My Family Travels | Latest Articles
Article
This Oregon Sushi Spot Serves Big Flavor in a Tiny Space

I stumbled into Hamono Sushi on a rainy Portland afternoon and almost walked right past it. Tucked away at 620 SW 9th Ave, this unassuming spot doesn’t scream for attention,...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Overlooked Oklahoma Lake Is So Quiet It Feels Like Your Own Private Escape

I found myself standing at the edge of Keystone Lake in Oklahoma, about 23 miles northwest of Tulsa, and the silence hit me first. No crowds jostling for space, no blaring music...

Read More    7 min read

Article
10 Reasons You Should Pack Your Bags And Move To New Jersey

I used to think New Jersey was just traffic jams, reality TV, and jokes from people who’ve never actually been here. Then...

Read More    10 min read

Article
This Virginia Hidden Waterfall Trail Feels Like A Secret Wonderland

Tucked away in Nelson County, Crabtree Falls is proof that Mother Nature has been keeping secrets from us all along. This isn't just another trail with a decent view at the end.

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Hidden Texas Tex-Mex Spots Only Locals Know

I stopped trusting Tex-Mex lists the moment I realized the best meals never come from the places tourists line up for. The real spots are quieter, a little harder to notice, and...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Haunted Oregon Hotel Locals Say You Should Never Stay Alone

Spending a night at McMenamins Edgefield in Troutdale, Oregon completely changed how I think about ghosts. This sprawling 74-acre property began as the Multnomah County Poor Farm...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Oklahoma Zoo Experience Brings You Face-to-Face With Giraffes and Zebras

You might think zoos are just for kids, but anyone who's stood eye-level with a giraffe while it wraps its tongue around lettuce in your hand knows better. Oklahoma City Zoo delivers...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The New Jersey Coffee Shop Serving Cinnamon Rolls Bigger Than Your Head

I swear the pastries at The Hive in Hoboken are so big they should come with their own zip code. Sitting at 1000 Park Avenue,...

Read More    10 min read

Article
This Indiana Restaurant Is Famous for a Dish You’d Never Expect Here

I never thought I'd drive nearly three hours just for fried chicken, but Wagner's Village Inn in Oldenburg changed my perspective completely. This small town gem sits right off...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Colorado Highway Cuts Straight Through Mining History

Let’s make this easy. You want a drive that actually tells a story while you are still in the car?

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Virginia Coastal Seafood Spot Brings The Ocean To Your Plate

Captain George's Seafood Restaurant at 1956 Laskin Rd has been turning heads and filling bellies with mountains of crab legs, fresh catches, and desserts that'll make you forget...

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Breakfast Taco Everyone in Texas Swears By

Breakfast tacos are serious business in Texas, and Torchy’s on South Congress is one of those places people mention with confidence. I have watched locals debate their order...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Why Travelers Keep Returning To Illinois’ Most Haunted River Town

You know that feeling when a place seems gentle in daylight and then gets under your skin after sunset? That is Alton in Illinois,...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Lesser Known Oregon Escape Is the One People Regret Sharing

Stumbling upon Tamolitch Falls in Oregon’s Willamette National Forest felt like finding a hidden portal. This isn’t just another waterfall - it’s a mesmerizing blue pool...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Easy One-Mile Hike in Oklahoma Is So Scenic, It Stays with You Long After You Leave

What if I told you that one of the most spectacular hikes in Oklahoma requires barely more effort than a stroll through your neighborhood? Here's the kicker: most people drive...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Rustic New Jersey Steakhouse Is Known For Seriously Big Grilled Steaks

Ever seen a ribeye so big you start calculating how many friends you’ll need to finish it? That’s Rails Steakhouse in Towaco, New Jersey.

Read More    10 min read

Article
Why Florida Life Holds Secrets Tourists May Never Understand

Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to live in Florida beyond the beaches and theme parks? Tourists often think...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Indiana Lakeside Town Feels Like Summer in Every Season

I discovered Syracuse and the Wawasee Area during a crisp October afternoon when the leaves were turning and most lakeside towns had already rolled up their welcome mats for the...

Read More    7 min read

Article
11 Virginia Buffets That Are Secretly Way Better Than You’d Expect

Think buffets are just sad steam trays and wilted lettuce? Virginia is about to prove you wrong in the most delicious way possible.

Read More    10 min read

Article
A Hidden Texas Market Where $20 Can Score You Vintage and Unique Finds

I have driven past Winnie more times than I can count without realizing what I was missing. Then I finally stopped at Larry’s Old Time Trade Days, and that was a mistake in the...

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Buffet in Oregon Locals Swear Is Secretly the Best in Town

Salem holds a little secret most tourists never stumble upon, and it’s called Gold Dragon Restaurant. Tucked at 4645 Commercial St SE, this unassuming Chinese buffet has been...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This California Desert Ghost Town Makes Music With The Wind

You know that spot you mention to friends and they tilt their head because it sounds made up? That is Bombay Beach on the Salton Sea in California, where the wind itself turns...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Classic Oklahoma Steakhouse Is Quietly Home to One of the State’s Most Legendary Salad Bars

I grew up thinking a great steakhouse was all about what landed in the center of the plate. Then I walked into Wright's Family Steak House and realized Oklahoma had been playing...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This New Jersey Celebration Unites Food, Music, And Community Year After Year

Every Labor Day Weekend, I find myself on Spring Street in Lodi, New Jersey, where neighbors, families, and food lovers gather for a tradition that blends faith with heritage....

