My Family Travels | Latest Articles
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These 8 Oklahoma Lavender Farms and Flower Fields Are Made For A Calm And Colorful Summer Day

Summer in Oklahoma usually means heat, humidity, and the desperate search for air conditioning. But eight lavender farms and flower fields across the Sooner State offer a different...

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The No-Frills New Jersey Pizzeria With Ridiculously Good Pizza And Low Prices

Some places try too hard. This one does not even try at all. You show up, order a pie, and suddenly understand why New Jersey...

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This New Hampshire Iconic Red Covered Bridge Is Famous For Having A Distinctive S-Curve Path Hidden Right Inside Its Wooden Walls

There is a special kind of happiness that comes from pulling over at a farm stand on a country road. The little wooden building appears out of nowhere, and you never know exactly...

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The Manga Section At This New Jersey Bookstore Is So Well Stocked That Fans Drive Across The State To Browse It

You do not expect to find manga heaven at a chain bookstore. But this New Jersey location breaks every rule. The shelves here...

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This Stunning Historic Town In Colorado Is A Must-See Rocky Mountain Gem

Is there a better way to see the Rockies than from a steam train that has been chugging since 1881? In this stunning historic town in Colorado, the answer is no.

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The Maryland Spot That Turns a Simple Day Trip Into Something Memorable

You can lose an entire afternoon in a Maryland town where every storefront holds a piece of the past. Just a short drive from the capital, this historic Main Street transforms...

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This Mennonite Market In Minnesota Draws Crowds For Its Homemade Sandwiches

People drive past three other sandwich shops just to get to this unassuming Minnesota market tucked away on a quiet country road. The building looks like a simple grocery store...

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10 Indigenous Food Spots in Oklahoma Where You Can Try Kanuchi Before It Goes Totally Viral

Kanuchi is not a word most Oklahomans know yet. But they will. This traditional Indigenous dish, a hearty soup made from hickory...

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This Mysterious Underground Gorge In New Hampshire Hides A Thunderous Glacial Waterfall Crashing Inside A Pitch-Black Cave

You can hear it before you see it. A low rumble that grows louder with every step into the darkness. The air gets colder and...

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9 Under-The-Radar Missouri Kitchens Worth The Drive From Anywhere For Outrageously Delicious Homemade Pierogies

Pierogies do not get the attention they deserve in Missouri. Everyone talks about barbecue and toasted ravioli, but these pillowy pockets of dough stuffed with potato, cheese,...

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The Massive Tennessee Flea Market You’ll Want To Browse Time And Again

You do not go to this flea market to buy something specific. You go to see what finds you. A rusty sign, a vintage jacket, a...

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This Abandoned West Virginia Hotel Is Too Dangerous To Keep And Too Expensive To Tear Down So It Just Sits And Rots

Some buildings have a story that refuses to end, even when the owners give up. This one sits on a hill in West Virginia, crumbling...

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This New Jersey Spot Serves A Two-Foot-Long Cheesesteak And Customers Drive From Hours Away To Get One

Bring your appetite. No, really. You have not seen a cheesesteak like this before.

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This Whimsical North Carolina Mountain Trail Turns An Everyday Family Hike Into A Magical Adventure

What if a short walk could make your whole family feel like explorers in a forgotten world? That is the promise of this whimsical mountain trail in North Carolina, where an everyday...

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You Can Stand Inches Away From Apex Predators At This Alabama Mountain Sanctuary

Most people have never stood close enough to a tiger to hear it chuff. This Alabama wild animal preserve offers the kind of experience that makes moments like that genuinely possible.

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Watch Lake Michigan Waves Explode Against Limestone Cliffs at This Wisconsin Hidden Shore

The first time I stood at the edge of the limestone cliffs at this Wisconsin park, I completely forgot where I was. Water the color of the Caribbean crashed below me with a force...

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This Quiet Minnesota Town Is Silently Rising As The State’s Next Hotspot

A sleepy town with a historic main street and families who have lived here for generations has started to attract a different kind of attention lately. This quiet Minnesota town...

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This Enchanting New Hampshire Lakeside Village Invites You To Watch Classic Movies On A Giant Floating Screen Right From Your Boat

Summer evenings in New Hampshire are magical on their own. Warm breezes, long light, the smell of the lake. But this lakeside...

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This Texas Cafe Is Known For Massive Omelets And All-Day Breakfast Plates

Texas does breakfast big. That is not news. But this cafe takes big to another level. The omelets here are the size of your...

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This Legendary Mountain Notch In New Hampshire Features A Massive Boulder Suspended High In The Air Between Two Sheer Cliff Walls

I have seen a lot of strange rock formations in New Hampshire over the years. Balanced rocks, precarious boulders, cliffs that look like they could fall at any moment.

