My Family Travels | Latest Articles
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Pennsylvania Flower Business Run by Its Fifth Generation Opens a New Shop Nearly 100 Years After Its Founding

Nearly a century after its founding, a family flower business has opened a new storefront while remaining in the hands of its fifth generation. What began as a landscaping operation...

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Everyone Who Grew Up In Virginia In The 1990s Will Remember Places Like These

Video rental stores, crowded mall food courts, and the unmistakable sound of arcade machines could make an ordinary Saturday feel like a major event. Growing up during the 1990s...

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This Virginia Vintage Furniture Store Is A Treasure Hunt For Mid-Century Pieces And Unique Home Décor

Mid-century chairs, vintage cabinets, and unusual decorative pieces can make furniture shopping feel like a treasure hunt. Especially when every item has its own character and...

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Korean Immigrant Opened a California Home Goods Store in 1979, and His Grandson Is Still Carrying It Forward

Kimchi refrigerators, rice cookers, and thick Korean blankets fill a two-story home goods store that has served families for nearly five decades. Its founder arrived from Korea...

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Scrooge And Santas From Around The World Hand Out Free Trading Cards Along This Missouri Main Street

Ebenezer Scrooge will hand you a free trading card, but you might have to answer a trivia question first. Good luck charming a man who famously said bah humbug.

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Ohio Family Bakery Turned to Its Community After a Freezer Failure Threatened Its Business

When a commercial freezer suddenly failed at a family bakery, years of hard work were put under unexpected financial pressure. The business depended on keeping handmade pies and...

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A German Christmas Market With Holiday Baked Treats Will Fill This Minnesota City In December

Freshly roasted chestnuts and sweet German dumplings called Germknödel show up at this holiday market. Both treats bring traditional European holiday flavors to this Minnesota...

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Pennsylvania Family Grocery Store Is Fighting to Survive After More Than 70 Years in Business

For more than 70 years, a small-town grocery store has served generations of Pennsylvania families. Today, its owners are working to keep that tradition alive as thinning shelves...

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Quilters Travel Miles to Browse the Fabrics Inside This Charming Indiana Barn

More than 3,000 bolts of quilt fabric fill the upper floor of a restored white barn. That is a lot of fabric. I'd have a hard...

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These 6 Vintage West Virginia Bowling Alleys Look Exactly Like They Did Decades Ago

Real wooden lanes are getting rare, and one alley on this list still runs 24 of them. Most modern centers switched to synthetic surfaces long ago.

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This Indiana Hometown Restaurant Has a Smorgasbord With Steakhouse Favorites and Comfort Food

A working water wheel turns inside one of the dining rooms. Yes, indoors, in an Indiana restaurant, right next to the fried chicken.

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This Indiana Garden Center Is So Beautiful You’ll Want to Redo Your Entire Backyard

Ten acres. That's how much room one family-run garden center gives its plants, and much of it is working greenhouse space. The...

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A Missouri Highway Stop Sells Homemade Fudge And The Candy You Remember From Childhood

Cotton candy fudge. Birthday cake fudge. A flavor named after a college mascot, made fresh every single day right off the interstate.

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Pennsylvania Family Took Over a Historic Drive-In Theater Just as Its Previous Owners Prepared to Retire

Few things feel more nostalgic than watching a movie through your windshield while the soundtrack plays on your car radio. At one Pennsylvania drive-in, that experience nearly...

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We Ranked The Most Nostalgic Places In Texas And Here’s Who Made The Cut

One Texas drive-in still uses the same site and outdoor screen that welcomed moviegoers in 1952. You park beneath the stars, tune in for the film, and realize how little a good...

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South Carolina Town Named a Street After a Greek Immigrant Who Helped Build Its Beloved Family Restaurant

Few family restaurants ever become important enough to have a street named in honor of someone who helped build them. Yet that is exactly what happened in South Carolina, where...

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This West Virginia Car-Hop Stand Still Brings Hot Dogs And Thick Shakes Right To Your Window

A server will carry a chili dog and a peanut butter milkshake straight to your car door here, just like the old days. The milkshake menu alone runs to several dozen flavors, so...

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Oregon Is Packed With Italian Restaurants but This Hidden Gem Deserves Your Attention

An imported Italian wood-fired oven turns out blistered pizzas on a busy Portland street, while the kitchen serves regional specialties that go far beyond typical Italian-American...

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We Ranked The Best Seafood Restaurants In West Virginia And Here’s Who Made The Cut

One seafood spot on my list sells fish by the pound in a market case, then fries it up for your lunch a few feet away. In a state hundreds of miles from any ocean, that still makes...

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The Rotisserie Chicken at This Texas Colombian Spot Keeps People Coming Back

Whole chickens turn over a charcoal fire in a rotisserie oven that doubles as the main attraction. At this Texas Colombian restaurant, you can order a quarter, half, or entire...

