My Family Travels | Latest Articles
Article
This Texas German Eatery Is Famous For Authentic Dishes And Longstanding Tradition

You walk in and it smells like butter, onions, and something roasting in the back. The menu is full of German words you cannot pronounce, but do not let that scare you.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Beloved North Carolina Shack Serves The Freshest Seafood With Nothing But A Pond In Front Of You

The building is not much. Wooden walls. A screen door that does not quite close. A handwritten menu on a whiteboard.

Read More    6 min read

Article
Swim Surrounded By Miles Of Forest At This Hidden Indiana Summer Oasis

There is something about driving deeper into the southern Indiana hills, watching the trees close in around the road, and knowing that something special is waiting at the end of...

Read More    7 min read

Article
7 Mom-And-Pop Spots In North Carolina That Will Ruin Chain Restaurants For You Forever

Chain restaurants have their place. Consistency. Predictability. A bathroom you can trust.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This 34-Acre Secret Forest In Indiana Is Home To Living Glacial Relics From The Ice Age

I will be honest with you. Most people driving through Warren County, Indiana have no idea that a small pocket of ancient forest is tucked just off the road near Williamsport.

Read More    7 min read

Article
10 Surprisingly Cool Indiana Day Trips Most People Still Haven’t Done

I'll be honest with you. I spent years thinking Indiana was just cornfields and interstate exits, and I almost missed some of the most jaw-dropping places I've ever visited.

Read More    9 min read

Article
This Hidden Virginia Trail Leads To A Wild Beach That Feels Frozen In Time

The path is narrow, shaded by trees, and easy to miss if you are not paying attention. That is the first clue that you have found something special.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Giant Salvage Store In Virginia Is A Treasure Hunter’s Paradise

Some people collect stamps. Others collect coins. The people who shop here collect things that most folks would throw away, old...

Read More    8 min read

Article
One Sip Of The Milkshakes At This Tiny Illinois Ice Cream Shop And You’ll Understand Why People Drive For Hours

Illinois has plenty of ice cream shops. Some are fine. Some are forgettable. This tiny spot is neither.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Remote Ohio Lake Has No Road Access And A Tragic Legend That Refuses To Fade

You cannot drive to this Ohio lake. No road leads to it. No parking lot nearby. You hike in through woods that feel older than...

Read More    7 min read

Article
9 Massive Flea Markets in Oregon Where $30 Goes a Lot Further Than You’d Expect

30$ does not buy much at a regular store these days. A tank of gas or two sandwiches and maybe a cheap shirt honestly. But...

Read More    8 min read

Article
11 Texas Places Where You Can Spend Hours Without Realizing It

You ever walk into a place just to spend a few minutes and then walk out hours later wondering where the day went? That happens all the time at these spots.

Read More    8 min read

Article
10 Arizona Restaurants Serving Carne Asada So Good, Locals Forget The Rest Of The Menu Even Exists

You walk into any of these Arizona restaurants and something happens. People who came in planning to order something else look at the carne asada and change their minds.

Read More    7 min read

Article
A 12-Mile Drive Leads To This Nevada Canyon Where Every Hike Ends At A Crystal Clear Lake

Nevada is not known for water. Desert. Dust. Dry heat. But drive 12 miles...

Read More    7 min read

Article
For One Week Every July, This Michigan Town Turns Into The Cherry Capital Of The World

Traverse City is a nice town most of the year. Wineries. Beaches. Quiet streets.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Hidden Oregon Cave Has A Giant Hole In The Ceiling That Pours Sunlight Down Like A Golden Spotlight From Heaven

The cave is dark and cold until you look up at the perfect moment. A giant hole in the ceiling pours sunlight down like a theater spotlight.

Read More    7 min read

Article
Michigan Is Low-Key The Best State For Summer Food Festivals And Here Are 7 To Prove It

Michigan does not brag enough. Other states shout about their food scenes. Texas. Louisiana.

Read More    6 min read

Article
These Coastal Forts In Florida Few Remember, Yet They Remain Open

Did you know Florida has old coastal forts that most people have forgotten about? They’re not the kind of places you see on postcards or flashy travel guides, but they’re still...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Tiny Texas Town Blends Route 66 Nostalgia With Irish Charm and Quirky Finds

You roll into a tiny Texas town and see a leprechaun crossing sign next to a vintage Route 66 gas station. That is your first clue this place is not like the others.