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The Best Seafood in California Is Found Inside This Celebrated Waterfront Market Every Local Recommends

Mountains of garlicky shrimp, sizzling with bell peppers and onions, spill over the edges of a tray meant for sharing. This is the legendary feast that has drawn crowds to a celebrated...

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The Best Fried Chicken In The Mid-Atlantic Comes From This Old-School Restaurant In Maryland

The skin shatters with a satisfying crack, revealing meat so juicy it practically glistens. This old-school restaurant in Maryland has perfected fried chicken to the point where...

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This 355-Acre Minnesota Playground Has Been Hiding Live Horse Racing for 40 Years

A three hundred fifty five acre playground has been hiding live horse racing in plain sight for forty years and most people still do not know about it. This Minnesota attraction...

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The Ohio Diner Where Burgers Come on Steamed Buns and Fried Pickles Steal the Show Every Time

That pull you feel before you even order. A vintage exterior with a half car mounted on the side of the building lets you know this visit is going to be something worth remembering....

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This Quiet Minnesota Lake Has Suddenly Become The Center Of Heated Debate

A peaceful lake with walking paths and families fishing off a small dock used to be the whole story, but not anymore. This quiet Minnesota lake has suddenly turned into the center...

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This Simple Family Hike In Oklahoma Offers A Stunning View For A Quick Reset

A quick reset does not require a plane ticket or a week of vacation time. Sometimes it just requires a pair of sturdy shoes, a bottle of water, and a short walk that ends somewhere...

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The Missouri Drive-In Flea Market Where One Man’s Trash Turns Into Pure Gold

A drive-in movie theater seems like an unlikely home for a flea market. But one Missouri spot transformed that old school venue into something entirely different, a sprawling treasure...

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This Scenic West Virginia Railroad Takes You Through A Roadless Canyon Where Bald Eagles Nest And The Only Access Is By Train

There is a place in West Virginia where the only way in is by train. No roads lead here. No trails drop you off at the door....

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This New Jersey Antique Shop Packs So Much Vintage Treasure You Will Lose Track Of Time Completely

Time has a funny way of disappearing inside this New Jersey antique shop. You step through the door and suddenly the afternoon is gone.

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The Best Cheeseburger In West Virginia Is Found Inside This Hole-In-The-Wall Drive-In

You have to respect a place that refuses to call itself a restaurant. This West Virginia drive in is more of a feeling than a building.

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Louisiana Locals Brave Huge Weekend Crowds For This Cafe’s Iconic Brunch And They Don’t Regret It

Why would anyone stand in line for an hour before noon on a Sunday? Because the shrimp and grits are that good. At this iconic...

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This Alabama Cafe Lures You In For Iced Coffee But Its Actually A Room Full Of Adoptable Kittens

Alabama has a lot of charming spots, but few feel quite as unexpectedly delightful as this cat café in Alabaster. You might walk in expecting a simple coffee or tea stop.

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The Hidden Ohio Beach That Locals Keep Secret So They Can Have It to Themselves

That beach in a quiet Ohio neighborhood feels like it belongs to a different world entirely. The first time I found it, I almost missed the turn, and honestly, part of me thinks...

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This New York Landmark Has Been Baking Its Famous Thin Crust Bar Pizza Since The 1940s

You fold a slice, and it holds. No flop. No droop. Just a thin, cracker-crisp crust that snaps when you bite. That is the beauty...

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11 Hidden Oregon Thrift Stores Packed With Vintage Treasures

You walk past the unmarked door, push it open, and suddenly time travels backward. Racks of 1970s polyester shirts hang next to a lamp shaped like a duck.

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A Hidden Virginia Amusement Park That Feels Like A Family Dream

You would never guess it is there from the road. Tucked behind a shopping center, hidden from view, this Virginia amusement park feels like a family dream come true.

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This Virginia Monastery Bakery Has Been Making Traditional Fruitcake For Years

Fruitcake gets a bad reputation. Jokes about doorstops and regifting. But the fruitcake from this Virginia monastery bakery is...

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This Fantastic Waterfront Restaurant Along Maine’s Coast Is A Wonderful Visit This Summer

The salt breeze hits your face as you bite into a warm, butter-drenched lobster roll. That is the magic of this fantastic waterfront restaurant along Maine's coast, a summer visit...

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This Family-Run New Jersey Spot Has Been Frying Chicken Since 1967 And The Buffalo Wings Are Worth Every Single Mile

A place that has been frying chicken since 1967 knows exactly what it is doing. You do not stay open that long by accident. This...

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9 Maryland Nature Spots That Feel Completely Undiscovered

You will not find bumper to bumper traffic or crowded parking lots at these nine Maryland nature spots. That is the whole point of seeking out places that still feel completely...

