My Family Travels | Best Family Vacation Ideas
Previous Next

LATEST ARTICLES:

Article
This Legendary New Jersey Steakhouse Is Serving A Full Thanksgiving Dinner For Just $37.95 In 2026

Six open charcoal hearths glow in the middle of one giant dining room, and the cooks work right out in plain view. Suits of armor, shields, and swords watch over the whole scene.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Indiana BBQ Restaurant Has a Buffet Where Ribs, Pulled Pork, and Fried Chicken Share the Table

Fried chicken, BBQ ribs, and pulled pork all sit on the same hot buffet line here. Nobody makes you pick a team. That alone feels...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Ultimate Indiana Rainy-Day Hangout Has Free Board Games, $1 Books, and a Giant Pretzel

A whole wall of board games sits waiting, and nobody charges you a cent to play them. Grab a box, find a table, and start rolling dice.

Read More    7 min read

Article
A 38,000-Square-Foot Missouri Tool Showroom Is Packed With Everything From Table Saws To Metal Lathes

More than 1,000 different machines sit on one showroom floor, and you're allowed to touch them. Table saws, bandsaws, metal lathes, mills, even CNC machines.

Read More    7 min read

Article
Four Texas Siblings Started Experimenting With Old Family Kolache Recipes and Ended Up Opening Their Own Bakery

Butter pecan, poppy seed, and prune kolaches share a bakery case with sausage rolls stuffed with jalapeños and cheese. Sweet and savory traditions sit side by side here, and every...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Charming French Bakery In Oklahoma Serves Pastries That Taste Like Paris

A 30-foot Eiffel Tower stands outside a French bakery in Oklahoma. Yes, really, and it's hard to miss from the street. Two brothers...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Oregon Roadside Burger Joint Is Filled With Rusty Car Parts And Serves Burgers Loaded With Wild Toppings

An airplane fuselage sits on the roof of a burger joint along an Oregon highway. Yes, an actual chunk of airplane. It's the first clue that lunch here won't be ordinary.

Read More    7 min read

Article
A New Jersey Arts Studio Lets Visitors Try The Ancient Craft Of Glassmaking Instead Of Just Watching It

A glass studio that started with one table and two torches now fills 10,000 square feet. Yeah, I'm definitely looking twice at that.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Hampshire Mountain Inn Is Offering A Two-Night Thanksgiving Escape With Holiday Dinner And Breakfast Included

Two nights in a mountain inn with Thanksgiving dinner and breakfast included? That sounds like an appealing alternative to spending the holiday juggling grocery lists, cooking...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Maryland Adventure Resort Has Lodge Cabins and Outdoor Experiences That Make a Weekend Feel Like a Vacation

A mountain coaster winds through the forest, and riders use handbrakes to control the twists and drops. That's the kind of surprise waiting at this Maryland mountain resort, where...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Historic Oregon Railroad Takes You Through Old Gold Mining Country On Tracks Rebuilt By Volunteers

The original tracks were torn up and scrapped in 1947. Then volunteers spent decades putting a railroad back, piece by piece, by hand.

Read More    7 min read

Article
Thanksgiving Lunch At This Oklahoma Waterpark Resort Comes With A Seafood Station And A Buffet Spread Just For Kids

A cold seafood station sits right next to the turkey at this Thanksgiving buffet. Then there are chef-attended carving stations with three different selections.

Read More    7 min read

Article
Rainy Days Turn Into Hands-On Adventures At This New Hampshire Museum With Two Floors Of Science, Art And Interactive Exhibits

Two floors where kids are encouraged to touch, experiment, build, and explore? That's a pretty convincing answer to the dreaded question of what to do when rain ruins the day's...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Hampshire Wildlife Farm Lets You Meet Black Bears, Wolves, A Camel And Dozens Of Friendly Farm Animals

Black bears, wolves, and a camel sharing the same attraction with friendly farm animals? That's an unusual combination, and it makes an ordinary animal outing sound much more adventurous.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Vintage West Virginia Christmas Shop Feels Like Stepping Into A Holiday Memory

Somewhere in West Virginia, an old train ticket window still hangs on a wall. These days, it watches over shelves of Christmas ornaments instead of travelers buying fares.

