My Family Travels | Latest Articles
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This Oregon Garden Market Is So Magical You’ll Forget It’s Real Life

A pathway lined with flowering vines leads you past fountains and sculptures and rows of blooming color in every shade. I walked through the entrance and my worries seemed to stay...

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This New Hampshire Town Is The Last Affordable Paradise With Homes Under $200,000

I check real estate listings sometimes, mostly just to torture myself with what I cannot afford. Prices seem absolutely insane everywhere you look these days.

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This 1.7-Mile Enchanted New Hampshire Trail Is Home To A Magical Village Of Miniature Fairy Houses

I heard about this place from a stranger. A guy at a gas station. He saw my out of state plates and asked where I was headed....

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The Massive North Carolina Orchard And Bakery Where Crowds Flock For Famous Fried Pies And Fresh Cider

You take one bite of a warm fried pie, and suddenly you understand why crowds drive for hours across North Carolina. This massive orchard and bakery has turned simple fruit into...

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This Mom-and-Pop Maryland Italian Restaurant Quietly Serves Comfort Food That Never Disappoints

No flashy signs. No long waits for a table. Just a quiet little spot where the pasta always hits the spot. Maryland has plenty...

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This Oregon Cafe Feels Like A Cartoon Medieval Tavern Straight Out Of A Fairy Tale

A crooked stone fireplace and mismatched wooden chairs and stained glass windows that glow in the afternoon light. I walked through the door and half expected to see a bard strumming...

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10 Tamale Stands in Mississippi That Have Been Feeding Generations

You have to understand what a Mississippi tamale is before you go looking for them. Smaller than the Mexican version, made with cornmeal instead of masa, and simmered instead of...

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There’s A Water Park In Minnesota That Locals Love Too Much To Share

A water park that locals keep whispering about but never post on social media for fear of the crowds showing up. I heard about it from a friend who made me promise not to share...

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10 Chicken and Dumplings Spots in Oklahoma That Feel Like Home in a Bowl

Some foods announce themselves with sizzle or smoke. Chicken and dumplings whispers. It sits in the bowl looking unassuming,...

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This Tranquil Nature Park Turns a Simple Walk Into a Full Escape From Reality

The parking lot feels ordinary, just gravel and a sign and maybe one other car. Then you step onto the path and everything changes.

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10 West Virginia Photo Swings That Will Make You Fall In Love With The Mountains

Here is a travel truth. The best photos are not the stiff ones in front of a view. They are the ones where you are swinging,...

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This Sprawling New Jersey Boardwalk Arcade Lets You Play Hundreds Of Vintage Pinball Machines All Day

This sprawling New Jersey boardwalk arcade is a paradise for pinball lovers. I like to joke that it’s the only place where...

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This Is How Tourists Changed Iowa’s Calm Atmosphere

Have you ever noticed how a quiet place can feel completely different once tourists start showing up? That’s exactly what’s been happening in Iowa.

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The Scenic Georgia Berry Farm Where You Harvest Your Own Fruit And Enjoy Fresh Treats While Picking

You grab a bucket and walk into rows of bushes heavy with ripe fruit. That simple act of picking your own berries in Georgia turns an ordinary morning into something you will remember...

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This Florida Restaurant Blends Cuba, Mexico, and the Mediterranean And Locals Keep Coming Back

You order a Cubano sandwich and a side of hummus. That sentence should not make sense. But, it does. Cuban pork and pickles next...

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This Haunted Alabama Landmark Is Considered One Of The Most Terrifying Places In America

Some places carry weight that you can feel the moment you arrive. This Birmingham, Alabama industrial landmark is one of those places.

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Minnesota’s Soaking Pool With A Swim-Up Bar And Nothing But Pure Relaxation

Warm water wraps around tired shoulders while a gentle current carries you toward a floating bar in the middle of the pool. I ordered a drink without climbing out and the bartender...

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Highly-Rated Gluten-Free Dining Spots In Illinois For 2026

Gluten free eating in Illinois used to feel like a constant compromise. Not anymore, because two thousand twenty six brings a wave of highly rated spots where delicious and safe...

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This Virginia Natural Stone Bridge Is So Massive It Legally Serves As A Highway Overpass

Most natural stone arches are tucked away in the woods, reachable only by a steep hike. This Virginia bridge is different. It...

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People Traverse Virginia For The Slow Roasted Prime Rib At This Four Story Landmark

Some restaurants serve food. This Virginia landmark serves an experience. Housed in a four-story tobacco warehouse, the building...

