clio harper author at My Family Travels
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This Indiana Farm Is a Must-Visit for Blueberry Picking and Award-Winning Pies

There is something about a certain orchard and winery in southern Indiana that pulls you back every single season. I first heard about it from a neighbor who could not stop talking...

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This Historic 1905 Indiana Home Is a National Landmark Dedicated to the Art of the Quilt

I have always believed that the most meaningful places are the ones that make you stop and truly look. This historic house museum is exactly that kind of place.

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This Indiana Open-Air Sightseeing Car Is the Ultimate Way to Chase Spring Wildflowers

There is something about riding in an open-air train car through the Indiana countryside that feels like a secret the rest of the world has not discovered yet.

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This Indiana State Park Is Home To The State’s Most Popular 70-Mile Horseback Riding Empire

One of Indiana's best-kept secrets has always been a state park tucked into rolling hills, drawing visitors from across the state every season. What makes it truly unforgettable...

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This Indiana Boardwalk Trail Takes You Directly Over a Glacial Fen Filled With Carnivorous Plants

There are trails you walk, and then there are trails that genuinely stop you in your tracks. One nature preserve in Bristol, Indiana is a rare place where the ground itself tells...

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This Indiana Dog Bakery and Cafe Features a Full Menu Just for Pups

If you have a dog in Indianapolis, there is a good chance you already know about one local bakery that caters entirely to pups. This isn’t your average pet store.

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The Huge 160-Vendor Indiana Antique Giant Where You Can Get Lost For Hours

I have always believed that the best antique malls do not just sell things, they tell stories. There is an antique mall in Indiana that is exactly that kind of place.

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This Indiana Canal Town Is A Charming And Affordable Step Back In Time With A Floating Secret

I'll be honest, I almost drove past Delphi the first time I heard about it. A small canal town in Carroll County, Indiana, sitting quietly twenty minutes northeast of Lafayette,...

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10 Unique Indiana Adventures That Can’t Be Done Anywhere Else

I'll be honest, I never thought Indiana would be the state to blow my mind. Growing up in Oklahoma, I figured the Hoosier State was mostly cornfields and interstates.

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This Indiana Shop Is A Living Piece Of History Set Inside A Massive 19th-Century Building With Three Floors Of Finds

There are antique shops, and then there are places that stop you in your tracks the moment you walk through the door. Lumber Mill Antique Mall in Madison, Indiana is exactly that...

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The 10 Most Authentic Old-Fashioned General Stores in Indiana

I have a soft spot for old general stores. There is something about walking through a creaky wooden door and smelling coffee, sawdust, and fresh-baked goods all at once that takes...

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This Unassuming Indiana Fish Market Is Hiding The State’s Best Meal

I never expected to find the best seafood of my life in Valparaiso, Indiana. Honestly, when a friend first told me about McGowan and Sons, I thought she was exaggerating.

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10 Indiana Spots Where Dogs Are Welcome and the Food Is Amazing

I have spent a lot of weekends driving around Indiana with my dog riding shotgun, nose out the window, tail wagging like she already knows where we are headed. Finding places that...

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This Peaceful Indiana Village Is The Ultimate Stress-Detox

I still remember the first time I drove into Zionsville on a quiet Saturday morning. The brick-paved streets, the smell of fresh coffee drifting from a nearby cafe, and the sound...

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This Indiana Ruin in the Woods Used to Be a 1920s Amusement Hotspot

I never expected a hike through the woods of southern Indiana to stop me cold in my tracks. But standing among the crumbling...

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This Massive Indiana Ranch Lets You Bathe Elephants, Feed Giraffes, and Zip Line Through 1,100 Acres of Rolling Forest

I never thought I'd find myself scrubbing an elephant in southern Indiana, but here we are. Wilstem Wildlife Park in Paoli, Indiana is the kind of place that makes you do a double-take...