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This Old-School West Virginia Roller Rink Is Keeping The Disco Era Alive

The carpet at this roller rink has roller skates and inline blades woven right into its pattern. That one detail tells you almost everything about the mood here.

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Only People Who Grew Up In West Virginia Will Remember These Childhood Traditions

A coal miner's lunch from the 1920s still shows up in West Virginia lunchboxes today. It's a soft roll with pepperoni baked inside, and it may be the most famous snack the state...

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This Beautiful Texas Forest Is So Vast You Could Spend Days Exploring And Barely Scratch The Surface

Some creek crossings on this forest trail have no bridges at all. The route winds through rolling woods between two major reservoirs, past roots and leafy bends.

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Walking Into This West Virginia Five-And-Dime Feels Like Stepping Into Your Childhood

A wall of bulk candy runs from the floor to the ceiling. The shop holding it has been selling sweets and small treasures since 1908.

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This Texas Restaurant’s Grouper Sandwich Is Unforgettable

The bun is baked in-house, the grouper is pan-fried, and the toppings are just pickles and tartar sauce. No elaborate stack of ingredients stands between you and the fish.

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An Easy Paved Loop Leads Past Towering Trees And An Old Picnic Pavilion At This Missouri Park

A city park once had its own zoo, and the animals packed up and moved across town in 1923. That alone made me want to know more about this place.

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An Italian Restaurant In New Jersey Is Transforming Into A Grinch-Themed Holiday Experience With Whoville Characters

A green, grumpy guy is taking over an Italian dining room, and he's bringing Cindy Lou Who along. Yep, the whole room and lounge turn into a Grinchy lair for the holidays.

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This West Virginia Candy Shop Is Stocked With Treats You Probably Haven’t Seen Since You Were A Kid

Somewhere in West Virginia, a candy shop sells candy canes that taste like chicken noodle soup, and yes, they're real. They sit just a few steps away from Turkish delight and bins...

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Millions Of Christmas Lights Surround A Magical Train Ride At This New Jersey Family Attraction

Millions of Christmas lights. One little train. A bowling game thrown in for free. Yeah, I'm definitely looking twice at that.

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This Indiana Chinese Buffet Proves You Don’t Need a Big City to Find Great Asian Food

A small-town Chinese restaurant in northern Indiana pours bubble tea next to Panang curry and crab rangoon. That combo alone got my attention.

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This Indiana Resale Store Has Everything From Refurbished Furniture to Vintage Treasures, Plus Fresh Coffee

Mystery boxes, refinished furniture, lavender lotion, and a little café menu all share one roof in a small Indiana town. That combination alone made me sit up and start planning...

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Bring A Cooler To This Missouri Butcher Shop If You Plan To Shop The Weekly Meat Specials

More than 20 flavors of homemade brats sit in one meat case, and some of them include blueberry and Philly cheese steak. That alone made me stop and stare at my screen.

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9 Texas Holiday Markets Worth Visiting Before The Christmas Shopping Rush Begins

An ornament bought at one holiday market helps support a ballet company. Another has German decorations inspired by the Black Forest, with festive snowfall planned almost daily.

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This Amish-Style All-You-Can-Eat Oklahoma Restaurant Is Worth Driving Hours To Experience

Every table here can come with its own little room, closed off by pocket doors. No booming dining hall, and no stranger's birthday song echoing over your spaghetti.

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This Longtime Oregon Saloon Serves Scratch Made Comfort Food And Has Four Pool Tables

Crispy chicken tenders and seasoned JoJos are among the comfort food favorites at this longtime Oregon saloon. I believe that kind of reputation gets earned one crispy, golden...

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A Little Taste Of Paris Is Hiding At This New Jersey Bakery Where Everything Is Made From Scratch

No shortenings, no substitutes, and no preservatives. That's the promise behind every cake and pastry at this little French-style bakery, and I love how stubborn it sounds.

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This Maryland Library Has 300,000 Books and Five Levels of Balconies That Look Like a Palace

Ornate cast-iron balconies rise around a black-and-white marble floor, reaching toward a glass skylight overhead. Shelves of books line every level, giving this Maryland library...

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Oregon Has A 130 Foot Public Elevator That’s Actually Classified As A City Street

A city street runs vertically through a 130-foot elevator tower, carrying passengers roughly 90 feet up a cliff in just 15 seconds. That's real, and it's free to ride.

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This Oklahoma Mennonite-Style Country Store Is Packed With Bulk Foods And Homemade Goods

A sheep farm in Oklahoma spins wool from its own flock into yarn, then sells it right next to homemade fudge and jars of jam. That combo alone got my attention.

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8 New Hampshire Holiday Markets Worth Visiting Before The Christmas Shopping Rush Begins

Handmade ornaments, fresh holiday treats, and tables covered with gifts you won't find in every department store? That's a much more enjoyable way to tackle Christmas shopping...

