clio harper author at My Family Travels
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Alabama Has A Hidden Glass and Timber Public Library Floating 30 Feet High In The Treetops

Some libraries hand you a book and send you on your way. A one-of-a-kind library in Vestavia Hills, Alabama does something far more memorable.

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10 Incredible Dog-Friendly Restaurants In Alabama Worth Adding To Your Pet-Friendly Bucket List

I never realized how much better a meal tastes when my dog is sitting right beside me. There is something genuinely special about finding a restaurant that rolls out the welcome...

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This Epic 6,000-Acre Mountain Waterscape Rules As Alabama’s Legendary Bald Eagle Sanctuary

Perched above the shimmering waters of Alabama's largest lake, a spectacular state park offers the kind of scenery that stops you in your tracks.

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This Two-Screen Vintage Alabama Drive In Still Shows Movies Under The Stars Every Summer

Some places hold onto the past in the best possible way. A classic drive-in theater in Gu-Win, Alabama has been welcoming families, couples, and movie lovers for decades, offering...

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8 Magical Indiana Towns Packed With Rich German Heritage & Old-World Vibes

I never expected to find so much old-world charm right here in Indiana. But the moment I started exploring some of the smaller towns tucked across the state, I realized something...

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This Massive Go Kart Track In Alabama Will Take You On An Exhilarating Fun Ride

Gulf Shores, Alabama is known for its white sand beaches and warm summer days, but there is one spot that keeps families coming back year after year for a completely different...

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This Custom Built Alabama Sanctuary Is Home To Over 1,000 Fluttering Native Butterflies

Imagine walking through a 9,000-square-foot sanctuary where over 1,000 colorful butterflies flutter all around you. A large butterfly conservatory located inside a botanical garden...

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10 Beautiful Alabama Covered Bridges Straight Out of a Storybook

I still remember the first time I crossed a covered bridge in Alabama. The wooden planks hummed under my feet, the creek gurgled below, and for a moment, the rest of the world...

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10 Alabama Coastal Restaurants Where The Views Are As Good As The Food

I have spent a lot of time chasing good food and even better views along the Alabama coast, and I can tell you firsthand that this stretch of shoreline delivers both in a big way....

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This Breathtaking Labyrinth Canyon In Indiana Looks Like A Hidden Jungle On Another Planet

Somewhere in the heart of Indiana, a landscape exists that feels like it belongs in a science fiction film. Hidden within one of the state's most beloved parks, this canyon system...

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This Unassuming Scratch-Made Breakfast Joint In Indiana Serves Up The Ultimate Comfort Food

Not every great breakfast spot announces itself with a flashy sign or a long line around the block. Some of the best ones sit quietly in a neighborhood plaza, waiting for curious...

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10 Hidden Roadside Gems in Alabama Every True Southerner Needs to Visit Once

I have driven through Alabama more times than I can count, and every single trip surprises me. This state hides some of the most unusual, beautiful, and downright unforgettable...

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8 Overwhelmed Alabama Shoreline Hotspots Overrun By High Prices And Aggressive Crowds

I have watched the coastline change dramatically over the past few years, and not always for the better. What once felt like an easygoing beach escape can now mean packed parking...

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10 Under-the-Radar Alabama Towns That Feel Like a Total Time Machine

I have a soft spot for places that make you slow down and actually look around. Not every great destination comes with a packed parking lot or a line out the door.

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This Nostalgic Alabama Soul-Food Joint Lets Guests Dine Inside a Restored Vintage Railway Car

Somewhere along Alabama State Route 53 in Harvest, a soul food spot is turning heads and filling plates in an unexpected way. A...

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This Cozy Alabama Eatery Delights With Outrageously Good Bavarian Comfort Food

Somewhere in downtown Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a little restaurant is quietly winning hearts one plate at a time. This local favorite brings homemade German comfort food to a city...

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This Charming Small Town In Indiana Lets Smart Retirees Live Large On A Very Small Budget

Nestled along the Wabash River in northern Indiana, a small city in Miami County offers a surprisingly rich mix of history, affordability, and small-town living.

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This Massive Amish-Run Discount Grocery Store In Indiana Keeps Prices Low And Selection Amazing

Somewhere along the back roads of Daviess County, Indiana, there is a small grocery store locals keep returning to without much hesitation. It is the kind of place that does not...

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This Massive 56-Foot Alabama Giant Is Officially The Largest Cast Iron Statue In The Entire World

Standing tall above the Birmingham skyline, a towering iron statue has become one of Alabama’s most recognizable landmarks. Rising high above the city from the top of Red Mountain,...

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10 Sprawling Alabama Flea Markets Only True Insiders Know About

I have spent more weekends than I can count wandering through flea markets across the South, and Alabama keeps pulling me back. There is something about the smell of old wood,...

