Carmel was such a charming place to visit, full of character and beautiful areas to explore. We also spent time in Nashville, which was absolutely wonderful, with scenic drives, unique shops, and a relaxing small-town atmosphere.
One of the highlights of the trip was visiting the zoo and seeing kangaroos up close. I always enjoy exploring zoos while traveling since Alaska doesn’t really have a traditional zoo outside of rescued wildlife. It’s fascinating to see animals like zebras, snakes, monkeys, and of course the kangaroos, which were definitely my favorite.
The trip may have been short, but it was packed with great memories, beautiful scenery, and some truly amazing food along the way.
First place was Charlestons
They had a gluten free menu
The food was absolutely amazing. I honestly hadn’t enjoyed a French dip since being diagnosed gluten-free, so this was such a treat. While the gluten-free bread softened a bit once dipped — which is pretty typical for gluten-free bread — it was still delicious and held up well enough to fully enjoy the experience. As long as you dive right in, it’s no problem at all.
The flavors were fantastic, and the overall experience was so good that we had hoped to make it back for another visit before leaving town, but unfortunately ran out of time. Definitely a place I’d recommend and would happily visit again.
Our next stop was Bub’s Burgers & Ice Cream, and it was such a fun experience with an atmosphere that instantly makes you feel welcome. Check out their menu.
If you visit, I highly recommend bringing someone who isn’t gluten-free because you are definitely going to want to watch them tackle the famous “Big Ugly” burger. If they ever make a gluten-free bun that size, my son would be first in line for it! Thankfully, they do offer gluten-free buns for their smaller burgers, and honestly, the portion was more than enough — I couldn’t even finish mine.
One fun surprise was discovering that they dip their sweet potato fries in marshmallow fluff. It actually seemed to be a bit of a local favorite because we noticed marshmallow fluff popping up in several places around Carmel. Between the great food, gluten-free accommodations, and lively atmosphere, this was definitely a memorable stop on our trip.
We later made our way to Nashville Indiana and quickly discovered what felt like a treasure trove of unique shops, cozy cafés, and incredible food. Our first stop was Offbeet Bakery for coffee and sweets, and it instantly became one of my favorite spots of the trip.
Everything was rich, delicious, and beautifully made, but what truly stood out was the atmosphere. The moment we walked in, it felt like stepping into a charming little Parisian bakery. The space was quiet, cozy, and calming, with the warm aroma of fresh coffee and sweet pastries filling the air. It was the kind of place that makes you want to slow down, relax, and stay awhile.
Honestly, I could have spent the entire afternoon there, but with so many shops to explore and more amazing food waiting for us around town, we eventually had to continue our adventure.
After walking around for what felt like hours exploring all the shops and sights, we finally stopped for pizza. I’ll admit, I was a little disappointed at first when my husband’s pizza arrived on a thick, bubbly crust while my gluten-free version looked much smaller and thinner by comparison.
But what it may have lacked in size, it absolutely made up for in flavor. The pizza was genuinely delicious, and it was great to find another place willing to accommodate gluten-free dining without sacrificing taste.
One thing I really appreciated about Nashville was that there seemed to be several pizza spots and restaurants offering options that could work for gluten-free visitors. Between the food, charming shops, and welcoming atmosphere, it’s definitely a destination worth making the drive to experience.
Hopefully I’ll have the chance to explore even more of Indiana in the future, but for now my trip to Carmel was such a fun experience filled with great memories and plenty of amazing food to enjoy along the way.
Although the trip was short, it turned out to be a wonderful getaway packed with charming towns, welcoming atmospheres, and so many surprisingly good gluten-free options. It was definitely a memorable visit and one I’m very glad I had the opportunity to experience.