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This Newly Revitalized Oregon Roadhouse Blends Classic Western Camp Style With Modern Desert Comfort

Old west vibes meet modern comfort and the combination works better than you would ever guess. This newly revitalized Oregon roadhouse sits in the high desert where the sky feels...

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This Little Red Wagon in Ohio Has Been Selling the Same Burger Since 1913 and Never Changed a Thing

This Ohio burger wagon has been earning its reputation quietly, one small burger at a time, for over a century. The moment you spot that little red wagon parked on the corner,...

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This Famous California Factory Visitor Center Makes For A Remarkably Fun Day Trip

Have you ever wondered how those tiny, colorful beans get their perfect shine? A famous factory visitor center in California invites you to find out, turning a simple afternoon...

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This Oklahoma French Patisserie Feels Like Paris Sneaked Into The Midwest And Opened A Bakery

Paris is a long flight from Oklahoma City. The plane tickets cost a fortune, the jet lag lasts for days, and your passport might be buried somewhere in a drawer.

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This Mennonite-Owned Missouri Sausage Kitchen Is a Meat Lover’s Dream With Old-School Custom Butchering and Handmade Sausage

Sausage making is an art form that most grocery stores have completely forgotten. The shrink wrapped links in the refrigerated aisle bear almost no resemblance to the real thing,...

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This Spring-Fed New Jersey Lake Has Water So Clear You Can See The Bottom And Locals Want To Keep It That Way

You have seen lakes before. You have probably dipped your toes in a few. But you have never seen water like this.

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This Massive Alabama Amish Style Market Is Packed With Bulk Deals And Homemade Sweets

Alabama has a lot of hidden gems, but this family-owned market and bakery in Atmore might be one of the most surprising. It brings the feel of Amish-style bulk food shopping right...

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The Wisconsin Campground Where Tent Zippers Unzip Themselves at the Same Time Every Night

Something about this Wisconsin campground gets under your skin before you even set up your tent. The first night I camped here, the woods went completely silent just after ten...

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This Gorgeous Alabama Town Combines Historic Murals, Family Farms And Elite Dining

Dothan, Alabama is one of those places that surprises you the moment you start paying attention. It carries the warmth of the Deep South but layers it with a creative energy that...

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This Virginia Sunflower Field Is A Bright Summer Detour Worth Waiting For

Summer in Virginia means heat, humidity, and sunflowers. Fields of them, stretching toward the sky, their bright faces following the sun across the horizon.

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This Tiny Historical Virginia Town Feels Frozen In Time With A Creekside Main Street And Storybook Woods

You cross a bridge over a creek, and suddenly the world slows down. The main street is lined with old buildings, their brick facades weathered by centuries.

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This Humble Restaurant In Maryland Has French Onion Soup So Good, It’s Worth Going Out of Your Way

You pull open the door of a humble Maryland restaurant and the smell hits you first. Rich beef broth, sweet caramelized onions, and bubbling Gruyère cheese all tangled together...

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The Ohio River That Congress Protected in 1974 and Nature Has Been Thanking Ever Since

That river in Northeast Ohio most people outside the region have never heard of quietly holds one of the most meaningful conservation stories in the state. It winds through rugged...

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Oregon’s ‘Living Room’ Is This 40,000-Square-Foot Plaza in the Center of the City

Forty thousand square feet of bricks, benches, and human energy right in the middle of the city. Locals call it Oregon's living room and the name fits perfectly.

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No Truffle Oil No Gold Flakes Just Two Beef Patties Done Right at This Illinois Time Capsule

This Illinois drive in has been earning its reputation not through flashy renovations or trendy ingredients, but through decades of doing one thing exceptionally well.

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Inside The Menus Of Texas Roadside Diners During The 1950s

Rolling west has a certain rhythm to it, windows cracked, warm air drifting in, and the radio humming while neon signs flicker like friendly lighthouses along the highway.

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This Wisconsin Hamburger Stand Has Been Perfecting the Art of Smash Burgers and Golden Curds Since Before It Was Trendy

This Wisconsin hamburger stand has been earning its reputation since nineteen sixteen. The first time I pulled up to that tiny little stand, I almost laughed at how small it looked...

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This Indiana Water Park Kicks Out The Kids For Wild After-Hours Adult Pool Parties

This Greenwood, Indiana water park is not your average community splash spot. Most people know it as a go-to summer destination for families, but there is a different side to it...

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This Historic Beach Town Was Just Named The Most Affordable Summer Vacation Spot In Indiana

Monticello, Indiana is one of those rare places where summer feels exactly the way it should. Nestled in north-central Indiana between two beautiful reservoirs, this small city...

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You Can Get Up Close To Hundreds Of Wild Hummingbirds At This Enchanted Indiana Sanctuary

Indiana is home to some truly remarkable natural spaces, but few feel quite as peaceful as this bird sanctuary in the eastern part of the state. Spread across hundreds of acres...

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