My Family Travels | Latest Articles
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This Oklahoma Building Looks Like It Was Pulled Straight From Another Era

Buildings you pass without a second glance, and then buildings that stop you completely in your tracks. This Oklahoma tower is absolutely the second kind.

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This Frontier Fortress In Oregon Instantly Transports You Back In Time

Step through the gates and suddenly the hum of highway traffic fades into the distance like a forgotten memory. The creak of weathered wooden floors beneath your feet tells stories...

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The Top 10 American Restaurants in Missouri That Locals Swear By

Ask a Missouri local where to find the best American food, and they won't name a fancy spot with a tasting menu. They will...

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This Hidden Oklahoma Museum Is a Quiet Gem Every History Lover Should Visit

A museum in the charming town of Guthrie, Oklahoma, caught me off guard in the best way. I had no idea what to expect when I first pulled up to the beautiful old library building...

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This Historic New Jersey Building Once Served As A Library, Now It’s A Castle Of Crafts

Now this is a building with serious plot twists. It started as a grand library, a gift from a wealthy philanthropist who clearly had a soft spot for architecture.

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This Vibrant New Hampshire Hotspot Is Where Outstanding Food And Energetic Live Music Take Center Stage

The music started as the sun went down, and the whole place came alive. This vibrant New Hampshire hotspot is where outstanding food and energetic live music take center stage,...

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This New Jersey Diner Serves Legendary Scrapple That Turns Skeptics Into Believers

There is a specific kind of magic that happens when you step through the doors of a place that has been doing the same thing, the same way, for the better part of a century.

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This Little-Known Maryland Arboretum Offers Miles Of Peaceful Trails Through Giant Trees

You do not need a grand adventure to find peace. Sometimes you just need a trail through giant trees. This Maryland arboretum...

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This Pennsylvania Deli Serves An Overstuffed Pastrami Sandwich So Huge People Plan Whole Detours Around It

The pastrami comes piled so high that the bread disappears somewhere beneath the layers, and the first bite demands your full attention. You stop talking, you stop scrolling, and...

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This Oregon Lighthouse Is One of the Most Haunted on the Coast

A historic lighthouse on the Oregon coast holds a reputation for ghostly encounters. The assistant keeper's house from 1893 now operates as a bed and breakfast.

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This Oklahoma Lake on a Military Base Comes With a Beach, Cabins, and a Surprise Water Slide

Inside a working military base in Oklahoma, a hidden gem most people drive right past without ever knowing it exists. A peaceful no wake lake fed by a small creek spreads across...

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This New Hampshire Shop Is A Dream Come True For Chocolate Lovers

The smell hits you before you even open the door. Chocolate. Rich, deep, and intoxicating. This New Hampshire shop is a dream...

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The Secret Missouri Basement Restaurant That Requires a Reservation Months in Advance

You mark your calendar and set a reminder, because landing a table at this secret Missouri basement restaurant requires planning worthy of a military operation. Reservations open...

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This North Carolina Flea Market Is Packed With Vintage Finds, Local Food, And Weekend Energy

The place is so big that you could spend an entire morning here and still not see everything. This sprawling North Carolina market turns a weekend visit into a full-blown treasure...

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This West Virginia Building Is Where The State Was Born, And It’s Free To Visit

The Mountain State was born right here. Inside these walls, history took a sharp turn and a brand new state emerged from the chaos of a divided nation.

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This New Jersey Fairy Tale Forest Reopened After Decades, Bringing Storybook Magic Back To Life

After sitting quiet for over two decades, this New Jersey treasure has finally sprung back to life. A German immigrant's dream...

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This South Carolina Barrier Island Beach Town Has Become Way Too Packed For A Quiet 2026 Summer Beach Escape

The quiet beach town that used to feel like a secret is now a summer traffic jam waiting to happen. This South Carolina barrier...

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8 Alabama All-You-Can-Eat Spots So Good They Deserve A Visit In 2026

I have eaten my way across Alabama, and I can tell you that this state does not play around when it comes to all-you-can-eat food. From smoky barbecue joints to soul food buffets...

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Stay Overnight at This Montana Hotel and You Might Meet a Resident from the 1890s

Built in the late eighteen hundreds, this Montana hotel is the oldest brick building on the main street. Buffalo Bill slept here. Calamity...

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This Oregon Visitor Center Brings You Face-to-Face With Ancient Lava Fields and Volcanic History

A visitor center in Oregon brings you face-to-face with ancient volcanic history. This site serves as the main interpretive hub for a vast national monument area.

