My Family Travels | Latest Articles
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Illinois Spots Tourists Wish They’d Skipped

We all want our trips to feel worth the time and money, right? That’s why it stings when you finally check out a spot in Illinois and realize it didn’t live up to the hype....

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10 Indiana Restaurants People Say Feel the Most “Indiana” Without Trying

I've eaten at a lot of places across the Midwest, but there's something about Indiana restaurants that hits differently. No gimmicks, no trendy concepts, just real food made by...

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The Mac And Cheese At This Unassuming Restaurant In Virginia Is Every Cheese Lover’s Literal Fever Dream

Think you've had good mac and cheese? Think again. Tucked away in Newport News, there's a spot that's turning comfort food into...

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9 Florida Beach Parking Rules Travelers Should Keep In Mind Before Visiting

Ever pulled up to a Florida beach and wondered if you’re parking in the right spot? It happens more often than you’d think. Florida’s...

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The Silent Beauty Of Georgia’s Deserted Parks

What is it about empty places that makes them so fascinating? Georgia’s deserted parks are perfect examples. They’re quiet,...

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This Unassuming Oklahoma Flea Market Is a Maze of Forgotten Curios and Rare Treasures

I love places that don’t look like much from the road. The kind you almost drive past without thinking twice. That’s exactly...

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10 Scenic Michigan Road Detours Worth Slowing Down For

You know how some drives make you tap the brakes just to soak it in? Michigan does that a lot, and these detours are where...

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The Rugged New Jersey Hike That’s More Stunning Than You’d Ever Expect

I'll admit I had my doubts when I first heard about the Giant Stairs Palisades. How could a trail so close to the city offer...

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These Are The California Organic Stores That Stay Busy Despite The Reputation

You know how people love to joke about fancy markets and then still circle the lot like hawks? California makes that extra...

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These Are The California Organic Stores That Stay Busy Despite The Reputation

You know how people love to joke about fancy markets and then still circle the lot like hawks? California makes that extra...

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Locals Say This Indiana Town Is Tourist-Ruined and Clogged by One-Way Traffic Jams

I have to be honest with you. I love Nashville, Indiana, but I also know exactly what locals mean when they roll their eyes on a busy October weekend.

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Old-School Pastry Counters In New York That Never Chased Trends

Ready to trade overhyped dessert trends for pastries that actually know what they’re doing? New York has old-school pastry counters that keep showing up, day after day, with...

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8 Legendary Restaurants In Virginia With Outrageously Delicious Seafood That Put The Rest Of The East Coast To Shame

Virginia's seafood scene might just be the best-kept secret on the entire Eastern Seaboard. While tourists flock to Maine for lobster rolls and Maryland for crab cakes, insiders...

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A Moonlit Dock In Washington That Locals Won’t Walk Alone

The moon makes everything look harmless, and that is exactly the problem. There is something about a quiet dock in Washington at night that feels too open and too still at the...

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A Tiny Texas Cabin That’s Home To One Of The Best Pizzas In The State

I almost drove right past it. From the street, it looks like a small house with a porch, not a spot serving some of the most talked-about pizza in Texas.

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California Pizza Spots That Make Chain Slices Feel Pointless

Chain pizza has its place until California reminds you what a slice can actually do. This is the state where pizza gets treated...

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This Oklahoma Town Is A Flavorful Surprise You’ll Never See Coming

I’ll admit it, I didn’t expect Ponca City to surprise me. When I first pulled in, I figured it would be a quick stop, maybe a decent meal if I was lucky.

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The Abandoned Rail Tunnel In Pennsylvania That Still Echoes After Dark

Did you hear that… or did the tunnel just copy you? An abandoned rail tunnel in Pennsylvania is the kind of place that turns a normal evening into a story you will tell with...

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The Offbeat New Jersey Spot Serving Espresso With A Side Of Art

Only in New Jersey could a cup of espresso come with a side of surrealism. This quirky spot blends caffeine and creativity in...

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The Best Sundaes In Indiana Are Hiding Inside This Award-Winning Shop That Tops Every Big Name

I have tried a lot of ice cream in Indiana, and nothing has stopped me in my tracks quite like Sundae's Homemade Ice Cream on the east side of Indianapolis. From the moment I walked...

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This Quiet Corner Of South Carolina Feels Made For A Spring Weekend

If spring had a favorite weekend hideout, Beaufort would be on the shortlist. This quiet corner of South Carolina feels like it was designed for unhurried plans, with waterfront...

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The 10 Most Authentic Vintage General Stores In Virginia

Think all general stores are the same? Think again. Virginia's vintage shops aren't just selling bread and batteries. They're...

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A Coastal Bookshop Café In Maine That Makes Rainy Days Feel Planned

Rainy days in Maine have a special talent for showing up right when you thought you were going to be productive. That is exactly why a coastal bookshop café feels like the smartest...

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This Homey Restaurant In Texas Has Homemade Biscuits And Gravy Everyone Raves About

Breakfast cravings led me straight to Bobbie's Southern Kitchen, and the parking lot was already busy before the morning fully kicked in. That steady flow of regulars felt like...

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Illinois Laws That Feel Like A Comedy Sketch With Real Consequences

Illinois has a talent for making you laugh first and double-check later. Some of the state’s laws and local ordinances read like a comedy sketch on paper, right up until you...

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The Underground Cave Tour In Oklahoma Is a One-of-a-Kind Adventure You Can’t Miss

I used to roll my eyes a little when people described Oklahoma as nothing but flat prairie. I believed it too. Endless wheat...

