elias vaughn author at My Family Travels
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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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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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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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