iris callahan author at My Family Travels
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This All-You-Can-Eat Hot Pot Spot Offers Indiana’s Most Spectacular Seafood Feast

Dinner is much easier when the food cooks itself. Mostly. You still have to decide what goes into the pot. That is where things...

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This Historic Indiana College Charges No Tuition for Families Making Under $100K

The college tour usually comes with a calculator. Tuition. Housing. Books. Then...

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This Hidden Gem Brings Epic Middle Eastern Shawarma And Falafel To Indiana

There is a point in life when plain chicken stops being exciting. It can be grilled. It can be fried. It can be seasoned.

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This Small Indiana Town Is Widely Considered the Ultimate Capital of Autumn Colors

The leaves are not helping with navigation. Every road looks good. Every ridge looks better. Every bend reveals another wall...

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This Hidden Indiana Overstock Depot Turns Forgotten Materials Into A Dream DIY Treasure Hunt

The best DIY projects usually begin with something nobody else wanted. A scratched cabinet. One lonely door. A stack of leftover...

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The Chilling Evidence Behind Indiana’s ‘Most Haunted’ Mansion

The problem with ghost stories is that they make perfectly normal things suspicious. A staircase creaks? Ghost. A door moves?

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This Magical Indiana Animal Sanctuary Has Saved 250+ Abuse Survivors You Can Meet in Person

“Hee-haw.” A donkey has apparently decided the tour needs commentary. A rooster objects. A pig makes a completely different...

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This Massive 1,100+ Acre Hidden Sanctuary Might Be Indiana’s Best Eco-Adventure

The turtle is sunbathing. The cranes are yelling. And somewhere in the woods, a glacier has apparently left a fifty-foot pile...

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This Stunning 800-Foot Hilltop Landmark Is Officially Indiana’s Secret Doomsday Castle

“Did you see that?” The car is already past it. Now everyone is arguing about whether the thing on the hill was actually a castle.

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This Massive Indiana Lake Has Become A Total Breeding Ground For Aggressive Snakes

The first thing on the shoreline looks like a stick. Then the stick moves. Then another one moves. Suddenly the relaxing afternoon...

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This Hidden Indiana Mexican Restaurant Serves The Best Margaritas And Loaded Nachos

The leftovers get assigned before anyone has finished dinner. That is how big the portions are. Somebody claims the tacos. Someone...

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Art and Train History Meet in This Historic Indiana Dunes Rail Station with Free Admission

Someone divided the building in half and accidentally created one of the more interesting museum ideas around. One side says, “All aboard.” The other says, “Take a look at...

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This Massive Indiana Salvage Warehouse Features Thousands Of Feet Of Rare Historic Antiques

A house can disappear and still leave a surprising amount behind. A staircase. A door. A light fixture.

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This Low-Key Indiana Diner Serves the State’s Most Authentic Cambodian Street Food

The person ordering the chicken tenders is going to be very confused by your lunch. That is part of the fun. This little Indiana...

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This Hidden Indiana Amish Cheese Shop Is Worth The Road Trip Alone

The screen door slams behind you, and for a second it feels like the rest of the world has disappeared. There is no background music.

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This Lively Cajun-Style Indiana Restaurant Delivers Colossal Seafood Platters Built For Sharing

You roll up your sleeves before the food even arrives. That should tell you everything. A few minutes later, the table is covered...

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This Indiana Trail Crosses Through A Virgin Prairie Home To The State’s Rarest Wild Orchids

I almost stepped right over it. Not the trail. The orchid. It was sitting there among the grass, small enough to miss and rare...

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This Indiana Pizza Joint Is Famous For A Slice The Size Of Your Face

How big does a pizza slice have to get before you stop calling it a slice? That question gets answered pretty quickly here. A...

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10 Lazy River And Tubing Spots In Alabama That Will Make You Feel Like You Left The State

Hot summer days in Alabama are a lot easier to handle when a river is doing all the work. Floating downstream has a funny way of turning a regular afternoon into something you...

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This Untouched Pre-Settlement Indiana Forest Features 200-Year-Old Giant Trees

You can walk the entire trail in about the time it takes to watch one sitcom episode. The trees, however, have been here for several seasons longer than that.

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This Indiana Library Is Widely Considered The Most Haunted In The US

The smell of lilacs is probably the creepiest part. There is no bouquet. No obvious source. Just the scent appearing in rooms...

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This Indiana Restaurant Changes Its Comfort-Food Menu Every Day and Somehow Keeps Locals Guessing

My kids would ask what was for lunch, and I would always have an answer. This place ruined that habit pretty quickly. Nobody...

