roman pierce author at My Family Travels
Article
The Best Hidden Mexican Spot in the Dunes Is This No-Frills Indiana Roadhouse

Some places just have a pull to them that is hard to explain until you show up yourself. A small roadside roadhouse in northwest Indiana, not far from the lakeshore and the dunes...

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You Have to Try the Famous Caramel Corn at This Little Indiana Gem

There are places in Indiana that feel like they belong to a sweeter, slower era, and a small family-founded candy shop in Vincennes is absolutely one of them. I grew up hearing...

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The Indiana Train-Watching Haven Where Locals Gather For Hours To Watch Massive Freight Chains Roll Through

I never expected to spend three hours standing near a set of tracks in a small northern Indiana city, completely unable to leave. But that is exactly what happened the first time...

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This Historic Indiana Tavern Is Keeping a 70-Year Tradition Alive With the Best Hand-Breaded Fried Mushrooms You’ll Ever Eat

I have lived in Indianapolis, Indiana long enough to know that the best spots rarely announce themselves with flashy signs or big marketing budgets. Some places just earn their...

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The Low-Key Indiana Town Where Retirees Are Finding High-Quality Life On A Modest Budget

I never expected a small Indiana town to stop me in my tracks, but Franklin did just that. There’s something quietly magnetic about this Johnson County gem, where tree-lined...

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This Remote Indiana Wildlife Area Has Miles Of Empty Gravel Roads Perfect For Slow Scenic Drives

I never expected a quiet corner of Daviess County to stop me in my tracks the way this wildlife area did. Rolling down one of its long, empty gravel roads with nothing but marsh...

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The Massive Indiana Clearance Barn Where Scratch-and-Dent Amish Furniture Hits Prices 70% Below Retail

I’ll be honest, I never expected a country drive through northern Indiana to completely change how I shop for furniture and household goods. But the moment I pulled up to a barn-style...

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This Tiny Indiana Mennonite Bakery’s Famous “Pigs” and Strawberry Bread Sell Out Every Single Day

Some places just stop you in your tracks the moment you hear about them. This small-town cafe in Indiana is exactly that kind of spot.

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The Secret Indiana Salvage Store That Offers Massive Discounts On Groceries With Slightly Dented Boxes

I never thought a slightly dented box could make me so happy until I stumbled upon this hidden gem in Goshen, Indiana. Tucked along a quiet stretch of road, this salvage grocery...

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This Hidden Indiana Kitchen Is Famous for a Garbage Salad People Drive Hours to Order

There are restaurants you stumble into once and forget by the next week, and then there are places that stick with you long after you've left the parking lot. This spot in downtown...

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This Indiana Asian-Inspired Spot Features Artful Sushi and Flame-Seared Miyazaki A5 Wagyu Nigiri

I'll be honest, I was not expecting to find a dining experience this layered and thoughtful right in the heart of Indianapolis. This...

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This Indiana Farm Features a Real Miniature Train Ride That Travels Around Pumpkin Patches and Corn Mazes

Fall in Indiana hits different when you find a place that makes the whole season feel like it was made just for you. This farm is exactly that kind of place.

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This Hidden Gem Indiana Kosher Deli Features a Massive Vegan Menu and New York-Style Sandwiches

There are places you stumble upon that completely change the way you think about a city, and this bakery and deli in Terre Haute is exactly that kind of place for me. This family-run...

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The Flooded Indiana Quarry Where You Can SCUBA Dive Alongside Sunken School Buses

There are not many places in the Midwest where you can strap on a tank and swim past a sunken school bus from the 1940s, but this park in Logansport, Indiana makes that a real...

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10 Indiana Dessert Spots That Totally Live Up to the Hype

I have a serious weakness for good desserts, and Indiana has been quietly building one of the sweetest food scenes in the Midwest. From flaky pastries to hand-dipped chocolates...

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This Indiana Lake Features a Flooded Woodland Where You Can Kayak Through Treetops During High Water

I never expected a reservoir in west-central Indiana to stop me in my tracks, but this lake did exactly that. This 1,400-acre gem sits roughly halfway between Indianapolis and...

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This Rare Indiana Wetland Features an Overcup Oak Swamp and Ancient Cypress Sloughs

I never expected to find something that felt so far from Indiana right here in the state. This nature preserve, sitting quietly in Posey County, is one of those places that genuinely...

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9 Indiana Canyon Preserves Tucked Away in Small Towns That Feel Like a Trip to the Pacific Northwest

I never thought I'd feel like I was standing somewhere in the Pacific Northwest without leaving Indiana. But some of these...

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This Indiana Museum Features the “Bob Ross Experience” Inside the Real Studio Where He Filmed

There is something genuinely special about standing in a place where history actually happened, and this cultural gem in Muncie, Indiana delivers that feeling in a big way. Tucked...

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This Indiana Matcha Bar Serves Ceremonial Grade Brews From Japan In A Space That Feels Like A Tokyo Zen Garden

The city has no shortage of coffee shops, but something genuinely different has arrived, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. This is Indianapolis’ first dedicated...

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This Unique Indiana Waterfront Spot Is Famous For Serving Mediterranean Cuisine Right On The Ohio River

I never expected to find a restaurant in a small Indiana river town that would completely change the way I think about dining out. This Mediterranean spot in Newburgh sits right...

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This Indiana Lost River Disappears Underground for 22 Miles Before Bubbling Back to the Surface

There are places in Indiana that feel like they belong in a geography textbook, except standing at the edge of one makes the whole thing feel almost unreal. Wesley Chapel Gulf...

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This Indiana Forest Is Where You Can Find Trees Older Than the City of Evansville

There is a place on the east side of Evansville that feels like it exists in a completely different era. This rare old-growth urban forest is home to trees that have stood for...

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This Indiana Architectural Wonder Lets You Dine Under One of the World’s Largest Free-Standing Domes

I never expected a meal in southern Indiana to genuinely stop me in my tracks, but the moment I walked into the atrium of this historic hotel, I understood what all the fuss was...

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This Indiana Farm-To-Table Spot Offers A Rare “Wagyu” Burger Made From Their Own Herd

I never expected a small town in northeast Indiana to completely change the way I think about a burger. But the moment I took that first bite, I understood what all the talk was...

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This Indiana Hoosier Vintage Wheels Event Features a Model Car Contest Alongside Rare Automotive Parts

There is something about a vintage car event that pulls you in before you even step through the gate. The smell of old metal, the gleam of a perfectly restored hood, and the buzz...

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This Indiana Dune Summit Serves a Dreamy View of the Chicago Skyline Across the Water

There is something about standing at the top of a massive sand dune with the Chicago skyline shimmering across Lake Michigan that makes you feel like Indiana has been keeping a...

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The Indiana Department Store Hiding 20,000 Bolts Of Fabric In A Multi-Room Maze

I will be honest, I did not expect a department store in a small Indiana town to stop me in my tracks the way one local shop did. Walking through its doors felt less like shopping...

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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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