My Family Travels | Latest Articles
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Take This Picturesque Maryland Train Ride for the Ultimate Relaxing Spring Escape

Spring is basically a permission slip to move slower and stare out a window. This train ride leans hard into that energy. You...

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The Wedding Fair In The Park In Belmont, California Has Everything You Need For Your Big Day

Planning a wedding is exhausting. Venues. Caterers. Photographers. Florists....

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The World Renowned Oregon Peony Garden With Over 500 Varieties Is Finally Back Open

Peonies are not subtle flowers. They are loud, ruffled, and completely extra. That is why we love them. Now imagine over five...

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This Immersive Arizona Theme Park Lets You Experience The Wild West

If you want a day that feels like walking straight into an old Western, Old Tucson Studios is the move. The place sits on the edge of Saguaro National Park near Tucson, with dusty...

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The Minnesota Narnia Trail Hiding Inside A Wildflower Garden With 600 Plant Species

No wardrobe needed for this Narnia adventure at all. You just walk through a simple gate and everything changes suddenly. The...

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Classic Hot Links and Smoked Sausage Keep This Oklahoma Meat Market Packed With Locals

I have found that the most reliable sign of a great food spot is a parking lot full of work trucks on a Tuesday morning. I...

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This Tiny Missouri Burger Spot Is a Late-Night Legend for Greasy-Griddle Cheeseburgers and Fast, No-Frills Service

There is a specific kind of magic that only happens at a lunch counter in Missouri after the sun goes down. I recently found myself perched on a stool at a tiny spot where the...

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These Eerie California Restaurants Are Serving Spooky Flavor And Fun

Do you like your dinner with a side of ghost stories? California has plenty of restaurants where the food is delicious, but the atmosphere comes with a spooky twist. These spots...

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10 Peaceful Mountain Towns In West Virginia That’ll Make You Want To Slow Down And Stay

Let's be honest. Most travel lists shout "Go go go!" This one whispers "Stay a while." These West Virginia mountain towns...

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11 Highest Rated Seafood Restaurants Across New Jersey Worth Visiting This Spring

Spring in New Jersey means one thing. Seafood season is back. The crabs are getting picked, the oyster shuckers are stretching...

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This No-Frills Restaurant In West Virginia Serves Seafood So Good, It’s Worth The Drive

West Virginia doesn't have an ocean. But this Huntington spot on the Ohio River proves it doesn't need one. No fancy dining...

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These Are The Ways Popularity Changed Delaware’s Once Quiet Beaches

Remember when Delaware beaches felt like a hidden reward, calm and quiet no matter when you showed up? That easy feeling has shifted as word got out and the beaches stepped into...

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Locals Swear By This Quirky Alabama Eatery With Unbelievably Good Food

I’ve driven past countless restaurants claiming to offer something special, but there’s something genuinely different about this whimsical café tucked into the hills of northeast...

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Taste Real Swiss Fondue And Rösti In New Glarus Wisconsin Without Leaving America

Wisconsin is known for cheese curds and brats. But in New Glarus, it is all about Switzerland. The town was founded by Swiss...

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These 12 Forgotten Illinois Parks Belong To Nature Again

Have you ever stumbled across a park that feels like time just left it behind? Illinois has quite a few of those hidden spots, and the cool part is that nature has taken over again....

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This Minnesota Mom-And-Pop Diner Makes Homemade Pies So Good You Will Never Forget Them

Some diners have a neon sign that screams for attention. This one has a quiet parking lot full of out of state license plates instead.

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This New Hampshire Market Feels Like A Quick Trip To An Italian Village

I have never been to an Italian village, but I imagine it smells something like this place in New Hampshire does, with fresh bread and aged cheese and tomatoes that actually taste...

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Why More Retirees Are Rethinking Life Along California’s Coast

Have you ever wondered what makes retirees trade bustling streets for quieter corners of the coast? Lately, more people are rethinking life along California’s shoreline, drawn...

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Why Cruise Crowds Are Testing New York’s Waterfront Neighborhoods

Here is what I keep noticing when we talk about cruising into New York and wandering the waterfront: everything feels calm until a ship docks, and then the streets flip like a...

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The Highest Natural Point On The New Jersey Coast Offers Stunning Ocean Views

At just 266 feet, this New Jersey spot barely qualifies as a hill. But location is everything. It sits on the highest natural...