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This Friendly Indiana Cafe Serves A Unique Fusion Of American, Mexican, And Indian Cuisine

There is a moment when you realize the menu is not joking. Biscuits and gravy. Carnitas. Chicken curry.

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This Cozy Indiana Coffee House Invites Cat Lovers To Cuddle Cute Cage-Free Adoptables

A soft purr mixes right in with the hiss of a steam wand here, which tells you exactly what kind of coffee shop you've walked into. Imagine that combination!

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This Small Indiana Sushi Restaurant Serves One Of The Only Halal Sushi Menus In The State

I once opened a sushi menu, found something that looked perfect, and then spent the next five minutes figuring out whether I could actually order it. That little bit of detective...

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This Rural Indiana Country Store Doubles As A Massive Taxidermy Museum

I stopped for what I thought would be a quick grocery run and ended up wandering around for nearly two hours. The first clue that this was not an ordinary country store was a horse...

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This Rugged Indiana Forest Trail Hides Millions Of Prehistoric Geodes Right In Its Ancient Creek Beds

I picked up a lumpy gray rock in a creek bed, and it turned out to be a fossilized time capsule. A friend cracked it open with a rock hammer, revealing quartz crystals sealed inside...

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This Indiana Bakery Is Famous For Cinnamon Rolls So Soft They Practically Dissolve

You can smell the warm dough before you even see the door, drifting out into a town that wakes up hungry most mornings. That's how you know you're close.

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This Amish-Run Indiana Bakery In A Town Most Travelers Skip Sells Out Of Fried Pies By Noon

A screen door creaks open at exactly 7 a.m., and the smell reaches the parking lot before the first customer does. Warm bread. Sugar....

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This Circus-Obsessed Indiana Museum Preserves The Golden Age Of The Big Top

Elephants once spent their winters in Indiana. That was the detail I could not stop thinking about as I wandered through a collection of old circus barns in the middle of the countryside.

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9 Historic Indiana Landmarks You’ve Passed A Million Times But Never Visited

Indiana hides its best stories right beside the highway, and I drove past most of them for years without ever slowing down. Then one autumn afternoon I finally pulled off at one...

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This Small-Town Indiana Tavern Fries Up Hand-Breaded Pork Tenderloins Twice the Bun Size

Forget neat little sandwiches that disappear into the bun. This pork tenderloin practically demands its own zip code. Hand-breaded...

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This Epic Indiana Farm Features Giant Tractor Racing and a 10-Mile Maze Families Love

Forget the usual family outing. What if everyone could climb aboard a tractor and race? One Indiana agritourism destination...

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This Vibrant Indiana Restaurant Serves Up An All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Featuring Authentic Himalayan Favorites and Goat Curry

How often does a buffet let you travel across the Himalayas without leaving Indiana? This vibrant restaurant brings authentic Nepalese and Himalayan flavors to the table, with...

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This Secret Utopian Village Hidden In Indiana Looks Like A European Fairy Tale

Someone once decided the world needed a better place to live and tried to build it here. That experiment eventually left behind...

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This Waterfront Indiana Seafood Shack Serves Up Massive Baskets Of Freshly Battered Fish

Can a seafood shack serve a basket of fish big enough to turn lunch into an event? One Indiana waterfront favorite certainly gives it a shot, with freshly battered fish served...

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This Secret Indiana Limestone Gorge Path Features Stunning Hidden Waterfalls and 75-Foot Vertical Cliffs

What if a quiet woodland trail suddenly opened into a dramatic limestone gorge? Some hikes surprise you with a beautiful view at the end, while others keep revealing something...

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This Indiana Tool Liquidator Has Deep Discounts On Name-Brand Hardware

What if the tools you need are sitting on a shelf for far less than you expected to pay? Finding a great deal on quality hardware can make a routine shopping trip feel like a genuine...

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This Hidden Indiana Treehouse Nest Lets You Sleep 30 Feet Up In The Canopy Under Starlit Skies

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fall asleep surrounded by nothing but the sounds of the forest? Some overnight escapes offer luxury, while others create unforgettable...

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This Historic Indiana Town Is Home To The Oldest Gothic Revival Masterpiece In The State

Some buildings have a way of making you stop the moment they come into view. Long before you step inside, the intricate details, soaring design, and remarkable craftsmanship hint...

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8 Indiana Swimming Spots With Crystal-Clear Water Perfect For Summer 2026

What makes a swimming spot worth planning an entire summer day around? Sometimes it is the water itself, especially when it is clear enough to see the scenery beneath the surface.