Read More    6 min read

Article
A Little New Jersey Restaurant Brings Classic French Fine Dining To A Cozy, Intimate Setting

Dover sole gets finished right beside your table here, and crepes suzette can get the same treatment. Yeah, I'm definitely looking twice at that.

Read More    7 min read

Article
California Family Restaurant Plans a Comeback After a Fire Next Door Forced It to Close

Losing access to a restaurant because of a fire in a neighboring building is the kind of setback no family business expects. Even when the flames start elsewhere, the disruption...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Oregon Restaurant Floats Right On The Columbia River And Even Moves Gently With The Water

The dining room here actually bobs on the river. Your table rides the same gentle swells as the boats tied up nearby. This...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Hampshire Bakery Makes Dairy-Free Cakes And Sweet Treats Without Using A Single Egg Or Drop Of Milk

Cakes without eggs, milk, or butter that still look like something you'd want for a celebration? That's a pretty impressive baking challenge, especially when texture and flavor...

Read More    7 min read

Article
9 Grocery Stores in Maryland Famous for Their Quality Meat Departments

One Maryland grocery store makes its own country sausage and will even prepare custom cuts of beef for your freezer. The meat counter also carries stuffed pork chops, porterhouse...

Read More    8 min read

Article
Italian And Japanese Flavors Collide At This New Jersey Restaurant Where The Menu Is Anything But Predictable

Handmade mafaldine pasta with Japanese curry flavors and smoked chicken. Yep, that's a real dish, and it sits on a real menu in New Jersey.

Read More    7 min read

Article
California Coffee Shop Squeezes an Entire Business Into Just 78 Square Feet in Historic Chinatown

Seventy-eight square feet. That is about the size of a walk-in closet, and somebody built an entire coffee business inside it. The...

Read More    7 min read

Article
A Minnesota Teacher Built A Viking Ship That Actually Crossed The Atlantic, And You Can Still See It Today

A school guidance counselor picked out more than 100 white oak trees by hand and turned them into a real Viking ship. The...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Behind The Doors Of This Oklahoma Saloon, Western History Comes To Life

A real Wild West showman once had his name painted over an Old Town full of crafts, cowboys, and rodeo dust. That showman later toured with Buffalo Bill himself.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Small-Town West Virginia Movie Theater Still Charges Prices That Feel Like The 1980s

Three people reportedly caught a movie here, with popcorn, large drinks and candy, for about what one ticket costs at a bigger theater up the road. That sounds like a typo.

Read More    10 min read

Article
One Of America’s Hottest New Pizzerias Is Hiding In New Jersey And Its Chili Crisp Pizza Is Anything But Ordinary

Chili crisp, cheese, and honey on one pizza. Yeah, I'm definitely looking twice at that combo, and it's one of the most unusual creations on the menu.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Massive West Virginia Flea Market Is Where Locals Find Treasures For Just A Few Dollars

Two warehouse-sized buildings packed with vendor booths sit just off a busy highway, and plenty of drivers almost miss them. That alone makes me curious.

Read More    7 min read

Article
California Brothers Turned Their Father’s Grocery Store Into America’s No. 2 Place to Eat

The tiles at the entrance offer a friendly piece of advice: Take It Easy Habibi. It's an unexpected welcome to a restaurant where mesquite-fired kebabs, rotisserie chicken, and...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The World’s Last Blockbuster Store Is Still Standing In Oregon And Feels Like A Trip Back To The 1990s

The checkout counter still runs on a DOS-based IBM computer system. Yes, really. In a world of streaming apps and smart TVs, one store keeps renting movies the old-fashioned way.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Virginia Mountain Resort Is Offering A Thanksgiving Getaway With A Holiday Feast And Cozy Condo Stays

Thanksgiving dinner tastes even better when someone else handles the cooking and cleanup. Add a mountain getaway to the plan, and the holiday suddenly sounds a lot more relaxing.

