elias vaughn author at My Family Travels
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This Historic Indiana Steakhouse Still Charges $0 for Your Soup, Salad, and Sides With Your Steak Dinner

Some restaurants just have a way of making you feel like you got more than you paid for, and this family-owned steakhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana is exactly that kind of place....

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This Quiet Indiana Narnia Trail Turns An Easy Family Hike Into A Magical Adventure

Some parks feel like ordinary green spaces, and then there are places like this 311-acre nature reserve in Harrison County, Indiana that feel genuinely different the moment you...

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The Changing Indiana City Where Lifelong Residents Say They No Longer Feel Welcome

Fishers, Indiana is not the quiet suburb it used to be. Over the past decade, this Hamilton County city has transformed at a pace that has left some longtime residents feeling...

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The Secret Indiana Woods Hiding Pre-Colonial Era Trees Most Locals Have Never Seen

Most people drive past it without a second glance. Hidden on the east side of Michigan City, this Indiana nature preserve holds one of the rarest pockets of old-growth forest in...

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This Peaceful Indiana Park Conceals a Grim, Flood-Scarred Past Known as Death Valley

There is something genuinely different about this nature park in urban Bartholomew County, Indiana that is hard to put into words until you actually experience it. Spread across...

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This Immersive Indiana Facility Lets You Safely Smash Glass And TVs For The Ultimate Stress Relief

Some days, you just need to let off steam. This Indianapolis, Indiana rage-room experience offers a controlled, safe space where people can release stress in a very physical way.

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Book A Private Sloth & Kangaroo Encounter With This Legendary Indiana Crew

Most people drive past Acton, Indiana without a second glance, not realizing that the headquarters for the state’s most famous traveling wildlife crew is tucked away there. While...

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The Hidden Indiana Beach With A Secret Free Walkway To Avoid Crowds

Most people driving along the southern shore of Lake Michigan have no idea that a quiet, almost hidden beach community sits just a short drive from Chicago. This Indiana lakeshore...

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This Massive Indiana Pizza Buffet Is the Ultimate Family Fuel-Up Spot in Amish Country

Shipshewana, Indiana is the kind of place that surprises you. Most people come for the Amish quilts, the flea market, and the horse-drawn buggies rolling quietly down country roads.

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This Wooded Indiana Escape Looks Like A Deep Forest Stumbled On By Accident

Some parks announce themselves with big signs and busy parking lots. This wooded escape in east Indianapolis, Indiana is not one of those places.

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These Stunning Indiana Hidden Gems Look Like A Secret Escape To Rural Italy

Indiana is not the first place most people think of when they imagine cobblestone courtyards, Palladian columns, or vine-covered hillsides. But scattered across this Midwestern...

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Eat, Play Pinball, and Get Your Laundry Done at This Secret Indiana Spot

Not every great spot announces itself loudly, and this Indianapolis, Indiana hangout is proof of that. Tucked into a neighborhood setting, it blends a working laundromat with pinball...

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This Toxic Indiana Junkyard Is Being Reclaimed Into A Massive 400-Acre Adventure Park

I grew up in southern Indiana knowing the Ohio River shoreline as a stretch of rusted fences, overgrown lots, and land that felt forgotten. So when I first heard about a major...

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This Indiana Zoo Has An Exhibit Where River Otters Swim And Dive Right In Front Of You

There is something about watching a river otter twist and spin through the water right in front of you that makes you forget everything else for a moment. I have visited a lot...

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This Indiana Bin Store Refills Every Friday With High-End Tech For Deeply Discounted Finds

If you love the thrill of finding something amazing at a price that feels almost too good to be true, this liquidation bin store in Portage, Indiana might become your new favorite...

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This Massive Mid-Century Warehouse In Indiana Is Now An Industrial BBQ Smokehouse

There is something genuinely exciting about walking into a space that used to be a bustling department store and finding it transformed into a warm, community hub. This Indianapolis...

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This Indiana Ghost Town Site Was Once A Small Settlement And Now Exists As Faint Remains Hidden In The Landscape

There is something quietly haunting about a place that was once alive with hundreds of voices and is now softened by trees, river sounds, and time. I first heard about this historic...

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This 4-Mile Coastal Indiana Trail Moves From Untamed Dunes To City Lights

I have walked a lot of trails in Indiana, but the Singing Sands Trail in Michigan City genuinely surprised me. It is not just a path through nature.

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This Indiana Amish Country Store Is A Hidden Favorite For Fresh Sandwiches And Homemade Bakery Treats

I will admit that some of my favorite discoveries in Indiana have been the kind you almost drive past without noticing. This Amish-rooted country market in Milroy is exactly that...

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This Charming Alabama Town Offers Peace, Beauty, And A Welcome Escape From The Crowds

I’ve spent years exploring small towns across the South, but something about this coastal Alabama community stopped me in my tracks. Maybe it was the way sunlight filtered through...

