tessa langley author at My Family Travels
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The Popular Indiana Steakhouse Famous For Entertaining Hibachi Shows And Fresh Sushi Platters

There are restaurants you visit once and forget, and then there are places that stay with you long after the last bite. A Japanese steakhouse in the Indianapolis area is firmly...

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All-In-One Indiana Waterpark Resort Where Massive Slides And Indoor Waves Meet Stress-Free Family Dining

Planning a family getaway in Indiana that actually keeps everyone happy, from toddlers to teenagers, can feel like a tall order sometimes. I get it.

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The Indiana Roadside Icon Where Hand-Breaded Pork Tenderloins Are So Massive They Make The Bun Look Like A Garnish

Some places just feel like they belong to a different, better era of eating. This longtime corner diner in Kokomo, Indiana is exactly that kind of place.

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This Family-Owned Indiana Pizzeria Has the Best Thin Crust in the Region

I’ve eaten my fair share of pizza across Indiana, and finding truly great thin crust is harder than it sounds. Most places go too thick, too soft, or just forgettable.

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This Hidden Indiana River Walk Glows at Sunset Like a Secret Urban Escape

There is something quietly magical about finding a stretch of nature tucked right inside a busy city, and a paved greenway along the White River in Indianapolis does exactly that....

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This Indiana Bike Park Features a 300-Acre “Mountain Bike Playground” With Jump Lines and Lake Jumps

I never expected to find a world-class mountain biking destination tucked away in Indiana, but this place completely changed my perspective. Spread across hundreds of acres outside...

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The Iconic Indiana “Sandstone Bluff” Where 100-Foot Cliffs Tower Directly Over the White River

I have hiked a lot of trails across Indiana, but nothing quite prepared me for that first moment standing at the base of those massive sandstone cliffs, rising dramatically above...

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Walk Between Two Massive Cascades on This Underrated Indiana Waterfall Trail

I had no idea this place existed until a friend mentioned it almost in passing during a road trip conversation. That single, offhand comment sent me straight down a rabbit hole,...

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This Giant Steak Challenge in Indiana Is a Meat Lover’s Ultimate Dream

I still remember the first time I heard someone mention a six-pound steak challenge in Valparaiso, Indiana, and I honestly thought they were joking. Nobody just casually eats six...

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10 Indiana Comfort Food Spots Where Sugar Cream Pie Is a Must-Order

I have a confession to make. The first time I tasted a proper Indiana sugar cream pie, I sat quietly for a moment because I had no idea a simple slice of pie could feel that personal.

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The Massive Indiana Working Ranch Where You Can Hand-Feed Bison and Try Bison Burgers

There are few places in Indiana where you can stand just a few feet away from a 2,000-pound bison and offer it a treat right from your hand. This working ranch is one of them,...

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This Chilling Indiana Poor Farm Invites You to Spend a Night in the Asylum Made Famous by Paranormal Lockdown

I still remember the first time I heard about this historic infirmary tucked away in a small Indiana town. A friend told me about a building that began as a poor farm in 1852,...

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9 Underrated Indiana Destinations That Deserve Way More Attention

I'll be honest, I spent years thinking Indiana was mostly cornfields and interstate highways. Then I started actually exploring the state, and I found myself completely surprised...

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This Iconic Indiana Waterfront Deck Features Sunset Views And Handmade Italian Pasta That Rival A Roman Summer

There are restaurants you visit once and forget, and then there are places that quietly become part of your story. There’s a lakeside spot in Cedar Lake, Indiana that firmly...

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10 Indiana Bookstores Perfect for a Slow Afternoon

I have a habit of disappearing into bookstores on slow afternoons, the kind where you have nowhere urgent to be and all the time in the world to wander.

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This Massive 84-Foot Tall Indiana Barn Was Built by Amish Craftsmen and Is Hiding 3 Floors of Secret Treasures

I have driven past a lot of barns in Indiana, but nothing quite prepared me for the moment I first saw this massive structure rising up along a country road. At 84 feet tall, with...

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The Secluded Indiana Beach Town That Locals Are Trying To Keep To Themselves

I'll be honest with you. I almost didn't write this. This is one of those places that feels like a secret you want to keep tucked...

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The Easy Indiana Nature Trail That Features Ten Different Educational Storybook Stations for Kids

If you are looking for a place where your kids can read, explore, and breathe in fresh air all at the same time, this charming community park might just be the perfect spot. I...

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This Indiana Neighborhood Kitchen Specializes in Authentic Korean Banchan and Award-Winning Japchae Noodles

There are certain restaurants that earn a permanent spot in your weekly routine, and this West Lafayette gem is exactly that kind of place.

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This 7,000-Square-Foot Flea Market In Indiana Was Founded by Sisters With a Passion for All Things Vintage

There are some places that just feel right the moment you walk in, and this indoor flea market in Shelbyville is exactly that kind of place. Founded by two sisters, it spans 7,000...