Read More    7 min read

Article
Rainy Days Are Anything But Boring At This Virginia Museum Filled With Hands-On Science Exhibits

Giant interactive exhibits, scientific experiments, and a massive domed theater can turn a gloomy afternoon into something genuinely exciting. Who needs perfect weather when there's...

Read More    7 min read

Article
An Experimental New Jersey House Blends Architecture And Nature In Ways You Have To See To Believe

A landscape architect got kicked out of Harvard for designing gardens that were too modern. Then he built a house that he refused to ever call finished.

Read More    7 min read

Article
A Maryland Business Turned Everyday Agricultural Products Into an Unusual Family Store

Original shipping baskets once used along Maryland waterways now sit on display inside a shop packed with antiques. Even the old store ledgers from the 1950s have survived, giving...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Ohio Restaurant Combines Japanese Hibachi With Dozens of Indonesian Dishes Under One Roof

Japanese hibachi and Indonesian home cooking rarely share the same restaurant menu, but one unexpected kitchen brings both traditions together. Diners can choose familiar grilled...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Dozens Of Gingerbread Creations Fill This Missouri Church At Christmas And Visitors Can Vote For Their Favorite

A church lobby turns into a tiny town made of cookies every December. Kids as young as one can enter, and so can professional bakers.

Read More    7 min read

Article
Pennsylvania Couple Turned a 100-Year-Old Schoolhouse Into a Marketplace for Dozens of Local Vendors

Classrooms once filled with students now hold antiques, handmade crafts, jewelry, soaps, and even the occasional garden gnome. The building is about a century old, but its newest...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Minnesota Restaurant Lets You Eat Inside A Beautifully Restored Railroad Station From 1920

Dinner here happens in a room built to feel like an actual railroad dining car. It's small and cozy, seating just 18 people at a time.

Read More    7 min read

Article
South Carolina Food Shop Brings Georgian Bread Boats and Ukrainian Comfort Food Under One Roof

Picture a boat-shaped loaf of bread filled with melted cheese, topped with an egg yolk and butter, and served warm enough to stir everything together at the table. It's called...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Pennsylvania Church Was Transformed Into an Arcade With More Than 100 Retro Games

Somebody turned an old church confessional into a spot for arcade games. The little booth once meant for quiet conversations now offers a surprisingly playful experience, and that's...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Virginia Wildlife Park Lets You Drive Right Up To Exotic Animals On A Safari Adventure

Giraffes, zebras, and other fascinating animals are not exactly what you expect to encounter during a drive through Northern Virginia. Yet a safari-style wildlife attraction offers...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Virginia Dairy-Free Bakery Makes Cakes, Cookies, And Cinnamon Rolls That Taste Too Good To Be True

Cinnamon rolls without butter or milk? Absolutely possible, and that's only the beginning of what a dedicated plant-based bakery can create.

Read More    7 min read

Article
Pennsylvania Five-and-Dime Store Still Has Its Original Soda Fountain and 200 Model Airplanes Hanging Over Shoppers

About 200 model airplanes hang from the ceiling of one small Pennsylvania variety store. Yes, you can shop for dish towels and old-fashioned candy under an entire squadron.

Read More    7 min read

Article
We Ranked Missouri’s 10 Best Burger Spots And The Top Pick Might Surprise You

Missouri's best burger, by our count, comes wrapped in wax paper inside a pool hall that opened in 1884. No fancy plate. Just...

Read More    9 min read

Article
California Shopping Village Reopened After 19 Months and More Than $100 Million in Restoration Work

Free blankets on a grassy lawn. Underground parking at no charge. Even a jet flyover and a spectacular drone show welcomed shoppers...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Minnesota Lakeside Supper Club Offers Something Most Restaurants Can’t

The founder of this supper club fought fires and served as a town mayor by day. At night, he cooked dinner for hungry lake folks.