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This Massive Indiana Off-Road Park Was Once A Coal Mine And Now Spans 1,450 Acres Of Rugged Adventure

I grew up thinking Indiana was all flat cornfields and basketball courts until I discovered places like this off-road recreation area in southern Indiana. It turns out the state...

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This Restored Indiana Swamp Hides Historic Cabins, Rare Birds, And A Surprisingly Peaceful Escape

I grew up hearing stories about Indiana’s vanishing wetlands, those swamp forests that once covered huge stretches of the state before most of them were drained for farmland...

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This Indiana Indoor Trampoline Park Features High-Flying Dodgeball, Foam Pits, And Ninja Warrior Obstacles

I went in thinking I would just watch. Maybe bounce a little. Nothing serious. Two hours later I was soaked in sweat, trash talking...

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This Stunning Indiana Park Is Home To A Super Easy, Ultra-Relaxing Nature Walk

I never thought I’d find a place in Carmel that feels like a quiet European countryside estate, yet here we are. This beautifully designed park has become one of those rare spots...

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This Indiana Primate Sanctuary Gives Rescued Monkeys A Second Chance At Life In A Quiet Rural Setting

I'll admit that when I first heard about a primate sanctuary tucked away in rural Winamac, I was curious. Not many people realize that right here in Indiana, rescued baboons and...

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The Affordable Alabama Town Where You Can Live Well On A Social Security Budget

I’ve spent years looking into places where retirement income stretches further without forcing people to give up comfort or stability. One city in southeastern Alabama kept coming...

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This Indiana Breakfast Spot Serves Giant Platters That Keep Families Full For Hours

I’ll admit it. I’ve become spoiled by breakfast spots that actually understand what families need, generous portions that leave everyone satisfied without stressing over the...

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This Indiana Indoor BMX Track Lets Riders Train Year-Round On High-Speed Banked Turns

When winter hits, finding places where kids can burn off energy while actually learning something gets tough. That’s what makes this indoor BMX facility such a standout.

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This Indiana Cave Features a Phenomenal 2-Hour Adventure Through a 4,000-Year-Old Underground Chert Mine

I have always believed that Indiana holds more wonder than most people give it credit for, and this cave system proved that belief in a big way. Buried beneath the hills of Crawford...

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This British-Inspired Indiana Eatery Features Hearty Shepherd’s Pie and Authentic Scottish Eggs

I never expected to find a slice of Britain tucked into Indiana, but this restaurant proved me wonderfully wrong. From the moment you catch the aroma drifting from the kitchen,...

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An Accessible Indiana Zoo Where Interactive Animal Encounters and Scenic Nature Trails Create the Perfect Day Trip

I have a soft spot for places that make you feel genuinely welcome the moment you walk through the gate. This historic zoo in South Bend does exactly that, and it has been doing...

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The 6,000-Square-Foot Indiana Quilt Haven With Over 50 Years of History and Thousands of Fabric Bolts

I still remember the first time I walked into this quilting store in Greenwood, Indiana, and felt like I had stumbled into a world built entirely for people who love fabric, color,...

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This Steep 1.8-Mile Primitive Forest Loop Is Indiana’s Best-Kept Secret For A Rugged Escape

Most people drive right past it without even knowing it is there. A quiet nature preserve in southern Indiana sits tucked off a rural road, a 60-plus-acre pocket of forest that...

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7 Indiana Lakeside Restaurants So Packed On Weekends Locals Refuse To Even Try Showing Up

I have made the mistake of showing up to an Indiana lakeside restaurant on a Saturday afternoon without a reservation, and I will not be doing that again. The parking lot was full...

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10 Indiana Thrill Spots for Adrenaline Junkies Who Don’t Do Boring

I'll be honest, I used to think Indiana was all flat roads and cornfields. Then I found myself gripping a steering wheel at 150 mph on the same track where legends have raced for...

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This Indiana Canopy Trek Lets You Conquer Over 60 Obstacles And Ziplines Up To 60 Feet High Above The Forest Floor

There are outdoor experiences, and then there are the ones that genuinely change how you see your own backyard. This aerial adventure course in Noblesville, Indiana is that kind...

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This Tiny Indiana Strip Mall Spot Might Actually Be Indiana’s Most Authentic Italian Oasis

I’ll be honest, when I first heard about a beloved Italian restaurant tucked inside a strip mall in a small northwest Indiana town, I was a little skeptical. But this place has...

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The Massive Indiana River Lookout Where You Can Scramble To The Top Of A 400-Million-Year-Old Reef

There is a place in Indiana where you can put your hand on a rock wall and feel, almost instinctively, that you are touching something unimaginably old. A limestone outcrop along...

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This Indiana State Forest Loop Delivers Ridge Views and Deep Silence Just Minutes Off the Highway

I grew up in southern Indiana, and somehow this state forest always felt like a secret hiding in plain sight just off a major highway. You can be cruising along one minute and...

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This Incredible Indiana Big Cat Habitat Lets You Get Up Close To Rescued Tigers And Lions

I never expected a quiet country road in Clay County to lead me to one of the most powerful wildlife experiences I have ever had in Indiana. This exotic feline sanctuary near Center...

