amara blake author at My Family Travels
Article
This Virginia Farmers Market Has Fresh Produce At Prices So Low Customers Call It A Hidden Gem

The prices look like they belong in another decade. A basket of tomatoes for a few dollars. A bag of peppers that costs less...

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The Historic Virginia Plantation Where You Can Still See Revolutionary War Damage And ‘Hospital Artifacts’ From 1781

The bullet holes are still in the walls. The floorboards still carry stains that tell a story. This historic Virginia plantation...

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This Massive Virginia Indoor Waterpark Resort Features Thrilling Slides And Multi-Seasonal Heated Pools For The Ultimate Family Getaway

The slide drops you into a splash, and the wave pool rocks you with every surge. This massive Virginia indoor waterpark resort features thrilling slides and multi-seasonal heated...

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This Award-Winning Virginia Country Bar Keeps The Line Dancing Alive Every Weekend

The boots are on the floor, the music is loud, and the crowd is moving as one. This award-winning Virginia country bar keeps the line dancing alive every weekend, a place where...

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9 Virginia Corn Mazes That Will Get You Lost For Hours (And You’ll Love It)

You step into the corn and the world disappears. The stalks are tall, the paths twist, and the only way out is to keep moving. These...

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This Historic Virginia Market Packs a Vibrant Downtown Pavilion into a Multi-Vendor Foodie Haven Every Week

The pavilion is buzzing with energy. Vendors line the space, each one offering something different. Fresh produce, baked goods,...

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11 Beaches In Virginia Facing Jellyfish Advisory Alerts This Summer

Summer in Virginia means beach days. But this year, swimmers need to pay attention. Eleven beaches in Virginia are facing jellyfish...

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This Giant Virginia Cement Mixer Was Transformed Into A Functional Walk-In Kaleidoscope

You walk through the door and the world dissolves into color. Light bounces off mirrors, patterns shift and swirl, and you feel like you have stepped inside a dream.

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This Virginia Vietnamese Bakery Serves Bánh Mì So Fresh, Locals Can’t Stop Coming Back

The baguette is crispy, the pork is tender, and the pickled vegetables add the perfect tang. This Virginia Vietnamese bakery serves bánh mì so fresh that locals cannot stop coming...

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9 Virginia Museums Dedicated To One Very Specific (And Bizarre) Thing

You have seen the usual museums. Art, history, science. But Virginia has another kind of museum, the kind that makes you tilt...

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11 Beaches In Virginia That Are Way Better Than Virginia Beach (And Locals Know It)

Virginia Beach gets all the attention. The boardwalk, the crowds, the high-rise hotels. But there are other beaches in Virginia,...

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The Homemade Ice Cream at This Virginia Roadside Drive-Thru Stand Is Worth Every Mile of the Drive

The line of cars snakes down the road. People wait patiently, windows down, ready for what is coming. The homemade ice cream...

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10 Unbelievably Cheap Virginia Flea Markets Where Everything Has A Story

You can buy new things anywhere. But the best finds come with history. These unbelievably cheap Virginia flea markets are where...

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This Shenandoah Valley View Proves The Blue Ridge Mountains Outshine Any Virginia Beach Sunset

Virginia Beach sunsets are beautiful. The sky turns pink and orange over the water, a classic coastal view. But this Shenandoah...

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10 Historic Small Towns in Virginia That Time Forgot

You drive through them and wonder why more people do not stop. The main streets are lined with buildings from another century, the pace is slow, and the people are friendly.

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This Secluded Virginia Hideaway Is Where President Washington Found True Peace

George Washington knew a good piece of land when he saw it. He owned many properties across Virginia, but this secluded hideaway was where he found true peace.

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This Virginia Mountain Bookmobile Has Been Delivering Books Since 1946

Imagine a library that comes to you, winding through misty Blue Ridge mountain roads to drop off books right at your doorstep. That is exactly what has been happening in Patrick...

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10 Virginia Caves With Underground Wonders You Can Actually Walk Through

The cool air hits you as you descend. The light fades. And the underground world opens up. These Virginia caves have wonders...

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This County Park Was Once The Heart Of Virginia’s Forgotten 19th-Century Gold Rush

Gold. The word made people do strange things in the 19th century. They abandoned farms, left families, and flooded into the...

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This Boutique Virginia Art Museum Was Just Named The Best In The Region

The building is elegant, the exhibits are thoughtfully curated, and the whole experience feels intimate and personal. This boutique Virginia art museum was just named the best...