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8 Alabama Museums That Are Completely Free To The General Public Every Day

I have a thing for discovering places that make you feel something without costing you a dime. Alabama surprised me in the best possible way when I started exploring its museums.

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10 Places In Alabama To Watch The Most Spectacular 4th Of July Fireworks Displays

There is something about the Fourth of July that makes everything feel bigger, louder, and more alive. I remember the first time I stood on a hillside and watched fireworks burst...

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This Breathtaking Medieval Castle Is Hiding In The Middle Of Nowhere, Alabama

Deep in the woods of Shelby, Alabama, there is a real medieval-style castle that most people drive right past without ever knowing it exists.

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This Indiana Amish Country Farm Invites You on a Wagon Safari to Hand-Feed Camels and Zebras

Zebras in Indiana. Yes, you read that right. A working Amish farm has turned its pastures into a safari, and you can ride through...

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This Secret 90-Meter Outdoor Archery Range Hiding in Indiana Is Built for Everyone

Indiana has a lot of surprises, and this archery range in Hamilton County might be one of its best-kept secrets. Set within a scenic natural area, it attracts everyone from complete...

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This Alabama Space Complex Houses Real NASA Moon Rocks And Lets You Train Like A Real Astronaut

You can touch a piece of the moon without leaving Alabama. That is not a metaphor. This massive space complex houses real NASA...

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Alabama’s #1 Longest Historic Covered Bridge Sits 27 Feet Above a Stunning River

You hold your breath and step onto a wooden time machine. The planks creak, the river churns far below, and suddenly you are walking through Alabama history that is also a whole...

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This Massive 750-Mile Alabama Shoreline Hides An Island You Can Only Reach By Boat

This Alabama lake is one of those places that feels built for people who genuinely love being outdoors. Spanning more than 44,000 acres with nearly 750 miles of shoreline, it ranks...

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This Gorgeous Alabama Town Combines Historic Murals, Family Farms And Elite Dining

Dothan, Alabama is one of those places that surprises you the moment you start paying attention. It carries the warmth of the Deep South but layers it with a creative energy that...

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This Historic 65-Acre Alabama Oasis Features Over 2,000 Vibrant Roses

Some places in Alabama feel like they belong in a different era entirely. This historic garden estate along the Fowl River is one of those rare destinations where history, nature,...

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This Indiana Town Hides a Magical Storybook Forest Right on the Coastline

Most people drive right past this small Indiana town without a second glance, and that is honestly their loss. Tucked along the Lake Michigan shoreline, it feels like something...

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8 Overrated Indiana Summer Towns That Have Become Way Too Overpacked And Crowded In 2026

Indiana has always had a soft spot for charming small towns, especially in summer when the weather draws people out in full force. I get it, these places have real appeal, with...

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This 21+ Alabama Arcade Offers No-Cover Entry And 25-Cent Retro Games

Birmingham, Alabama has no shortage of fun things to do, but this arcade-style bar brings something genuinely different to the city. It blends the nostalgia of classic arcade games...

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Find 320-Million-Year-Old Fossils On This Hidden Alabama Forest Floor Scavenger Hunt

Most people think of Alabama as a place for Southern cooking and college football, but the state holds something far older and far more surprising. Deep in the hills of northwestern...

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Top Chinese Restaurants In Alabama That Never Disappoint

Alabama might not be the first place that comes to mind for Chinese food, but the state holds some genuine surprises. From bold Sichuan heat to comforting American-Chinese classics,...

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The Stunning Alabama Restaurant Where Real Trains Pass Right Next To Your Dining Window

There is a restaurant in Alabama where history, food, and real live trains all show up at the same time. This Hartselle dining spot sits inside a restored early-20th-century train...

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10 Secret Alabama Swimming Spots Way Cooler Than Any Overcrowded Water Park

Alabama is full of surprises, and some of the best ones are hiding in plain sight. Forget the long lines, overpriced tickets, and crowded wave pools.

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This Rugged Indiana Ridge Hike Takes You Along the State’s Longest Trail

Few hiking experiences in the Midwest can rival the sheer magic of the Knobstone Trail on a crisp autumn morning. I’ll never forget standing atop one of those rugged ridgelines...

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8 Hidden Gem Mennonite Markets In Indiana Worth The Road Trip Just For The From-Scratch Bakeries

Indiana has a quiet kind of food magic that most people never find unless someone points them in the right direction. Scattered across small towns and rural backroads, Mennonite...

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9 Alabama Towns That Out Of State Tourists Completely Ruined

Alabama has some of the most beautiful small towns in the entire South. From quiet mountain villages to historic streets lined with century-old homes, these places have a charm...