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11 Most Expensive Fine-Dining Restaurants In New Hampshire And The Ones Locals Actually Recommend

I have eaten at some of the most expensive fine dining restaurants in New Hampshire, and I have also eaten at the places that locals actually recommend. They are not always the...

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This New Hampshire European Deli Is A Time Capsule Where The Pierogies Taste Authentic

I closed my eyes for a second and listened. The voices around me were speaking Polish. The smell was kielbasa and sauerkraut...

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This Pennsylvania Discount Grocery Store Keeps Prices Low And The Shelves Full Of Surprise Finds

A discount grocery chain that started on an Amish farm in the nineteen eighties, this Pennsylvania spot has grown into a local favorite for anyone who likes to stretch a dollar....

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The Tiny Maryland Burger Spot Locals Protect From Big Chains And Tourist Crowds

Big burger chains are everywhere. Same patties, same buns, same experience. But the best burgers usually come from tiny spots...

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This Oregon Off-Road Outfitter Lets You Drive Through Lava Fields and Deschutes National Forest

A rugged off-road vehicle becomes your key to exploring Oregon's volcanic wilderness. This outfitter lets you drive through ancient lava fields and dense forest trails.

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These Montana Rocks Chime Like Bells When You Tap Them with a Hammer

Tap a rock with a hammer in this Montana boulder field and it rings like a bell. Not a dull thud. A clear, resonant chime that...

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This Minnesota Amish Buffet Piles On Endless Plates of Country Cooking

A limestone building from 1854 offers endless plates of hearty country cooking. This Minnesota buffet piles on classic Amish-style dishes that keep visitors coming for more.

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This Oklahoma Plant Shop Feels Like a Jungle Escape in the Middle of the City

This Oklahoma shop overflows with lush greenery, rare plants, and a vibe that feels nothing like the busy city streets outside. The second you step through the door, the air smells...

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11 Budget-Friendly Missouri Towns That Make Easy Living Feel Real Again

You pay your rent and still have money for dinner out. That simple math is becoming rare, but in these eleven budget-friendly Missouri towns, easy living does not require a second...

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This Unassuming West Virginia Diner Has Locals Driving For Miles For Its Famous Pancakes

If you ever find yourself craving a stack of pancakes that defies all logic, there is a spot in West Virginia you need to know about.

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This Hiking Trail Leads To A Forgotten New Jersey Estate You Can Still Explore

Here is a hot take for you. The best castle in New Jersey does not have a gift shop or a moat. It is a two-story stone skeleton...

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The Best Fish Sandwiches Have Been Served At This Historic West Virginia Market For Over A Century

There is a holy war over who makes the best fish sandwich in West Virginia, and this place has been winning it for a hundred years.

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North Carolina’s Juiciest Steak Dinner Is Tucked Inside This Timeless Barnhouse Restaurant

The restaurant started as a simple idea on a patch of pastureland in 1960, and it has since grown into a legendary North Carolina steakhouse.

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Vintage Tractors, Climbing Nets, and Endless Workshops at This One-of-a-Kind Idaho Space

Six floors of bold architecture, open outdoor spaces, vintage tractors parked like sculptures, and the distant sound of kids laughing on a giant spiral slide. That is what you...

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This Hidden Alabama Liquidator Clears Out Near-Expiration Meat For Pennies

If you have ever wished your grocery bill could shrink without your cart getting smaller, a regional discount supermarket in Fort Payne, Alabama might be exactly what you have...

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This Connecticut No-Frills Pizzeria Serves Charred New Haven-Style Pizza In A Classic Old-School Room

The oven has been fired up in the same spot for generations, and the crust that comes out of it is still blistered and chewy, a hallmark of the regional style that has made this...

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This 1,137-Acre Minnesota Garden Preserve Blends Stunning Scenery, Trails and Sculptures

Over one thousand acres of gardens and woodlands await you at this Minnesota preserve. The grounds feature stunning scenery, winding trails, and impressive sculptures throughout...

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These 10 Mind-Blowing Natural Wonders in Virginia Don’t Look Real

You look at the photos and think they must be edited. The colors are too vivid, the shapes are too strange, the landscape looks like it belongs on another planet.

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This Century-Old Virginia Palace Features Striking Marble Architecture and Stunning Mountaintop Views

The marble gleams in the sunlight, the columns rise toward the sky, and the mountaintop views stretch for miles. This century-old Virginia palace is a stunning blend of architecture...

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This North Carolina Beach Park Has An Inclusive Playground So Epic It Turns A Shore Day Into An Adventure

A day at the beach in North Carolina just got a whole lot more exciting for families who want more than sand and surf. This...

