miles donovan author at My Family Travels
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10 Favorite Indiana Farmers Markets Where $30 Goes Surprisingly Far

I still remember the first time I walked into an Indiana farmers market with just $30 in my pocket and walked out with more fresh produce, homemade goods, and warm smiles than...

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This Indiana Restaurant Is Famous for Garbage Wings Tossed in 10 Different Sauces

There are places you drive past a hundred times before you finally stop, and this iconic eatery on the east side of Indianapolis is exactly that kind of spot for me. The first...

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This Indiana Preserve Features a Rare Inland Dune System Inhabited by Prickly Pear Cacti

I never expected to find prickly pear cacti growing in Indiana, but this nature preserve completely changed everything I thought I knew about the Midwest. Hidden away in a quiet...

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This Scenic Indiana Hike Leads to a 100-Acre Glacial Lake with a Totally Undeveloped Shoreline

Some places just stop you in your tracks, and this quiet stretch of LaGrange County is exactly that kind of place. I had heard about a glacial lake with a completely untouched...

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This Indiana Roadside Fruit Stand Features a Massive Peach Statue and Homemade Jams

There are roadside stops you pass without a second thought, and then there are the ones that make you slam on the brakes and wonder how you ever drove by without stopping. This...

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7 Indiana State Parks with Secret Challenges You Can Complete for a Sticker

I still remember the first time I earned a sticker at an Indiana state park. It felt like a small trophy for something genuinely earned, not just bought at a gift shop; a tangible...

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This Indiana Landmark is Famous for Turning One Person’s Junk into Your Next Favorite Treasure

I have always believed that the best discoveries happen when you least expect them. Walking through this flea market feels exactly like that, row after row of surprises waiting...

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This 22-Mile Indiana Rail-Trail Features a Long Concrete Bridge with Stunning Tippecanoe River Views

There is something quietly special about a trail that follows the same path trains once traveled through the heartland. Stretching for miles through peaceful countryside, it traces...

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This Indiana Farm-to-Fork Spot is Famous for its Bone-In Pork Chop and Industrial-Chic Style

Fort Wayne has been quietly building one of Indiana’s most exciting food scenes, and there’s one spot right at the center of that energy. Tucked into the heart of downtown,...

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This Indiana Thai Eatery Features A Jungle-Inspired Interior And Elevated Street Food

I had been hearing about Thai Prime for weeks before I finally made it through the doors, and honestly, the buzz was completely justified. Carmel, Indiana keeps surprising me with...

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This Indiana Chef-Driven Experience Combines Local Lore with a Multi-Course Meal

There is something genuinely exciting about a food experience that goes beyond just sitting down and ordering a meal. This walking tour in a small Indiana town wraps history, storytelling,...

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This Unique Indiana Biker-Friendly Saloon Is Famous For Hearty Portions And A Wild Western Atmosphere

I had no idea a small town in western Indiana could have a place this memorable until I rolled through Rockville and spotted this saloon. Something about the energy coming from...

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This Indiana Historic Railroad Bridge Was Once the Largest Trestle in the United States

There is something quietly powerful about standing near a structure that once held a national record. This steel trestle in Greene County, Indiana, is exactly that kind of place.

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This Remote Indiana Peninsula Offers Primitive Camping on a Turquoise Reservoir

I still remember the first time I pulled off Tower Ridge Road and stepped into this wilderness area near Bloomington. The air smelled like damp earth and pine, and the only sounds...

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This Easy Indiana Hike Unveils A Lush Secret Garden Hiding Right In The City

I have lived in Indiana long enough to think I had seen every green corner this city had to offer. Then someone mentioned Holcomb Gardens, and I honestly could not believe I had...

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The Tiny Indiana Town Tavern Where the Award-Winning Fried Chicken Rivals its James Beard-Winning Neighbor

I had no idea a small town in southeastern Indiana could stop me in my tracks the way Oldenburg did. When I first heard about a local spot known for its fried chicken, I figured...

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The Indiana Oasis With 16 Miles of Trails, Ancient Mounds, and a Secret 1833 Dairy Barn

I had no idea a place like this existed just outside Richmond. This hidden arboretum feels like one of those gems locals quietly treasure.

