iris callahan author at My Family Travels
Article
This New Indiana Asian Grill Features Fresh Healthy Options For Customizable Bowls

Fort Wayne just got a whole lot more exciting for anyone who loves fresh, flavorful food that actually makes you feel good after eating it.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana State Historic Site Features the Sprawling Ruins of a Prehistoric Mississippian Native American City

There is something genuinely humbling about standing on ground where a thriving city once buzzed with life nearly a thousand years ago. Just outside Evansville, Indiana, there...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Peaceful Indiana Lake Cruise Is the Chillest Surprise Hiding in Plain Sight

Some of the best experiences in Indiana are the ones you almost drive past without noticing. I had no idea what to expect the first time I heard about a nearly century-old paddleboat...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana Hike Leads to a Stunning Sandstone Canyon and Deep Rock Potholes That Stay Cool All Summer

I had no idea Indiana was hiding something this dramatic until I first set foot at this nature preserve in west-central Indiana. The moment the forest opens up and reveals a sandstone...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Indiana “Grand Canyon” Featuring a Massive Sandstone Bowl and Seasonal Waterfalls

There is a place in western Indiana that genuinely stopped me in my tracks the first time I saw it. A massive sandstone bowl carved by centuries of water and wind, surrounded by...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Year-Round Indiana Farm Stand Where the $7.50 Fish Tail Sandwiches Are Large Enough to Feed Two People

There are places you stumble upon once and never stop thinking about, and one longtime farm market is exactly that kind of place. Sitting along a quiet road since the late 1960s,...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Indiana Trail Where You Can Quench Your Thirst with a Literal Hand-Operated Freshwater Pump

I never expected a half-mile loop trail to stop me in my tracks the way this one did. There is something quietly powerful about walking through a hardwood forest, listening to...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This High-End Indiana Seafood Spot Features Expertly Prepared Sushi and Flame-Grilled Fillets

Carmel has quietly become one of the most exciting dining destinations in the entire Midwest, and this spot is a big reason why. Set right in the middle of a polished, walkable...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This 60-Mile Indiana Trek is the State’s Longest Backpacking Trail for True Adventurers

Indiana is not usually the first state that comes to mind for serious backpacking, but there’s a trail here that changes that conversation quickly. Stretching roughly 58 to 60...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana Strip Mall Is Hiding The Best Soup Dumplings Of Your Life

Some of the best meals I’ve ever had in Indiana have come from places I almost drove past without a second glance. Tucked...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana Waterfront Escape Offers Panoramic Reservoir Views and a Famous Key Lime Pie

There are places you visit once and forget, and then there are places that quietly become part of your story. For me, this waterfront spot in Indianapolis is firmly in the second...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Indiana Bluff Offers a Massive Horseshoe-Bend View of the Ohio River from 300 Feet Up

I have driven a lot of Indiana backroads, but nothing quite prepared me for the first moment I pulled up to this hidden bluffside spot in Leavenworth. Perched roughly 300 feet...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana Restaurant Features Gourmet Southern BBQ Served In A Converted Gas Station

I never thought a tiny roadside building west of Indianapolis would become one of my favorite food destinations in all of Indiana. But the first time I caught the scent of hickory...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This 17-Mile Paved Indiana Trail Connects Two States and Runs Through a Former Major Rail Yard

There is something genuinely exciting about a trail that crosses a state line, follows a river, and carries the memory of old railroads all at once. The Indiana-Michigan River...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Indiana Forest Escape Features A Historic 150 Foot Iron Bridge Spanning A Scenic Limestone Creek

There is something about this trail that stays with you long after you leave. The path feels steady, peaceful, like it holds stories most people never slow down to notice.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Tucked-Away Indiana Haven Is Home to Rescued Birds With Heart-Stirring Histories

There is something quietly powerful about standing near a bird of prey that has been given a second chance at life. This raptor rehabilitation center, tucked into the rolling hills...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana Fun Farm Features 40+ Activities and a Famous Blueberry Fest

