clio harper author at My Family Travels
Article
This Rugged Indiana Ridge Hike Offers Exhilarating Backcountry Views Along The State’s Longest Footpath

Few trails in the Midwest can match what the Knobstone Trail delivers on a clear autumn morning. I remember standing on one of those exposed ridgelines in southern Indiana, looking...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Haunted Indiana Steakhouse Where Ghosts Throw Brochures and the Wood-Fired Ribeye Is Legend

There are steakhouses, and then there are places that feel like they carry the weight of an entire town's story in their walls. One spot in Aurora, Indiana is exactly the second...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Artisan Indiana Pizzeria Uses a Wood-Fired Oven to Blister Crusts Topped with Pepperoni and Zesty Peppadew Peppers

Finding genuinely great pizza in Indianapolis is something I take seriously, and this Broad Ripple spot has completely changed my expectations.

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Tiny Indiana Amish Country Shop Where Locals Score High-Quality Regional Treasures

There is something genuinely exciting about finding a shop that feels completely unlike anything else in the area, and The Crowded Closet Consignment in the heart of Middlebury...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This One-Acre Indiana Railway Garden Features Seven G-Gauge Trains Circling 3,000 Feet of Landscaped Track

I have walked through a lot of gardens in Indiana, but nothing quite prepared me for what I found at this arboretum in Valparaiso. Nestled within a 360-acre oak preserve, this...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana Deli Sells Authentic Jamaican Patties in a Tiny, No-Frills Neighborhood Shack

I never expected to find one of my favorite meals in a small, no-frills spot in Indianapolis. But the first time I tried a beef patty there, I completely understood why people...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Tiny Indiana Italian Market Features Authentic Pastries, Gelato, and Sliced Entrees

I never expected to find a slice of Italy tucked in Carmel, but here we are. This is the kind of place that stops you mid-bite and makes you forget you are anywhere other than...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana Neighborhood Steakhouse Offers Chicago-Sourced Steaks and a Fun Dining Experience

I never thought I’d find a steakhouse in Greenwood, Indiana that could genuinely compete with the big downtown spots, but that assumption didn’t last long after my first visit...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana Antique Mall Is Housed in a 37,000-Square-Foot Warehouse with 350+ Vendors

I have spent plenty of weekend afternoons hunting through antique shops across Indiana, but nothing quite prepared me for the first time I walked into this spot in Plainfield....

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana Train Is Being Taken Over By The Easter Bunny This Month For An Interactive Egg Hunt On The Rails

There is something about a train ride that just feels magical, and when you mix that with Easter, an egg hunt, and rolling countryside, you have a recipe for one of the best family...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Indiana 1850s Gastropub Serves Peanut Butter Burgers and Weekly Ramen Inside a Former Historic Tavern

Some places just feel different the moment you walk through the door. This historic pub in Valparaiso, Indiana, is one of those rare spots where history, food, and community collide...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Niche Indiana Pizzeria Is Famous For Its Cornmeal Crust And Using Goldfish Crackers As Croutons

There are pizza places, and then there is this spot in Bloomington, Indiana. I have eaten pizza in a lot of places, but something about it makes it genuinely hard to forget.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Indiana Border Tavern Is Renowned for Homemade Pies and Some of the Best Fried Chicken in the State

There are places you stumble upon that stick with you long after you leave, and this tavern in West Harrison near the Indiana-Ohio border is absolutely one of them. Tucked along...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Hidden Indiana Peak Is the State’s Highest Point, And It Hides a Secret “Highpointer” Mailbox

I never expected Indiana’s highest point to feel like a secret worth keeping. Hoosier Hill sits quietly amid the farmland of Wayne County, easy to miss if you don’t know where...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Discover The “Train That Ran On Water” At This Unique Indiana Canal Landmark

I still remember the first time I pulled into Metamora and felt like I had somehow slipped back in time. The smell of fresh-ground grain drifting from an old mill, the sound of...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Indiana Consignment Village Features a 400-Booth Maze of Organized Treasures

I have always had a soft spot for places where every corner holds something unexpected. This massive consignment marketplace in Clarksville, Indiana is exactly that kind of place.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Chinese Spot In Indiana Is A Viral Sensation Featuring Lines Out The Door For A $10 Cash Only Combo Plate

There is a Chinese restaurant on the east side of Indianapolis that has people lining up before the doors even open. This place has quietly built a loyal following over the years...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Tropical Indiana Hideaway Pairs World-Class Ramen and Fresh Oysters Under One Roof

I never thought I would find a tropical escape in the middle of Indianapolis, but this spot completely changed my mind. Tucked into the Irvington neighborhood, it blends laid-back...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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.

Read More    6 min read

Article
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.

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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.

Read More    7 min read

Article
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.

Read More    6 min read

Article
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,...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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.

Read More    9 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    9 min read

Article
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.

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    8 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    9 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    8 min read

Article
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.

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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.

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read