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This Alabama Thrift Mega-Store Is Full Of Surprises And Shockingly Cheap Prices

I never thought a thrift store could surprise me until I started hearing whispers about a massive secondhand shop in Attalla, Alabama.

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The Ultimate 1,400-Acre Off-Road Adventure Hiding Right Here in Indiana

For off-road enthusiasts looking to conquer mud pits, scale massive sand dunes, and navigate dense wooded trails all in a single trip, this legendary park in Attica, Indiana is...

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This Century-Old Alabama Kitchen Is Famous For Deep Frying Their Ground Beef Burgers

Some food places earn their reputation not through trends or marketing, but through nearly a century of doing one thing and doing it their way.

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This Alabama Diner Spot Lets You Eat Comfort Food Inside A Crashed Passenger Train Car

Some restaurants give you a good meal. A rare few give you a story worth telling. This Robertsdale, Alabama diner is exactly...

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Rare Lemurs Will Literally Climb Directly Onto Your Head At This Quirky Alabama Zoo

There is a zoo in Gulf Shores, Alabama where a lemur might walk right across your shoulders and settle on your head like it owns the place. That is not a joke.

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The Massive 40-Acre Indiana Flea Market That’s Literally The Size Of 30 Football Fields

Some places just have a way of stopping you in your tracks. This massive flea market in Indiana’s Amish country is one of those places, and once you see its scale, it becomes...

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8 Jaw-Dropping Alabama Places Local Traditionalists Insist You Have To See To Actually Believe

Alabama has a way of surprising people who think they already know what the state looks like. From glowing canyon walls to ancient meteorite craters, the natural and historical...

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10 Alabama Places That Don’t Look Like They’re in Alabama

Alabama has a way of surprising people who think they already know what the state looks like. Most folks picture flat farmland, humid summers, and maybe a few rolling hills, but...

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This Stunning Emerald Pool Hidden In An Alabama Canyon Is A Paradise For Cliff Jumpers

Some places feel like they were made to be discovered on a perfect summer day. The Hippie Hole in Fort Payne, Alabama is one of those rare spots that earns every bit of the excitement...

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The Battle-Scarred Alabama Fortress Where You Can Walk Through Dark, Abandoned 19th-Century Tunnels

Fort Morgan sits at the very tip of the Alabama coast, where Mobile Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico, and it carries the weight of American history in every worn brick.

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This Unique Alabama Landmark Hides A Massive Historic Village That Transports You Straight Back To The 1800s

Most people driving through Huntsville never realize there is a fully preserved 19th-century village sitting on a mountaintop just minutes from the city. This mountaintop museum...

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The Award-Winning Indiana Smokehouse That Quietly Swept The National BBQ Circuit

Some barbecue places earn their reputation slowly, one loyal customer at a time. This Mooresville, Indiana smokehouse did exactly that, building a name for itself through decades...

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You Won’t Believe This Ornate Tibetan Temple Is Tucked Away In The Indiana Woods

Most people think of Indiana and picture cornfields, college towns, and quiet Midwestern life. What they do not expect is a Tibetan cultural center surrounded by rolling wooded...

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This Beautiful 700-Acre Alabama Oasis Is Hidden Less than Two Minutes From The Interstate

Most people blow past Exit 51 on Interstate 85 without a second thought, never knowing what waits just around the corner. This state park sits on nearly 700 acres of rolling hills,...

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This Heart-Pounding Alabama Bridge Lets You Stand Directly Over A Massive Rushing Waterfall

There are places in Alabama that stop you cold the moment you see them, and this Grove Oak destination is exactly that kind of place. A wide, powerful waterfall surges through...

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8 Secret Alabama BBQ Hole-In-The-Walls Better Than Any Major Chain

Alabama has a BBQ culture that runs deeper than most people realize. Far from the highway chains and flashy tourist stops, small family-run smokehouses across Alabama have been...

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This Alabama Boat Tour Gets You So Close To Wild Dolphins They’ll Be Jumping Right Beside You

There is something genuinely thrilling about watching wild dolphins leap through the water just a few feet from where you are standing. Along the Alabama Gulf Coast, this Orange...

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Most Alabamians Don’t Know This Surreal Underground Waterfall Even Exists

Hidden beneath the hills of Jackson County, Alabama, this cave preserve holds one of the Southeast’s most striking underground landscapes. A waterfall drops deep into a cavern,...

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This Indiana General Store Still Serves Sandwiches The Old-Fashioned Way

There are some places in Indiana that just feel like home the moment you walk through the door, and this historic general store in southwestern Indiana is one of them. Sitting...

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One Of Indiana’s Most Scenic Coastal Hikes Includes A 270-Step Stair Climb To The Top

There is something about standing at the edge of a massive sand dune, looking out over Lake Michigan with the Chicago skyline glowing in the distance, that makes you forget you...

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