My Family Travels | Latest Articles
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This Adults-Only Oregon Spa Enforces a Digital Detox and Makes Relaxation Mandatory

No phones, no laptops, no screens of any kind, just steam, silence, and the sound of water trickling through the forest. This adults only spa takes relaxation seriously, enforcing...

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The Italian Gem In New Mexico That Delivers A Taste Of Rome

Restaurants you stumble upon that completely change your expectations of a city. The moment you step through the door in New Mexico, something shifts.

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This Texas Preserve Has More Than 3 Miles Of Trails Through Rare Blackland Prairie

A rare prairie ecosystem is hard to find in Texas. This preserve protects a remnant of the Blackland Prairie, a landscape that once stretched across the region.

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The World’s Largest Mineral Hot Springs Are Hiding in a Wyoming Town Most People Cannot Pronounce

A small town in the high desert of central Wyoming where the earth literally steams. Most people have never heard of it. The...

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This Indiana Observatory Lets You Gaze At Cosmic Wonders Through A Historic 140-Year-Old Telescope

Somewhere in a quiet Greencastle neighborhood, a domed brick building has been watching the night sky for over 140 years. A historic university observatory in Indiana is one of...

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This Alabama Farm Lets You Meet, Pet, And Feed Shaggy Scottish Highland Cattle

Somewhere in the rolling countryside of Bremen, Alabama, a herd of shaggy, long-horned Scottish Highland cattle roam open green pastures like something straight out of the Scottish...

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This Alabama Bookstore Houses Over 60,000 Rare And Historic Hard-To-Find Volumes

Some bookstores sell books. A beloved independent bookshop in Jacksonville, Alabama does something far more interesting. It...

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This Norfolk Dockside Spot Has A Vibe Northern Virginia Could Never Replicate

The salty air, the creaking wooden planks, the sound of lines casting into the water. This Norfolk dockside spot has a vibe that Northern Virginia could never replicate.

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9 Virginia Museums Dedicated To One Very Specific (And Bizarre) Thing

You have seen the usual museums. Art, history, science. But Virginia has another kind of museum, the kind that makes you tilt...

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This Oregon Scrap Warehouse Lets Artists Fill Bags With Cheap Creative Supplies

Creativity does not have to cost a fortune, and this place proves it with every single visit. A massive warehouse packed with discarded treasures, waiting for someone to see their...

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This Historic Maryland Mill Is Now One of the State’s Coolest Shopping Destinations

Old mills usually sit empty or get turned into condos. But this Maryland mill took a different path. It became a shopping destination,...

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This Gorgeous Minnesota Lighthouse Is So Hidden It’s Nearly Forgotten

Perched on a cliff of ancient rock, this beacon keeps its silent watch over vast, moody waters. Most people know it from postcards, but few realize the story hidden within its...

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This Texas Restaurant Has Been Serving Authentic German Food In A Building Dating Back More Than A Century

German food in a building that has been around for more than a century feels more authentic. This Texas restaurant serves schnitzel, sausages, and other German classics in a space...

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This Maryland BBQ Restaurant Has Smoked Brisket That Keeps Locals Completely Loyal

Good brisket is hard to find. Great brisket is worth a loyal following. This Maryland BBQ spot has the kind of smoked meat...

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More Than 2,000 Acres Of Forest And Wetlands Make This Texas State Park Feel Wild And Undiscovered

A state park that spans over 2,000 acres of forest and wetlands has a way of making a person feel far from civilization. Village Creek State Park is one of those places.

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Oklahoma Is Hiding The Most Instagrammable State Park In America

Oklahoma is hiding a landscape so dramatic, so colorful, so perfectly framed that it has quietly become one of the most Instagrammable state parks in America. And almost nobody...

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This West Virginia Art Gallery Is Home To Works From All 55 Counties Of The Mountain State

There is a place in West Virginia where the entire state shows up to show off, and honestly, it is spectacular. This sprawling...

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This 12,000-Sq-Ft Thrift Store In Indiana Will Completely Make You Rethink What $25 Buys

Most people walk past a thrift store without a second thought, assuming the finds inside are nothing special. But a sprawling resale shop in Evansville, Indiana is changing that...

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This Spectacular Hidden Pioneer Village In Indiana Is The Ultimate Budget-Friendly Historic Adventure

Somewhere in Salem, Indiana, history comes alive in a way that most people never expect. A recreated 1830s pioneer village invites visitors to step into the early days of statehood,...

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This 1st Public Library In Indiana Still Uses Flawless Antique Cabinets From The 1800s

Some places hold history so quietly you almost miss it, and a historic library in New Harmony, Indiana is exactly that kind of place. Established in the early 19th century, it...

