roman pierce author at My Family Travels
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This Historic Stable In Indiana Now Houses a Premier Steakhouse Where You Dine in Victorian Horse Stalls

There are restaurants you visit, and then there are places you experience. This Indiana steakhouse is firmly in that second category.

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This Indiana Pizza Shop Lets You Eat Inside A Massive Vintage Double-Decker Bus

There are pizza places, and then there is one that completely stops you in your tracks. I had heard locals rave about it for years, and when I finally walked through the door,...

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This Indiana Swiss Village Feels More Like Bern Than the American Midwest

I never expected to feel like I had wandered into a European village while still firmly planted in the Indiana flatlands. Berne,...

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This Niche Indiana Museum Houses the World’s Only Public Collection of Over 2,000 Vintage “Breeze-Makers”

I never thought a museum dedicated entirely to fans would stop me in my tracks, but here we are. Hidden inside a corporate headquarters in Indiana, this museum holds the world's...

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The Gigantic 13,000-Square-Foot Indiana Dollar Store That Redefines Budget Shopping

I have been to a lot of dollar stores across Indiana, but nothing quite prepared me for what I found at one particular location in Fort Wayne. This is not your average cramped,...

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This Indiana Fish Stand is Famous for Hand-Breaded Filets and Portions So Large They Barely Fit the Box

There are some food spots you hear about from a friend, try once, and never stop thinking about. Dock Seafood in New Albany, Indiana is exactly that kind of place.

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This Indiana Bargain Barn Is a Niche Paradise for Retro Games and 80s Nostalgia

I grew up flipping through bargain bins and garage sales looking for old Nintendo cartridges, and nothing quite scratches that itch like walking into a store that actually gets...

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This Indiana Gas Station Is Hiding A 5-Star Indian Feast In The Back

I never expected a gas station to change my entire outlook on where great food can hide, but this Indiana spot did exactly that. From the outside, it looks like your average fuel...

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10 Indiana Restaurants Locals Secretly Gatekeep From Visitors

I have a confession to make. Every time someone visits Indiana and asks me where to eat, I hesitate just a little before answering.

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Indiana’s 60,000-Square-Foot “Treasure Adventure” With Over 600 Vendors

If you have ever walked into a place and instantly felt like a kid on a treasure hunt, there is a massive antique mall in Indiana that knows exactly that feeling. Spread across...

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This Indiana West-Side Joint Serves A Secret Complimentary Ceviche You Won’t Find On The Menu

I’ll be honest, I did not expect to find one of Indianapolis’s most exciting seafood experiences tucked away on the west side of town. There’s a spot that has been quietly...

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This Indiana Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurant Is Famous for a Pig Soup People Obsess Over

I'll be honest, I drove past Ralph's Great Divide more than once before I finally stopped. It sits quietly on East New York Street in Indianapolis, easy to overlook if you don't...

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This Indiana Underground River Cruise Is A Subterranean Hidden Gem

I still remember the moment the boat glided into the darkness and the world above simply disappeared. There I was, floating through an underground river inside a cave carved by...

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This Indiana Ramen Spot Serves a 10-Hour Broth So Authentic You’d Usually Have to Fly to Japan to Find It

I never thought I'd find a bowl of ramen in Bloomington, Indiana that would make me close my eyes and genuinely forget I wasn't sitting in a tiny Tokyo noodle shop.

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This Indiana Steakhouse Has Portions So Massive, You’ll Need a Partner Just to Finish Your Plate

I still remember the first time I pulled off the road and spotted that towering giraffe statue out front. Something about it made me laugh and instantly feel at home, like I had...

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This Indiana Japanese Hidden Gem Is Serving Secret Tokyo-Style Comfort Food You Won’t Find Anywhere Else

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting to find something this special on Massachusetts Avenue. Indianapolis has been rapidly growing its food scene, but Legacy Tokyo feels like...

