gideon frost author at My Family Travels
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Taste The Authentic Flavors Of The Himalayas At This Hidden Indiana Gem

I never expected to find a piece of the Himalayas tucked into a quiet neighborhood in Bloomington, Indiana. But that is exactly what this little Tibetan spot delivers, and honestly,...

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The Fast-Paced Indiana Bin Store Where “Grab Bag Day” Is a Competitive Sport With $5 Treasures

If you have ever wanted to feel the rush of a real treasure hunt without leaving Indianapolis, there is a spot on Coffman Road that might be exactly what you’ve been looking...

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This Indiana Seafood Spot Features Floor-to-Ceiling Windows Overlooking a Massive Lighted Waterfall

There are restaurants, and then there are places that genuinely stop you in your tracks the moment you walk through the door. This South Bend spot is exactly that kind of place.

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This Indiana Diner Serves a 16-Ounce Behemoth Tenderloin So Massive You Can Make Three Sandwiches From One Cutlet

There are certain places in Indiana that just feel like they belong to everyone who has ever grown up here, and this classic diner in Edinburgh is one of them. I first heard about...

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8 Indiana Step Back in Time Villages Where Modern Life Completely Disappears

I still remember the first time I drove through a small Indiana village and felt the world slow down around me. The hum of traffic faded, the phone signal dropped, and suddenly...

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10 Remote Indiana Restaurants Where the Drive Is Part of the Adventure

I have a thing for roads that lead somewhere unexpected. Not highways lined with chain restaurants and familiar logos, but the kind of two-lane stretches where the GPS hesitates...

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This Indiana Art Museum Boasts the Largest Collection of Artwork Ever Created by Hoosiers

I will be honest with you. I drove past this mansion on more times than I can count before I finally stopped and walked inside. That...

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This Indiana Candle Emporium Features a Massive Candle-Shaped Building Visible from the Highway

There are roadside stops you forget the moment you pull back onto the highway, and then there are places that genuinely surprise you. This one is firmly in that second category.

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This 3-Story Indiana “Neon Grotto” Is Built From 250 Tons Of Rare Glowing Sponge Rock

I never expected to come across something this extraordinary tucked along a quiet road in Munster, Indiana. This grotto is exactly the kind of place that makes you pause and take...

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This Indiana Library Is Hiding Over 30,000 Mechanical Puzzles That You Can Actually Try To Solve In Person

I never expected a library to stop me in my tracks, but a certain puzzle collection did exactly that. Tucked away inside a university campus, this extraordinary space holds the...

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This Indiana Hidden Gem in a Schoolhouse Serves Gourmet Chicken Salad Alongside Retro Finds

Some places just stop you in your tracks the moment you hear about them. A gourmet cafe and a treasure-filled gift shop inside a historic schoolhouse in Chesterton, Indiana?

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Step Into This High-Tech Indiana Dreamscape For A 3-Course Dinner Inspired By Alice In Wonderland

Imagine sitting down to dinner and watching your table transform into a swirling rabbit hole right before your eyes. That is exactly what this experience in Indianapolis delivers,...

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This Indiana Miniature Chapel Is Completely Covered in Shells Collected from the Wabash River

There is something quietly extraordinary about a tiny chapel covered floor to ceiling in river shells, and I found myself completely caught off guard the first time I learned about...

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This 5-Mile Indiana Paddle Takes You Through a Flooded Cypress Swamp

I never expected to find something that felt this wild in Indiana. When I first paddled out onto this lake, the sight of bald cypress trees rising straight out of the water stopped...

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This Indiana Pizzeria Serves Authentic Charred Crust Pies With Mozzarella Made Fresh Every Hour

I never thought I would find a pizza this close to what I ate in Naples, Indiana of all places. But this little spot completely changed my expectations in a way I didn’t see...

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This Indiana Midnight Market Lets You Shop Vintage Finds and Collectibles Until the Clock Strikes Twelve

There is something genuinely exciting about walking into a place that looks small from the outside and then just keeps going. That is exactly what it feels like the moment you...

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This Indiana Hardware Store Features A Hidden Gourmet Grill Serving Brisket And Ramen

I never thought I would walk into a hardware store and leave thinking more about the food than the tools. But that’s exactly what happened the first time I discovered this hidden...