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This Indiana Japanese BBQ Destination Lets You Grill Over 50 Different Meats at Your Own Table

If you have ever wanted to cook your own meal at the table while surrounded by the smell of sizzling, perfectly marinated meat, this Japanese BBQ spot is exactly what you have...

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This Indiana Shop Features Custom-Built Furniture Made from Repurposed Barn Wood

I have a soft spot for places that feel like they were made for people who genuinely care about what they bring into their homes. This shop in Clayton, Indiana is exactly that...

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This Indiana Landmark Features an Old Prison Building with a Haunted History

I grew up hearing whispers about an old jail in Indiana, the kind of stories passed around at sleepovers and campfires. When I finally walked through those heavy doors myself,...

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This Indiana Industrial-Themed Restaurant Features a G-Scale Model Train That Circles Above Your Table While You Dine

There are restaurants you visit once and forget, and then there are places that stick with you long after the last bite. This one is firmly in that second category.

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This Scenic Indiana River Trek is the State’s Best-Kept Secret for History Lovers and Hikers

Some trails just walk you through nature, but this one takes you through centuries of living history, untouched prairie, and some of the most quietly beautiful river scenery in...

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This Family-Owned Indiana Butcher Shop Is Hiding a Deli With $8 Home-Cooked Plate Lunches That Put Chain Restaurants to Shame

I grew up eating home-cooked meals that smelled like Sunday every single day of the week, and finding that same feeling in a lunch spot feels almost impossible nowadays. Then I...

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This Indiana Tall Timbers Trail Is Home to Some of the Most Ancient Walnut Trees in the Midwest

There are places in Indiana that stop you in your tracks, and this nature preserve in Putnam County is absolutely one of them. I grew up hearing about hidden natural gems scattered...

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This Indiana Corn Silo Offers A Two-Story Retreat Inside A Grain Bin

I never thought I would be sleeping inside a grain bin in southern Indiana and loving every single minute of it. But that is exactly what happens when you book a night at this...

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This Multi-Floor Indiana Antique Mall is a 20,000-Square-Foot Treasure Adventure

I never expected a single building in downtown Crawfordsville to completely change how I think about antique shopping. This massive antique mall is one of those places that earns...

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This Unique Indiana Food Hall Is Famous For Being Located Inside The World’s Once-Largest Coca-Cola Bottling Plant

I still remember the first time I walked through the doors of this food hall and felt the weight of history mixed with the smell of food from a dozen different countries. It sits...

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This Beginner-Friendly 2-Mile Hike In Indiana Leads You Through A Sanctuary For Endangered Bats

I never expected to find a bat sanctuary hiding in plain sight just outside of Plainfield, Indiana. This park quietly sits on 210 acres of woodland, and once you step onto its...

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This Indiana Stone Quarry Features 30-Foot Deep Sapphire Water Tucked Inside a Hidden Forest

There are places in Indiana that feel like they belong in a dream, and this hidden quarry swimming spot is absolutely one of them. I still remember the first time I heard about...

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This Indiana Prairie Trail Features 10 Miles Of Flat Pavement Through Rare Wildflower Habitats

There is something about a flat, open trail in northwest Indiana that makes you slow down, breathe, and notice the world around you in a way that city streets rarely allow. From...

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This Indiana Museum Features a Full-Scale 1900s Town Built Inside an Old Elks Lodge Ballroom

I had no idea what was waiting behind those bright blue doors. This museum is exactly the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled onto a hidden treasure, and once...

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The Indiana Museum Where the Carriage That Carried Lincoln to His Fate Still Rests

Some museums make you feel like a tourist. This automotive museum makes you feel like a witness to history. Walking through its...

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This 4-Mile Auto Loop in Indiana Offers a Front-Row Seat to River Otters and Bald Eagles

I never expected a quiet stretch of southern Indiana to stop me in my tracks the way this national wildlife refuge did. Spanning thousands of protected acres, it feels like a world...

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This 40-Mile Scenic Trail in Indiana Winds Past Amish Farmland and 19th-Century History

There is something quietly powerful about walking a trail that was once a working railroad corridor. Stretching for miles through some of the most honest, unhurried countryside...

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This Indiana Swap Meet Only Opens for a Rare Hunt of Farm Animals, Hunting Gear, and Hidden Relics

There is something genuinely exciting about pulling off a rural Indiana county road and discovering a sprawling outdoor market that feels like it belongs to a different era.

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The Indiana Shop Where You Must Walk Through 3,200 Cookie Jars To Get A Single Scoop

I never expected a single scoop of ice cream to come with a world record attached to it. But that is exactly what happens when you step into a tiny ice cream parlor in the canal...

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This Indiana Wildlife Boardwalk Is A Total Safari Jackpot For National Geographic Lovers

I never expected to feel like I was watching a National Geographic documentary while standing in the middle of West Lafayette, Indiana. But that is exactly what happened the first...