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A Farmers Market Breakfast In Maryland That Costs Less Than You’d Expect

Breakfast in Maryland gets way more fun when you skip the sit-down spot and head straight to the farmers market. It feels like a little weekend cheat code: bright stalls, hot food...

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This Gorgeous Town In New Jersey Could Be The State’s Prettiest Escape

If beauty contests were held for towns, this one would be crowned every spring. Strolling through its streets feels like stepping...

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Locals Can’t Stop Raving About the Chicken Fried Steak Smothered in Gravy at This Indiana Spot

I grew up hearing about Magic Wand Restaurant in Churubusco, Indiana, and the first time I finally walked through that door, I understood immediately why locals talk about it the...

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Nevada Desert Art Stops Tourist-Ruined By Rock Stacking And Spray Paint

So what is it about the Nevada desert that makes people think: “Let’s leave a mark”? Desert art stops out here can feel like a miracle, with big empty horizons, strange beauty,...

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The Pastrami Sandwich At This Jewish Deli In Virginia Is Mouthwatering

Can a single deli in the heart of Virginia spark as much passion as a family recipe passed down through generations? Some folks swear that the best Jewish delis exist only in New...

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Spring Tulip Fields In Washington That Feel Like A Day Trip Flex

Washington does not do subtle when tulip season shows up. One minute it is gray roads and coffee, and the next it is rows of color that look edited in real life.

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The Kolaches At This Iconic Bakery In Texas Are Simply Outstanding

Saturday mornings call for something warm and simple, and that’s exactly what I found at this place. The small building was surrounded by cars looping the lot, which felt like...

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This Indiana Bookstore Is So Vibrant, You’ll Leave With Books, New Friends, and Story Nights Worth Attending

I still remember the first time I walked into Indy Reads and felt that immediate sense of belonging. There is something about this place that goes far beyond just shelves of books.

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This Oklahoma Adventure Area Is An Off-Road Playground Hiding In The Hills

If you think Oklahoma is all flat plains and wide-open skies, Cross Bar Ranch is about to flip that script completely. Rising...

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New Jersey’s Vintage Paradise With More Than 65 Dealers Under One Roof

Shopping with 65 dealers under one roof feels less like browsing and more like running a marathon with a credit card. Step...

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10 Indiana Restaurants Famous for That One Must-Try Dish

I have a confession: I plan road trips around food. Not landmarks, not museums, just the promise of one perfect plate waiting for me at the end of a drive.

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10 Virginia’s Steakhouse Experience That Turns Regular Nights Into Destination Dining

Think your average Tuesday dinner has to be boring? Think again. Virginia has perfected the art of turning ordinary evenings...

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This Historic Cafe In Texas Will Serve You A Pulled Pork Sandwich You Won’t Forget

Walking into this BBQ spot on a random Wednesday, the smell of slow-smoked meat hit me before I even made it to the counter. One breath in and I already knew I was in the right...

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This Scenic Virginia Trail Unlocks The Secrets Of A Forgotten 18th-Century Ghost Village

Think your neighborhood has history? Try wandering through a place where George Washington himself once dreamed of building an empire.

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This Oklahoma Emporium Is a Wonderland of Rare, Strange, and Delightful Finds

You walk into what looks like a regular storefront, and suddenly you're standing in the middle of something that feels like equal parts museum, magical library, and your eccentric...

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This New Jersey Eatery Serves Cheesesteaks That Locals Say Beat Philly

Somewhere in New Jersey, cheesesteaks are causing an identity crisis for Philly. Locals swear their neighborhood eatery serves...

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This Oregon Food Tour Will Take You Straight to Ice Cream Heaven

Walking into the Tillamook Creamery felt like stepping straight into my childhood dream, except this time I had adult money and zero self-control.

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The Burgers At This Old-Timey Indiana Spot Have Been Smashed Into Onion-Grilled Perfection Since 1940

I still remember the first time someone told me about Powers Hamburgers in Fort Wayne. I thought, how special can a tiny slider joint really be?

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11 Haunted Hotel Stays Across Virginia That Promise An Eerie Adventure

Virginia's haunted hotels blend history with spine-tingling supernatural encounters that'll make even skeptics question reality. From grand coastal resorts where tragic spirits...

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This Hidden Oregon Sushi Spot Is a Local Favorite for Good Reason

A rainy Tuesday pushed me off my usual dinner routine and straight into Miyamoto, and nothing about my sushi standards has been the same since. From the outside, this little spot...

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This Gorgeous State Park In Texas Will Help You Leave Your Worries Behind

The second I rolled past the entrance, the noise in my head started to quiet down. Tall pines tower overhead, a glassy lake peeks through the trees, and suddenly everything feels...

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Oklahoma Wildlife Haven Isn’t So Wild Anymore, Tourist Crowds Are Taking Over

Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge used to feel like a secret. A place where migratory birds outnumbered people, where the landscape stretched white and endless under a big Oklahoma...

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New Jersey’s U-Pick Tulip Farm That Becomes A Local Tradition Each Spring

Who knew picking flowers could feel like a competitive sport? Every spring, New Jersey’s U-Pick tulip farm bursts into color,...

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The Best Fish And Chips In Indiana Are Found At This Grocery Store Counter With A Near-Perfect 4.8 Rating

I never thought I'd find my new favorite fried fish spot inside a grocery store, but here we are. Grill and Fry, tucked right inside Saraga International Grocery on Indianapolis's...

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