Dumbfounded – to be speechless with amazement; astonished.

That pretty much sums it up.

This Saturday afternoon, my dad and I made the trip downtown to be a part of the spectacle that is Super Bowl XLVI. We went searching for downtown Indianapolis, yet when we got there, we couldn’t find it.

What used to be our mid-major, mild-mannered home city had exploded into a celebration that blew every expectation I had clear out of the water.

The city has been transformed, and the transformation is quite clear. Just look at the front of the J.W. Marriott hotel – where a gigantic image of the Lombardi Trophy hangs. Walk through Circle Center Mall and into Monument Circle – where a giant XLVI stands with a constant light show playing. The city, it seems, was replaced by something much larger and more magnificent than before. Quite frankly, I couldn’t believe I was still in Indianapolis – let alone Indiana.

(Want to learn more about the Superbowl and how you can be a part of the experience? Click here.)

When we arrived downtown, traffic was not as much of a problem as we had anticipated (Though we did stand still for quite some time once we got off the highway). Parking proved to be simple as well – and the most convenient parking appeared to be at IUPUI. After parking there, a quick 5 minute walk to the J.W. is the only experience outside you will have until reaching the Super Bowl Village – since once inside the J.W. you can take the Skywalk directly to the Convention Center and the heart of the city.

The first place we went was the Convention Center, home to the NFL Experience – and let me tell you, it was quite an experience. For a price of $25, guests were welcomed into a hall of games, attractions, shows, memorabilia and fun – all revolving around football. It was like heaven. This was truly an NFL Experience as it gave fans the opportunity to get into the game with activities like kicking field goals and extra points, running the 40-yard dash, catching long balls through coverage, a PP&K station (punt, pass and kick), throwing accuracy and throwing speed games and a full size field where younger kids play flag football. In addition to the games, fans are offered the chance to look at the George Halas Trophy (NFC), the Lamar Hunt Trophy (AFC) and the Vince Lombardi Trophy which is awarded to the Super Bowl Champion. In the same area, fans can look at an exhibit from the NFL Hall of Fame that includes a look at football through history and some unbelievable artifacts of the game. The NFL Rush Zone is an area especially designed for younger children to get into the game, and certain bar-like areas are for adults only. The icing on the cake was the NFL Store – the largest store of NFL licensed merchandise ever. It was truly unbelievable. And try this on for size: this weekend alone, the Indianapolis Star reported that 99,532 fans visited the NFL Experience. Now that is truly unbelievable.

As we were leaving the NFL Experience, we went back up to the second floor of the Convention Center to get a glimpse at the attraction everyone is talking about – the zip line. Advertised as the longest temporary zip line ever, the $10 adrenaline rush over the city is definitely something I wish I had done. Though the line was rumored to be about two hours long, anyone with sufficient time should take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity to soar above the city.

We then left the Convention Center and began the trek through the Super Bowl Village. Even a week before the big game, the streets were packed.  Estimates say that this weekend, over 200,000 people visited downtown – and the visitors were completely utilizing everything the city had to offer. Heating lamps and seats were everywhere to protect from the cold, big screens and speakers perfectly circulated sound from the two stages up the street and food and hot beverages were always available. If I had had more time, I  could have spent all day there and never gotten bored. Street performers were everywhere, more NFL Experience games lined the streets and a constant euphoria gripped the crowd. It was truly spectacular – and honestly made me proud to be from Indianapolis.

Our final stop was Monument Circle where we watched a light show displayed on a giant statue of XLVI. Not only was this a lot of fun to watch, it was a true landmark and a great symbol for the Super Bowl and the city. If you make it downtown, be sure to stop in the circle to check it out.

Now you might be asking “Why us? Why Indianapolis.” And the answer is simple.

We are bigger and better than you think.

I for one was certainly asking the same thing before we went down there, and now – like I said before – I am truly proud to call the Indianapolis my home.

To wrap up, however, I’d like to share a part of Bob Kravitz’s Sunday column, since I feel that he puts it best. He wrote:

“Be a part of it. Yeah, the traffic is going to be a bear. Parking is going to be another animal. It’s going to be pricey in spots. But we don’t know if this will ever happen again. (Hope it will, but there are no sure things when it comes to Northern Super Bowls.) This isn’t just for visitors from out of town; this is for you, for Carmel and New Palestine, for Pike Township and Beech Grove. Make a point of doing and seeing something, even if there are moments of inconvenience.”

So take his advice and go be a part of this. This event – the Super Bowl – might never return to Indianapolis, and it’s not something you should miss.