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This Indiana Igloo Serves a Classic Fruit Salad Sundae Straight From 1932

There are certain places in Indiana that feel like they belong to everyone, and The Igloo Frozen Custard in Lafayette is one of them.

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This Indiana Forest Escape Whisks You Through a Hidden Mountain Tunnel

There is something quietly thrilling about boarding a historic train in the rolling hills of southern Indiana and watching the world slow down outside your window. One scenic railway...

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Indiana’s Most Whimsical Pizzeria Is a Former Gas Station Turned Retro Wonderland

I’ll be honest, I never expected a small town in Henry County to completely change how I think about pizza nights. This little town is not exactly a place most people have circled...

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This Indiana Town Has a Courthouse Tower That’s Been Mysteriously Growing Trees Since 1870

There is a small city in southeastern Indiana that has been quietly baffling visitors and scientists alike for over 150 years. Greensburg, the county seat of Decatur County, is...

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The Top 10 No-Frills Diners in Indiana With Mouth-Watering Homestyle Food You Have to Try

I have a soft spot for the kind of place where the coffee is bottomless, the booths are worn smooth from years of regulars sliding in, and the food tastes like someone’s grandmother...

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This Indiana Nature Trail Takes You Through Amish Country Where You’ll Share the Path with Horse-Drawn Buggies

There are trails, and then there are trails that genuinely stop you in your tracks. The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail in northern Indiana is one of those rare places where the pace...

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The Tiny Indiana Town Hiding a Massive 1,000-Acre Bison Prairie

I never expected to find a wild bison herd roaming freely in the middle of Indiana, but that is exactly what I discovered near the small town of Morocco. Kankakee Sands, managed...

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This Indiana Burger Joint Has 3-Hour Lines And Is The State’s Most Viral Drive-Thru

I'll be honest, I never expected a drive-thru in Indianapolis to stop me in my tracks the way California Burger did. There is something almost legendary about a burger joint that...

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This Indiana “Mom-and-Pop” Joint Is Hiding Some Of The State’s Best Carolina-Style BBQ

I was not expecting much when I first heard about a BBQ spot in McCordsville, Indiana. A small town, a depot street address, and a name I had never come across before did not exactly...

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This Massive Indiana ‘Bin Store’ Features a New Discount Every Day Where Everything Costs as Little as 50 Cents

I still remember the first time I walked into WOW Bargain Deals and felt my jaw drop. Rows and rows of bins stuffed with electronics, clothing, furniture, jewelry, and gadgets...

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This Indiana Lakeside Escape Feels Like Your Own Private Slice of the Midwest

I never expected a small Indiana town with fewer than 600 residents to stop me in my tracks the way Beverly Shores did. The Lake Michigan shoreline here feels almost too good to...

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This Indiana Stew House Is Turning a Century-Old Macedonian Secret Into the City’s Ultimate Comfort Obsession

A spot on Kentucky Avenue has been serving the same stew recipe for over a century. At first, it sounded like an exaggeration. How...

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10 Indiana Restaurants People Say Feel the Most “Indiana” Without Trying

I've eaten at a lot of places across the Midwest, but there's something about Indiana restaurants that hits differently. No gimmicks, no trendy concepts, just real food made by...

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This Restaurant In Indiana Serves A Strip Steak Drenched In A “Liquid Gold” Butter That Will Change Your Life

I never thought I'd find myself craving a single bite of steak for days on end, but here I am, daydreaming about that sizzling, butter-topped perfection I experienced at Ruth's...

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Chicken Fried Steaks Locals Argue Are the Best in Indiana

I’ve spent years chasing the perfect chicken fried steak across Indiana, and let me tell you, this state takes its breaded, golden-crusted comfort food seriously.

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Tourists Ruined This Once-Perfect Indiana Swimming Hole and It’s Hard to Believe It’s Still Open

I remember the first time I drove down to Lake Monroe back in the early 2000s. The water sparkled like glass, the beaches felt like hidden treasures, and you could actually find...

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This Unassuming Indiana Eatery Brings Heartland Flavors to Seafood Lovers Everywhere

I never thought I'd find a seafood spot in the middle of Indiana that could rival coastal favorites, but Slapfish on Massachusetts Avenue proved me completely wrong. Walking past...

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This Indiana Lake Town Is a Dining Destination That Catches People Off Guard

I never expected to find such incredible food in a small lake town. Syracuse sits quietly along the shores of Lake Wawasee in northern Indiana, and most people drive through without...

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9 Indiana Mexican Restaurants Doing Authentic Flavors Right

Finding truly authentic Mexican food in Indiana might seem challenging at first, but I promise you it's absolutely worth the search.

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The Enormous Bookstore In Indiana That Holds Thousands of Hidden Literary Gems

I've driven past countless bookstores in my life, but nothing prepared me for what I found at Morgenstern Books & Café in Bloomington. This place isn't just another shop with...

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