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They Started Selling Tacos From A Missouri Food Truck, Then Opened Their Own Restaurant Within Six Months

A taco truck rolled onto the streets in 2019. Within six months, its owners had a full restaurant with walls and murals and a patio.

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North Carolina Mother Left Her Corporate Career to Open a Coffee Shop in Memory of Her Two-Year-Old Son

A mother put her two-year-old son's name on a coffee shop sign and paired it with a simple two-word promise: keep smiling. She...

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A Maryland Family Turned Its Land Into an Outdoor Adventure Destination With Trails and Forest Experiences

More than 40 ziplines wind through the trees at this Maryland adventure park, where the courses rise as high as 65 feet above the forest floor. The family-owned business built...

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At Tulsa Toy Depot in South Tulsa, Shelves of Toys and Candy Fill One Roof

I pulled into a plain strip-center lot in Oklahoma expecting a quick errand and maybe five minutes of browsing. An hour later I was still inside, holding a wooden puzzle I did...

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A Pennsylvania Cave Tour Begins Inside an Ordinary House, Then Descends Through a Basement Door

The entrance to this cave sits under a house, and the tour starts by heading down through the basement. No ticket booth. No giant...

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This Enchanted Oregon Garden Was Once A Private Estate And Is Now Open To The Public

Some gardens are planted, others are built over decades by someone who couldn't stop planting. This Oregon garden began as the private passion of one person who spent a lifetime...

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Maxx fall trips in the New England mountains. Photo of Lake Placid c. High Peaks Resort
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Maxxing Fall Trips At Two Mountain Resorts

If you’re planning a quick fall getaway, a Thanksgiving trip or a pre-Christmas escape, we have two ideas: Topnotch at Stowe in Vermont’s Green Mountains and High Peaks Resort...

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Maxx fall trips in the New England mountains. Photo of Lake Placid c. High Peaks Resort
Article
Maxxing Fall Trips At Two Mountain Resorts

If you’re planning a quick fall getaway, a Thanksgiving trip or a pre-Christmas escape, we have two ideas: Topnotch at Stowe in Vermont’s Green Mountains and High Peaks Resort...

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Saddle Up For A Winter Trail Ride And Campfire Supper On This Working Oklahoma Ranch

I went looking for a quick look at some horses and ended up standing next to an animal taller than my car door, with cold Oklahoma wind on my face and a barn that smelled like...

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Secondhand Shopping at This Texas Resale Store Helps Fund Education and Community Programs

A secondhand jacket at this Texas shop helps fund brand-new school clothes for children who need them. That's a pretty satisfying twist on a thrift-store bargain, especially when...

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Plan Ahead, Because These 6 Oklahoma Holiday Train Rides Sell Out Every December

Some of the best December memories in Oklahoma start with a train whistle you did not expect to hear. A depot on a quiet street, a little engine looping through a park, a ticket...

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This Maryland Bakery Has Kept Its Old School Donut Traditions Alive for Generations

Fresh glazed donuts come out of the same Maryland kitchen that serves pad Thai and green curry. That combination sounds unlikely, but this little bakery has kept its morning routine...

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9 Texas Thin-Crust Pizza Parlors That Will Change Your Mind About Crispy Crust

One Texas pizza shop has a rule: never trust a round pizza. Its hand-rolled dough goes into stone deck ovens, producing a crust thin enough to deliver a crunch.

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A London Church Was Shipped To Missouri In 7,000 Stones, Then Builders Discovered The Pieces Had Gotten Scrambled

Workers spent an entire day hunting for just two stones. That was step one of rebuilding a 17th-century London church in the middle of Missouri.

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This 27-Room New Jersey Mansion Was Built By One Of Newark’s Most Powerful Brewing Families

Twenty-seven rooms. Eight bedrooms. Only three bathrooms, which honestly makes me wonder about the morning line in the upstairs...

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Nearly 1,900 Plant Varieties Turn This New Jersey Farm Into A Living Encyclopedia

Eighty kinds of thyme. Sixty-six lavenders. Eighty-four scented-leaf geraniums, all growing on one family farm. Yeah, I had to...

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9 Indiana Places Where the Dessert Is Worth Driving Across the State For

One candy shop in this state makes about 20,000 pounds of cinnamon Red Hots every single year. That is a lot of tiny red candies, and it still uses century-old equipment to do...

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This Indiana Pizza Shop Makes a Massive 20-Inch Pie for People Who Think Regular Pizza Is Too Small

A 20-inch party pizza sits at the top of this menu, and it's built for serious appetites. The dough is made from scratch, and the sausage and beef get cooked right in-house.

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Pretzel-Bun Sandwiches And Little Desserts Make This Missouri Cafe A Tempting Lunch Detour

Bacon, lettuce, and homemade ranch get piled onto a toasted pretzel roll here, and it's called Stella's Sandwich. That alone made me curious.

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Christmas Lights Wrap Texas Communities at These 7 Holiday Drives Worth Planning Now

At one Texas holiday display, more than five million lights cover a two-mile drive that ends in a glowing tunnel. Halfway through, families can park for carnival rides and a walk...

