My Family Travels | Latest Articles
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Nevada’s Foil Balloon Rule Can Turn Party Shopping Into Paperwork

So how did a shiny party balloon end up as a Nevada paperwork problem? Nevada’s foil balloon rule exists because these metallic balloons can drift into power lines and trigger...

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This Small Virginia Town Is A Real-Life Time Capsule Where Life Moves At A Beautifully Slower Pace

Can a town truly freeze time without feeling stuck? Some places in Virginia do just that, preserving centuries of stories while the rest of the world races ahead.

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Maine’s Outlet Strip That Lets You Shop Big Brands For A Fraction

If your budget could talk, it would pick Kittery. Kittery Premium Outlets is Maine’s go-to outlet strip for shopping big brands for a fraction, and it nails that satisfying “I...

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This Underground Texas River Cavern Was Once a Speakeasy and a Notorious Hideout

The temperature drops fast when you start down the stone steps at Longhorn Cavern, and so does the outside world. Within minutes, I was standing underground in the Texas Hill Country,...

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Tourists Ruined North Carolina Piers, Fishing Turns Into Railing Wars

Nothing tests your patience like a “relaxing” fishing pier that turns into a crowd sport. North Carolina piers can be perfect, with salty air, rolling waves, and that simple...

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This Oklahoma Rail Adventure Is A One-Of-A-Kind Journey Through History

Sometimes I think the best way to understand history is to get close enough to feel it move. That’s exactly what happens in McLoud, just east of Oklahoma City, where Locomotive...

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Get Lost In A Giant Illinois Antique Mall Where Deals Hide In Every Aisle

You walk in for “five minutes” and suddenly it is somehow lunch time. East State Street Antique Mall in Rockford is the kind of giant place that turns casual browsing into...

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Weird Tennessee Laws Visitors Often Hear About

Have you ever worried about breaking a rule without even knowing it? That’s a real possibility in Tennessee, where some of the laws still on the books are downright unusual....

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People Drive From All Over New Jersey To Squeeze Into This Hole-In-The-Wall Pizza Joint

I showed up at DeLucia's on a Wednesday morning thinking I'd beat the crowd, only to find eight people already in line before the doors even opened.

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8 Huge Indiana Thrift Stores Where You Can Stock a Cart for Just $25

I’ve spent countless weekends diving headfirst into Indiana’s thrift scene, and let me tell you, nothing beats the thrill of pushing a cart overflowing with goodies without...

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Key West, Florida Has A No-Feeding-Chickens Rule That Trips Up Visitors

Think those Key West chickens are cute until you realize feeding them can get you in trouble. Key West has a city rule that makes it unlawful to feed poultry, which catches a lot...

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Alaska’s Cliffside Train Ride That Makes You Forget Your Phone Exists

Do you ever look up and realize you have not checked your phone in twenty minutes? That is what Alaska does when the train hugs cliffs and the views start showing off.

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This Quirky Texas Town Feels Like A Movie Set With More Charm Than You’d Expect

Lockhart sits about thirty miles south of Austin, tucked into the rolling hills of Caldwell County, and I had no idea what I was walking into the first time I visited.

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West Virginia Waterfall Trails Get Tourist-Ruined By Shortcut Erosion And Mud Slides

Shortcut erosion is the fastest way to turn a pretty waterfall trail into a muddy mess. West Virginia waterfall hikes should feel like a reward, with shaded paths, cool air near...

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Oklahoma’s Once-Peaceful Lake Is Now Stirring Controversy

Dahlgren Lake used to be the kind of place I’d head when I wanted zero drama. Toss a line in, listen to the water, maybe chat with a couple of regulars who had been fishing there...

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Arkansas Has A Hotel That Fully Leans Into Being “America’s Most Haunted”

Think you can sleep through anything, even a hotel that brags about being haunted? Arkansas has a place that fully leans into that idea and dares you to book a room anyway.

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This North Carolina Town Takes On An Eerie Stillness At Night

Let me pitch you something a little different for our road trip: Bath, after sunset. The place gets so quiet that your footsteps...

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This Indiana Train Museum Hides Over 6,500 Railroad Treasures You Won’t Believe Exist

I remember the first time I heard about a museum in northern Indiana holding over 6,500 railroad artifacts under one roof. Growing up in the Hoosier State, I thought I knew every...

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Utah’s Crayfish Rule Is The Most Specific “Don’t Do That” Law You’ll Ever See

Some laws are broad, and then Utah hits you with a rule that feels like it was written after one very chaotic afternoon. Utah’s crayfish rule is famously specific, the kind of...

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Kentucky’s Most Forgettable Towns That Could Be Movie Backdrops

Ever drive through a small town and think, “This place looks like it belongs in a movie”? Kentucky has plenty of those...

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Montana’s Main Street Ghost Town Where Dozens Of Buildings Still Stand

Want a ghost town that still looks like it could reopen for business if someone flipped the lights on? Montana has main street ghost towns where dozens of buildings are still standing,...

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This Small Tennessee Town Vanished Under Norris Lake

You ever roll across Norris Lake in Tennessee and wonder what is underneath that glassy water? I keep thinking about Loyston, the town that sat right where the coves shimmer now....

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What Living Without Technology Means To The Amish In Pennsylvania

So if we take this road trip through Pennsylvania, I want to show you something that moves at a different pace and somehow feels steadier.

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This Oklahoma Dog-Friendly Hangout Is Where Patio Brunch Comes With A Side Of Tail Wags

I swear my dog has a sixth sense for when I’m about to leave for food. The second I grab my keys, there he is with those dramatic eyes, like I’ve personally betrayed him for...

