the close-but-not-that-close attractions in Indianapolis, IndyGo can be a time and money saver.

Biking

Indianapolis has been working in improving their biking environment for the past few years, adding lanes and marking them clearly. Biking is most useful if you’re staying on the Northside and traveling downtown, or vice versa. The Monon Trail runs from 146th in Carmel all the way down to 10th street in Indy, and is always full of joggers, bikers, and dog-walkers.

Walking

If your housing, entertainment and business stops are all in the downtown area, walking can relieve all your traffic-related stress. No tickets, parking, or planning to worry about.

By car

Since approximately 2008, the Indiana Department of Transportation has been hard at work revamping the interstate surrounding the city. Plus, the City of Indianapolis has been improving streets in preparation for Superbowl XLI. Indianapolis is very car-friendly. Traffic is light and the streets are clearly organized.

Where to stay

Hotels

The Conrad is nestled amidst Circle Center Mall in the heart of Downtown, a block from the Indiana Repertoire Theater and Downtown’s most prized eateries.

The JW Marriott is the newest building to dominate the Indy skyline. Its exterior is covered completely in one-way mirrors, reflecting a bright, blue tint you won’t lose sight of. It’s conveniently connected via skywalk to the Indiana Convention Center.

AirBnB

Indianapolis may not have the ritzy, modern houses of larger metropolitan areas, but there are many historic districts in Indy with beds and rooms to rent on the fast-growing online travel site.

Hostels

Indianapolis doesn’t sport a huge offering of hostels, but for those looking for temporary or long-term housing, Indy Hostel is a cozy house south of Broad Ripple with homely features like a garden and patio.

Budget

Indianapolis is super-affordable for visitors. Hotel prices, especially, are way below the national average. You can get a cheap meal for under $7, a moderately nice one at $15, and a fine one starting at $25 a person.

Conclusion

Indianapolis is often over-looked as a less impressive younger sibling to Chicago. In reality, the Crossroads of America sports many unique features and attractions, all at an affordable rate. For an insider’s guide on the Super Bowl this year in 2012, check out my post over on the TravelProducts.com blog.