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We Ranked The Most Nostalgic Places In New Hampshire And Here’s Who Made The Cut

Old-fashioned diners, vintage storefronts, and attractions that still feel wonderfully familiar can bring back memories you didn't even realize you missed. Sometimes a single neon...

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This West Virginia Breakfast Buffet Has Become The Place To Be On Sunday Mornings

The doors swing open at 8 AM on Sunday, a full two and a half hours before they do on any weekday. That early start belongs to the weekend breakfast buffet, and it changes the...

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This New Jersey Restaurant Is Giving Thanksgiving A Delicious Italian Makeover With Holiday Specials And Classic Favorites

Turkey and Italian seafood pasta on the same Thanksgiving table? That combo is real, and I can't stop thinking about it. One...

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Pennsylvania Mall Now Has a 100,000-Square-Foot Netflix World Where Visitors Can Step Inside Their Favorite Shows

Imagine walking into a shopping mall and finding more than 100,000 square feet devoted to bringing your favorite television shows to life. Inside this Pennsylvania attraction,...

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An Oregon Waterfront Restaurant Lets You Watch Sea Lions While Enjoying Fresh Coastal Seafood

A colony of barking California sea lions lounges right below the dining room windows. They don't care about your reservation. They just keep barking.

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This New Hampshire Art Museum Holds More Than 74,000 Treasures And Lets Everyone Explore For Free

More than 74,000 works of art in a museum that doesn't charge admission? That's an impressive collection to explore without spending a dollar, especially when the pieces represent...

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The Breakfast at This Maryland Diner Comes With More Than 70 Years of History and an Unexpected Backstory

Today's breakfast orders pass through a kitchen where workers once patched flat tires. The building previously held a gas station and electrical shop, so the change from grease-stained...

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A Famous New York Café Brought Its Breakfast Favorites To New Jersey, Including A Taylor Ham Sandwich

A Manhattan café crossed the Hudson and immediately said Taylor Ham. Not pork roll. That one word choice tells you this spot...

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California Desert Town Has a New Sci-Fi Attraction That Feels Like Stepping Into Another Planet

Vintage arcade machines from the 1970s and early 1980s fill an ordinary-looking storefront, but the real surprise waits farther inside. Behind the retro games is a sci-fi escape...

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An Abandoned Minnesota Iron Mine Is Now A Stunning Outdoor Park With 38 Miles Of Trails

The water in these old mine pits is hundreds of feet deep, and it shines a startling shade of blue. Right above it, mountain bikers zip along trails carved through red rock and...

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This Oklahoma Pizzeria Is So Good You’ll Want To Drive And Try It

A college tuition bill helped launch one of the best pizza stops in Oklahoma. A family turned their Saturday night pizza habit into a food truck back in 2013.

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7 West Virginia Holiday Markets Worth Visiting Before The Christmas Shopping Rush Begins

One of the shopping spots on this list started life as a train depot, and now it sells Christmas ornaments instead of tickets. Another sits inside a market district that dates...

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New Jersey’s Tallest Lighthouse Still Has Its Original 1850s Lens And Rewards Visitors With Sweeping Views

A glass lens weighing about 12,800 pounds still sits at the top of this tower, right where it was placed in the 1850s. It was made in Paris.

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15 Things Every West Virginian Who Grew Up In The ’70s And ’80s Will Remember

A roadside stop in this state has had a Volkswagen Beetle crashed into its wall since the 1970s. Inside, the claim is that the laws of gravity simply quit working.

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Ohio’s Oldest Surviving Municipal Market House Still Welcomes Shoppers After More Than 170 Years

Fresh food has been sold beneath the iron framework of this Ohio market house since 1855, long before modern supermarkets became part of everyday life. More than 170 years later,...

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An Oregon Town Of Just A Few Dozen Residents Is So Dark You Can See The Milky Way From Main Street

A town of just 37 people deliberately removed unnecessary streetlights and replaced others with dark-sky-friendly fixtures. Then it handed out special outdoor bulbs so the stars...

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This Beloved Mountain Town Was Named The Poorest City In Virginia, But Locals Say It Is Rich In Charm

A community can struggle economically and still have plenty of reasons for residents to feel proud of their hometown. That's an important distinction when a small mountain town...

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We Ranked The Most Nostalgic Places In Virginia And Here’s Who Made The Cut

Old-fashioned diners, vintage attractions, and shops that seem untouched by modern trends can bring back memories you didn't even realize you missed. Sometimes a familiar sign...

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12 New Jersey Restaurants That Go All Out With Christmas Decorations

One restaurant closes its doors for two full days every year just to hang its Christmas decorations. Two days! I love that kind...

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This Maryland Saddlery Is a Wonderland for Riders and Horse Lovers Alike

A saddle can leave this Maryland shop for a trial before its rider decides to buy it. That's useful when the selection includes more than 200 saddles, with used dressage and jumping...

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