My Family Travels | Latest Articles
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These Texas Cities Make Exploring Easy Whether You Have Kids or Not

Texas is a land of endless horizons, where sprawling deserts meet vibrant cities and historic sites blend seamlessly with cutting-edge attractions.

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10 Oregon Restaurants Locals Secretly Drive Way Too Far For

Oregon's culinary landscape stretches far beyond Portland's bustling food carts and trendy downtown eateries. Scattered across...

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This Isolated Oklahoma Panhandle Town Feels Like a World Apart From the Rest of the State

Far from the rolling green hills and dense forests most people picture when they think of Oklahoma, Boise City sits in the state's narrow Panhandle, where the landscape stretches...

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Hidden Buffet Spots Across Oklahoma You’d Never Find Without Locals

Oklahoma might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of buffets, but this state has some of the most surprising all-you-can-eat treasures tucked away in unexpected...

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The Beloved New Jersey Park Locals Wish Tourists Would Stop Crowding

Set amid the scenic hills of Morris County lies a natural treasure locals have cherished for generations. Hacklebarney State Park in Long Valley, New Jersey, spans 1,200 acres...

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A 17-Foot Super Bug Sculpture Stands Proudly in This Indiana Downtown

Standing tall at 17 feet, the KokoMantis is one of Indiana's most unusual and beloved roadside attractions. This massive praying mantis sculpture has become a symbol of Kokomo,...

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Things Every Visitor Should Know Before Traveling to Texas

Texas stretches across 268,596 square miles of diverse terrain, from the piney woods of East Texas to the desert landscapes of West Texas, creating a land so vast it could swallow...

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A Farm-To-Table Restaurant In Virginia Locals Say Highlights Local Flavors

Tucked away on South Coalter Street in the heart of Staunton, Virginia, The Shack has quietly become one of the most talked about dining spots in the state.

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Texas Towns Locals Say Outsiders Romanticize Too Much

Texas has long captured the imagination of travelers with its wide-open spaces, cowboy culture, and small-town charm. Visitors flock to quaint communities hoping to experience...

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9 Trips in Oregon Where Locals Eat, Explore, and Relax

Oregon offers a rare mix of rugged coastlines, towering mountains, and hidden valleys that few travelers truly get to experience. While...

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These 9 Unassuming Places in Oregon Deserve More Local Love

Oregon holds secrets that even lifelong residents sometimes miss. Beyond the famous waterfalls and coastline attractions, tucked into the corners of this diverse state, lie places...

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These Oklahoma Places Locals Say Beat the State’s Biggest Attractions

Oklahoma often gets pigeonholed as a place to visit the National Cowboy Museum or catch a Thunder game, but locals know the real magic lies beyond the usual tourist trail.

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These Oklahoma Small Towns Quietly Outperform Big Cities on Food

Oklahoma's culinary landscape stretches far beyond the bustling streets of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, reaching into quiet corners where small towns have perfected the art of feeding...

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The Relaxing New Jersey City That Turns Weekend Drives Into Mini Vacations

Sitting along the Delaware River in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Lambertville is a charming little city that feels like stepping into a storybook. With a population hovering around...

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7 Indiana Towns Where Amish Life Is Part of the Everyday Scene

Indiana's countryside is home to one of the largest Amish populations in the United States, and the presence of this traditional community shapes the character of many small towns...

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Locals Say This Virginia Diner Still Feels Like Old-School Americana

Virginia Beach has a secret that locals love to share with anyone willing to listen. Pop's Diner Co. sits on Phoenix Drive, serving up breakfast classics that remind everyone of...

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This Texas Hotel Refuses to Modernize (and That’s the Whole Point)

Standing tall at 200 E 3rd St in Big Spring, Texas, Hotel Settles is a living time capsule that opened its doors in 1930 and refuses to bow to modern trends.

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These Texas Cafés Locals Treat Like a Second Home

Texas has always been a place where community matters, and nowhere is that spirit more alive than in the local cafés scattered across the state.

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These 9 Oregon Buffets Locals Always Recommend Despite the Look

Oregon has never been known for glitz and glamour when it comes to dining, but that's part of the charm. Tucked into strip...

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This Little-Known Part of Oklahoma Shows a Side of the State Few Expect

Most people picture Oklahoma as flat prairie stretching endlessly under wide skies, but tucked away in the southeastern corner lies a landscape that flips that image completely....

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This Oklahoma Buffet Thrives Without Ever Advertising

Tucked into a strip mall along South Memorial Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Nelson's Buffeteria has been serving up honest, hearty comfort food since 1929. This family-run institution...

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The Huge New Jersey Farmers Market That Has Locals Buzzing Week After Week

The Columbus Farmers Market at 2919 US-206 is not your average produce stand or weekend bazaar. It's a massive indoor-outdoor wonderland where Amish baked goods, farm-fresh produce,...

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7 Indiana Towns That Nail the Perfect Balance Between Nature and Nightlife

Indiana might not be the first state that comes to mind when you think of vibrant nightlife mixed with outdoor adventure, but it should be.

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A Cozy Virginia Café Locals Love For Breakfast And Slow Mornings

Charlottesville, Virginia, is home to countless charming spots, but few capture the heart quite like The Blue Cow Ice Cream & Coffee. This cozy café has become a beloved destination...

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This Texas Amish Community Lives a Life Most Outsiders Never See

Deep in the heart of South Texas, where mesquite trees dot the rolling plains and the horizon stretches endlessly, lies a community that seems frozen in time.

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These 9 Small Oregon Museums Locals Actually Enjoy

Oregon hides some of the most fascinating and unusual museums you've probably never heard of, tucked away in small towns and unexpected corners of the state.