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The Small-Town Restaurant In Indiana With $28 Steaks That Locals Swear Are the Best In The State

I grew up hearing about places like this; the kind of restaurant that doesn’t need a flashy sign or a social media campaign because word of mouth has been doing the work for...

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10 Indiana Grocery Stores Known for Premium Meats You Can’t Miss

I've spent years exploring Indiana's food scene, and I can tell you that finding truly exceptional meat doesn't mean driving to some distant farm or settling for whatever the big...

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A Charming and Affordable Indiana Town That Will Make You Want To Quit Your Job and Move Immediately

I still remember the first time I drove through Huntingburg on a crisp autumn afternoon, sunlight filtering through the trees that line the streets of this southwestern Indiana...

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This All-You-Can-Eat Buffet in Indiana Feels Like a Hidden Playground for Picky Eaters

I never thought I'd find a place where my pickiest friends could walk in nervously and leave grinning like kids who just discovered their favorite candy store. Ten Cuts Brazilian...

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This Little-Known Amish Store in Indiana Offers Sweet & Savory Homemade Goodies Galore

I remember the first time I stumbled upon Lehman's Variety Store down a gravel road in LaGrange County. The place felt like stepping into a hidden corner of Indiana where time...

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This Easy 1-Mile Hike In Indiana Is So Scenic, You’ll Keep Thinking About It for Days

I remember the first time I stumbled onto Cool Creek Park in Westfield. It was one of those ordinary weekends when I needed a quick escape from the everyday grind, and I had no...

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This Indiana Coffee Shop Lets You Cuddle 20+ Rescue Kittens While You Sip Your Latte

I never thought I'd find myself booking an appointment to hang out with cats while drinking coffee, but here we are. The Region Cat Cafe in Griffith combines a coffee shop experience...

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This Amish-Themed Restaurant In Indiana Has a Breakfast That Keeps People Coming Back

I've driven past Howie's Six Mile Restaurant on US-20 more times than I can count, always noticing the packed parking lot and wondering what all the fuss was about. When I finally...

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8 Enormous Flea Markets In Indiana That Will Have You Scouting for Bargains All Day

I've spent more weekends than I can count wandering through Indiana's flea markets, and I can tell you there's nothing quite like the thrill of discovering a hidden treasure among...

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The Low-Key Donut Shop In Indiana That Quietly Serves The State’s Best Glazed Donuts

I first stumbled into Long's Bakery on a foggy Saturday morning years ago, and I still remember the way the smell of yeast and sugar wrapped around me like a warm blanket.

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This Affordable Indiana Town Feels Like a Retirement Paradise for Social Security Seniors

I drove through New Castle on a crisp autumn morning, and something about this place just clicked. The streets felt calm, the people smiled without rushing, and the cost of living...

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This Indiana Park Lets You Paddle Through 9 Connected Lakes

I remember the first time I heard about Chain O'Lakes State Park near Albion. Someone told me you could paddle through nine different lakes without ever loading your kayak back...

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This Indiana District Turns Nightlife Into an Experience You’ll Remember

I remember the first time I wandered through Fountain Square after sunset, and I knew immediately this place was different. The streets hummed with energy that felt both vintage...

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This Indiana Town Has Streets You’ll Want to Photograph at Every Turn

I've driven through countless small towns across Indiana, but Boonville stopped me in my tracks the first time I turned onto Main Street. The way the morning light hits those historic...

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This Tiny Indiana Spot Serves Nachos Worth a Statewide Road Trip

I'll admit something right now. I've driven past Loco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina on North Delaware Street more times than I can count, always thinking I'd stop in someday.

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This Indiana Dinner Spot Serves an Unforgettable Valentine’s Feast This February

I remember the first time I walked past Salt on Mass on Massachusetts Avenue and saw the warm glow spilling onto the sidewalk. Something about that bright, inviting space made...

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10 Unexpected Indiana Experiences That Prove the State Is Anything but Boring

I grew up thinking Indiana was just a place you drove through on the way somewhere else. Flat fields, highways, and not much to write home about.