There is something about a real working farm that pulls you back to a simpler time. I grew up in Indiana, and nothing feels more grounding than walking through rows of fresh produce,...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Easy Indiana Trail Offers an Up-Close Encounter With a Living Herd of American Bison

There is something genuinely surprising about standing along a simple gravel path in northeast Indiana and finding yourself face to face with a living herd of American bison. That...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana Steam Forest Features Miniature Locomotives Hidden in the Deep Woods

There is something genuinely magical about riding a miniature locomotive through a quiet Indiana forest, and I had no idea how much I needed that experience until I stumbled upon...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana Hidden Gem Features 11 Massive Antique Malls Within a Single Three-Block Walk

I never expected a small town in eastern Indiana to completely stop me in my tracks, but Cambridge City did exactly that. Driving...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Indiana’s Favorite Breakfast Buffet Where Model Trains Race Above Your Dining Table

There are some places in Indiana that feel like they were built just to make you smile, and one roadside restaurant is absolutely one of them. This isn’t your average stop along...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana 35,000-Square-Foot Wonderland Is a Maze of Industrial Salvage and Oddities

I will be honest with you. The first time I drove past the old building on East Michigan Street, I thought it was abandoned. It...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Indiana 17,000-Square-Foot Secret Houses Over 40 Varieties of Tomatoes

There are garden centers, and then there is one hidden gem in Indiana. I have driven past plenty of greenhouses in my life, but nothing quite prepared me for what waits at the...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Indiana’s Massive 150,000-Book Wonderland That Every Reader Needs To Visit

I have walked into a lot of bookstores over the years, but nothing quite prepared me for what I found at a certain bookstore in Fort Wayne. The moment you step through the door,...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana Tropical Jungle Is Tucked Inside A University Building And Open To Everyone

I never expected to walk into a university building in Bloomington and feel like I had been transported to a rainforest. But that is exactly what happened the first time I visited...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Hidden Indiana Bistro Transformed Fried Deviled Eggs Into a Must-Try Dish

Some of the best meals I have ever had came from places I almost drove past. Red Bridge Bistro in Cicero, Indiana is exactly that kind of spot.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Indiana Legend Is A Hidden Gem Where A “Small” Cone Is Actually The Size Of Your Face

I have lived in Indiana long enough to know that the best food spots rarely need a billboard. Sometimes all it takes is a friend saying, "You have to try this place," and suddenly...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana German Landmark Serves a Homemade Schnitzel Locals Call the Most Authentic in the Midwest

There are restaurants you visit once and forget, and then there are places that stay with you long after the last bite. Weiss' Gasthaus in Roseland, Indiana is firmly in that second...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Indiana Hole in the Wall Joint Serves a Crispy Smashburger That Will Haunt Your Dreams

I still remember the first time I caught a whiff of sizzling beef coming from Schoop's Hamburgers in Hammond, Indiana. Something about that smell made me slow my car down and pull...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Indiana’s Massive Candy Hub Where You Can See the World’s Best Gummies Being Made

I still remember the first time I walked through the doors of the Albanese Candy Factory Store in Merrillville, Indiana, and got hit with that warm, sweet smell of fresh gummies....

Read More    6 min read

Article
Indiana’s Secret Underground Burger Joint is Literally Buried Beneath the Street

I'll be honest, I almost walked right past it. Standing near a small gazebo in Syracuse, Indiana, I had no idea that one of the most memorable meals of my life was waiting for...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Underground Eatery in Indiana Is a Hidden Gem Serving the State’s Most Iconic German Comfort Food Since 1894

I still remember the first time I walked past a plain door on Michigan Street in Indianapolis and had no idea what was waiting on the other side. Once I stepped inside The Rathskeller,...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Enormous Thrift Store In Indiana That Lets You Walk In With $10 And Walk Out With $200 Worth Of Finds

I've been thrifting around Indiana for years, and nothing compares to the rush I get walking through the doors of Greenwood's Goodwill Outlet Store. This place isn't your typical...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Locals Can’t Stop Raving About the Chicken Fried Steak Smothered in Gravy at This Indiana Spot