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People Travel From All Over Oregon To Eat At This Legendary Pie Shop In 2026

You know how some places have a reputation that precedes them? This Oregon pie shop is exactly that kind of spot. People from...

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Giant Glowing Snowflakes Will Soon Hang Over The Road At This Missouri Christmas Drive Through The Woods

A Christmas light drive follows a road once used by early settlers, and it winds through the same hills that inspired a best-selling novel. Yeah, I'm definitely looking twice at...

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This New Jersey Sandwich Shop Turns Pork Roll Into Cubanos, Reubens And Even A Hawaiian

Pork roll with pineapple, barbecue sauce, and sriracha. Yep, somebody actually put that on the menu, and it's called the Hawaiian. That's...

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A New Hampshire Woman Turned A Candy-Making Course Into A Chocolate Business That Became A 90-Year Tradition

A candy-making course eventually led to a chocolate business that has lasted around 90 years. That's an impressive outcome for what began as one woman's interest in learning how...

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This Maryland Amusement Park Closed Decades Ago but Its Beautiful 1921 Carousel Still Spins

Rabbits, ostriches, a giraffe, and even a tiger circle alongside carved horses on a carousel that still welcomes riders. The animals are wooden, of course, but their painted details...

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This Oregon Consignment Store Is Packed With Designer Pieces Worth Hunting For

Designer labels, tucked between racks of everyday finds, waiting for the one shopper who knows exactly what they’re looking at.

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This New Hampshire Caribbean Restaurant Serves Rotisserie Chicken That Keeps Customers Coming Back

Rotisserie chicken with Caribbean flavors? That sounds like a delicious change from the usual chicken dinner, especially when the preparation brings together seasoned meat and...

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This New Hampshire Coffee Shop Looks Like Something Straight Out Of A Gothic Novel

Dark, mysterious decor and a collection of curiosities inside a coffee shop? That's quite a departure from the bright counters and minimalist furniture found in so many modern...

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New Jersey Knows Italian Food, But This Upscale Spot Still Manages To Surprise

A steak gets dry-aged in-house for 45 days here before it ever hits your plate. Yep, 45 days. That's a lot of patience for one...

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North Carolina Couple Started Baking From Home, Then a Celebrity Chef Invited Them Onto Her Show

Buckeye brownies and red velvet treats helped a small-town bakery build a following. Then an unexpected invitation from a famous television chef gave the couple behind it a reason...

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Oregon Has A Restaurant Where French And Norwegian Food Meet On The Same Plate

Butter and lingonberries walk into a dining room, and somehow everyone gets along beautifully. French technique meets Scandinavian simplicity on every plate here, and the result...

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This New Hampshire Bookstore Is Packed With Mountain Gear, Maps, Books And Local Treasures

Hiking guidebooks, detailed trail maps, and mountain-themed treasures all packed into one little shop? That's a combination I can appreciate, especially when planning an outdoor...

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Maryland Is Packed With Italian Restaurants but This Hidden Gem Deserves Your Attention

An eight-ounce crab cake sits beside mussels and bucatini coated in Old Bay Alfredo at this Maryland Italian restaurant. That combination alone deserves a closer look, especially...

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Before Hollywood Took Over, This New Jersey Town Was Making Movies And Inventing The Cliffhanger

Some film historians trace the term 'cliffhanger' to the dramatic silent-film serials shot along New Jersey's Palisades. Silent-film...

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German Christmas Markets And A Holiday Bake Sale Will Fill This Historic Missouri Town In December

A German bake sale inside a museum sells Springerle, Stollen, and Pfeffernusse, and it only runs two weekends a year. That's the detail I can't get over.

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South Carolina’s Family-Owned Department Store Returned to Charleston After 12 Years With Discounts Up to 70%

Brand-name clothes, shoes, and home decor at up to 70 percent off department store prices. That promise got a whole lot closer for Lowcountry shoppers when a beloved family-run...

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South Carolina Island Farm Stand Keeps an Old-Fashioned Tradition Alive With Homemade Pies

A whole refrigerator full of homemade pies waits at the end of a sandy dirt road. Key lime, pecan, banana cream. All of them...

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Oregon Has A Tiny Park With A Story That Sounds Completely Made Up

A park the size of a pizza box exists, it has an official name, and the story behind it gets stranger the longer you listen. It...

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A Virginia Couple Started Making Candy In Their Basement In 1930, Then Built A Sweet Family Business That Survived For More Than 95 Years

A candy business that began in a basement in 1930 and lasted more than 95 years? That's an impressive amount of sweetness for one family's idea.

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This Virginia Nature Preserve Lets You Watch Migrating Warblers And Waterbirds From A Bird Blind And Scenic Boardwalk

A bird blind and a scenic boardwalk make it possible to watch wildlife without pushing through marsh grass or disturbing sensitive habitat. That's a thoughtful setup for anyone...