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This Massive Indiana Treasure Map Boasts 250+ Booths Where You Can Get Lost in a Year-Round Indoor Haven

There is something about walking into a place where every corner holds a surprise that never gets old for me. This massive flea market in northwest Indiana is exactly that kind...

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This Indiana Wildlife Drive Lets You See Thousands Of Migrating Cranes From Your Car Window

Something almost unbelievable happens in the flat farm fields of northwestern Indiana. Thousands of sandhill cranes gather, filling the sky with wings, bugling calls, and a kind...

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This Historic Indiana Landmark Is Where You Can Still Get a Full Meal for Under $5

There are places that feel like they belong to a different era, and this little hot dog shop is absolutely one of them. It has been serving locals and visitors for over a century,...

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These Eerie Ruins Once Adorned a New York Skyscraper Before Being Dumped in an Indiana Park

I never expected to find pieces of a New York City skyscraper hidden in a park, quietly standing among the trees on the north side of Indianapolis. But there they are; weathered,...

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An Indiana Schoolhouse Boutique Hiding Rare Nostalgic Candy And Unique Gifts

Some places just have a way of stopping you in your tracks. I remember driving along the back roads near Chesterton, Indiana, spotting a little shop and thinking it was probably...

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This Indiana Gastropub’s Secret “Retro Rewind” Dinner Is Selling Out Fast

Something special is happening in downtown Fort Wayne, and locals are catching on fast. There’s a gastropub that has always been a favorite for creative food and a welcoming...

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This Indiana ‘Book Cellar’ Is Hidden in the Basement of the State’s Second-Oldest Indie Shop

There is something about walking into a bookstore that feels like coming home, and one shop in Columbus, Indiana takes that feeling to a whole new level. This shop holds the proud...

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Indiana’s Most Theatrical Tea Experience Is a Technicolor Journey in a Private Residence

I never expected a private home in Corydon, Indiana to completely redefine what afternoon tea means to me. One tearoom is not your average visit.

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This Indiana Produce Market Is Hiding a Seafood Counter Known for Fresh East Coast Oysters

I never expected to find a serious seafood spot tucked inside a grocery market in Carmel, Indiana, but Slapfish completely changed that assumption. Located right next to Market...

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This Indiana Garden Hides a Secret Waterfall Oasis That Feels Straight Out of a Fairytale

I never expected a small city in northeastern Indiana to stop me completely in my tracks. But the first time I walked into the Sunken Gardens in Huntington, I genuinely felt like...

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This Indiana Musical Wonderland Is The World’s Largest Guitar Store And A Massive Playground For Gearheads

I never thought a music store could genuinely stop me in my tracks, but Sweetwater Sound in Fort Wayne, Indiana did exactly that. Walking through those doors feels less like shopping...

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This Indiana Hidden Gem Is Bringing Bold Venezuelan Flavors to the Midwest

I never expected to find a taste of Venezuela on Allisonville Road in Indianapolis, but that is exactly what Cumaco Arepa House delivers.

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This Unassuming Indiana Charity Shop Is Hiding Designer Brands For Less Than A Cup Of Coffee

I never expected to find a wedding dress for $95 on a Tuesday afternoon in Indianapolis, but that is exactly the kind of thing that happens at Thrifty Threads.

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This Massive Indiana Haunted Complex Is A Creepy Hidden Gem Where Horror Lovers Can Spend The Night

I never thought a drive through Parke County would lead me to one of the most unforgettable places I have ever set foot in. Indiana State Sanatorium sits on a sprawling property,...

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This Massive Indiana Comic and Book Wonderland Is Hidden Behind an Unassuming Storefront

I'll be honest, I walked past Von's Book Shop on West State Street more than once before I ever stopped in. From the outside, it looks like just another small storefront near the...

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This 36,000-Square-Foot Indiana Maze of History Features 200+ Dealers and a Famous Vintage Boutique

I have walked through a lot of antique shops across Indiana, but nothing quite prepared me for what was waiting inside Southport Antique Mall on East Southport Road in Indianapolis....