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These 9 Oregon Towns Are Surprisingly Good for Food Alone

Oregon's culinary landscape extends far beyond the bustling streets of Portland, where hidden food towns dot the state from coast to mountains, each offering flavors as diverse...

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This Oklahoma Drive Makes You Forget You’re Still in One State

Oklahoma stretches across landscapes so varied that a single drive can transport you through multiple worlds without ever crossing a state line. Rolling prairies give way to rugged...

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The Overlooked New Jersey Town That’s Basically A Real-Life Postcard

Tucked away at the very tip of New Jersey's coastline sits a charming seaside gem that feels like it stepped straight out of a storybook. Cape May, New Jersey, is a place where...

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7 Indiana Restaurants Known for Comfort Food Done the Old Way

Indiana's comfort food scene carries a special kind of magic that can't be rushed or replicated. Across the state, family-run...

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Locals Say This Is One Of The Best Fine Dining Experiences In Virginia

Tucked away in the rolling hills of Virginia, The Inn at Little Washington has earned a reputation as one of the finest culinary destinations in the entire country. This elegant...

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The Texas Town Has More Bars Than Grocery Stores

Tucked into the rolling hills of Texas Hill Country, Fredericksburg stands out as one of the state's most charming small towns. This...

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This Texas Ghost Hotel Locals Say You Should Never Stay In

Towering over the quiet streets of Mineral Wells, Texas, stands a 14-story monument to a bygone era. The Baker Hotel, once...

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10 Oregon Towns Locals Keep Recommending Even Though They Don’t Look Special

Oregon doesn't always show its best side at first glance. Some of the state's most beloved towns look like simple dots on the map, easy to miss if you're speeding toward Portland...

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This Oklahoma Diner Never Chases Attention but Always Draws a Crowd

Vinita sits quietly in northeastern Oklahoma, where the prairie stretches wide and the pace of life moves at its own rhythm. This is a town shaped by travelers, shaped by the iconic...

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Mom-And-Pop Restaurants In New Jersey Locals Either Swear By Or Side-Eye

New Jersey is packed with small, family-owned restaurants that have been serving up food for decades, each with its own loyal fanbase and a few skeptics. These mom-and-pop spots...

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7 Indiana Amish-Country Restaurants Worth Planning a Day Trip Around

Northern Indiana holds a special place in the hearts of food lovers who crave hearty, homestyle cooking and genuine hospitality. The Amish communities scattered throughout this...

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A Mountain Outlook In Virginia Locals Say Offers The Most Iconic Appalachian Views

Perched high in the Virginia mountains, McAfee Knob stands as one of the most photographed spots along the entire Appalachian Trail.

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An Indiana Restaurant Where Comfort Food Still Sets the Tone

Nestled in the heart of Amish country, Blue Gate Restaurant in Shipshewana, Indiana has become a beloved destination for anyone craving hearty, homestyle meals. This family-owned...

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Texas Locals Say This Overlooked Buffet Deserves Way More Respect

Tucked along Jacksboro Highway in Fort Worth, Pancho's Mexican Buffet stands as a colorful reminder of a bygone era when all-you-can-eat Mexican restaurants ruled the dining scene...

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9 Unassuming Oregon Towns Locals Are Quietly Obsessed With

Oregon hides some of its best secrets in plain sight. While visitors flock to Portland's food carts or Crater Lake's famous blue waters, locals have their own list of favorite...

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This Hidden Canyon System in Oklahoma Should Be on Every Travel List but Somehow Isn’t

Tucked into the forested hills of southeastern Oklahoma near Wilburton, the Coon Creek Canyon System at Robbers Cave State Park remains one of the region's most underappreciated...

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The Crispiest Fried Shrimp In New Jersey Is Served At This Humble Buffet Spot

Tucked away in a bustling shopping plaza along Route 10 in East Hanover, New Jersey, sits a buffet restaurant that has quietly earned a reputation for serving some of the crispiest,...

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Why Shipshewana, Indiana Still Feels Like the Heart of Amish Country

Tucked away in northeastern Indiana, Shipshewana is a small town that feels like stepping back in time. Horse-drawn buggies clip-clop down the streets, handmade quilts hang from...

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A Park In Virginia Where Locals Love To Watch Wildlife And Enjoy Quiet Trails

Tucked away in Alexandria, Virginia, Huntley Meadows Park offers a peaceful escape from the busy streets that surround it. This wetland sanctuary covers over 1,500 acres and provides...

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This Texas Town Has a Reputation Locals Don’t Try to Fix

Odessa sits in the heart of West Texas, a place where oil derricks punctuate endless skies and desert winds carry stories of boom-and-bust cycles.

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These 10 Places in Oregon Look Forgettable on the Map – Locals Know Better

Oregon doesn't always show its best cards at first glance. Sprawled across diverse terrain from coast to high desert, this state harbors countless spots that barely register as...

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This Oklahoma Town Exists Almost Entirely Because of One Landmark

Arcadia sits along historic Route 66 in central Oklahoma, a town that would barely register on most maps if not for one towering attraction. The giant soda bottle rising 66 feet...

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The Legendary Steakhouse In New Jersey Locals Swear Has The State’s Best Ribeye

Tucked away on Main Street in Little Falls, New Jersey, sits a steakhouse that has earned legendary status among locals and visitors alike. Rare The Steak House at 440 Main St...

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7 Towns in Indiana Known for Small Festivals That Take Over the Whole Place

Indiana might be famous for its big-city attractions and racing heritage, but some of its greatest treasures are tucked away in small towns where festivals bring entire communities...

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