Travel Archives - Page 3 of 4

With all of this year’s holidays being cancelled or likely to be cancelled people are looking to next year when (hopefully) we’ll be able to get out and about properly again. Talking to Roy about where we’d like to go we somehow ended up talking about random places we’d seen on TV but knew about in real life. Does anyone remember Eerie, Indiana? Looking up the real Indiana we found that it was less weird and much more interesting than expected.

There are 50 states in the U.S, each possessing their own unique history and geography. However, some states are more well known than others. Everyone seems to know about the big states like New York, Florida, and California, but many people know next to nothing about states like Indiana. These people are missing out, because these lesser-known states have some great features and some extremely interesting facts and places. So what are some of these fun tidbits of information about the Hoosier state? Here are five cool facts about Indiana.

Santa Claus

The story about the mythical entity that is loosely based on St. Nicholas is quite well known in America. Of course, we’re talking about Santa Claus. What many people don’t realize however is that there is actually a town named Santa Claus in Indiana. In 1856, the town of Sante Fe, Indiana changed its name to Santa Claus in order to distinguish themselves from another town. That small change has had big repercussions on the town, as many of the local businesses have Christmas themed names or actually are related to Christmas. In addition, thousands of Christmas letters from eager children flood the town each year as children try to get in touch with the man in red himself.

Love of Basketball

One of the most popular sports in Indiana is basketball, something that can be reflected in the high school basketball scene. People from all around the state get involved in the high school basketball scene, dubbing it “Hoosier Hysteria”. One of the most famous high school sports upsets ever occurred in Indiana high school basketball, eventually being turned into the movie “Hoosiers”. Although basketball was founded in Massachusetts, the inventor of basketball, James Naismith, stated that Indiana was the centre of the sport. High school basketball fandom is like a cult in Indiana, so if you’re looking for Indianapolis houses for sale, prepare for some rabid fans.

5 Cool Facts about Indiana: Founding History

The name Indiana is a direct reference to the indigenous people that originally inhabited the land. Indiana literally translates to “Land of the Indians”, a direct reference to its original settlers. The region was initially settled by European settlers as reparation for frequent raids in the area. Raids from Native Americans killed settlers and damaged important goods, causing settlers to seek repayment. When approached by the settlers, the Native Americans took the blame and gave the land away as reparation for their past acts. The newly acquired land was renamed to reflect this and later became a state a few years in the future.

Hoosiers

If you’ve ever heard anything about Indiana, then you’ve probably heard of the word Hoosier before. People from the area call themselves Hoosiers and the state of Indiana is known as the Hoosier state. The mascot for Indiana University is also a Hoosier as well. The strange thing is, no one really knows what a Hoosier is, even people from Indiana. The term appeared in the early 1800s around the state, but no one has been able to pinpoint an exact origin or meaning. Despite the mystery behind the word, it still has some major significance in the state.

5 Cool Facts about Indiana: Famous Indianans

You might not think that many famous people were born in a small midwestern state, but many famous musicians, actors, and politicians have called Indiana home. The entire Jackson 5, including Michael and Janet, were born in the state of Indiana. Legendary late-night host David Letterman was also born in the Hoosier state as well. When it comes to politics, this area is relatively important to the current U.S administration as Vice President Mike Pence calls the state home.

Is Indiana on our “Must See List”? I’m not sure, but it is definitely more interesting than I would have ever expected it to be.

Passing your driving test is quite a thrill. It offers the chance to enjoy the ability to go wherever you want, whenever you want. Driving represents freedom for many, and it is for that reason that buying your first car is an exciting, and meaningful moment in anyone’s life. As I’m writing this I’m very well aware that my first-born baby can apply for his provisional driving licence in three short years. That is nuts!

Getting the wrong car could turn out to be a costly mistake. There are lots of different things that can go wrong with a car. Some cars are riddled with maintenance issues and end up being in the garage more than on the road. Some cars can be money pits that you constantly need to keep throwing cash at. Then, of course, there is the aspect of road safety that comes along with certain maintenance issues.

Getting the right vehicle for you means doing your due diligence into the vehicle itself and making a considered decision about which car to go for.

New Vs. Used and Dealer Vs. Private Seller

Before you buy a car, you should decide how you plan on buying it. You could buy a brand new car straight off the forecourt of a Vauxhall dealer, or you could opt to buy a model that is a few years old from a used car dealer. Alternatively, you could also buy a used car directly from a private seller.

New cars come with warranties which mean that certain issues should not be a concern for you. They have financing options that could mean that you get to drive a much nicer car for less. However, new cars are obviously the most expensive route in the long-run.

Used cars from a dealer will often have had some work to present them in a more favourable light. You may still be able to get financing for the vehicle. However, the prices may be more than an equivalent car would be with a private seller.

With a private seller, you are buying from an unknown. You can expect to buy a car for a lower price than anywhere else, however, you do need to have your wits about you and check the car over fully before you buy it.

Buying Your First Car: Insurance Costs

Before you decide on the car that you will be buying, check out the insurance costs and road tax for the vehicle. Shop around for quotes from as many different insurance providers as possible and work out exactly what you will be looking at in terms of your regular running costs. Make sure you don’t buy a car that you cannot afford to keep.

Road Test The Car

When buying a car, be sure and road test it before you agree to take it. A lot can be revealed on a ten-minute drive. Make sure you test the car at a mixture of speeds and performing different manoeuvres. Listen for knocking sounds and pay attention to the car pulling to one side. These warning signs are an indication of problems that you may encounter once you own the car.

If at all possible, get a trusted mechanic to check out the car for you, especially if you are buying secondhand.