elias vaughn author at My Family Travels
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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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This 24-Mile Indiana Hard-Mode Loop Is the Ultimate Test for Hikers

Some trails ask you to show up. This 24.2-mile loop at Brookville Lake asks you to prove yourself. Rugged, rolling, and unrelenting,...

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This Indiana Roadside Stop Is Famous for Home-Cooked Meals and a Massive Weekend Waitlist

Some restaurants just have a way of pulling you back, and this roadside spot in Lawrenceburg, Indiana is exactly that kind of place. I first heard about it from a friend who insisted...

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The Indiana Movie Theater That Swapped Popcorn for Upscale “New Americana” Dining

I grew up hearing stories about old Indiana movie houses, the kind where families packed in on Friday nights and the smell of buttered popcorn hit you before you even reached the...

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This Hidden Indiana Lake Has The Bluest Water And Best Sunsets

I grew up hearing about Lake Maxinkuckee from my grandparents, and the first time I actually stood at its shoreline, I completely understood why they never stopped talking about...

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This 11-Mile Indiana Wetland Trek Is Where Sand Prairies Meet Hardwood Forests

There is something quietly remarkable about a place where sand prairies blur into hardwood forests and wetlands stretch wide enough to make the world feel still. The North Judson...

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This Legendary Indiana Spot Is Famous for Serving Too Much Food and Letting You Pick a Pumpkin the Size of a Small Car

There are places you visit once and forget, and then there are places that become part of your family's story. This family farm and restaurant is firmly in that second category.

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10 Indiana Pasture-to-Pint Creameries Locals Trust For The State’s Freshest Dairy

I grew up thinking fresh milk just came from a grocery store shelf. Then I visited my first Indiana farm creamery, and everything changed.

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The Massive 78-Acre Indiana Ranch Where You Can Ride Horses Along A Hidden Creek

There are places in Indiana that make you forget how close you are to the city, and Natural Valley Ranch in Brownsburg is absolutely one of them. Spread across 78 rolling acres...

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This Historic 1800s Indiana Village Is Where Time Stands Still Among Working Mills and Log Cabins

There are places in Indiana where history does not just sit behind a glass case. This historic village is one of them. Tucked...

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The Secret Indiana Diner Where a Toy Train Pulls Up to Your Table with Your Order

I have eaten at countless family restaurants across Indiana, but nothing quite prepared me for the moment a miniature train rolled right up to the counter and delivered my food....

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This Indiana Gas Station-Style Deli Is the Hidden Gem Locals Claim Is Better Than Fancy Sandwich Shops

I never thought a small convenience store would change how I think about sandwiches forever, but here we are. NY Gourmet Deli has quietly become one of the most talked-about food...

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This Indiana Library Launches a Live Ghost Cam Hunt for the Infamous Gray Lady

I have visited a lot of libraries across Indiana, but nothing quite prepared me for walking into this one. There is something about the place that grabs you the moment you step...

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This 150-Acre Indiana Forest Is a Hidden Paradise for Horseback Riding and Quiet Nature Trails

There is something about riding through a quiet Indiana forest that makes everything else slow down. I first heard about one hidden trail property from a friend who kept describing...

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A Vibrant Indiana Brazilian Steakhouse Masterpiece With 15 Different Bottomless Meats

If you have ever wondered what it feels like to eat like royalty in the heart of Indianapolis, there is a Brazilian steakhouse that answers that question in the most delicious...

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This Indiana National Park Trail Leads To A Beach Most Tourists Never Find

Most people think of Indiana and picture cornfields and flat highways, but the northern edge of the state tells a completely different story. The Paul H.

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This Indiana Deserted Jungle Hike Leads to a Massive Wild Cave

There is something about a trail that feels forgotten by the rest of the world, and one hidden trail near Bloomington, Indiana delivers exactly that feeling. I have walked a lot...

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8 Giant Thrift Stores In Indiana You’ll Get Lost In For Hours

I have spent more weekend afternoons than I can count wandering through thrift stores, and Indiana has some of the best I have ever set foot in. There is something almost magical...

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This Indiana Sculpture Forest Lets You Explore Million-Dollar Art For Absolutely Nothing

I’ll be honest with you. I drove past this place more than once before I finally stopped and walked in, and I’ve been kicking myself ever since for waiting so long.

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This Historic Indiana Tavern Serves a Brain Sandwich That Draws Curious Foodies From Miles Away

Some places just have a story written into their walls, and The Hilltop Inn in Evansville, Indiana is one of them. I grew up hearing about spots like this, the kind where locals...

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This Indiana ‘Hidden Jewel’ Shadows 2,300 Acres Forged Between Two Great Rivers

I grew up hearing about Indiana’s state parks, but O’Bannon Woods always felt like a secret that only the locals knew. Nestled on 2,300 acres between the Ohio River and the...