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These Secluded Fern-Covered Cliffs in Indiana Feel Just Like a Jurassic Jungle

I have hiked a lot of trails across Indiana, but nothing quite prepared me for the moment I first stepped onto the path at Fern Cliff Nature Preserve near Greencastle. The air...

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This Indiana Gas Station Is Hiding The Best Ribs Of Your Life

I'll be honest. When a friend first told me to stop at a BBQ joint inside a gas station on South East Street, I laughed. It sounded...

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This No-Fuss Indiana Kitchen Serves Nearly 30 Varieties of Amish-Style Pie That Draw Crowds From All Over the Country

I have driven past a lot of roadside restaurants in Indiana, but nothing quite stopped me in my tracks like Blue Gate Restaurant and Bakery in Shipshewana. There is something about...

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These Indiana Unique Sleeps Will Totally Change How You Vacation

I'll be honest, I used to think a great vacation meant booking the same hotel room I always booked. Comfortable, predictable, forgettable.

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Best Indiana BBQ Joints Locals Keep Secret From Visitors

Indiana might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think about legendary barbecue, but that would be a mistake. Tucked...

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This Enormous Flea Market In Indiana Is A 260-Acre Playground Where Your Last $5 Bill Goes Far

I remember the first time I heard about a flea market spread across 260 acres, and honestly, I thought someone was exaggerating. But White's Farm Flea Market and Auctioneers in...

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This Indiana Bookstore Is So Vibrant, You’ll Leave With Books, New Friends, and Story Nights Worth Attending

I still remember the first time I walked into Indy Reads and felt that immediate sense of belonging. There is something about this place that goes far beyond just shelves of books.

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These Indiana Tortillas Are So Irresistible People Smuggle Them Home Secretly

I've driven past countless restaurants in South Bend, but none have captured my heart quite like Tortilleria El Sol. The moment I walked through those doors, I knew I'd stumbled...

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8 Beginner-Friendly Hikes in Indiana to Tackle This Spring

Spring in Indiana brings something magical to the trails. The wildflowers start popping up everywhere, the trees get their...

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The Mouth-Watering Steaks At This Small-Town Restaurant Are Better Than Indy’s Best And Half The Price

I remember the first time someone told me about a steakhouse in Garrett that supposedly rivaled anything downtown Indianapolis had to offer. My skepticism was real because how...

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People Drive For Hours Just To Feast At This Legendary Indiana Buffet Where The Frog Legs Rule

I've driven past countless buffets in my years exploring Indiana, but Chambers Smorgasbord in Spencer holds a special place that keeps pulling me back. This isn't just another...

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The Fascinating State Park In Indiana You’ll Want to See for Yourself

I still remember my first visit to Shakamak State Park, driving through the rolling hills of southwestern Indiana with the windows down and the smell of pine filling the car.

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This Indiana Flea Market Is a Major Destination with 500 Vendors and Food for Every Craving

I've driven past countless roadside markets during my years exploring Indiana, but nothing quite prepared me for the sheer scale and energy of the Friendship Flea Market.

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This Indiana Spot Serves Chili Dogs So Good, People Drive From All Over the State to Try Them

I've been making the trip to Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island since I was a kid, and let me tell you, some things never change in the best possible way. Walking through those doors...

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This Indiana “Roundabout Capital” Is Secretly the State’s Most Booming Foodie Suburb

I never thought much about roundabouts until I started spending real time in Carmel. Sure, I knew this suburb just north of Indianapolis had become something special, but I didn't...

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This All-You-Can-Eat Restaurant In Indiana Is So Good, You’ll Want to Drive Hours for It

I remember the first time someone told me about a buffet in Auburn that people drive hours to visit. I thought they were exaggerating until I made the trip myself.

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The Amish Store In Indiana Where Handmade Goodies and Kindness Abound

I first stumbled upon Schmucker's Farm on a crisp fall morning when I was searching for pumpkins that actually tasted like something. What I found was so much more than gourds...