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The Best Sundaes In Indiana Are Hiding Inside This Award-Winning Shop That Tops Every Big Name

I have tried a lot of ice cream in Indiana, and nothing has stopped me in my tracks quite like Sundae's Homemade Ice Cream on the east side of Indianapolis. From the moment I walked...

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This Colossal Indiana Thrift Store Is A Treasure Trove With 150+ Secret Vendors Inside

I've spent more Saturday afternoons than I can count wandering through antique markets across Indiana, but nothing prepared me for my first visit to Midland Arts & Antiques...

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People Drive From All Over Indiana For The Ridiculously Good Discounts At This Warehouse-Sized Thrift Store

I remember the first time I walked into The Depot MCC Thrift in Goshen. My friend from Fort Wayne had been raving about it for months, insisting I make the drive to see what all...

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This Indiana Catfish Spot Has A Way Of Making You A Customer For Life

I've been driving through Boone County for years, and every time I pass through Thorntown, I see the same thing. Cars packed around Stookey's Family Dining.

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These Are 10 Indianapolis Cafés You Won’t Find in Guidebooks

I’ve spent years exploring Indianapolis coffee shops, and I can tell you the best ones almost never make it into those glossy travel guides. The cafés that locals actually love...

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This Indiana Seafood Spot Is a Beloved Local Secret You Have to Try

I remember the first time someone told me about a family restaurant in Schererville that's been serving lake perch since 1929. I thought they were pulling my leg.

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This Indiana “Star City” Is Famous for a Burger Topped With Peanut Butter, And You Need to Try It in 2026

I never thought peanut butter belonged on a burger until I visited Lafayette. This charming Indiana city sits along the Wabash River and has earned the nickname "Star City" for...

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8 Huge Indiana Bazaars Where Deals Are Too Good to Miss

I have spent more weekends than I can count wandering through Indiana's flea markets and bazaars, coffee in hand, searching for that perfect vintage find or unexpected treasure....

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This Indiana “Barn” Restaurant Serves Amish Classics Just Like Grandma Made

I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for comfort food that reminds me of Sunday dinners at my grandmother's house. When I first heard about Shipshewana Auction Restaurant over on Van Buren...

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This Indiana Arboretum Will Burst With Color and Life This Spring

I remember the first time I visited Gabis Arboretum in early spring, walking through trails still damp from melting snow, watching the landscape slowly wake up around me. The air...

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This Indiana Town Has Amish Chicken & Noodles and Smoked Cheeses Worth Trying

I first stumbled upon Yoder's Meat & Cheese Co during a crisp autumn morning drive through Shipshewana, and honestly, I wasn't expecting much more than another roadside market....

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This Indiana City Feels Like the Perfect Blend of History and Modern Life

I first drove into Greencastle on a crisp October morning, unsure what to expect from this small city tucked between Terre Haute and Indianapolis. What I found surprised me in...

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This Indiana Historic Town Festival Was Perfect for Locals, Now Everyone Wants In

I first heard about the Nashville Back Roads Studio Tour from a friend who couldn't stop raving about the hidden artists tucked away in Brown County's rolling hills. At the time,...

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This Indiana Restaurant Serves Ramen That Students Keep Coming Back For

Walking into Kyuramen on Massachusetts Avenue feels like stepping into another world. The neon glow spilling onto the sidewalk caught my eye immediately, and once inside, the buzz...

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Indiana’s Must-Visit Pancake House for the Breakfast of Your Dreams

I've been chasing the perfect breakfast around Indianapolis for years, and let me tell you something honest. Lincoln Square Pancake House at 613 W 11th St has absolutely ruined...

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This Indiana Bistro Is Serving Elegant Plates That Food Lovers Can’t Stop Raving About

A French bistro tucked into a Noblesville shopping center might not seem like the place to find Parisian elegance, but Ble French Bistro at 16771 Clover Rd, Noblesville, IN 46060...

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The Tamales in This Indiana Bakeshop Are Pure Obsession Material

Walking through the doors at Mama Ines Mexican Bakery at 801 Sagamore Pkwy N, Lafayette, IN 47904, the aroma hits like a warm hug from a grandmother's kitchen, making it clear...

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