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This Texas Restaurant Has A Salad Bar So Massive It Nearly Counts As A Meal By Itself

A salad bar that takes up half a room is a statement. This Texas restaurant has one of the largest around, a spread of greens, toppings, and dressings that can fill a plate to...

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11 Hole-In-The-Wall Oklahoma Restaurants That Look Like A Dump But Taste Like Heaven

The building is a little rough around the edges. The paint is peeling, the sign is fading, and the parking lot could use some attention.

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The Mexican Buffet in Minnesota Is Where True Flavor Lovers Go All In

Endless plates, bold spices, and a dining room filled with happy chatter and clinking glasses. That is the scene at this Minnesota buffet, where flavor lovers come to indulge without...

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The Enormous Ride-Through Cave In Missouri Where You Can Tour In Absolute Darkness

Some caves make you walk. Others make you crawl. But this one lets you sit back and enjoy the ride. An enormous cave system...

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This Hidden Oklahoma Food Town Is Quietly Becoming the State’s Next Culinary Hotspot

Some towns build their reputation on a single dish. Others quietly collect a whole menu's worth of culinary treasures, stacking them up until the rest of the state finally takes...

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11 New Jersey Date Spots That Will Actually Make You Look Like You Planned Ahead

We have all been there. That moment of panic when your partner asks, "So, what is the plan?" and your mind goes completely blank.

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11 New Hampshire Farm-To-Table Restaurants Using Only Local Ingredients

I have eaten at a lot of farm to table restaurants over the years, and I have learned that not all of them are created equal. Some use the label loosely, buying a few local items...

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This New Jersey Vessel Takes You Deep-Sea Fishing And The Crew Cleans Your Catch For Free

There is a moment when you feel that first tug on the line, a jolt of pure excitement that connects you to the rhythm of the ocean.

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This South Carolina Boardwalk Trail Leads Into A Wild Floodplain Forest Where Old-Growth Trees Tower Over The Path

A wooden path floats above dark water, winding through a forest where the trees have been standing for centuries. This South...

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Maryland Waterfalls Worth Visiting in Every Season

Waterfalls change with the seasons. In spring they are powerful with snowmelt. Summer they are refreshing and cool. Fall they...

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One of Minnesota’s Most Beautiful Hidden Architectural Wonders Is This Stunning Temple

The golden spires rise from the prairie like something from a distant dream, catching the light in a way that stops you mid step. This place is a secret treasure, one of Minnesota's...

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This Legendary Oklahoma Route 66 Pit Stop Serves Homemade Pies and Scratch-Made Comfort Food

Route 66 has its share of legendary stops. Places that have been feeding travelers for decades, serving the kind of food that makes you want to pull over and stay awhile.

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9 New Hampshire Unexplained Phenomena And Local Folklore

I have always been drawn to mysteries. The things that cannot be explained. The stories that get passed down through generations....

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This Missouri BBQ Joint Smokes Ribs for Hours, and They Still Sell Out Almost Every Day

The smoker runs all night. The ribs go on before dawn, and they do not come off until they are tender enough to fall off the bone. This...

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This North Carolina Waterfall Trail Winds Past Cascades So Dramatic It Feels Like A Granite Staircase Through The Forest

Some hikes make you work for the view. Others hand it to you around every bend. This North Carolina trail does exactly that,...

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This West Virginia Forest Is So Quiet And Remote That Even Locals Do Not Know Where It Is

Try asking a West Virginia local for directions to this forest, and you might just get a blank stare. Even the superintendent...

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This New Jersey Food Tour Brings You Face-To-Face With The Chefs And Owners Behind The City’s Best Restaurants

Forget just tasting the food. This New Jersey tour takes you behind the kitchen doors and right up to the chefs and owners...

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This Maine Country Store Packs Penny Candy, Hardware Aisles, Old-School Gifts, And Road-Trip Nostalgia Into One Village Stop

A wooden floor worn smooth by a century of boots creaks beneath your feet as you step into a place where time seems to have taken a detour.

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8 Incredible Mennonite Markets In Alabama With The Best Homemade Goods

I have a soft spot for places that feel like stepping back into a simpler time, and Alabama’s Mennonite and Amish-inspired markets do exactly that.

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This Is One Of The Last Authentic Drive-Ins In Minnesota With Carhop Service

The carhop appears at your window with a warm smile and a tray full of classic American comfort food. This place is a genuine slice of Americana, a throwback to when pulling up...