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This Indiana Restaurant’s Over-The-Top Milkshakes Are Actually Breaking the Internet

I've walked down Massachusetts Avenue more times than I can count, and every time I pass Gordon's Milkshake Bar at 865 Massachusetts Ave, I see the same thing: people with their...

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This Indiana State Park Offers Rustic Lodge Stays and Gold-Hued Forest Views

I still remember my first drive along State Road 46, watching the hills roll into valleys painted with every shade of amber and rust. Brown County has this way of making you forget...

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This Indiana Garden Is Bursting With Color That Makes Every Visit Picture-Perfect

I still remember the first time I wandered through the gardens at Newfields on a warm spring morning. The colors hit me all at once, like stepping into a living painting where...

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These Indiana Steaks Are So Perfect, Living Nearby Suddenly Sounds Like a Great Idea

You know that feeling when you bite into a perfectly cooked steak and suddenly understand what all the fuss is about? That is exactly what happens at Mountain Jacks Steakhouse...

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This Indiana Spot Is Serving Fish Tacos That Have Crowds Coming from All Over

Fish tacos rarely live up to the hype, but the ones at La Margarita in Indianapolis manage to get something right that many places miss. They arrive hot, crisp, and intact, with...

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The Old-Fashioned Indiana Park That Brings Out Your Inner Kid

Indiana Beach sits along the shores of Lake Shafer at 5224 E Indiana Beach Rd, Monticello, IN 47960, and has been welcoming families since 1926. This classic amusement park combines...

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Why Every Indiana Road Trip Requires a Stop at These Famous Pie Shops

The Hoosier Pie Trail is a delicious journey through small towns and hidden gems. Local bakers have perfected their craft over generations.

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Indiana’s Largest Waterfall Is a “Hidden Gem” That Becomes a Magical Ice Palace in Winter

Tucked away in the heart of Owen County, Indiana at 2605 N. Cataract Road, Spencer, IN 47460, lies a natural wonder that many people have never heard of.

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Indiana’s Canyon That Feels Like You’re Not in Indiana Anymore

Tucked away in southeastern Indiana near the historic town of Madison, Clifty Falls State Park offers something most people never expect in the Hoosier State. This rugged wonderland...

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The Indiana Town Where Calm Days, Simple Joys, and Friendly Streets Make You Never Want to Leave

Wabash, Indiana is one of those places that stops you in your tracks. It’s not flashy or loud, but it feels genuine and inviting.

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Indiana Roadside Attractions That Feel Like a Total Accident

Indiana might not be the first state that springs to mind when you think of quirky roadside stops, but it hides some truly bizarre attractions along its highways and back roads....

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Indiana Winter Festivals Locals Keep As Their Private Tradition

Indiana winters transform into something magical when locals gather at festivals that feel like well-kept secrets passed down through generations.

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The Stuffed Remains of the World’s Biggest Steer Are Preserved in Indiana

Standing behind glass in a quiet pavilion in Kokomo, Indiana, is one of the most unusual attractions in the Midwest: the taxidermied remains of Old Ben, once celebrated as the...

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The Ice Tree in Indianapolis, Indiana Only Appears in the Coldest Winters

Winter in Indianapolis brings something truly magical that you won't find anywhere else in the world. Veal's Ice Tree stands as a frozen masterpiece in a residential backyard,...

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Indiana’s Indianapolis Cajun Spot Turns Stew Into a Cult Favorite

Indianapolis might not be the first place you think of when craving authentic Cajun food, but Yats has been changing minds for years.

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Indiana’s Dessert Haven Has Ice Cream Flavors You Didn’t Know Existed

Tucked away on South Walnut Street in downtown Bloomington, The Chocolate Moose has been serving up happiness in a cone since it first opened its doors. This isn't your average...

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7 Indiana Towns That Nail the Perfect Balance Between Nature and Nightlife

Indiana might not be the first state that comes to mind when you think of vibrant nightlife mixed with outdoor adventure, but it should be.

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