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This Laid-Back Maryland BBQ Joint Serves Loaded Smokehouse Plates That Almost Don’t Fit on the Tray

You know you are in the right place when they hand you a tray and you immediately question its size. The meat is piled so high that you have to walk slowly like a waiter carrying...

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This Little-Known Oregon Escape Is Full of Charm and Crystal-Clear Water

You have to work to get here. That is the first warning. The road is bumpy, the directions are vague, and your phone will lose...

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You Haven’t Had Mexican Street Food Until You’ve Been To Taste Of Jalisco Festival In Cathedral City, California

I thought I knew Mexican street food. Tacos from a truck. Elote from a cart. The usual suspects.

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These New York Inns Are Offering Fairytale Comfort

Ever wished you could escape the noise of the city and step into a place that feels like it was made just for relaxing? That’s exactly what many of New York’s inns offer.

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This Rural Oklahoma Town Moves Around Community Gatherings, Seasonal Traditions, and a Pace Travelers Rarely See

Most people blow past this Oklahoma community on their way somewhere else, and that is honestly their loss. This small town of roughly 2,000 people sits in Mayes County, about...

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People Drive for Miles to This Middle-of-Nowhere Missouri Spot for Mouth-Watering Steaks

I used to think that the best steakhouses were always tucked away in the middle of a city, but this Missouri spot proved me completely wrong.

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These Are The New York Amusement Parks That Tourism Reshaped

Looking for a fun way to see how tourism has changed New York over the years? Amusement parks are the perfect example. Some of them grew into big attractions thanks to crowds of...

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The New Jersey Diner With The Neon Blue Sign Has Been Serving Fluffy Pancakes And Golden Home Fries Since 1935

Some signs just stop you cold. A big neon blue glow on a New Jersey corner, promising something warm and buttery inside. That...

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This Hidden Indiana Preserve Is A Wide-Open Sand Prairie Unlike Anything Else In The State

I never expected to find a landscape like this tucked into northwest Indiana. This state nature preserve feels like stepping into another world, where wide-open sand prairies stretch...

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Lincoln, Rhode Island Gives You Green Living And Hospital Access Without Massachusetts Price Tags

Rhode Island does not usually win the affordability contest. Not with Massachusetts right next door sucking up all the attention and the tax dollars.

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This Indiana Sanctuary Lets You Snuggle Rescued Pigs and Hear Their Heartwarming Stories

I never thought I’d find myself planning a day trip just to hug a pig, but here we are. This small farm sanctuary in western Indiana has a way of changing how you see animals,...

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These Natural Treasures Across Michigan Are Worth Exploring Slowly

This plan centers on slowing down in Michigan and letting the landscape decide how the day unfolds. There is no rush between viewpoints and no checklist to chase, just time to...

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This New Hampshire Drive-In Still Delivers A Truly Classic Summer Night

There is something about a drive-in movie theater that feels like summer should always feel, with the windows rolled down and the sound of the film crackling through your car speakers...

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These Everyday Hawaii Lifestyle Habits Support Long-Term Wellness

What if feeling better did not come from doing more, but from living differently? In Hawaii, long term wellness shows up in everyday habits that feel natural rather than forced.

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This Virginia Island Town Has Locals Saying The Tourist Crowds Changed Everything

There is a sadness that comes with watching a quiet place get discovered. The locals feel it first, the slow creep of traffic, the new hotels, the restaurants that used to know...

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This Historic Missouri Town Feels Frozen in Time Like a Real-Life Storybook

I recently spent a weekend in a corner of Missouri that honestly made me feel like I’d accidentally walked onto the pages of a nineteenth-century novel.

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These 12 Secret Ohio Diners Are Escaping Online Searches

Tired of scrolling online and finding the same old restaurant lists? Ohio has a whole set of diners that don’t show up in flashy searches but are still serving up the kind of...

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Historic Ruins in Maryland Worth a Spot on Your Bucket List

There is something satisfying about standing in front of old broken walls that have been there longer than your grandparents. You do not need a history degree to enjoy it.

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These Are 10 Iowa Roadside Stops That Make Trips Memorable

Looking for ways to make a long drive through Iowa more fun? Road trips can feel endless if all you see are miles of highway,...

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These Colorado Mountain Escapes Turn A Single Day Into A Getaway

Treat a single day like it deserves an upgrade, because Colorado makes that surprisingly easy when mountains keep popping into the windshield.

