My Family Travels | Latest Articles
Article
This Historic West Virginia Park Is Where Cell Service Fades And The Milky Way Puts On A Show You Will Not Forget

West Virginia knows how to do dark skies right. This historic park does not care about your signal bars. Drive deep enough...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Eat, Play Pinball, and Get Your Laundry Done at This Secret Indiana Spot

Not every great spot announces itself loudly, and this Indianapolis, Indiana hangout is proof of that. Tucked into a neighborhood setting, it blends a working laundromat with pinball...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Wild Indiana Restaurant Where You Throw Axes While You Wait For Your Food

Huntingburg, Indiana has a restaurant that does things a little differently. This North Main Street spot combines casual dining with an unexpected twist, letting guests enjoy a...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Haunted Indiana Coffee House Serves Gourmet Sandwiches With a Side of Paranormal Activity

Some coffee shops just serve coffee. This Evansville, Indiana café does something far more layered. Set inside a historic building...

Read More    7 min read

Article
A Hidden Texas Garden Filled With Sculptures And Native Plants Feels Like A Secret Escape

Some places in Texas do not try to impress you from the road. This garden hides behind trees and quiet streets, with no big sign screaming for attention.

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Oklahoma Creekside Swimming Spot Is a Hidden Escape With Clear Water, Rocky Coves, and Natural Slides

You know summer has officially arrived when the heat makes you willing to share a swimming hole with a hundred strangers. But what if you did not have to?

Read More    9 min read

Article
This Tiny Oregon Town Has A Pinball Arcade Vintage Stores And One Of The Best Fish And Chips Carts On The Coast

The town is small enough that you might sneeze and miss the main intersection entirely. But that would be a shame because a whole afternoon of fun hides behind those quiet storefronts.

Read More    7 min read

Article
These 9 Old-School Missouri Steakhouses Still Do Steak the Right Way

Before the chains arrived with their frozen patties and tablet ordering systems, a steakhouse meant something specific. Dark...

Read More    9 min read

Article
10 Top Butcher Shops in Oklahoma Where Quality Meat Still Comes First

Before grocery stores shrink wrapped everything in styrofoam and plastic, there was a better way to buy meat. A butcher who knew your name, who could tell you which cow your steak...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Antique Store In New Jersey Brings Together History, Art, And Handmade Treasures

This New Jersey shop might make you forget what century you're in. The owner runs it with genuine warmth, turning a simple...

Read More    7 min read

Article
11 Suspension Bridges In New Jersey That Showcase Engineering And Scenic Views

New Jersey has more than just diners and traffic jams. It has suspension bridges that will make you stop mid step just to stare. Some...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Maryland Park Feels Like a Hidden Escape Filled With Waterfalls and Trails

You can hear the highway from certain spots, which makes the waterfalls feel like a magic trick. One minute you are near traffic, the next you are standing in front of falling...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Vermont Donut Shop Loads Every Single Bite With Fresh Summer Berries In Their Handcrafted Seasonal Rings

That first bite bursts with real blueberry, not syrup. This small Vermont donut shop loads every single seasonal ring with fresh summer berries, handcrafted in a tiny kitchen where...

Read More    7 min read

Article
People Drive From All Over Oregon To Eat The Hand Formed Burgers At This Junkyard Themed Restaurant

The restaurant looks like a junkyard and smells like a dream come true. Old car parts hang on the walls like strange metal artwork from a mad mechanic.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Quaint Oklahoma Town Is Full of Old-Fashioned Charm and Unexpected Surprises

You might feel like you have wandered onto a movie set when you first arrive in this southern Oklahoma gem. Quaint storefronts line the main street, neighbors wave from porch swings,...

Read More    9 min read

Article
These 10 Low-Key Burger Joints in Missouri Are So Good, They’re Worth Driving Miles For

Somewhere between a wrong turn and a growling stomach, I found myself pulling into a gravel lot with a hand-painted sign and absolutely zero regrets. Missouri does not play around...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Steamed Whole Lobster Dinner At This Unassuming Connecticut Harbor Shack Is A Summer Tradition Worth The Drive

The picnic tables are mismatched, the order window is weathered, and the only thing between you and the water is a fleet of fishing boats.

Read More    7 min read

Article
These West Virginia Springs Were So Good Even George Washington Became A Regular

Long before anyone called them presidents, a sixteen year old surveyor named George Washington camped here and scribbled in his diary about some warm springs.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Spot Piles Pastrami So High You Might Need A Fork To Finish It

Look, we need to talk about New Jersey's most delicious balancing act. This unassuming spot piles pastrami so high that your...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Unfussy Arkansas Drive-In Serves Smoked Sandwiches That Locals Have Craved For Generations

Craving a smoked sandwich that tastes like it came from a roadside pit in the Ozarks? Head to this unfussy Arkansas spot, where the smokers have been working overtime for over...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Massive Alabama Warehouse Is Packed With Lost Suitcases You Can Actually Shop Through

There is a place in a small Alabama town where lost suitcases from airports across the country find a second life, and I honestly could not believe it was real until I saw it for...