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This Family-Owned New Hampshire Animal Sanctuary Houses Rescued Wolves, Foxes, And Even A Lynx In Spacious Forest Enclosures

I have been to a lot of animal sanctuaries over the years, but I have never been to one quite like this. The place is family owned and operated, and the animals are not just on...

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This Pennsylvania Public Market Turns Historic Aisles, Food Stalls, Bakery Couners, And Lunch Crowds Into A Must-See Morning

The smell of fresh sausage and baked bread drifts through the air as soon as you push through the doors. A Pennsylvania public market has been feeding hungry customers for over...

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Maryland Italian Restaurant That Feels Like Family Dinner in Italy

You walk in and the warmth hits you first. Not just from the oven, but from the people. This Maryland Italian restaurant feels...

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10 Minnesota Towns Where Surging Property Taxes Are Forcing Families To Move Away

The numbers on the tax bill keep climbing, and for many families, that annual envelope is no longer just a nuisance. It has become the final nudge toward the moving van, a quiet...

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This Minnesota Diner Is a Local Favorite for Its Reuben Sandwiches

The moment that sandwich lands on the table, you understand why this place has held its spot for decades. The Reuben here is the kind of sandwich that people plan their whole day...

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11 Oklahoma College Towns Worth Visiting For A Weekend Getaway In 2026

College towns have a certain energy. The kind that comes from thousands of young minds buzzing with ideas, from coffee shops that stay open late, from a constant hum of activity...

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These Are the 8 Most Fascinating Missouri Ghost Towns Where Time Stands Still

Some towns fade slowly, their buildings emptying one by one until only the ghosts remain. Others are abandoned suddenly, frozen in time like a photograph that never developed.

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At $13.99 For Dinner, This 200-Foot West Virginia Buffet Is One Of The Best Values In The State

In a town where comfort food is king, this West Virginia buffet has figured out how to feed a crowd without breaking anyone's budget.

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This New Jersey Complex Is Home To The World’s Largest Indoor Multilevel Go-Kart Track

Buckle up for a place where the only rule is to go faster. This is not your average family fun center, it is the home of the...

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This West Virginia Ridge Offers Endless Views From Its Massive 200-Foot Cliffs

Some places just have a way of stopping you in your tracks. This West Virginia ridge is one of them.

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This Massive Alabama Salvage Center Features Acres Of Stunning Architectural Antiques

Some places are hard to put into a single category, and an architectural salvage center in Cullman, Alabama is one of them. Spread...

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This North Carolina Barbecue Lodge Turns Pit-Cooked Pork, Hushpuppies, And Old-School Shelby Tradition Into A Must-Visit Feast

The smoke from the hickory pit has been rising from this North Carolina barbecue lodge since the mid-nineteen forties. Families pass the same wooden tables, and the menu stays...

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This Oregon Town Is Known as the Whale Watching Capital of the Coast

Forget the postcards, because this town lives and breathes the ocean in a way that few places can match. It has earned its famous title not through clever marketing, but because...

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7 Virginia Drive-In Theaters That Are Still Open And Still Packed

Drive-in theaters are a dying breed. But in Virginia, they are still alive. This list has seven drive-in theaters that are still...

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This Virginia Swinging Bridge Crosses A Quiet River In One Of The State’s Most Overlooked Mountain Corners

The bridge sways with each step, the river below rushing over rocks. This Virginia swinging bridge crosses a quiet river in one of the state's most overlooked mountain corners,...

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This Ohio Indoor Waterpark Resort Brings Wolf-Den Suites, Warm Pools, And Slide-Filled Family Energy Year-Round

No matter the season, a certain resort in Ohio keeps summer alive under a massive glass roof. Warm pools churn with waves, slides twist through the building, and a lazy river winds...

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This New Jersey Seafood Market Rivals Manhattan’s Best At A Better Price

For a long time, Manhattan was the only game in town for seafood that truly impressed. Then this Jersey City market came along...

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This Maryland Trail Leads to Views You’ll Be Talking About for Weeks

Some hikes are forgettable. You finish them and move on. Others stick with you long after you leave. This Maryland trail is definitely...

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This Seasonal Oregon Floating Restaurant Serves American Eats and Seafood With a Side of River Views

The river moves beneath you, and the gentle sway reminds you that you are dining on something that actually floats. This seasonal spot is only open when the weather cooperates,...

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This Wyoming Dinosaur Center Lets You Get Your Hands Dirty in the Red Hills with Real Paleontologists

Crouching down in the red hills of Wyoming and realizing the chunk of rock beneath your brush is actually a dinosaur bone. This museum pulled me in with its promise of real excavation,...

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