miles donovan author at My Family Travels
Article
This 10,000-Square-Foot Alabama Fabric World Hides Endless Crafting Treasures

Somewhere along a highway in northeastern Alabama, a fabric lover’s dream hides behind an unassuming storefront. What began as a family business decades ago has grown into a...

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This Indoor Alabama Wildlife Zoo Lets You Cuddle Snuggling Sloths And Exotic Rainforest Animals

Somewhere in southern Alabama, an unassuming building holds an experience most people would never expect to find. Step inside and you are suddenly face-to-face with animals that...

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This Hidden Alabama River Town Has So Few Residents You Will Feel Like You Discovered A Secret

Most people drive right past this small river town in Alabama without realizing what they are missing. With just over 800 residents, it holds more charm, history, and natural beauty...

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8 Hidden Spots In Alabama That Honestly Feel Plucked Straight From Italy

I did not expect Alabama to keep giving me these little flashes of Italy, but somewhere between the tiled roofs, old-world facades, quiet gardens, and waterfront streets, that...

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This Hidden Alabama Boardwalk Lets You Walk Directly Above Hundreds Of Massive Wild Alligators

Alabama has a lot of surprises, but few compare to what waits in a cypress swamp just outside a small coastal town. This wildlife sanctuary offers visitors a front-row seat to...

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This Multi Generation Alabama Farm Restaurant Serves Up A Full Thanksgiving Menu Year Round

You crave turkey and dressing in July, and this multi-generation Alabama farm restaurant does not blink. They serve a full Thanksgiving menu every single day of the year, complete...

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This Massive 5-Story Complex In Alabama Houses The World’s Largest Collection Of Antique and Racing Motorcycles

You know those places that sound impressive on paper, and then you walk in and immediately realize the paper did not even come close, because that is exactly how this museum felt...

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You Can Climb Into A Unique Honeycomb Booth To Eat Your Dinner Inside This Alabama Japanese Restaurant

Eating inside a beehive sounds strange until you try it. This Alabama Japanese restaurant has replaced ordinary tables with cozy honeycomb booths, wooden pods that wrap around...

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This Alabama Cafe Lures You In For Iced Coffee But Its Actually A Room Full Of Adoptable Kittens

Alabama has a lot of charming spots, but few feel quite as unexpectedly delightful as this cat café in Alabaster. You might walk in expecting a simple coffee or tea stop.

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This Hilarious Alabama Street Intersection Holds The World’s Smallest Official City Block

Alabama is full of surprises, but few are as wonderfully absurd as a tiny triangle of land in Dothan that has earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

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8 Alabama Swimming Spots With Crystal Clear Water Perfect For Summer 2026

Alabama has some of the most refreshing natural swimming spots in the entire South. From spring-fed pools to cascading waterfalls and hidden creek hollows, the variety is genuinely...

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This Massive 30-Acre Alabama Property Holds 8 Warehouses Crammed With Historic Salvage

Somewhere in the southern reaches of Alabama, there is a place that feels less like a store and more like a living museum. This Theodore antiques destination has been drawing curious...

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This Underrated Alabama Lake Features 150 Miles Of Quiet Rocky Shoreline

Most people driving through northern Alabama never stop long enough to notice what the Tennessee River has quietly built over decades.

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This Massive Alabama Waterpark Kicks Out The Kids For After Hours Adults Only Neon 90’s Parties

This Bessemer, Alabama water and amusement park is one of those places that surprises you. It is bigger, louder, and more fun than most people expect.

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This Alabama Country Market Pairs Giant Homemade Pies With Wholesale Sized Baking Staples

Some places just feel right the moment you walk in. This Morgan County, Alabama bakery is one of those rare spots that blends a scratch-made bakery, a country market, and a deli...

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The Best Alabama Grocery Meat Departments That Put Regular Supermarkets To Shame

Alabama has some seriously impressive places to buy meat, and I mean that in the best possible way. Across the state, a handful of grocery stores and specialty butcher shops have...

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This Hidden Alabama Country Buffet Lets You Eat Endless Fried Chicken For Just $13

Alabama has no shortage of good Southern food, but every now and then a place comes along that feels genuinely different. This Huntsville home-style eatery is one of those spots.

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This Hidden Alabama Adults Only Spa Spot Lets You Swap Smart Devices For Total Quiet

Some places make you feel like the world slowed down the moment you arrived. This Point Clear, Alabama spa is exactly that kind of place.

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This Tiny Alabama Town Is Hidden In The Past And Makes The Perfect Mini Vacation

Mooresville, Alabama is one of those rare places where time seems to have forgotten to move forward. With fewer than 60 residents and streets lined with ancient oaks and 19th-century...

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You’ll Feel Like You’ve Been Transported Straight To Narnia On This Breathtaking Alabama Mountain Trail

Some places stop you mid-step and make you question whether you have wandered into a storybook. This Estillfork, Alabama canyon hike is exactly that kind of place.