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Indiana’s Giant Go-Kart Track Promises Heart-Pounding Fun for Kids and Adults Alike

I remember the first time I heard those electric motors hum at K1 Speed in Fishers. My heart started racing before I even strapped into the kart.

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This Indiana Spot Follows the White Rabbit Into a Magical Tea Time Experience

I've visited plenty of coffee shops around Lafayette, but nothing prepared me for what I found at Maddy Hatter's 10/6 Tea. Walking through that door feels like tumbling down the...

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This Indiana Bridge Gets Seriously Creepy Once the Sun Goes Down

I've always been drawn to places with stories that refuse to fade away. Growing up in Indiana, I heard whispers about the Avon Haunted Bridge long before I ever saw it in person.

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This Humble Indiana Eatery Has Hoosiers Flocking for Its Fried Clams

I never expected to find some of the best seafood in my life right in the heart of Indianapolis. When I first walked down those stairs at 14 E Washington Street, I honestly thought...

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8 Affordable Indiana Towns That Make Retirement Feel Like a Vacation

I remember the first time I drove through southern Indiana on a crisp autumn morning, watching the sun rise over rolling hills painted in shades of amber and rust. That's when...

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Indiana’s Most Unusual Shop Lets You Hunt for the Weirdest Collectibles

I never expected to find a place quite like All My Relations when I first drove down Rockville Road on Indianapolis's west side. Honestly, I'd passed by that stretch dozens of...

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This Indiana Lakeside Path Is Perfect for Sunset Walks

I still remember the first time I pedaled along the Patoka Lake paved bike trail just as the sun started dipping toward the horizon. The light turned everything golden, and I realized...

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The No-Fuss Spot Every Indiana Foodie Should Drive For

I've been chasing down the best diners across Indiana for years now, and let me tell you, Oasis Diner in Plainfield is one spot that keeps pulling me back. Tucked right on West...

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This Indiana City Is Home to a Massive 10-Day Festival That Takes Over the Entire Town

Rockville is one of those places that makes you wonder why you waited so long to visit. Tucked into Parke County, it comes alive every October during the Covered Bridge Festival,...

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This Indiana Bistro Is Serving Classic French Fare That’s Winning Over Even the Fussiest Foodies

Strolling down East Westfield Boulevard in Indianapolis, it’s hard to miss Petite Chou Bistro & Champagne Bar at 823 Westfield Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46220, a charming spot...

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Indiana’s Freestanding Geological Wonder Most People Walk Right Past

Hidden along a quiet stretch of southern Indiana highway sits one of the state's most impressive natural landmarks that thousands of drivers zoom past every day. Jug Rock rises...

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This Indiana Restaurant Proves Simple Chicken and Waffles Can Be Legendary

A friend once raved about a spot on East 30th Street serving chicken and waffles so good they could make you rethink everything you know about comfort food. At first, it sounded...

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8 Indiana Family-Friendly Adventures You Haven’t Tried Yet

Indiana might not be the first state that comes to mind when planning a family vacation. But it holds some truly surprising experiences.

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This Indiana City Turns Its Streets Into an Open-Air Gallery Every Summer

I remember the first time I drove through Valparaiso on a summer afternoon and spotted a massive mural sprawling across the side of a building downtown. It stopped me in my tracks.

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How Tourists Are Turning This Once-Quiet Indiana Town Into a Traffic Nightmare

Nashville, Indiana used to be the kind of place where you could drive down Main Street without hitting a single stoplight or worrying about finding parking. Locals knew every face,...

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Indiana’s Forest Hideaway That’s Perfect for a Quick Escape

Tucked away in the rolling hills of south-central Indiana lies a natural treasure that feels worlds apart from everyday life. Morgan-Monroe State Forest spans over 24,000 acres...

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Indiana Locals Know This Simple Restaurant for Its Can’t-Miss Brisket

Indianapolis has no shortage of barbecue joints, but few capture the hearts and taste buds of locals like Hank’s Smoked Briskets. Tucked away on Doctor M.L.K.

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