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This Tiny Indiana Town Feels Like A Magical European Village Tucked Into The Rolling Hoosier Hills

Have you ever stumbled across a town that made you slow down the moment you arrived? Some places have a way of making everyday life feel a little farther away, replacing busy streets...

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This Magical Indiana Library Packs Free 3D Printing and Media Labs For Everyone

What if your local library offered far more than books? Imagine walking through the doors and discovering creative spaces filled with 3D printers, recording equipment, media labs,...

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This Mind-Boggling Indiana Geode Grotto Was Built Out Of Millions Of Glowing Crystals

The most memorable places are often the ones that make you stop and ask, "How did someone build this?" That sense of curiosity...

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This Secret Indiana High Tea Parlor Looks Like A Luxury Set Straight Out Of Bridgeton

What if your next afternoon out felt a little more elegant than usual? Delicate teacups, beautifully presented treats, and refined surroundings come together at one Indiana tea...

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10 Hidden Diners In Alabama With The Best Burgers You’ve Ever Tasted

Alabama’s best burgers are often found in places you might drive past without a second glance. Small diners, family-run spots, and old-school counters across the state are still...

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This Secret 1950s Indiana Drive-In Is Tucked Amid Beautiful, Tree-Lined Hoosier Hills

Somewhere along a quiet stretch of highway in Indiana, hidden between rolling hills and dense woodland, a drive-in theater has been welcoming families since 1950. This classic...

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This Massive 62-Mile Indiana Rail-Trail Is The Longest Continuous Fitness Paradise In The Whole State

First impressions matter, and this Indiana trail makes a great one before you even take your first step. An eye-catching historic landmark welcomes visitors at the starting point,...

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This Humble Indiana BBQ Joint Routinely Beats Out Sprawling, Fancy Restaurants For The City’s Best Catfish

A great food stop does not always come with a flashy sign or a huge dining room. Sometimes, it is the kind of place that wins people over one plate at a time. I love finding spots...

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10 Hidden Small-Towns In Indiana That You Absolutely Must Add To Your Bucket List

Small towns can reveal a side of Indiana that busy highways and city attractions often miss. Quiet streets, historic buildings, local shops, and scenic surroundings create experiences...

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This Premier Indiana Fabric Oasis Holds Over 30,000 Yards Of Gorgeous In-Stock Materials

Fabric stores can become unexpected sources of inspiration when colors, patterns, and textures fill the space around you. Indiana has creative destinations where designers, decorators,...

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This Giant Indiana Fabric Wonderland Is Getting Attention From Crafters Everywhere

I remember pulling up to what looked like a simple roadside Indiana building and thinking it would be a quick stop at best. The moment I stepped inside, that idea disappeared.

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This Hidden Indiana Park Is One Of The Only Places Where You Can Stand Beside A 500-Year-Old Tree

Ancient history is not always locked behind museum glass. In Indiana, one living landmark has quietly outlasted wars, generations, and the birth of an entire state, all while standing...

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This Giant Indiana Roadside Destination Is Packed With Mind-Blowing Discount Closeout Deals and Cheap Home Goods

What if your next shopping trip felt more like a treasure hunt? This Indiana roadside destination is filled with shelves of discounted goods, household finds, and unexpected items...

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10 Peaceful Small Towns In Alabama That Offer The Ultimate Slow-Paced Weekend Escape

Alabama has a way of slowing everything down, and honestly, that is exactly what most of us need. I stumbled onto my first small-town Alabama weekend almost by accident, and I...

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10 Best Dog-Friendly Beaches In Indiana Every Local Pet Owner Needs To Visit This Summer

Summer in Indiana hits different when you have a dog tugging at the leash, nose pointed toward the water. Watching my dog sprint across the sand for the first time made every mile...

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This Historic Alabama Dragway Has Been A Racing Landmark Since The Early 60s

Alabama has a long motorsports tradition that extends well beyond major speedways, with historic drag strips playing an important role in the state's racing culture for generations....

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This Former Indiana Quarry Is a Crystal-Blue Swimming Hole With an Above-Water Playground

What if a place built from stone became one of the most unexpected spots to cool off? This Indiana destination has transformed a former quarry into a clear-blue swimming area where...

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This Immersive Indiana Simulation Room Simulates The True Raw Power Of A Midwest Tornado

What does it actually feel like to stand near the force of a tornado? One Indiana attraction gives visitors a chance to experience a powerful storm simulation while learning more...

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This Indiana Country Diner Is Where Small-Town Comfort Food Still Means Made-From-Scratch, Not a Trend

When was the last time you had a meal that felt homemade instead of just made quickly? One Indiana country diner has kept things simple by sticking with made-from-scratch comfort...

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