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A Massive Georgia Entertainment Hub Featuring Dozens Of Bowling Lanes And Immersive VR Under One Roof

Rainy weekends in Georgia just found their perfect answer under one massive roof. Dozens of bowling lanes glow with neon lights while immersive VR stations pull you into worlds...

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This Vibrant New Jersey Neighborhood Nook Is Secretly Serving The Best Authentic Tacos In The County

This vibrant New Jersey neighborhood nook hides a delicious surprise; it’s serving the county’s best tacos. I used to...

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A Texas Second Hand Shop Where Designer Brands Show Up At Shockingly Low Prices

Scoring designer jeans for twenty bucks is basically a contact sport in this town, and Pavement is the main arena. This ain't your grandma's dusty thrift store; it's a 10,000-square-foot...

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Louisiana Has a Beignet Scene Outside the French Quarter And Here Are 6 Spots

The French Quarter has a lock on the beignet conversation. Cafe du Monde. Powdered sugar clouds. Tourists in line at all hours.

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Locals Say the Best Brisket in Oregon Is Hiding Inside This Barbecue Joint

The smell of smoked meat hits you before you even see the building. I pulled into a gravel lot and my stomach started making decisions before my brain could catch up.

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The Peaceful Small Town In South Carolina Where Budget-Friendly Living Costs Truly Go Far

Imagine a place where your monthly budget leaves room for dinners out and weekends away. That is the reality in this peaceful small town in South Carolina, where affordable living...

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The City in Oklahoma Where Everyday Life Costs Shockingly Little

This city in the central part of Oklahoma has quietly become a haven for people who want their money to stretch further without sacrificing quality of life. It offers affordable...

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11 Small-Town Missouri Bakeries Where the Line Starts Before You Even Park

The parking spaces fill up before sunrise, their occupants already dreaming of glazed circles and fruit filled pockets. Small town Missouri bakeries do not advertise on billboards...

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The Artisan Donuts At This New Jersey Bakery Are So Delicious, They Literally Melt In Your Mouth

My willpower completely abandoned me the moment the smell hit me from the parking lot. There was no turning back after that.

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This Indiana Amish Bakery Is So Packed With Fresh Bread, Pies, and Cookies You’ll Want One of Everything

Some bakeries feel like a quick stop. However, this one in Loogootee, Indiana feels like a reason to reroute your whole drive. The...

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A Newlywed Bride Disappeared Over This Kentucky Waterfall And Visitors Still See Her Walking in White

She came here on her honeymoon in the 1950s, a young bride in a white dress, excited to see the famous falls with her new husband. He wanted a photo of her with the water in the...

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The Massive 40-Acre Indiana Flea Market That’s Literally The Size Of 30 Football Fields

Some places just have a way of stopping you in your tracks. This massive flea market in Indiana’s Amish country is one of those places, and once you see its scale, it becomes...

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This Captivating Virginia State Park Will Make You Feel Like You’ve Stepped Into Another World

Some parks are just trees and trails. Pretty, sure, but familiar. This Virginia state park is different. From the moment you...

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Virginia Has A McDonald’s So Retro It Looks More Like A Diner Than A Drive-Thru Stop

McDonald's restaurants all look the same. Golden arches, red roof, predictable layout. But this Virginia location is different....

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7 Kosher Restaurants in Texas That Locals and Tourists Both Swear By

Kosher food in Texas has come a long way from just a basic deli counter. These days, the state is home to steakhouses, sushi bars, and even a place mixing Chinese with Israeli...

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10 Sticky, Sweet, and Unforgettable French Toast Stops in Delaware

Delaware does not usually come up in conversations about great breakfast food. People talk about the Midwest for diners. The...

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This 200-Year-Old Tavern in Kentucky Is Still Serving Drinks And Ghosts

The building has been here for two centuries. It has survived wars, fires, economic collapses, and probably a few bar fights that got out of hand.

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This Oregon Mountain Town is So Remote That Even Most Locals Haven’t Found It Yet

A town so deep in the mountains that you might wonder if the road will ever end. I drove through winding forests that seemed to swallow the pavement behind me like a gentle green...

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A Senior-Friendly Texas Nature Trail With Benches, Shade, And Wildlife Views

A wide paved loop, benches every so often, and so many trees that the sun barely touches the ground. That is the kind of trail that makes getting outside easy for anyone.

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6 Mexican Restaurants in Mississippi Where the Chips and Salsa Alone Destroy the Competition

You can judge a Mexican restaurant by its chips and salsa. Not the entree. Not the margaritas. The free stuff that lands on your...

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The Overlooked 3,000-Acre Indiana Park That Feels a Million Miles Away From the Crowds

Some places have a way of making the noise in your head go quiet the moment you arrive. This Indiana state park is one of those rare spots where sandstone cliffs, deep ravines,...