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Slow Down And Wander Through Vibrant Flowers At This Hidden Oregon Coast Garden

The Oregon Coast is known for storms and crashing waves. Not gardens. That is what makes this place such a delightful trick....

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This Old-Fashioned Texas Diner Delivers Pure 1950s Nostalgia

You sit down in a vinyl booth that has been here longer than most of the customers have been alive. The counter still shines with its original chrome, polished by decades of elbows...

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These Arkansas Towns Along The River Are Perfect For A Calm Escape

There is something about following a river that naturally slows everything down. This is the kind of weekend that drifts instead...

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The Quirky Indiana Shop Filled With Oddities, Curiosities, And One-Of-A-Kind Finds

There are some places you walk into and immediately feel like you’ve discovered a secret the rest of the world hasn’t quite caught onto yet. This curiosity shop in Valparaiso...

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This Historic Alabama River Town Is A Budget-Friendly Day Trip Full Of Charm

I've always been drawn to small Southern towns that somehow manage to preserve their character while welcoming visitors with open arms. Eufaula sits along the Chattahoochee River...

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These Abandoned Steel Mills In Ohio Mark A Changing Industrial Era

Ohio’s old steel belt still carries stories in the bones of its mills, even long after the furnaces went cold. These rusted...

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10 Gorgeous Day Trips Across Alabama That Feel Like A Mini Vacation

I've spent years exploring every corner of Alabama, and I can tell you that some of the state's best adventures don't require an overnight bag.

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Virginia’s Most Authentic Puerto Rican Food Spot Is Tucked Away In A Place Only Locals Know

Finding authentic Puerto Rican food outside of the island is not easy. Most places Americanize the recipes, tone down the spices, and serve something that vaguely resembles the...

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Virginia Locals Swear This Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurant Is Better Than Gourmet Places

There is a certain kind of restaurant that does not care about your opinion. No Instagram walls, no trendy cocktails, no waiters explaining the menu like they are reading poetry.

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This California Seafood Shack Might Serve The State’s Best Dungeness Crab

This idea has been living rent-free in my head, because some plans just refuse to be ignored. Point the car toward Bodega...

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The Oregon Breakfast Spot Where The Hazelnut Challah French Toast Is Worth The Wait In Line

Waiting in line for breakfast is usually a bad decision. You are hungry. You are uncaffeinated. Someone behind you is breathing too loud.

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This Florida Beach Is Perfect For Picnics And Calm Shallow Waters

Some Florida beaches just click, and Honeymoon Island State Park near Dunedin is one of them. The drive over the causeway eases the pace almost immediately, with open water on...

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The Massive Asian Market That’s A Texas Staple For Bulk Groceries and A Taste of Seoul

You come for the bulk rice and giant bags of noodles, but you stay for the food court. This market is huge, aisles stretching out with every Asian ingredient you could possibly...

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This Town In Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains Is Defined By Scenery And Trails

Blue Ridge has a way of stretching a simple visit into something that feels much longer and more rewarding. This North Georgia town pulls people in mile by mile, quietly setting...

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These Castles In Upstate New York Feel Incredibly European

Did you know you don’t have to fly across the Atlantic to see castles that look straight out of Europe? Upstate New York...

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10 California Ghost Towns Off The Beaten Path

Looking for a different kind of California adventure? Ghost towns might be exactly what you need. Scattered across the state, these forgotten places offer a glimpse into the past.

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These Nevada Lookouts Reveal Incredible Landscapes You Will Love

Ever wondered where you can get the best views in Nevada without hiking for hours? The state is full of wide-open spaces and...

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Minnesota Has A Museum Dedicated Entirely To Spam And People Drive Hours To See It

Spam. The meat in a can that launched a thousand jokes. Someone decided it deserved a whole museum. That someone was right. People...

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These Florida Restaurants Are Worth The Drive

Ever driven out of your way just for a good meal? In Florida, some restaurants are so special that the extra miles don’t even feel like a hassle. These spots are about the whole...

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This Texas Amusement Park Was Built by a Dad Who Refused to Let His Daughter Be Excluded and It Is Pure Joy

Amusement parks are supposed to be fun for everyone, but so many of them accidentally leave people out. A father noticed his own daughter struggling to find a place where she could...

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