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10 Indiana Attractions You Can Finish in Under an Hour

I'll be honest, I used to think Indiana's best moments required a full weekend and a packed itinerary. Then I started noticing all these incredible spots scattered across the state...

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The Indiana Market Where You’ll Find the State’s Best Locally-Sourced Meats and Artisanal Sausages

I have walked through a lot of grocery stores in Indiana, but nothing quite prepares you for the moment you step into this Bloomington co-op and realize the place is genuinely...

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The Indiana Haunted Mansion Where a Victorian Millionaire’s Family Is Said to Still Host Tea Parties in the Ballroom

There is something about a towering Second Empire mansion in southern Indiana that gets under your skin in the best possible way. I grew up in Indiana, and I had driven past this...

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This Iconic Indiana Spot Perfected the Chicago Deep Dish Without the Windy City Wait

If you have ever wondered whether Indianapolis could pull off a Chicago deep dish that actually holds its own, this Broad Ripple pub has been answering that question for over 45...

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This Indiana Joint Serves A $9 Tenderloin Basket That Makes Fast Food Look Overpriced

There are certain places in Indiana that just feel like home the moment you walk in, and this Akron eatery is exactly that kind of spot. I grew up hearing Hoosiers talk about their...

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This Indiana “Canyon” Is a Miniature Rugged Wonderland Hidden in the Middle of Farm Fields

Most people picture Indiana as flat fields stretching to the horizon, but this part of Wabash County has a secret that completely flips that idea on its head. I remember the first...

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9 Easygoing Indiana Walks That Feel Like a Mini Adventure

I have a confession: I used to think Indiana was mostly cornfields and interstates. Then one Saturday I laced up my sneakers, drove an hour south of Indianapolis, and found myself...

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This Elevated Indiana Restaurant Features Premium Steaks and Fresh Seafood in an Intimate Second-Floor Setting

I never thought I'd find a fine-dining experience that genuinely rivals anything in downtown Indianapolis without leaving the south side, but this second-floor restaurant in Bargersville...

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This Indiana Landmark Features a Restored Trolley Car Where You Can Eat Your Spaghetti Inside a Piece of History

There are restaurants you visit once and forget, and then there are places that stick with you for years. This restaurant is firmly in that second category for me.

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The Massive Indiana Bin Store Where Savvy Shoppers Score High-End Goods For A Single Dollar

I'll be honest, I never thought a warehouse full of bins could get me genuinely excited to wake up early on a weekday. But this bargain spot in Anderson, Indiana changed that pretty...

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The Historic Indiana Soap Factory That Was Transformed Into a Three-Story Artisan Wonderland

I still remember the first time I walked through the heavy doors of this historic factory in Goshen, Indiana, and felt like I had stepped into a completely different world. The...

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This Indiana Farm-to-Table Spot Features a Seasonal Menu Inspired by the Daily Harvest

I have a soft spot for places that feel honest about where food comes from, and this Zionsville creamery hits that note perfectly every single time.

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This Award-Winning Indiana Pizzeria Is Famous for its Hand-Tossed Pies and House-Brewed Craft Sodas

Some pizza places just have a way of pulling you back, and this local favorite in Columbus is exactly that kind of place. I first heard about it from locals who talked about it...

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This Indiana Wildlife Sanctuary Features Rescued Black Bears In A Natural Habitat

Some places just stop you in your tracks, and one animal sanctuary is absolutely one of them. Set across 18 acres of peaceful countryside, this nonprofit refuge gives displaced,...

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The 8 Most Historical Indiana Eateries That Have Been Serving Hoosiers for Over a Century

I have always believed that the best way to understand a place is to eat where the locals have eaten for generations. Indiana...

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10 Indiana No-Frills Roadside Shacks Serving Meals That Put 5-Star Restaurants to Shame

I have eaten at places with cloth napkins, candles on the table, and prices that made my eyes water. None of them have ever made me feel the way a good Indiana roadside shack does.

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This Remote 25-Mile Indiana Loop Features Five Unique Shelters and Panoramic Ohio River Views

There is something quietly powerful about a trail that asks everything of you and gives back even more. This one, winding through some of the most rugged and rewarding terrain...

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This New 2026 Indiana Italian Spot Is Famous For Scratch-Made Pasta Served In A Historic Century-Old Building

The city just welcomed one of the most exciting new restaurant openings in years, and I honestly cannot stop thinking about it. Since opening in early 2026, this spot has been...

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This Indiana Gas House Has Been Reborn as a Stylish Historic Steakhouse in a 19th-Century Building

Fort Wayne has a lot of good food, but this spot is something I keep coming back to. There is something about walking into a building that once powered an entire city with gas...

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This Indiana Free Market Community Swap Operates Solely on Volunteers and “Everything Is Free”

There is something quietly remarkable happening in South Bend, Indiana. This local coffee house is not your typical stop. It...

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