Read More    6 min read

Article
What You Risk When Camping On Florida’s Protected Shores

Picture yourself setting up camp on a quiet Florida shoreline, you’ve got the tent, the view, and the sound of waves rolling in. Sounds perfect, right?

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Oregon Off-Road Trail Leads To A 1920s Gold Mine Hidden In The Mountains

The trail rattles the car so hard that loose teeth feel even looser afterwards. After a bumpy ride, an old gold mine from the 1920s appears out of nowhere.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Cozy New Hampshire Breakfast Nook Serves Home Fries Locals Love

Some places are so small that you might miss them entirely if you blink, and this breakfast nook in New Hampshire is exactly that kind of spot. But the people who live nearby have...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This New Hampshire Diner Serves The Most Delicious Homemade Comfort Breakfast

You know that feeling when you wake up hungry and nothing will do except a breakfast that takes its time and does not rush you out the door? That is exactly what I found at this...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New York Bin Store Restocks Weekly With Mystery Bargains That Turn Shopping Into A Treasure Hunt

You have never shopped like this. New inventory arrives every week, buried under piles of returned and overstocked goods from major online retailers.

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Fried Chicken at This Maryland Spot Keeps Lines Forming Before Lunch

You show up at 11:15 AM thinking you are early. The line says otherwise. Something about this place makes people abandon their...

Read More    6 min read

Article
10 New Oregon Restaurants You’ve Probably Never Heard Of But Need To Try Immediately

New restaurants pop up all the time but most of them vanish just as fast. These ten spots are different because people are already talking about them quietly everywhere.

Read More    8 min read

Article
These 12 Buffet Spots In New York Truly Satisfy

Ever walked into a buffet and thought, “This is exactly what I needed”? That’s the kind of feeling you’ll get at some of New York’s best spots.

Read More    8 min read

Article
America’s Longest Row Of Victorian Homes Is Actually In Minnesota And You Need To See It

A street so grand that every single house looks like a millionaire's dream from another century. One Victorian home after another stretches for miles without any boring buildings...

Read More    7 min read

Article
9 Strange Oklahoma Phenomena That Science (And Locals) Can’t Quite Explain

Oklahoma has a way of keeping secrets buried deep in its red dirt, its dark skies, and its winding back roads. I've traveled across this state more times than I can count, and...

Read More    9 min read

Article
These 10 Missouri Flea Markets Are So Good, Everyone Should Visit Them at Least Once

Missouri has a way of surprising you, and its flea markets are proof of that. Spread across the state, from small rural towns...

Read More    9 min read

Article
This Historic Country Store In West Virginia Has Been Frozen In Time For Generations

Five generations. One family. The same oiled wooden floors since 1902. This West Virginia country store doesn't just feel...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Humble New Jersey Deli Has Been Serving Legendary Hoagies For Over 40 Years

That smell hits you before the door even closes behind you, a warm and savory cloud that announces you have arrived somewhere special.

Read More    6 min read

Article
The West Virginia Neighborhood Bar Where You Sign Your Napkin And Leave It On The Wall Forever

You will hear the creaky screen door first. Then the bell above it jingles your arrival. And if the regulars are in a good...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Giant Louisiana Seafood Platter That Comes With A Bib And A Serious Warning That One Order Feeds A Village

That platter comes with a bib and a warning. The mountain of fried shrimp, oysters, catfish, soft?shell crab, and crawfish balls is famously large enough to feed an entire village.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Simple Alabama Steakhouse Has Built A Statewide Reputation For Its Steaks

Some restaurants earn their reputation the hard way, one perfectly cooked steak at a time. This family steak house is exactly that kind of place.

Read More    7 min read

Article
Why Rhode Island Beaches No Longer Feel Magical

Ever been to a beach that just didn’t feel the same as you remembered? That’s the story with Rhode Island’s coastline these days.

Read More    8 min read

Article
The 225-Acre Minnesota Farm Where Bison, Beef, And Lamb Roam Native Prairie

Bison wander past the fence like they own the place and honestly they kind of do. The farm spreads across two hundred twenty five acres of open native prairie land.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Michigan Warehouse Turns Football And Bowling Into The Ultimate Rainy Day Adult Playground

You have played football. You have bowled. But you have never thrown a football at bowling pins while standing in a repurposed Detroit warehouse.