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A Historic New Jersey Building Hides One Of The State’s Most Romantic Italian Restaurants

A farmhouse built back in 1740 now serves soft egg yolk ravioli under vaulted ceilings. Yeah, I'm definitely looking twice at that.

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This Small Texas Restaurant Serves Filipino Comfort Food and Weekend Specials Many Travelers Would Never Expect

A buffet row devoted mostly to Filipino desserts? That's part of the appeal at this small Texas restaurant, where cassava cake and colorful rice sweets can appear alongside a lineup...

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California Holiday Garden Glows With More Than 2 Million Lights and Adds a European Christmas Market for 2026

Northern California's holiday season is getting a European twist as a riverside botanical garden prepares to glow with over two million Christmas lights. For 2026, the popular...

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7 Missouri Farm Bakeries Worth A Fall Drive For Apple Donuts, Pies, And More

One Missouri orchard fries apple cider donuts all day long using cider pressed from its own apples. Its trees number around 17,000, so the fryer never has to wonder where breakfast...

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Ohio’s Last Historic Public Market Survived a Fire and Nearly 50 Years in a Military Hut

A fire destroyed a public market in 1948, but the merchants weren't ready to give up. They pooled their money, bought a surplus military hut, and kept their businesses alive beneath...

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This Unassuming Minnesota Diner Serves Flame-Broiled Burgers And Breakfast Until Late At Night

A burger topped with an over-easy egg is the top seller here. Not a side of eggs. An egg right on the burger, served until 2 in the morning.

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One Of New Jersey’s Oldest Surviving Railroad Attractions Still Takes Visitors On Vintage Train Rides

One of the locomotives that started this little railroad ended up at Disneyland. Yep, a tiny engine from a New Jersey hobby line went west and joined the Magic Kingdom crowd.

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South Carolina Woman Opened an Inclusive Playhouse Where Children of Different Abilities Can Play Together

After working with children on the autism spectrum, a South Carolina woman opened an indoor playhouse designed to welcome young children with different abilities and sensory needs....

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Ohio Couple Gave Up Their Food Truck Plans to Reopen a Small-Town Café Where Regulars Once Ordered Without Menus

Mike Baker had dreamed of owning a small-town café since he first visited it with his grandfather. Decades later, he and his wife faced an unexpected choice: pursue their food...

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A Former Top Chef Contestant Brought New Life To A Historic Virginia Bank Building With A Popular Restaurant

A former bank building now serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner under the direction of a chef who competed on Top Chef. That's a remarkable transformation for a historic property,...

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This Charming Virginia Bookshop Fills A Historic Gas Station With 10,000 Books And A Cozy Coffee Café

A former gas station now holds more than 10,000 books, and the old service garage has become part of a charming literary destination. That's a pretty wonderful second chapter for...

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The Best 8 Texas Places Where You Can Explore The Underground

One Texas cave actually brings visitors back to daylight on a conveyor belt. Below the surface, guided tours pass delicate mineral formations, enormous chambers, and a sound-and-light...

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Weebly Co-Founder Revived a 103-Year-Old California Roadside Stand After a Yearlong Restoration

Weebly co-founder Chris Fanini saw something worth saving in a California roadside stand with more than a century of history. After the business changed hands, his hospitality...

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The Short Missouri Hike That Leads You Along A Creek To A Woodland Waterfall

A waterfall hides right in the middle of a busy tourist town, and the walk to reach it is shorter than most mall parking lots. The whole trip out and back runs only about one and...

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Pennsylvania Family Lost Their Daughter to Cancer and Built a Baking Business to Keep Her Memory Alive

A family bakery can begin with a recipe, a dream, or a love that refuses to fade. In Pennsylvania, one family created a baking business to honor their daughter, Paige, after losing...

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Bison Still Roam This Minnesota Prairie Park With Cliffs That Look Almost Pink

A herd of genetically diverse plains bison grazes on a prairie in Minnesota, right below a rock wall nearly two billion years old. That alone made me stop and read twice.

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These Elite Indiana Sushi Spots Absolutely Belong On Every Serious Food Lover’s Bucket List

One Indiana sushi spot lists yuzu-cured salmon roe and a full seafood tower on its menu. Another runs hibachi, ramen, and a chef's choice omakase course under one roof.

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One Ohio Restaurant Sent a Milkshake 375 Miles to Fulfill a Former Customer’s Final Wish

A milkshake traveled 375 miles in 2017 because a woman receiving hospice care wanted one last taste of home. Emily Pomeranz had grown up near a beloved Ohio restaurant, and even...

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Tool Lovers Could Spend Hours Inside This Huge Indiana Store Packed With Gear For Every Project

A company that started with homemade log splitters sold out of a Minnesota garage now runs a giant tool store in Indiana. That humble garage beginning back in 1981 still shapes...

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This Indiana Bakery Is Known For Cinnamon Rolls That Have Become A Small-Town Tradition

A family bakery closed in 2001, its old building came down in 2010, and a grandson brought it back about twenty years later. That alone made me sit up.

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