Trip to Indy

With Spring Break being something J takes vacay days off from work, it is a requirement to DO SOMETHING AS A FAMILY.

Last year we went to Bryan, Ohio and toured the Spangler Candy Factory. Didn't see anything made, but got to sample some test  flavors of Dum-Dums. All and all a waste of time given the drive was long and into the middle of NOWHERE!

With that said, the bar was set low for this year. $ is a concern so I balked at the idea of going to the beach or anywhere for a few hundred dollars when certain parties want tablets like iPads or Kindle Fire that are beyond our current budget restraints.

What's a family thing to do that's not too far and reasonable in cost? Zoos fit that bill. We'd never been to the Indianapolis Zoo. Indy is a couple hours away and isn't open too long so we looked into the indoor water park there, Caribbean Cove. the hotel for Caribbean Cove Water Park had a package deal that included tickets to the zoo and breakfast in addition to access to the water park for less than what a night at Great Wolf Lodge would cost during the same time period(We LOVE Great Wolf Lodge).

Long story short Caribbean Cove Water Park in Indianapolis was a mistake. Front Desk service was horrible. Hotel was run down in a grimy sort of way. The water park was cold and crowded without much in terms of chairs or towels to go around. Our room didn't have a working shower, and when maintenance fixed it, the spigot dripped steadily all night long.

K and B had fun, but J  was seriously peeved until we went to the zoo. The dolphin show was worth seeing, but the fact that they perform to Justin Bieber seemed cruel. The train ride was odd in that it wasn't to see any animals, rather a "behind the scenes" sort of thing like being on a Hollywood Studio back lot.

K and B both got stuff animals from the gift shop, while J got her customary X-mas ornament (she still has no idea where she put the one she got at Holiday World). Zoo must make ends meet by what it sells there.

Oddly it took J only $3 to get THREE plush creatures from the claw machine while we waited for food and shakes at Steak'n Shake when we stopped on our way home.