Read More    10 min read

Article
10 Unexpected Indiana Experiences That Prove the State Is Anything but Boring

I grew up thinking Indiana was just a place you drove through on the way somewhere else. Flat fields, highways, and not much to write home about.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Beach Town In Delaware Built For People Who Like Quiet

You know how some places feel like they turn the volume down on your brain the second you arrive. That is Prime Hook Beach...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Charming Virginia Town Is So Affordable, You Can Live On Social Security Alone

Roanoke might just be the best-kept secret in Virginia for retirees and anyone looking to stretch their dollars without sacrificing quality of life. Nestled in the stunning Blue...

Read More    7 min read

Article
You’ll Never Guess Which Texas Town Locals Call “Heaven on Earth”

Wimberley is one of those towns you do not expect to fall for, and then somehow you do. I almost drove right past it the first time, not realizing how much was tucked away just...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Pennsylvania Amish Markets Travelers Always Talk About After

Let us map out a mellow little loop through Pennsylvania that you will still be talking about on the drive home. These Amish...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Oregon Mountain Overlook Serves Views Straight Out of a Dream

Climbing the 120 stairs to Sherrard Point for the first time felt like stepping onto a postcard. Perched at 4,055 feet in the Columbia River Gorge, Larch Mountain delivers one...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Oklahoma Buffet Feels Like Back to the Future’s Roadside Stop With Trains and Nostalgia

I walked into Ollie's Station expecting a gimmick and ended up lingering longer than planned. The moment I stepped inside, it felt like time bent a little.

Read More    6 min read

Article
10 New Jersey’s Dog-Friendly Restaurants That Serve Up More Than Just Food

As a pet parent, I’ve learned that New Jersey makes it easy to keep my dog by my side when I head out for a meal. From the...

Read More    10 min read

Article
This Washington Park By The Sea Is Where Spirits Walk In Circles

Ever wonder what it feels like to stand in a place where history and nature collide? Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Indiana Historic Town Festival Was Perfect for Locals, Now Everyone Wants In

I first heard about the Nashville Back Roads Studio Tour from a friend who couldn't stop raving about the hidden artists tucked away in Brown County's rolling hills. At the time,...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Locals Say This Virginia Town Is Tourist-Ruined Beyond Recognition

Virginia Beach used to be the kind of place where locals knew every backroad and beachfront hideaway. Families spent summer evenings strolling quiet stretches of sand, and the...

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Strangest-Themed Restaurants You’ll Find Across Texas

Texas restaurants like to show off, and some of them take that idea way past the menu. I am not talking about clever decor or a cute theme.

Read More    8 min read

Article
9 Desert Hot Springs In Nevada Locals Hope Stay Off Your Radar

Nevada hides its warm water like a friend who never quite shares the cool stuff until you ask twice. You want the quiet kind...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Unassuming Oregon Café Surprises Everyone Who Walks In

Walking past Morning Glory Cafe three times before finally stepping inside was one of my biggest regrets on a recent trip. Tucked along Siskiyou Boulevard in Ashland, Oregon, this...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Giant Oklahoma Junk Shop Has Treasure Hunters Driving in From Every Corner of the State

You know what people love to argue about? Whether vintage shopping is actually treasure hunting or just fancy thrift store browsing.

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Amish Buffet In New Jersey Serving Comfort Food The Old-Fashioned Way

I’ve eaten at plenty of buffets across New Jersey, but the Amish Buffet at 108 Swedesboro Rd in Mullica Hill feels different. Inside...

Read More    11 min read

Article
This Indiana Amish Market Feels Like a Step Back in Time

I remember the first time I pulled into the parking lot at E&S Sales in Shipshewana and saw a dozen horse-drawn buggies lined up outside. That sight alone told me this wasn't...

Read More    6 min read

Article
10 Underrated Colorado BBQ Kitchens Worth Savoring

Looking for real BBQ in Colorado? Most people think of mountains, skiing, and hiking when they picture Colorado, but the state...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Virginia Train Ride Offers Some Of The Most Breathtaking Scenery In The State

Picture yourself rolling through mountain valleys, sipping complimentary drinks while watching autumn leaves dance past vintage train windows. That's exactly what awaits at Virginia...

Read More    8 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Affordable Texas Romantic Escapes for Valentine’s

Texas makes romance way easier than people think. You do not need a fancy resort or a big budget to pull off something memorable here.

Read More    7 min read

Article
10 BBQ Cafes In Minnesota That Know How To Smoke Right

Where do you go when the craving for real smoked BBQ hits? Minnesota might surprise you! Sure, the state is known for lakes...

Read More    8 min read

Article
These 9 Oregon Towns Are Stealing Attention From the Popular Ones

Exploring Oregon for years has shown me that the famous spots get all the attention, while incredible little towns sit quietly nearby, waiting to be discovered. Cannon Beach and...

Read More    8 min read

Article
Spend Valentine’s Day at This Oklahoma Hotel That’s Basically Romance on Tap

I did not expect to find one of the most romantic hotel stays in Oklahoma tucked into the middle of Oklahoma City, but that is exactly what happened when I checked into The Ellison....

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Legendary Italian Hot Dog Joint New Jersey Locals Will Gladly Tell You About

Newark has given the world jazz, incredible history, and one food you won’t find anywhere else: the Italian hot dog. At...

Read More    10 min read

Article
This Indiana Ice Cream Parlor Has Been Doing Things the Same Way for Decades, and Locals Love It

I've been visiting Zaharakos since I was a kid, and honestly, walking through those doors at 329 Washington Street feels like stepping into a time machine every single time. The...

Read More    6 min read