Read More    7 min read

Article
10 Heartbreakingly Beautiful Virginia Ruins Nobody Is Saving

There is a certain kind of beauty in things that are falling apart. A crumbling factory wall covered in ivy. A rotting barn with...

Read More    9 min read

Article
A Massive Virginia Entertainment Hub With 38 Bowling Lanes And High-Tech VR Under One Roof

Bowling alleys used to be simple. A few lanes, some rented shoes, maybe a sad pizza if you were lucky. This Virginia entertainment...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Unpretentious Mississippi Buffet Piles High Every Southern Comfort Food You Could Dream Of On A Single Plate

That buffet line will change your life. Steam rises from trays of golden fried chicken, tender ribs, and chicken and dumplings that locals say are legendary.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Pet-Friendly New Jersey Campground Offers Full Hookups, Cable TV, And A Private Fishing Lake

Bring the whole family including the four-legged members. This New Jersey campground welcomes pets with open arms while offering every modern comfort you could want.

Read More    6 min read

Article
One of Texas’s Clearest Lakes Where Blue Water Views Feel Nearly Coastal

You drive through the Hill Country and suddenly the water looks like something from the coast. It is that bright, that blue, that clear.

Read More    7 min read

Article
10 Best And 2 Worst Parts Of Visiting North Carolina

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of North Carolina: beaches, barbecue, or maybe the Blue Ridge Mountains?

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Old School Oregon Burger Joint Where Locals Go For A Hot Juicy Stacked Burger

The sign is old and faded and I almost drove right past it honestly. A local told me this place has the best burger in the entire city.

Read More    6 min read

Article
What Pennsylvania Amish Wear Daily Reflects More Than Tradition

I keep thinking about how the clothes you see in Pennsylvania Amish country are not costumes, they are choices shaped by work, weather, and community rhythm.

Read More    8 min read

Article
Locals Say These 8 “Hole-in-the-Wall” Oklahoma Diners Are the Best Kept Secrets

Nobody warned me that Oklahoma would completely ruin my diet in the best possible way. I expected flat roads and open skies, but what I got was a string of tiny, unassuming diners...

Read More    8 min read

Article
Rent Is Still Under $600 in This Underrated Missouri City, and People Are Taking Notice

You read that number correctly and no, your glasses are just fine. In this unassuming corner of the Missouri Bootheel, rent still hovers under 600 dollars a month, a figure that...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Old School New Jersey Diner Was Voted Burlington County’s Best Restaurant Seven Years In A Row

Seven years. That is a long time to stay on top. But this classic New Jersey diner pulled it off, winning Burlington County's...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Old Town Chicago Restaurant Denies The Ghosts But The Staff Knows The Truth

Chicago has no shortage of old restaurants with history. But this one has something extra. The owners deny it publicly. Say there...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Massive Indiana Water-World Has 5 Pools And A Hidden Lake Escape

If you have ever wanted a vacation that feels like a theme park, a lake retreat, and a campground all rolled into one, this family-friendly destination in northern Indiana might...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Gravity-Defying Trails And Fast Forest Loops Make This Indiana Woodland Ride A Mountain Biking Playground

I never expected a small Indiana town to deliver one of the most exciting rides I have had, but this lakeside trail system proved me wrong in the best way. Tucked into Kosciusko...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Rugged Virginia Off-Road Peak Offers Breathtaking Views And Miles Of Forest Adventure

Most mountain views require a hike. A long one, usually, with plenty of elevation gain and a few moments where you question your life choices.

Read More    7 min read

Article
10 Shockingly Intact Virginia Historic Sites With Zero Gift Shops

You know the drill at most historic sites. You park, pay an entrance fee, walk through a roped-off house, and end up in a gift shop full of magnet and postcards.

Read More    9 min read

Article
We Tried the Most Mouthwatering Burnt Ends in Missouri, and They Live Up to the Hype

You will smell them before you see them, and that is when the trouble starts. At this lively Osage Beach spot in Missouri, the burnt ends arrive as glossy, peppery little cubes...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Old-School Texas Diner Where The Pie Counter Alone Is Reason Enough to Go

You walk past the booths and head straight for the glass case near the register. That is where the pies sit, waiting for you. They...

Read More    6 min read

Article
You Can Pick Sunflowers, Pet A Retired Racing Pig, And Launch Vegetables At This Florida Farm

Florida farms usually stick to one thing. Oranges. Strawberries. Maybe a corn maze in the fall.

Read More    6 min read

Article
You Can Drink A Dirty Zombie At This Louisiana Cafe While Staring Directly At A Graveyard

Louisiana does not do subtle. The food is bold. The drinks are strong. And the cemeteries?

Read More    7 min read