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This 166-Year-Old Indiana Fire Station Now Serves Hickory-Smoked BBQ Amidst Vintage Rescue Equipment

I never expected a fire station to make me this hungry. When I first heard about this BBQ spot in Richmond, Indiana, I figured it was just a clever gimmick with a catchy name.

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This Busy Indiana Warehouse Houses Over 200 Booths of Southern Finds

There is something genuinely exciting about walking into a place where every corner holds a surprise. This indoor flea market is exactly that kind of place.

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This Indiana Market Is Hiding An Amish Buffet Inside A Massive Country Store And Bakery

I had no idea what I was walking into the first time I pulled off the road toward this little eatery and gift shop in Indiana. What looked like a quiet country stop from the outside...

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This Authentic Indiana German Landmark Is Worth the Drive Even if You’re Not in Jasper

I'll be honest, I never expected to find something this genuinely special tucked into a small Indiana city. Schnitzelbank Restaurant is the kind of place that makes you slow down,...

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This Massive Indiana Sinkhole is So Large It Has Its Own Secret Ecosystem and Cave Entrances

I had no idea a place like this existed in Indiana until a friend mentioned it almost offhandedly, like it was no big deal. Tucked into the hills of southern Indiana is a massive...

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This Massive Indiana Quilt Complex Features A Two-Story Wonderland Of Amish Craftsmanship

There are quilt shops, and then there are places that make you stop and really take it all in. One two-story fabric shop in Northern Indiana does exactly that.

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This Indiana Farmstead Is a Hidden Weekend Stop for Artisan Sourdough That Bread Lovers Swear By

Some of the best food finds in Indiana aren’t in fancy restaurants or trendy downtown bakeries. Sometimes they’re tucked away on a quiet road, inside a working farm where the...

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This Indiana Farmstead Is Famous for Fried Biscuits Served With a 100-Year-Old Apple Butter

Some restaurants feed you a meal. Others feed you a memory. The Nashville House in Nashville, Indiana, does the second one...

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This Indiana Iron Giant Brings the Golden Age of Steam Back to Life

There is something about the sound of a steam whistle cutting through the Indiana countryside that makes time feel like it is standing still. I grew up hearing stories about the...

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Indiana’s Massive 28-Mile Rail-Trail Perfect For Running, Biking, And Spotting Forgotten History

I never expected a former railroad corridor to become one of my favorite places in all of Indiana, but the Monon Trail has a way of surprising you.

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This Tiny Indiana Cafe Is Hiding A Massive All-You-Can-Eat Friday Fish Secret

There is a small town in northern Indiana quietly holding one of the most surprisingly authentic dining experiences in the entire Midwest. New Carlisle might not be on most food...

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This Indiana Secret Spot Serves Unlimited Made-to-Order Sushi for Under $30

I'll be honest, when I first heard about an all-you-can-eat sushi spot in Fishers, Indiana, I was a little skeptical. Indiana isn't exactly the first place that comes to mind when...

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10 Indiana Sandwich Spots That Serve Way More Than Just Ham and Cheese

I'll be honest, I used to think a great sandwich was just a matter of good bread and decent deli meat. Then I started actually...

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This Indiana Estate is a Pristine 1960s Time Capsule with a Modernist Backyard Dream

I never expected a small Indiana city to hold one of the most breathtaking examples of modernist architecture in the entire country. But Columbus surprised me, and the Miller House...

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This Indiana Hideaway Has Been Serving Famous “Pizza Burgers” From Your Car Window Since the 1950s

I grew up hearing about places like Tastee Top Grill the way you hear about a family secret. Someone always knows someone who swears by it, and once you finally go, you completely...

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This Indiana Nature Preserve Features a Sandstone Ravine That Was Once a Secret Trail for Native American Chiefs

I have walked through a lot of Indiana's natural spaces, but Crow's Grove Nature Preserve in Warren County stopped me in my tracks the moment I stepped onto its trails. There is...

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This Indiana Mom-And-Pop Diner Tucked Inside an Old High School and Serves the State’s Most Unique Sunday Brunch

I never expected a small town in northern Indiana to completely change the way I think about breakfast. But the moment I pulled up to the location, and realized the diner I was...

