The Fountainview Inn of Indianapolis, Indiana

Did you know that there's an inn inside the Fountain Square Theater building in Indianapolis? Neither did I, until this week. I was on a tour filming some footage for the Indianapolis Travel Channel, and as we were being taken around the building, we were shown the new and beautifully renovated rooms. You can find the Fountain Square Theater Building in the Fountain Square Cultural District just three minutes from downtown Indianapolis.

The Inn itself offers overflow accommodations for people who can't get a room at the Conrad hotel in downtown Indianapolis, which tells you a little something about the quality of the place. But they also provide extended stay services, and trust me, once you've seen these rooms, you'll want to stay.

Also, you can book weddings at the beautiful Fountain Square Theater and use the Inn as a honeymoon suite. The theater has a twinkling star ceiling painted to look like the night sky and looks like a set from a Fred and Ginger movie. It's definitely nice enough for such an occasion. The price for a one-night stay is $150.

The feel is truly that of an inn, if you've ever been to a great inn, you know they're wonderful. The Fountainview Inn is actually like a 5 star version of the Highland Inn in Atlanta. There's plenty to do if you wanted to stay at the Inn for a romantic anniversary weekend, such a swing dance, a wine bar, art tours, music venues, and more. It's definitely a hidden treasure of Indianapolis. The only thing missing is a pool.

One of the most interesting aspects of staying at the Inn is that there are two bowling alleys in the building, the Atomic Bowl and Action Bowl. Both feature something called, "duckpin" bowling from the 1950's. The alleys are restored to appear exactly as they did in their glory days. It's also a sport that the entire family can play, because the bowling balls are so much smaller and lighter than the modern types. So if you are there for a wedding or reunion, it would be a great way to spend time getting to know people. If you happen to be staying at the Inn in warm weather, there is also rooftop dining and I would highly recommend it. The view is wonderful, especially at night.

Each room is a one-bedroom suite with a TV, a King or Queen bedroom, tiled bath with seated shower or whirlpool tub, and even a kitchenette with refrigerator, sink, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, dishes, and a dining area. However, you do pay for the beauty and convenience. It's $600 a week or $1200 per month for the extended stay services. But if you're in town working, it may be worth the convenience, and there's always the added bonus of not having to worry about utlilities. The hotel is literally 3 minutes from downtown and it's a straight shot down a street called Virginia Avenue.

The building itself that houses the Inn is called the Fountain Square building and is extremely well-known in the Indianapolis area. It's trendy, historic, and full of unique businesses. There is an excellent café in the building called the shelBi Street Café and Bistro (that one deserves its own review) as well as the Smokehouse and the Fountain Diner. There's free parking and quick access to I-65 and I-70.

I would definitely recommend a stay at the Fountainview Inn. Whether you're going to be in town for the Superbowl in 2012, visiting relatives, or just looking for something you've never done before in Indianapolis. For more information, visit the website at http://www.fountainsquareindy.com/inn/index.asp