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Virginia’s Best-Kept Mountain Resort Secret Has an Award-Winning Trout Stream and Rustic Wilderness Restaurant

The trout stream winds through the property, clear and cold, a favorite of fly fishers who have come from across the country. The restaurant serves rustic wilderness food, hearty...

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One of Virginia’s Last Remaining Drive-In Theaters Rebrands and Celebrates Its 70th Anniversary

Drive-in theaters are a dying breed. But this Virginia landmark refuses to go quietly. One of the state's last remaining drive-ins...

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10 Virginia Tea Rooms Ranging From Immersive Historic Gatherings To Traditional British Afternoon Teas

The kettle is on, the cups are out, and the scones are warm from the oven. Virginia has a wonderful collection of tea rooms, and they range from immersive historic gatherings to...

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The Virginia Coastal Town With So Few Residents You Will Feel Like You Stepped Back In Time

The ferry ride is the first hint that you are leaving the modern world behind. Then you step onto the dock and the quiet hits you.

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This Historic Virginia Old Town Landmark Has Been Serving Acclaimed Artisanal Thin-Crust Pizza For Decades

The pizza arrives at the table with a thin, crispy crust, charred in spots, topped with fresh mozzarella and bright tomato sauce. This historic Virginia old town landmark has been...

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The Historic Flea Market In Virginia Where Every Sunday Feels Like A Festival

Sunday morning at this Virginia flea market feels different from any other day of the week. The vendors arrive early, setting up tables filled with treasures.

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This Stream-Fed Virginia Reservoir Has Water So Clear You Can Spot The Bed And Environmentalists Want To Keep It Clean

You look down from the dock and you can see the bottom, rocks, sand, and fish swimming below. The water is so clear that it feels almost unreal.

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This Virginia Antiquing Emporium Features a Multi-Vendor Labyrinth of Handpicked Collectibles

You walk through the door and the world disappears. Rows of booths stretch in every direction, each one filled with treasures from another era.

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This Unusual Virginia Town Skipped The Stoplights And Went All In On Trails, Pizza And Charm

You will not find a stoplight in this Virginia town. Not one. The main street is lined with old buildings, the pizza shop is...

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This Massive Flooded Virginia Quarry Secretly Holds A Sunken Jet Airplane On The Bottom

You look down into the blue-green water and see the faint outline of something large. It is not a rock. It is not a log. It...

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Virginia Has A European Deli So Authentic It Feels Like A Hidden German Market

You walk through the door and suddenly you are not in Virginia anymore. The air smells like sausage and sauerkraut, the shelves are packed with imported mustards and chocolates,...

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10 Virginia Yarn Stores Every Creative Person Should Definitely Visit

There is a certain kind of joy that comes from walking into a yarn store. The shelves are packed with colors, arranged in rainbows, soft skeins waiting to become something beautiful.

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This Virginia Lavender Farm And Flower Field Is Made For A Calm And Colorful Summer Day

The rows of purple stretch toward the horizon, buzzing with bees and swaying in the breeze. The scent is calming, sweet and herbal, the kind of smell that makes you close your...

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Virginia’s Finest Historic Dining Experience Is Hidden Inside This Regal Old-School Hotel Restaurant

You step into the hotel lobby and the world outside fades away. Crystal chandeliers, polished wood, and the quiet hum of a room that has seen decades of celebrations.

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This Virginia College Town Is Worth Visiting For A Weekend Getaway

College towns have a certain energy. Coffee shops full of students, bookstores with worn armchairs, and main streets that hum with life.

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Virginia’s Year-Round Christmas Destination Is As Magical As It Sounds

It is July. The sun is hot, the humidity is high, and you are thinking about snow. That is the magic of this Virginia year-round...

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This Virginia Sunflower Field Is A Bright Summer Detour Worth Waiting For

Summer in Virginia means heat, humidity, and sunflowers. Fields of them, stretching toward the sky, their bright faces following the sun across the horizon.

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The Oldest Working Forge In Virginia Where You Can Watch Blacksmiths Hammer Designs Into Iron By Hand

The ring of metal on metal echoes through the open door. Sparks fly as a blacksmith hammers a glowing piece of iron into shape. This...

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This Cozy Mountain Cabin Restaurant In Virginia Serves Up Incredible Bison Burgers And Old-School Hospitality

You drive up a winding road, past fields and forests, until you see a log cabin tucked into the mountains. This cozy Virginia restaurant feels like a secret, the kind of place...