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Indiana’s Hidden Glass Wonderland Where You’ll Find Every Color Imaginable

I'll be honest with you. Before I visited Kokomo Opalescent Glass, I had no idea that one of the oldest art glass factories in the entire United States was sitting right here in...

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This Short Indiana Walk Reveals Hidden Limestone Pillars Carved by Nature Over Thousands of Years

I had no idea something this remarkable existed just a short drive from central Indiana until a friend mentioned it almost in passing. The Seven Pillars of the Mississinewa near...

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This Pirate-Themed Indiana BBQ Spot Serves a 2-Pound Beast That People Travel Hours to Try

I never thought a pirate-themed BBQ joint in Westfield, Indiana would become one of my favorite places to eat, but here we are. Big Hoffa's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que has built a loyal...

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10 Humble Donut Shops Worth the Drive From Anywhere in Indiana

I've spent more mornings than I can count chasing down the perfect donut across Indiana, and I've learned something important along the way. The best donuts don't come from fancy...

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This Indiana Farm Is Turning Wagyu Steak Into a Date Night You’ll Actually Plan Around

In the tiny town of Roanoke, you wouldn’t expect a culinary destination that rivals anywhere in Indiana. Yet Joseph Decuis, located at 2219 Decuis Road, Roanoke, IN 46783, serving...

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Locals Say This Indiana Town Is Tourist-Ruined and Clogged by One-Way Traffic Jams

I have to be honest with you. I love Nashville, Indiana, but I also know exactly what locals mean when they roll their eyes on a busy October weekend.

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This Tiny Indiana Restaurant’s Burgers Are Unreal, and the “Big Ugly” Challenge Is Pure Madness

I still remember the first time I walked into Bub's Burgers in Carmel. The smell of perfectly seasoned beef hit me before I even opened the door, and I knew I was about to experience...

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This Indiana Diner Is Serving Up Vegan Comfort Food So Good, You Won’t Even Miss the Meat

I never thought I'd say this, but vegan comfort food at 10th Street Diner has completely changed my mind about plant-based eating. Located at 3301 E 10th St in Indianapolis, this...

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This No-Frills Indiana Restaurant Serves a Cheesesteak People Travel From Across the State to Devour

I never thought I'd drive across state lines for a sandwich until someone told me about BigCity CheeseSteaks in Munster. Located at 8220 Calumet Ave, Munster, IN 46321, this small,...

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This Retro Indiana Steakhouse Is Famous for a Salad Bar Served with Jelly Beans and Caviar

I still remember the first time someone told me about Cork 'N Cleaver in Evansville. They mentioned jelly beans on a salad bar, and I thought they were pulling my leg.

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This Enormous Indiana Antique Store Will Keep You Exploring for Hours on End

I stumbled upon Centerville Antique Mall during a road trip through Indiana, and what I thought would be a quick stop turned into an entire afternoon adventure.

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An Indiana Thrift Store Where $15 Can Upgrade Your Style in Minutes

I'll admit something right now: I used to think thrift shopping meant digging through piles of moth-eaten sweaters and outdated shoulder pads. Then I walked into Broad Ripple Vintage...

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Hoosiers Are Flocking To This Enormous Bazaar In Indiana That Feels Almost Unreal

I’ve wandered through plenty of Indiana flea markets over the years, but nothing quite prepared me for my first visit to Treasures Indoor Flea Market in Camby. The moment I stepped...

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A Tiny Indiana Cabin That Might Just Serve Up The State’s Best Pizza

I stumbled onto Lakeside Wood Fire Pizza on one of those aimless Sunday drives where you're just looking for something different, and let me tell you, it completely changed how...

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The Legendary All-You-Can-Eat Buffet In Indiana That Foodies Swear Is a Must-Try

I'll admit it: I'm a sucker for a good buffet. There's something thrilling about having endless options stretched out before you, letting you sample a little bit of everything...

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10 Low-Key Indiana Restaurants With Outrageously Fresh Seafood

I never thought I'd find seafood this good in Indiana. Growing up in the Midwest, I assumed fresh fish was something you only got near the coast.

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