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This Indiana Cat Trail Is A Secret Scavenger Hunt Where You’ll Find 14 Giant Statues Hiding In Plain Sight

I grew up watching Garfield on Saturday mornings, laughing at that orange tabby who hated Mondays and loved lasagna. So when I found out that Grant County, Indiana has an entire...

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This Unassuming Indiana Market Serves a Whole Fried Snapper That Will Transport You Straight to the Coast

I never thought I’d stumble upon a plate of whole fried snapper in Indianapolis that made me feel like I was sitting beachside somewhere along the Gulf Coast. But Santiago's...

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This Indiana Vintage Train Turns 1.5 Hours Into a Scenic Time-Travel Journey Everyone Will Want to Ride in 2026

I still remember the first time I heard the low whistle of a vintage locomotive cutting through the quiet Indiana countryside and felt that pull, that unmistakable urge to climb...

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This Indiana Beach Is a Secluded Escape That Somehow Stays Off the Radar

I have driven past plenty of Lake Michigan beaches that were packed wall to wall with umbrellas and folding chairs, and honestly, it gets old fast.

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This Indiana ‘Library’ Hides a Secret All-You-Can-Eat Pasta Bar

I never expected to find one of the most memorable dining experiences of my life wedged between airport hotels on the west side of Indianapolis. The Library Restaurant and Pub...

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This Massive Historic Compound In Indiana Is A Dream Come True For Fans Of Weird History

I have to be honest with you. I almost drove past it. The Wayne County Historical Museum in Richmond, Indiana looks unassuming...

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This Hidden Indiana Dirt Track Has Hosted Heart-Pounding Go-Kart Races for Every Age Since 1970

I'll be honest, I had driven past the Ben Hur area of Crawfordsville more times than I can count before I finally stopped and paid attention. There is something quietly magnetic...

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10 Indiana Spots Where the Lasagna Is Seriously Next-Level

I have eaten a lot of lasagna in my life, and I mean a lot. There is something about a perfectly layered dish of pasta, sauce, and bubbling cheese that just gets me every single...

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The Sweetest Festival in Indiana with Free Entry And Syrup You Need to See This March

I still remember the first time I caught the scent of maple syrup drifting through the crisp March air at Brown's Accents in Attica.

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This Slow-Paced Town In Indiana Has Fresh Air, No Traffic, And A Vibe That Feels Like A Permanent Vacation

I stumbled upon Metamora on a Sunday drive years ago, and honestly, it felt like I'd driven into a postcard from the 1800s. The town sits along the old Whitewater Canal, population...

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The Burgers At This Old-Timey Indiana Spot Have Been Smashed Into Onion-Grilled Perfection Since 1940

I still remember the first time someone told me about Powers Hamburgers in Fort Wayne. I thought, how special can a tiny slider joint really be?

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The Fascinating Car Museum In Indiana Features Over 120 Stunning Classic Cars

I've always loved classic cars, and discovering the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum felt like finding a hidden treasure in my own backyard.

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10 Indiana Restaurants Where You Can Still Eat for Under $15

Finding a satisfying meal that doesn't empty your wallet feels like striking gold these days. I've been exploring Indiana's...

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This Indiana Coffee “Speakeasy” Is a Hidden Hipster Paradise

I remember the first time I walked past 304 E New York St in downtown Indianapolis. I almost missed it completely. There was...

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This Massive Indoor Flea Market In Indiana Is The Hidden Goldmine You Never Knew Existed

I’ve driven past Emporium 1101 more times than I can count before finally stopping in, and honestly, I’m still kicking myself for waiting so long. From the outside, it might...

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This Amish Popcorn Farm In Indiana Has People Returning Again and Again

I still remember my first visit to Amish Country Popcorn in Berne, and honestly, I was not prepared for how much there was to love about this place. From the moment you walk through...

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10 Indiana Catfish Buffets That Are Totally Worth a Road Trip

I've spent years exploring Indiana's back roads, and I'll tell you something: the best catfish in the Hoosier State isn't hiding in fancy restaurants. It's waiting for you at small-town...

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This Indiana Attraction Is Free and Somehow Still Feels VIP

I remember the first time I walked past the Indiana War Memorial on Michigan Street. The massive limestone columns immediately caught my eye, and I couldn’t help but wonder what...

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This Laid-Back Pie Shop In Indiana Serves Some Of The Sweetest Slices You’ll Ever Taste

I never thought a slice of pie could make me feel so at home until I walked into My Sugar Pie in Zionsville. This charming little shop on Pine Street has become my go-to spot whenever...

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