Read More    8 min read

Article
These 12 Signs Show Idaho’s Wilderness Isn’t The Same

Have you noticed how much Idaho’s wilderness has been changing lately? It’s still full of mountains, rivers, and wide-open spaces, but if you look closer, you’ll see signs...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Old-School Texas Tavern Has Been Serving Locals’ Favorite Bar Pie The Old-Fashioned Way

You slide into a worn wooden booth and the smell of bubbling cheese and crispy pepperoni hits you like a warm hug. The menu is short, because they only do one thing, and they do...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Why This Texas Diner Is The King Of The Highway Breakfast Game

Before the sun even thinks about showing up, the parking lot already has a row of trucks. That is how you know this place means business.

Read More    6 min read

Article
The 10 Most-Loved American Restaurants Across Oklahoma, According to Locals

You know that feeling when a local gives you a restaurant recommendation and their eyes go all dreamy? That is exactly what happened when we asked Oklahomans to name their absolute...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This West Virginia Lake Is Called The Little Bahamas Of The East For Its Crystal Clear Water And 60 Miles Of Shoreline

You don't need a passport to find Caribbean blue water in the mountains of West Virginia. This lake earned the nickname "Little...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Classic Indiana Summer Train Journey Features Open-Window Views Across Scenic Heartland Wetlands

There is something about a vintage steam locomotive that pulls at something deep inside you, especially when you grow up in Indiana and the sound of a train whistle feels like...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Massive Mid-Century Warehouse In Indiana Is Now An Industrial BBQ Smokehouse

There is something genuinely exciting about walking into a space that used to be a bustling department store and finding it transformed into a warm, community hub. This Indianapolis...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This High-Speed Indiana Forest Features A Technical Jump Park And Flowing Ravine Trails

There is something genuinely exciting about discovering a world-class mountain bike trail system right in the middle of South Bend, Indiana. This 160-acre woodland park hides a...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Outdoor Texas Museum Leads You Through the Lives of Cowboys and Native Americans

You walk outside and suddenly you are standing where real cattle drives once kicked up dust. This is not an indoor exhibit with glass cases, it is a whole outdoor museum that puts...

Read More    8 min read

Article
9 Secret Oklahoma Spots That Look Straight Out of Another Continent

You do not need a passport to feel like you have stepped onto foreign soil. These nine hidden corners of Oklahoma will have you checking your GPS and wondering if you took a wrong...

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Largest Independent Comic Book Store In Oregon Spans Two Floors Of Multi Room Paradise

I walked in for one comic book and left two hours later completely overwhelmed. The store spans two whole floors with rooms that twist into more surprise rooms.

Read More    7 min read

Article
Golden Garlic Naan, Steaming Momos, and Rich Curries Make This Oklahoma Spot Impossible to Forget

You might come for the golden garlic naan, but you will stay for absolutely everything else on the menu. This Oklahoma City gem serves up steaming momos, rich curries, and flatbread...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Oldest Boardwalk In America Stretches 5.5 Miles Along The New Jersey Shore And Has Been A Seaside Icon Since 1870

Let's take a stroll, shall we? This legendary New Jersey wooden walkway has been feeling salt spray under its planks since 1870. That...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Hampshire Museum Feels Like A Cabinet Of Curiosities Spanning Nearly Four Centuries

I have been to museums that tell one story very well, and I have been to museums that try to tell too many stories and end up feeling confused. This one in New Hampshire is something...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This National Register Historic Site In New Jersey Went From Drinking Water Source To Quiet Birdwatching Sanctuary

Once upon a time, this New Jersey landmark quenched the thirst of a growing city. Pipes and pumps did their duty for decades. But...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Underrated State Park In Maryland Deserves a Spot on Your Driving Route

You know that feeling when you have been driving for hours and just need to stretch your legs somewhere that is not a gas station? This park gets it.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Massachusetts Playground For Grown Ups Offers The Very Best Way To Reignite Your Inner Child

You dodge a beam of light, crawl through a narrow tunnel, and solve a riddle before a timer runs out. This is not a kids' birthday party.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Minnesota Couch You’re Allowed To Sit On 30 Feet Above A Swamp

A brown couch sits thirty feet above a swamp on a wooden platform. I climbed up there and plopped down like it was my own living room.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Quiet Oklahoma Lake Exists Because of a Campaign Promise, and Locals Love It That Way

A lake that only exists because a politician actually kept a promise? In Oklahoma, that alone is worth celebrating. This Oklahoma...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Roadside View Might Be One Of The Most Beautiful In New Hampshire

You do not always have to earn a view in New Hampshire by hiking for hours and sweating through your shirt, and this roadside overlook is proof of that. I pulled over without any...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Missouri Store Lets You Dig Through Giant Bins for Hidden Deals All Day

You will need some patience and a little bit of luck when you walk into this treasure hunt. A Missouri store has filled giant bins with who knows what, and they actually want you...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Historic Illinois Shop On Route 66 Holds A Treasure Trove Of Nostalgic Stories And Unique Finds