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This Hidden New Jersey Arcade Lets You Play Unlimited Retro Games For One Flat Price

Pay once and suddenly every single machine is yours for the taking. No pockets full of quarters. No begging for change. Just...

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This Texas Store Is Packed Floor To Ceiling With Nothing But Christmas Decorations

Christmas in July is not just a saying here. It is a reality. This store is packed floor to ceiling with ornaments, lights,...

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Idaho’s Most Magical Vacation Rental Comes with Spiral Staircases and a Moat

Real stone castle with a moat on a mountain in northern Idaho. You can actually sleep there. Walls are over twenty inches thick,...

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11 Oregon Summer Festivals Locals Mark on Their Calendars Every Year

A warm summer evening, live music drifting through the air, and neighbors gathering to celebrate something they all love. That is the scene at festivals across Oregon, the kind...

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This Ohio Sausage House From The Eighteen Eighties Feels Like A Hidden Old-World Market

The scent of smoked meat and spice has been drifting through this Ohio neighborhood for well over a century, a fragrant reminder of the old-world recipes that still fill the plates...

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This Oklahoma Hotel Transforms a Historic Power Plant Into a Luxury Stay Full of Art and History

Century old red brick buildings in Oklahoma were originally assembly plants built in nineteen sixteen. Now this hotel is where history and comfort actually coexist without one...

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Missouri Locals Are Driving Miles Just to Try This Restaurant’s Sky-High Apple Pies That Barely Seem Real

The slice stands so tall you almost expect it to wobble. Then you cut through the flaky crust and watch the steam rise from layers of cinnamon-spiced apples stacked like a delicious...

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13 Free-Admission Spots In New Jersey Where You Can Spend Summer Days Surrounded By Nature And History

Summer in New Jersey can get expensive fast, but it does not have to be that way. There are places where you can soak up history,...

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10 Authentic Restaurants In Indiana That Aren’t Tourist Traps And Real Locals Actually Love

I have spent a good chunk of time eating my way across Indiana, and I can tell you firsthand that the best meals I have ever had here were never at the places with giant signs...

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This 1850s Church Was Built Without a Single Nail and It Still Stands in Idaho

Oldest standing building in Idaho, built in eighteen fifty three. No nails hold it together, just wooden pegs, mud, grass, and sheer determination.

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This Charming Small Town In Indiana Lets Smart Retirees Live Large On A Very Small Budget

Nestled along the Wabash River in northern Indiana, a small city in Miami County offers a surprisingly rich mix of history, affordability, and small-town living.

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10 Virginia Tea Rooms Ranging From Immersive Historic Gatherings To Traditional British Afternoon Teas

The kettle is on, the cups are out, and the scones are warm from the oven. Virginia has a wonderful collection of tea rooms, and they range from immersive historic gatherings to...

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These 10 Secret Ruins in Virginia Are Waiting to Be Explored

They are tucked in the woods, hidden along rivers, and scattered across the landscape. These secret ruins in Virginia are waiting to be explored, crumbling remnants of a past that...

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Many People Live Their Whole Life in Texas Without Seeing These 11 Hidden Gems

A lifelong Texan should not miss these spots. But many do. They are off the beaten path, easy to overlook, and rarely make...

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This Idaho Airbnb Used to Travel the Country Now It Sits on a Farm Waiting for You

A giant potato sits on an open farm in Idaho. It used to travel across the country on the back of a semi truck. Now it lives...

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This Abandoned Colorado Resort Between Two Alpine Lakes Was Once a Victorian Playground

Victorian resort sits crumbling between two alpine lakes in the Colorado Rockies. Reachable only by trail or boat, it once welcomed wealthy guests arriving by stagecoach.

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This Historic 1910 Oregon Brick Landmark Is an Adventure Basecamp for Travelers

A red brick building that has stood since 1910 holds more than a century of stories within its walls. This historic Oregon landmark, the first brick structure in its town, now...

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11 Texas Places That Feel Like They Should Be Famous But Somehow Aren’t

A swimming hole with water so clear it looks fake. A stretch of road that curves through canyons like a postcard. A small town...

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A Metal Dragon Guards This Colorado Castle Built by One Man’s Decades of Dedication

One man built a stone castle in the Colorado mountains with his own hands. Fifty years of work, no blueprints, no formal training. Just...

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This Giant Thrift Store In Indiana Is So Big You Can Easily Treasure Hunt All Day

Fort Wayne, Indiana is home to a large thrift store that has built a strong following among local shoppers, and it is easy to see why once you step inside.

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