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11 Unspoken Social Rules Visitors Often Miss In Utah

If you are heading through Utah, a few quiet social rules can make the whole trip smoother. Locals rarely spell them out,...

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13 Strange Minnesota Laws That Surprise First-Time Visitors

Minnesota looks friendly from the highway, but the rulebook has a few curveballs you won’t see coming. You think you’re...

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This Small Town Steakhouse In Virginia Is The Local Secret To The Best Hand-Cut Ribeye In The South

If you believe your town knows how to serve a truly unforgettable steak, get ready to have your mind changed. Nestled among the gentle rolling hills of Forest, Virginia, lies a...

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The Unexpected Italian Kitchen Inside An Arizona Gas Pump Stop

Ever pulled into a gas station expecting just snacks and soda, only to find real Italian food waiting inside? That’s exactly what happens at Brooklyn New York Pizza & Wings...

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This Is What Happened When Party Tourism Reached Wisconsin Cabins

You know how a quiet lake weekend in Wisconsin used to feel like pressing pause on the world? Then the group chats started filling cabins faster than the loons could finish a morning...

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The Oklahoma Escape That Looks Serene Until It Turns Into a Lord of the Flies Weekend

Lake Murray State Park sits pretty on 12,500 acres of Oklahoma wilderness, looking all peaceful and inviting in the brochures. But...

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12 Iconic Maryland Crab Feasts Every Crab Lover Should Try

Let’s map out a lazy Maryland road trip that smells like salt air and feels like summer on your hands. We will chase the places where tables wear brown paper and the conversation...

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The Eerie Maryland Fairground That Never Feels Fully Quiet

So here is the plan! Let’s swing by Glen Echo Park in Maryland at dusk, when it looks calm but somehow never sits still. You...

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How To Win Hearts In Massachusetts As A Tourist

What’s the best way to make locals warm up to you when you’re visiting a new place? In Massachusetts, it’s not just about seeing the sights; it’s about how you connect...

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This Scenic Oklahoma Mountain Retreat Is The Escape Your Bucket List’s Been Waiting For

You know that feeling when you stumble across a place that makes you question everything you thought you knew about a state? That's the Wichita Mountains for you.

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Mistaken Beliefs About Pennsylvania’s Amish Communities

Have you ever thought you “knew” the Amish, only to realize most of it came from TV or tourist brochures? That’s the tricky part, so many of us carry around half-true ideas...

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California’s Eerie Bridges And Their Secret Legends

Some places feel ordinary until you learn the stories behind them. California’s bridges are a perfect example; many look...

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What Amish Communities In Pennsylvania Think About Tourism

You can feel it the second you roll into Lancaster County. It is like the pace turns down a notch and the road asks you to listen a little more closely.

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This West Virginia Spot Is Serving Cornbread That Wins Hearts

What makes a simple slice of cornbread so unforgettable? At The Cider Press at 178 Pilgrim St, Inwood, WV 25428, the answer is clear the moment you take a bite.

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Lake It Or Not, This Oklahoma Town Is Making Waves As A Full-Blown Foodie Destination

Eufaula might be a small Oklahoma town with fewer than 3,000 residents, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in flavor. Sitting pretty on the shores of Lake Eufaula,...

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Arizona Canyons Feeling The Pressure From Social Media-Driven Tourism

You know that feeling when a place you love suddenly feels different, like the volume got turned up without anyone asking? That is how Arizona’s canyons have been lately, especially...

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This Ohio Road Is So Eerie Locals Avoid It At Night

You ever roll up to a road that already feels like it is watching you? That is Gore Orphanage Road in Ohio, the one locals mention with a look that says maybe do not.

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12 Colorado Hot Springs Rules That Catch Tourists Off Guard

You know how road trips sound easy until the tiny rules sneak up on you? Colorado hot springs are like that, mellow and magical, then suddenly you are reading signs you wish you...

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This Nebraska Water Park Keeps Finding Its Way Back

You know how some places refuse to leave the conversation, even when the buildings are gone? That is Peony Park in Omaha, the water soaked memory that keeps splashing back into...

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Why Oklahomans Treat Gas Stations Like Must-Visit Destinations

I used to think a gas station was just a quick pit stop. Pump the gas, grab a drink, get back on the road. That was it. Then...

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The Most Spectacular View Of Manhattan Is Actually From A Hidden Corner Of New Jersey

I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much when a friend first mentioned Castle Point Lookout to me. Another view of Manhattan,...

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Travel Through This Virginia District Where Luxury Brands Meet Historic Charm

Can Northern Virginia really give you both cutting-edge retail therapy and a time-traveling stroll through colonial America all in one trip? Absolutely.

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This Texas Restaurant Is So Good Locals Secretly Hope You Don’t Find It

Some meals feel like an event before you even sit down, and that is exactly how it felt pulling into Pickett House Restaurant at Heritage Village. The setting alone makes you pause...

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This Oklahoma Café Lets Dogs Enjoy the Spotlight While You Sip Coffee

You don't expect to see a dog curled up next to a leather couch in a strip mall coffee shop, and that is exactly why Nordaggio's Coffee stands out. I walked in for freshly roasted...

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This Is The Water Park In Florida That Time Erased

What happens to a place built for fun when the crowds disappear? In Florida, the answer lies at Six Flags Atlantis, once located at 3000 N 29th Ave, Hollywood, FL 33020.

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This New Jersey Dessert Spot Serves Towering Ice Cream Cones That Defy Gravity

I stumbled onto Crispy Cones in Edison by pure accident, and honestly, it was the best wrong turn I’ve made in years. Sitting...

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