Have you ever pulled off a quiet stretch of Route 66 to find a giant pink elephant smiling at you from the side of the road? That is the unforgettable welcome at this historic...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Unassuming Ice Cream Shop In West Virginia Makes A Pineapple Upside Down That Steals The Show

You might drive right past this little blue roofed building if you are not paying attention. That would be a sweet mistake. This...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Cash-Only New Jersey Diner Has Been Serving Locals Since The Truman Administration

Step back in time at this charming New Jersey diner where the cash register only accepts paper money and the welcome mat has been out since the Truman Administration.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Connecticut Town’s Overloaded Lobster Roll Has the Whole State Divided

The argument starts before the first bite. A paper boat arrives at your picnic table piled high with knuckle and claw meat, no filler, no celery, just a mountain of fresh lobster...

Read More    7 min read

Article
8 Hidden Gem Steakhouses In Alabama Worth Going Out Of Your Way For

I have eaten a lot of steaks in a lot of places, but nothing humbles you quite like finding a truly great one in a small Alabama town you almost drove past. There is something...

Read More    7 min read

Article
How California’s Popularity Turned Into A Housing Pressure Point

You wonder why California feels like a dream and a headache at the same time? That is what it feels like right now, and you notice it in the most ordinary moments.

Read More    7 min read

Article
Do Not Expect To Enjoy Ordinary Ice Cream After One Visit To This Minnesota Custard Shop

My first bite of frozen custard ruined regular ice cream for me completely. It is creamier and denser and somehow richer than anything I have ever tasted before.

Read More    6 min read

Article
Swim Below A Cascading Waterfall At This Hidden New Hampshire Gem

I have been to a lot of waterfalls in New Hampshire that are beautiful to look at but off limits for swimming, which is fine for photos but not great for hot summer days when all...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Cozy New Hampshire Diner Serves Breakfast Locals Keep Coming Back For

There is a certain kind of diner that becomes part of a town's identity without anyone ever having to announce it officially, and I found one of those in New Hampshire last weekend....

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Small Pennsylvania Town Draws Visitors From Across The State With Antiques On Nearly Every Corner

A four mile stretch of highway lined with more than a dozen antique malls, hundreds of dealers, and a reputation that has earned it the official nickname "Antiques Capital of the...

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Affordable Breakfast At This Diner In Maryland Is So Good, It’s Worth Traveling For

You know that breakfast where you finish eating and immediately start planning when you can come back? This is that place. The...

Read More    7 min read

Article
These Florida Beach Towns Are Becoming Unaffordable For Locals

A place can feel like home until one day it suddenly feels priced out of reach. That shift is happening across Florida, and beach towns feel it first and hardest because demand...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Minnesota Cemetery Has A Grave Marker Carved Like A Pulled Tooth

I walked past a giant carved tooth sitting on top of a grave today. My first thought was whether a dentist is buried underneath that unusual monument actually.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Minnesota Bowling Alley That Turns Into A Burlesque Theater After 10 PM

I bowled a strike at eight o'clock and watched tassels spin at ten. The same lanes that held my rental shoes hosted a burlesque performer later.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Local Oklahoma Market Feels More Like a Community Hangout Than a Grocery Store

You might walk into this Oklahoma market just for a carton of eggs, but you will almost certainly leave after swapping gardening tips with the cashier and sampling three kinds...

Read More    7 min read

Article
You’d Never Expect Gumbo This Delicious at a No-Frills Missouri Restaurant

You might drive right past this unassuming Missouri spot if you blink too fast. But that would be a serious mistake, because inside those no frills walls in St. Peters, some of...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Magnificent State Park In Arkansas That Is Ideal For Spectacular Waterfall Day Trips

A waterfall that plunges 95 feet into a lush canyon, a massive natural bridge carved by ancient seas, and a mountaintop lodge with a view that stretches for miles. That is the...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Lazy River Float Through West Virginia History Is The Ultimate Warm Weather Getaway

Here is the summer plan you have been dreaming about. Grab a tube, find a buddy, and let the gentle currents of the Shenandoah River do all the hard work.

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Best Shakshuka In New Jersey Is Hiding Inside This Kosher Cafe

Don't let the simple kosher cafe vibe fool you. Inside this unassuming New Jersey spot, a truly excellent shakshuka is waiting. Eggs...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This West Virginia Town Is A Living Monument To Coal Miners’ Courage And Appalachian Resilience

Some towns just feel different. You walk the quiet streets and swear the walls could talk. This West Virginia town witnessed...

Read More    7 min read