Hey there, it's your long lost intern friend, Leah, checking back in. (I know you have been anxiously awaiting my return.)

To complement my internship here at the ICVA, I am taking a course at Butler University called Hospitality and Destination Public Relations, which focuses on marketing destinations and determining the best ways to make certain ones stand out in a country full of alluring travel picks.

Speaking of destinations standing out...we're in one that does just that! As part of a tourism immersion project, our class went out for a fun-filled evening in downtown Indianapolis last week, and visiting some major Indianapolis attractions. We had such a great time it was hard to remember that we were technically in class AND that we were not really on vacation; but right here in our own city!

First stop was the Indianapolis Museum of Art. we were given 20 minutes to explore. Let me tell you...it was most certainly NOT enough. I was memorized by the Light and Space Exhibit. It's a three-story fluorescent light installation, specifically designed for the IMA's 60-foot atrium. As you continue exploring the three gallery levels of the museum, you remain blanketed by the tunnel of light. And I loved the "Simply Halston" exhibit in the Fashion Arts Gallery. We looked at dresses designed throughout the 20th century by a Roy Halston Frowick, who was a favorite of celebrities like Liza Minnelli and Elizabeth Taylor. It was fun picking out which dresses we were most likely to see each other wearing.

After swinging by the Mass Ave portion of the Indy Cultural Trail (which is making great progress!), our next stop was the luxurious Conrad Indianapolis. Even behind the scenes, this place is impeccable! From memorizing guests' names, to individually applying intricate fruit toppings on an endless line of desserts, the Conrad showed us what makes it a truly one-of-a-kind Indianapolis hotel.

Moving on, our next stop was Bodies... The Exhibition. If you haven't seen this yet...JUST DO IT. It'll be in downtown Indianapolis through the end of the year. It really is a jaw-dropping experience.Those of us who hadn't lost our appetites after the exhibition,continued on to the Indianapolis Artsgarden (which conveniently connects the Conrad and Embassy Suites to Circle Centre mall), where we enjoyed a quick bite to eat from the Circle Center food court. Sitting there, looking through the seven-story-tall glass enclosed structure, we were able to take in a spectacular view of the city.

Finally, for those party-goers in the group, Indiana's oldest bar, the Slippery Noodle Inn, was calling! This place opened in 1850, and before that, served as a stop on the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. Today it's a cool hang-out with live blues 7-days a week.

So the lesson learned is you don't have to leave Indianapolis to have a fun little getaway. Just imagine what you could do with a whole weekend...