Read More    7 min read

Article
Inside Ardmore’s Oklahoma Museum, The Chickasaw Story Shares Space With Hundreds Of Old Trucks

Some of the best road trip stops in Oklahoma look like nothing special from the parking lot. You pull over expecting a quick stretch, maybe ten minutes of polite looking around,...

Read More    9 min read

Article
Pennsylvania Parents Built a Coffee Shop for Their Son, and It Has Paid Over $1 Million to Workers With Disabilities

More than $1 million in wages paid to workers with disabilities. That's an extraordinary milestone for a neighborhood coffee shop, especially one that began with a family's hope...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Secret Indiana Riverfront Park Looks Like A Pacific Northwest Forest And Features A Hidden Waterfall

Most people drive right past Richmond, Indiana without stopping, and that is a big mistake. Hidden along the West Fork of the Whitewater River sits a 20-foot waterfall surrounded...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This West Virginia Town Looks Like It Was Frozen In Time Decades Ago

George Washington's youngest brother laid out these streets, then named several of them after his own family. That's a pretty bold move, and the names are still on the signs today.

Read More    10 min read

Article
This Cozy Indiana Lakeside Tavern Serves Up Specialty Burgers Right On A Sun-Soaked Waterfront Patio

Some restaurants are just places to eat. Others become the kind of spot you talk about long after you leave. A burger joint...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Hidden Indiana Pioneer Village Lets You Step Into The 1850s, And Most People Never Heard Of It

Most people drive right past Perry County without knowing a remarkable piece of living history sits quietly nearby. A pioneer village in Cannelton, Indiana is one of those rare...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Catch A Shuttle Up The Mountain And Ride Back Down At This Missouri Bike Park

A mountain that once held Civil War cannon positions now sends mountain bikers flying down rocky downhill trails. You can still spot those old cannon spots up there.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Hand-Breaded Catfish Sandwich At This Oklahoma Barbecue Joint Is Unforgettable

This barbecue joint slow-smokes its meats over hickory. It burns around the clock, every single day, so the hickory is always ready for the next batch of meat.

Read More    7 min read

Article
Ohio’s Amish Country Has an Unexpected Ukrainian Restaurant Serving Traditional Family Recipes

Pierogies, borscht, and honey cake aren't the dishes most travelers expect to find in the middle of Amish Country. Yet a family-run Ukrainian restaurant is bringing those comforting...

Read More    7 min read

Article
A Texas Industrial Pipe Yard Became an Unexpected Outdoor Sculpture Garden Filled With Giant Metal Animals

A giant fishing rod appears to reel in a pickup truck beside a Texas highway. Nearby, a steel armadillo, a towering spider, and a dinosaur stand along the edge of a working pipe...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Ohio Father and Son Opened a Restaurant Where Sushi Travels Past Diners on a Moving Conveyor Belt

Two conveyor belts run past the tables, carrying a steady parade of sushi plates and delivering special orders directly to diners. The lower belt keeps tempting choices moving,...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Cranberry Glades In West Virginia Is A Piece Of The Arctic Tundra Left Behind By The Ice Age

Purple pitcher plants catch and digest insects in a mountain bog that feels like it belongs in northern Canada. And yes, it sits right here in West Virginia.

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Oregon Restaurant Is Hidden Inside A 1912 Church And Serves Wood Fired Pizza Beneath Soaring Ceilings

A pizza called the Prodigal Pig comes out of a wood-fired oven inside a church built in 1912. Yes, a real church, with stained-glass windows still glowing over the tables.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Missouri Deli Builds Its Famous Overstuffed Sandwich On A House-Baked Onion Roll

A great sandwich starts with great bread. This Missouri deli understands that better than most. The onion roll is baked fresh...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Once Abandoned And Overgrown, The Historic Greenbrier Hotel Bunker Now Welcomes Curious Visitors

A 25-ton steel door sits behind a fancy hotel wing, and it was built to seal Congress underground. Yes, the actual United States Congress.

Read More    9 min read