I grew up hearing about Magic Wand Restaurant in Churubusco, Indiana, and the first time I finally walked through that door, I understood immediately why locals talk about it the...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Roadside Indiana Catfish Stop Serves Family-Sized Platters That Take Over The Table

I've eaten at plenty of places across Indiana, but nothing quite prepared me for my first visit to The Log Inn in Haubstadt. When I pulled into that massive parking lot, I honestly...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Take This Picturesque Indiana Train Ride for a Spring Day Trip That Might Just Outshine the Indy 500

I've lived in Indiana long enough to know that when May rolls around, everyone's talking about the Indy 500. But let me tell you about something that might just steal your heart...

Read More    7 min read

Article
10 Lesser-Known Hikes In Indiana To Add To Your 2026 Bucket List

I’ve spent years exploring Indiana’s trails, and I can tell you that some of the best hikes in the state are the ones most people drive right past without a second thought....

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Indiana Ramen Spot Hits the Japanese Flavors You’d Expect in Tokyo

I still remember the first time I walked through the doors at Kizuki Ramen and heard the chorus of "Irasshaimase!" from the open kitchen. That traditional Japanese greeting made...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Old-Fashioned Diner In Indiana Has Burgers That Live Up to the Hype

I've driven past The Lemon Drop on Mounds Road in Anderson more times than I can count, and I'll admit something: for years, I thought it was just another roadside burger joint....

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Scenic Wetland Trail In Indiana Lets You Reconnect With Nature Away From the Hustle

I still remember the first time I walked through Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve on a crisp autumn morning, and the stress of city life just melted away with every step. The sound...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana College Town Quietly Turned Into a Foodie Haven You Didn’t See Coming

I never thought I would call Bloomington a culinary destination. Growing up in Indiana, I always knew it as a college town; home to Indiana University, lined with limestone buildings,...

Read More    6 min read

Article
All the Sushi, Seafood, and Japanese Favorites You Can Eat at This Indiana Buffet

I still remember the first time someone told me about an all-you-can-eat sushi and seafood buffet on the northeast side of Indianapolis. I was skeptical because buffets and fresh...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Indiana Is Home to 8 Down-Home Restaurants Where Fried Chicken Is Legendary

I grew up in a state where fried chicken is more than just food. It is a tradition that brings families together around tables covered in checkered cloths.

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Indiana State Park Is Famous for Its “Ghostly” White Forest Every February

I still remember the first time I drove through Prophetstown State Park on a crisp February morning and felt my breath catch at the sight of the white sycamore trees standing like...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana Asian Fusion Food Crawl Is a Must-Try in 2026

I remember the first time I walked past the unassuming storefront at 1844 E 10th Street, just north of Woodruff Place in Indianapolis. The buzz around Beholder had been building...

Read More    5 min read

Article
10 Indiana Towns With Unexpected Waterfront Views

I never thought I'd find myself standing on a cliff overlooking the Ohio River, watching the sunset paint the water gold, right here in Indiana. Growing up in the Hoosier State,...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Indiana Ravine Hike Rewards You With Stunning Views

I stumbled upon Charlestown State Park on a humid July morning when I needed to escape the noise of everyday life. What started as a casual Saturday hike turned into one of my...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana Restaurant Is Keeping a Classic Alive in Small-Town Indiana

I've driven past the unincorporated town of Ireland, Indiana more times than I can count, and for years I wondered about the little restaurant that seemed frozen in time. The Chicken...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This No-Frills Indiana Spot Has Locals Queuing for the Best Barbecue in the Country

I pulled into the parking lot off Ridge Road in Munster and had to circle around back to find the entrance. That's when I knew I'd stumbled onto something special.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Indiana Ice Cream Parlor Has Been Doing Things the Same Way for Decades, and Locals Love It

I've been visiting Zaharakos since I was a kid, and honestly, walking through those doors at 329 Washington Street feels like stepping into a time machine every single time. The...

Read More    6 min read