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This Alabama Lake Spot Lets You Cruise Across 500 Miles Of Crystal Clear Shoreline

Lewis Smith Lake in north-central Alabama is the kind of place that makes you stop and look twice at the water. The clarity alone is enough to catch you off guard, with visibility...

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10 Mind Blowing Alabama Comfort Food Spots That Out Of State Foodies Will Never Understand

Alabama has a way of making food feel like a warm hug from someone who has been cooking since before you were born. The kind of meals served here are not found on trendy menus...

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9 Magical Hidden Oases In Alabama That Will Make You Forget You Are In The South

Alabama has a way of surprising people who think they already know what the South looks like. Beyond the barbecue joints and football rivalries, there are places in this state...

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This Haunted Alabama Landmark Is Considered One Of The Most Terrifying Places In America

Some places carry weight that you can feel the moment you arrive. This Birmingham, Alabama industrial landmark is one of those places.

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This 1937 Alabama Neighborhood Meat Counter Puts Every Modern Fancy Diner To Absolute Shame

Some places earn their reputation not through trendy menus or sleek interiors, but through decades of showing up and doing the work right.

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The Mind-Blowing 16-Story Alabama Sinkhole That Strictly Requires Vertical Rope Gear To Enter

Hidden in the rugged hills of Jackson County, Alabama, this open-air sinkhole is one of those places that makes you question just how dramatic nature can be. It plunges over 160...

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This Tiny, Hidden Alabama Shack Secretly Serves A Better Burger Than Any Fancy City Restaurant

Some of the best food in America hides in the most unexpected places. This unassuming burger spot in Bessemer, Alabama is living proof.

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The Secret 2-Mile Stretch Of Alabama Coastline Completely Untouched By Modern Development

Most people driving along East Beach Boulevard in Gulf Shores, Alabama are looking for the busiest stretch of sand they can find. What many miss is the quieter, wilder side of...

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The Giant Alabama Open-Air Market Where Locals Go To Score Outrageous Bargains Every Single Weekend

Some weekends just call for a good hunt. Whether you are looking for a great deal on tools, a unique piece of vintage furniture, or just a fun family outing, this Alabama flea...

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The One Restaurant Every Alabamian Stops At On The Way To The Beach, And Yes, The Rolls Are Still Flying

There is a restaurant in Foley, Alabama that has become something of an unwritten rule for anyone heading down to the Gulf Coast. Families, road trippers, and beach-bound visitors...

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This Alabama Mountain Park Feels Carved Straight Into The Sky

Alabama hides a lot of natural beauty, but nothing quite prepares you for the feeling of standing at the highest point in the entire state. At 2,407 feet above sea level, the summit...

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This Surreal Alabama Forest Is Hiding Giant, Life-Sized Dinosaurs Right Behind The Trees

Most people drive through Elberta, Alabama without expecting anything more than quiet roads and coastal scenery. But tucked along the entrance to a working marina is one of the...

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This Massive Alabama Shrine Is Covered In Real Gold Leaf And Feels Like A Secret Portal To Ancient Rome

Most people driving through north-central Alabama have no idea that one of the most striking sacred sites in the country is tucked into the quiet hills of Cullman County. This...

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Most People Don’t Realize Alabama’s First Capital Is Now A Literal Ghost Town

Most people drive right past Orrville, Alabama without a second thought. What they miss is one of the most quietly fascinating corners of the Deep South, where layers of history...

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This Alabama Lake Town Is A Hidden Paradise For Water Lovers

Guntersville, Alabama sits right in the middle of one of the most beautiful lake settings in the entire South. With 69,000 acres of shimmering water and nearly 950 miles of shoreline,...

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This Legendary Alabama Deli Is The Only Place To Get A Steamed “All Way” Sandwich On Sassas Bread

Some places earn their reputation quietly, one sandwich at a time, over decades of loyal customers and consistent quality. This longtime sub shop in Huntsville, Alabama is exactly...

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This Simple Alabama Steakhouse Has Built A Statewide Reputation For Its Steaks

Some restaurants earn their reputation the hard way, one perfectly cooked steak at a time. This family steak house is exactly that kind of place.

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This Alabama Flea Market Is Where Bargain Hunting Dreams Actually Happen

There are places you visit once and forget, and then there are places that stay with you long after you leave. This massive flea market in Attalla, Alabama is definitely the second...

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This Historic Alabama Restaurant Serves Over 1,000 Biscuits A Day To Loyal Locals

Some restaurants are just places to eat. Others become part of a city’s identity, shaped by decades of regulars, traditions, and shared memories.

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You’ll Want To Move To This Charming Alabama Town The Second You Arrive

I did not expect a small Alabama town to stop me in my tracks the way this one did. From the moment I stepped onto its flower-lined streets and caught a glimpse of Mobile Bay glittering...

