amara blake author at My Family Travels
Article
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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10 Best Gluten-Free Restaurants In Virginia For 2026

Eating gluten-free used to mean settling. A sad salad, a dry piece of fish, maybe a bun that crumbled before you could take a bite.

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This Virginia Lazy River Offers The Ultimate Slow-Motion Adventure Through Scenic Mountain Views

Most adventures are about speed. Thrill rides, fast hikes, anything that gets your heart pumping. But this Virginia lazy river...

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10 Most Beautiful Walkable Towns In Virginia You Must Explore This Spring

Spring in Virginia is the season for walking. The weather is cool enough for a sweater but warm enough to be outside, and the flowers are blooming everywhere you look.

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10 Virginia Fish Frys Worth Making A Weekly Tradition

Friday night fish fry is a tradition in many parts of Virginia. The beer batter is crispy, the hushpuppies are hot, and the cole slaw is creamy and cold.

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10 Virginia Gluten-Free Bakery Stops With Treats Worth The Trip In 2026

Gluten-free baking is hard. The texture can be wrong. The flavor can be off. And too often, the treats are dry and disappointing.

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This Virginia Coastal Trail Is The Best Place To Spot Wild Ponies In Their Natural Habitat

Wild ponies are the reason most people visit this particular Virginia island. But seeing them is not guaranteed. They roam freely...

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Stand On Top Of The World At This Jaw-Dropping Virginia Ridge Overlooking A Carpet Of Clouds

There are mountain views, and then there are mountain views that make you forget how to speak. This Virginia ridge falls into the second category.

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This Hidden Virginia Gem Is A 2026 James Beard Nominee For Its Masterful Seasonal Aegean Cuisine

James Beard nominations do not happen by accident. They require a kitchen that understands ingredients, a chef who refuses to coast, and a menu that makes people drive hours just...

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This Virginia Historic Inn Refuses To Renovate (And That’s Exactly The Appeal)

Most hotels are racing to update. New mattresses, modern decor, keyless entry, the latest everything. But this Virginia inn is...

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This Virginia Kitchen Served The First Authentic Peruvian Chicken In The USA

Peruvian chicken is everywhere now. Rotisserie birds marinated in spices, served with green sauce that has a kick. But it started...

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You Can Go Behind The Scenes To See Bald Eagles And Owls At This Renowned Virginia Wildlife Hospital

Most people only see wildlife from a distance. A bald eagle soaring overhead. An owl perched on a branch at dusk. But this Virginia...

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This Massive Virginia Riverside Park Is A Treasure Trove Of 15-Million-Year-Old Marine Fossils

Most people go to state parks for hiking, camping, or picnicking. This Virginia park offers something else entirely. A riverbank...

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This Virginia Sanctuary Features A Historic Smokehouse Hot Tub, Fireside Tavern, And Farm-To-Table Dining

Some places are just places to sleep. This Virginia sanctuary is something else entirely. A historic smokehouse that has been...

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This Virginia Food Hall Serves Some Of The Best Authentic Pho You Will Taste Outside Of Asia

Finding good pho outside of a dedicated Vietnamese restaurant is rare. Finding great pho in a food hall is almost unheard of. But...

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This Rugged Virginia Off-Road Peak Offers Breathtaking Views And Miles Of Forest Adventure

Most mountain views require a hike. A long one, usually, with plenty of elevation gain and a few moments where you question your life choices.

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This Historic Cobblestone Passage In Virginia Still Carries Civil War Echoes

Tunnels are strange places. Dark, cool, and full of echoes. But this Virginia passage carries echoes of a specific time. Built...

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This Haunted Drive In Virginia Is Wrapped In Chilling Legends

Some roads take you where you need to go. This Virginia road takes you somewhere else. Crawford Road has a reputation, the kind...

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This Massive Virginia Hardware Store Is A Multistory Treasure Trove Of Unique Oddities

Most hardware stores are predictable. Aisles of tools, rows of paint, the same brands you have seen a hundred times. This Virginia...

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This Quiet New Hampshire Museum Preserves The Powerful Echoes Of Indigenous Voices

I have been to plenty of museums that tell you facts and dates and names, but I have only been to a few that make you feel something deeper than just learning. This quiet museum...

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The Oldest Delicatessen In Virginia Provides A Delicious Trip Back To Sandwich Paradise

There is a certain magic to a deli that has been around forever. The counters are worn smooth from decades of elbows. The staff...

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This Virginia Estate Feels More Like The English Countryside Than America

Tucked away in Leesburg, Virginia, Morven Park feels like a portal to another continent. This sprawling estate boasts rolling green landscapes, grand architecture, and a refined...

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This Tiny Virginia Village Was The Original Capital Of The Colony

Before Richmond, before Williamsburg, there was a muddy little village that started it all. You have probably heard the name, but you might not realize just how tiny and scrappy...

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This 4,500-Acre Virginia Park Seems Normal At First, Until You Stumble Into Its Whimsical Forest

You walk through the entrance, find a parking spot, and start down a trail. Everything seems normal. Trees, rocks, the usual...

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