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The Crispy Fried Shrimp At This Unassuming Alabama Diner Is Worth Every Single Mile Of The Drive

Some restaurants earn their reputation through flash and fanfare. This Houston, Alabama roadside spot earns it through something far more honest: food that genuinely stops you...

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One Bite Of The Homemade Meatloaf At This Humble Alabama Kitchen And You’ll Never Order It Anywhere Else

Some restaurants earn their reputation one plate at a time, and this Huntsville, Alabama country kitchen is exactly that kind of place. Its homemade meatloaf has become something...

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This Virginia Garden Market Feels Straight Out Of A Fairy Tale

You walk down a gravel path, past rows of blooming flowers, and suddenly you are standing in a garden that looks like it was plucked from a storybook. This Virginia market is not...

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10 Best Gluten-Free Restaurants In Virginia For 2026

Eating gluten-free used to mean settling. A sad salad, a dry piece of fish, maybe a bun that crumbled before you could take a bite.

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The Oregon Farm Market Where Homemade Pies And Donuts Steal The Show

A red barn sits at the end of a gravel road where the smell of baking sugar drifts out before you even park the car. I walked toward the market and my stomach started growling...

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This Maryland Mountain Town Feels Like a Dreamy Weekend Escape in Every Season

Some places only shine in one season. Summer or bust. Fall or nothing. But this Maryland mountain town has the nerve to be...

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The Most Beautiful Walkable Towns In Minnesota You Should Explore This Spring

Fresh spring air and blooming flowers make wandering through these places feel like stepping into a postcard that actually exists. I parked the car and left my keys in my pocket...

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The Rustic Washington Shop Wholly Dedicated To Exotic Spices And Hard-To-Find Teas

You do not need a passport to travel the world in Washington. You just need to step inside this rustic shop, where jars of exotic spices and hard-to-find teas line every wall.

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This Texas Ramen Shop Pours Its Soul Into Every Bowl Of Rich, Silky Broth

The smell of simmering pork bones greets every person who walks through the door, a promise of something rich and savory. This spot started as a humble food truck back in 2012,...

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This Maryland Italian Restaurant Serves Pasta So Good Locals Keep Coming Back

Some Italian restaurants try to impress you with fancy lighting and waiters in bow ties. This one lets the pasta do the talking. Maryland...

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7 Texas Camping Areas With Lakeside Views And Peaceful Surroundings

A tent pitched within earshot of lapping water changes the whole camping game. No highway noise, no bright city lights, just the sound of a fish jumping somewhere out in the dark.

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The Cinnamon Rolls at This Oklahoma Café Are So Good They Turn Thursdays Into an Event

Thursday morning arrives and the regulars already know the drill. They set their alarms a little earlier and clear their schedules for a late breakfast.

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The Beautiful South Carolina Beach Towns Tourists Ruined By Putting Them On The Map

Crowds can change a place faster than anything else, and that’s exactly what’s happened to some of South Carolina’s most beautiful beach towns.

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Macy's 4th July Fireworks over New York's East River. c. Julienne Schaer / NYC Tourism + Conventions
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These 33 Free Summer Events Are So Special They’re Worth Traveling For

School’s out so it’s time to celebrate with free summer events. If rising prices and global turmoil have put a crimp in your travel style, never fear. These 17 destinations...

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The Ghostly Indiana River Town Where A Gilded Age Victorian Mansion Hovers Over Deep Waters

Aurora, Indiana sits quietly along the Ohio River, the kind of small town that holds more history than its size suggests. Rising above the water on a wooded bluff is a striking...

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This Jaw-Dropping Backroad Route In Indiana Combines Haunting Covered Bridges With Countryside Magic

Parke County, Indiana holds a kind of quiet magic that most people never stumble across unless they go looking for it. This historic village near Rockville feels like the countryside...

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This Tiny, Weathered Indiana Shack Secretly Serves Up The Most Illegal-Tasting Pizza Around

Some of the best food in the country hides in places you would never expect. North Salem, Indiana is a quiet town of roughly 500 people, and it hardly looks like a major food destination.

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This Texas Seafood Restaurant Has Endless Crab Legs, Fried Fish, And Loyal Regulars

Crab legs piled so high they spill over the edge of the basket. That is the kind of problem a person wants to have. This Texas...

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This Massive Oklahoma Outlet Mall Feels Like Black Friday Every Single Day

The parking lot fills up by mid morning, cars circling for spots like sharks hunting for dinner. Shoppers stream through the entrances with focused expressions, armed with credit...

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