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This Nostalgic Drive-In Movie Theater In Virginia Is The State’s Last Non-Profit Throwback To A Perfect Summer Night

There is something magical about a drive-in movie theater. You park your car, tune your radio, and settle in for a show under the stars.

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The Eerie Ruins Of A Remote Virginia Settlement Said To Be Founded By Shipwreck Survivors

Deep in the dunes, hidden from the beach crowds, there are ruins. Crumbling chimneys and faded foundations, all that remains of a settlement that should not exist.

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This Mennonite Market In Virginia Draws Crowds For Its Homemade Sandwiches

The line starts forming before noon. Locals know to arrive early, because once the sandwiches run out, they are gone until tomorrow.

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The 200-Acre Virginia Museum Where Recreated Farms Still Showcase the Way Settlers Lived Centuries Ago

You walk down a path and suddenly you are in a German farmhouse from the 1700s. A few steps later, you are in an Irish thatched cottage.

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This Tiny Virginia River Town Offers Soulful Bluegrass Jams And Unbeatable Front-Porch Charm

You hear the music before you see the town. A banjo, a fiddle, someone singing about lost love and hard work. This tiny Virginia...

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This Charming Bavarian Lodge In Virginia Serves Up Crispy Schnitzel And Mountain-Sized Portions

The first thing you notice is the building. It looks like it was airlifted straight from the Alps, with wooden balconies and flower boxes and a sloping roof.

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These 10 Virginia Waterfront Restaurants Make A June Meal Feel Like A Mini Getaway

June in Virginia hits different when you're sitting waterside, watching the sun melt into the horizon while a warm breeze rolls off the river or bay. The Old Dominion State is...

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This Tiny Virginia Town Has A Bakery So Good It’s Becoming A Local Spring Tradition

Spring in this tiny Virginia town means one thing. The bakery. People start talking about it in March, counting down the weeks...

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Inside The Premier Virginia Steakhouse Serving Ribeye Fit For Royalty

Some steakhouses serve beef. Others serve an experience that lingers long after the plate is cleared. This Virginia steakhouse...

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This French Patisserie In Virginia Feels Like A Corner Of Paris

The first thing you notice is the smell. Butter, sugar, and something yeasty, warm and inviting. The second thing is the display...

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10 Insanely Delicious Virginia Diners That Truckers Refuse To Name Drop

Truckers know the best places to eat. They spend their lives on the road, stopping in small towns and at highway exits, and they learn which diners are worth the time.

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These 10 Epic Road Trips in Virginia Will Change Your Summer

Summer is the season for the open road. Windows down, music up, and no particular place to be. Virginia is the perfect state...

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Virginia Foodies Gladly Burn A Tank Of Gas For This Famous Roadside Burger

There’s a certain magic that happens when a Virginia road trip leads you to a hidden?in?plain?sight burger haven that’s practically a pilgrimage for hungry travelers. Word...

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These 10 Haunted Hotels In Virginia Will Give You Chills

Some hotels are just places to sleep. You check in, you sleep, you leave. But the hotels on this list are different. They have...

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This Virginia Café Brings World-Class Pastries To A Small City

Tucked away in Charlottesville, Virginia, MarieBette Café & Bakery has earned its reputation as a destination for authentic European pastries and artisanal breads.

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Travelers From All Over Virginia Are Obsessed With The Biscuits And Gravy At This Roadside Diner

Biscuits and gravy are not complicated. But when they are done right, when the biscuits are flaky and the gravy is thick and peppery, they become something people chase.

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10 Virginia Castles That Feel Like Europe Without Leaving The State

You do not need a passport to feel like you have stepped into a fairy tale. Virginia has castles, real ones, tucked into the landscape and hidden in plain sight.

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The Gentle Three-Mile Hike In Virginia That Leads You Right To A Waterfall

Some waterfall hikes are brutal. Steep climbs, rocky scrambles, hours of effort for a few minutes of spray. But this Virginia...

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This Virginia Landmark Hides A Massive Historic Settlement That Transports You Straight To 1607

You have heard of Jamestown, of course. The first permanent English settlement in America. But this Virginia landmark is not...

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A Virginia Thrift Store Where $10 Can Completely Upgrade Your Wardrobe

Thrift shopping is usually about patience. You dig through racks, hoping for a find. Sometimes you leave with nothing. But this...

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This Captivating Virginia State Park Will Make You Feel Like You’ve Stepped Into Another World

Some parks are just trees and trails. Pretty, sure, but familiar. This Virginia state park is different. From the moment you...

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