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You’d Never Expect This Tiny Alabama Gas Station To Serve The Crispiest Fried Chicken In The South

Some of the best food in the South hides in the most unexpected places. I never thought I’d be raving about a gas station, but this Foley, Alabama stop completely changed my...

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8 Beginner-Level Alabama Trails To Tackle This Spring

Spring in Alabama hits different. The air gets that perfect mix of warm and breezy, wildflowers start popping up along the forest floors, and suddenly every weekend feels like...

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People Line Up From Across Alabama For The Ribs At This BBQ Restaurant

I still remember the first time I caught a whiff of hickory smoke drifting through the air near Northport, Alabama, and followed it straight to a small, unassuming barbecue spot...

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Locals Swear By This Quirky Alabama Eatery With Unbelievably Good Food

I’ve driven past countless restaurants claiming to offer something special, but there’s something genuinely different about this whimsical café tucked into the hills of northeast...

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This Historic Indiana Jail Turned Restaurant Lets You Enjoy Pork Tenderloins Behind Original Iron Bars

I've driven past plenty of old buildings in small Indiana towns, but nothing quite prepared me for what I found in Lebanon. Walking into a former jail where you can actually sit...

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8 Giant Thrift Shops Across Alabama Where $35 Goes Shockingly Far

I never thought I could walk out of a store with bags full of treasures for the price of a single meal, but Alabama's thrift shops proved me wrong. Shopping with just $35 in my...

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This Humble Alabama Eatery Serves A Buffet That’s Become A Statewide Favorite

I’ll admit something right off the bat. When I first heard about this well-known buffet in Alabama, I wondered if it could possibly live up to the hype.

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This Small Indiana Destination Offers Historic Squares, Local Bakeries, And A Slow-Paced Weekend Escape Feel

I’ve visited a lot of small towns across Indiana, but this northwest suburb of Indianapolis always pulls me back. Maybe it’s the brick-paved streets that feel like stepping...

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This Small Indiana State Forest Features Firebreak Roads And Ridge Trails That Offer A Quiet Escape Into The Hardwoods

I have spent time in plenty of Indiana’s outdoor spaces, but this small state forest outside North Vernon has a quality that keeps pulling me back. It sits just a short distance...

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The Indiana Craft Burger Bar Where Thick Patties Turn Into Full-On Comfort Meals

There are burger places, and then there are spots that stay on your mind long after the last bite. I have eaten my way through a fair share of Indiana restaurants, and something...

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This 100-Year-Old Indiana Swinging Bridge Is A Hidden World War Memorial

Some places carry more weight than they appear to hold. I first heard about a historic swinging footbridge in a small Indiana town from a local who mentioned it almost casually,...

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This Indiana High-Adventure Course Lets You Soar 1,000 Feet Across A Private Lake

If you have ever wanted to fly across a shimmering lake with nothing but open air beneath you, this zipline adventure in Huntington, Indiana might be exactly what you have been...

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This Indiana Shoreline Secret Tucked Behind Steel Mills Offers The Region’s Most Surreal Sunset Views

I never expected to find one of the most breathtaking lakefront scenes in the Midwest sitting quietly behind the silhouette of steel mills. A lakefront overlook inside a national...

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The Popular Indiana Lakeside Gem Where Modern Amenities Make First-Time Camping A Breeze

If you have ever wanted to camp right on the edge of a quiet Indiana lake without giving up the comforts of home, a wooded lake recreation area in southern Indiana might be exactly...

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This Indiana Adventure Park Offers Heart-Pounding Tarzan Swings and 300-Foot Canopy Ziplines

Some places just make you feel alive in a way that a regular Saturday afternoon never could. A treetop adventure park tucked inside a large public forested park in the Indianapolis...

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The Exact Spot Where One Step Puts You in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio All at Once

I never thought a small metal marker embedded in a gravel road could make me feel so genuinely giddy, but here we are. The Tri-State Marker near Fremont is one of those places...

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This Historic Indiana Gym Is Where The Movie “Hoosiers” Was Filmed And You Can Still Shoot Hoops

Growing up in Indiana, basketball is more than a sport. It feels stitched into the identity of every small town, every cracked driveway hoop, and every Friday night gym filled...

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This Indiana Wonder Offers a Front Row Seat to a Breathtaking Feat of Engineering

I grew up in Indiana thinking I had seen most of what this state had to offer, but one small town genuinely caught me off guard. Nestled along the Whitewater River Valley, this...

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The Massive Indiana “Amish Walmart” Where 15,000 Square Feet of Tradition Meets Wholesale Prices

I'll be honest, I never expected a grocery store to genuinely stop me in my tracks. But this Amish-rooted grocery store in Indiana is not your average place to shop.

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10 Indiana Steakhouses With Ribs So Good You’ll Be Back Tomorrow

I have a confession: I have driven out of my way more than once just to get my hands on a great rack of ribs. There is something about slow-cooked, fall-off-the-bone ribs that...

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