amara blake author at My Family Travels
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10 Affordable Virginia Adventures That Feel Expensive

Virginia has a way of making you feel like a millionaire without actually spending like one. From misty mountain overlooks to centuries-old estates dripping in history, this state...

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One Of Virginia’s Oldest Brick Churches Has Been Standing Since The 1680s

Most drivers pass it without a second glance, and that might be the wildest part. In Virginia, a centuries-old brick church stands quietly, holding layers of history that reach...

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Tourists Overwhelmed This Tiny Virginia Beach Town Locals Once Loved

Locals are starting to talk, and not always in whispers. A tiny waterfront town on Virginia's Eastern Shore has gone from a sleepy, well-kept secret to a full-blown summer sensation,...

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This Historic Virginia Town Is The Ham Capital Of The World

Okay, so I have a bold claim to make: there is one small Virginia town that out-porks, out-charms, and out-histories just about every place on the East Coast. Tucked in the heart...

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This Fresh-Made Donut Shop In Virginia Is A Sweet Tooth Comfort Food Classic

Out on a winding stretch of Virginia highway, one stop has a way of pulling drivers off the road without a second thought. Surrounded by rolling hills and open countryside, this...

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This Artisanal Chocolate Shop In Virginia Feels Like A Little Slice Of Europe

One step inside this chocolate shop and everything else fades into the background. The space feels like a cozy European chocolatier, filled with the scent of rich cocoa and displays...

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This Remote All-You-Can-Eat Tavern In Virginia Is So Exceptional It’s Worth The Longest Drive

Okay, let's settle something once and for all. Is a two-hour drive through the rolling hills of Virginia worth it for a lunch spot?

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This Artistic Virginia Coffee Sanctuary Combines Gourmet Roasts With A Serene Community Atmosphere

Certain places feel instantly personal, as if they were designed with intention for anyone who walks through the door. In Falls Church, one coffee spot has built that kind of reputation,...

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This Remote Virginia Island Is Home To One Of NASA’s Most Massive Space Flight Centers

Forget everything you think you know about quiet barrier islands off the Virginia coast. Tucked along the Eastern Shore of Accomack County sits a sliver of land that punches way...

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10 Iconic Virginia Dining Institutions Where Scoring A Table Requires Booking Weeks In Advance

Virginia has a dining scene that punches way above its weight, and locals know it. Across the rolling hills of the Shenandoah, the charming streets of Richmond, and the breezy...

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This Crystal-Filled Virginia Corner Is A Zen Seeker’s Paradise

Between mountain views and fast-paced suburbs, Virginia still finds ways to surprise you, and this quiet corner of Herndon is proof. Along an unassuming street, a long-standing...

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This Historic Virginia Museum Is Home To The World’s Oldest Edible Ham Which Is Over 120 Years Old

In a quiet Virginia town, a ham has been patiently aging since 1902, and it somehow lives up to the hype. Smithfield, known as the Ham Capital of the World, is home to this unlikely...

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Why You Need To Visit This Car-Free Virginia Island Right Now

Forget everything you think you know about Virginia beach destinations. Sitting roughly 12 miles out in the Chesapeake Bay, there is a tiny, car-free island that feels like it...

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This Charming Virginia Restaurant Serves Traditional Afghan Comfort Food Worth Traveling For

Some restaurants just have that rare, magnetic pull that makes you rearrange your entire week to get a table. There is a cozy Afghan gem in Springfield that locals fiercely protect...

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This Virginia State Park Features A Breakwater Made Of Nine Sunken Concrete Ships

Picture a quiet stretch of beach where the horizon is broken by something strange. Nine massive concrete ships sit just offshore, slowly sinking into the waters of the Chesapeake...

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This Virginia Coal Town Is So Perfectly Preserved It Feels Like The Miners Just Left

Some places freeze time so completely that walking through them feels less like tourism and more like trespassing on history. One small Tazewell County town has kept its coal-era...

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This Virginia Highway Is A 348-Mile Treasure Map Of Vintage Finds And Historic Stops

Forget the interstate. There is a slower, far more rewarding road cutting through the heart of Virginia, and it has been hiding in plain sight for decades.

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This High-Flying Virginia Adventure Park Lets You Race Through The Treetops

Forget the beach for a minute. Virginia Beach has a secret that lives above the sand, above the crowds, and way above your comfort zone. I stumbled onto this place and honestly...

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Virginia’s Best-Kept Geological Secret Is A 400-Million-Year-Old Rock Maze

Somewhere deep in the Appalachian highlands of Virginia, a sandstone labyrinth sits quietly at the top of a mountain, waiting for the curious and the bold. Most people drive right...

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The Incredible Second-Hand Shop In Virginia Is Hiding Rare Collectibles That Could Be Worth A Fortune

Locals have been debating this for years: is this little shop in Virginia truly the best antique destination in the state, or is it just a well-kept secret that tourists haven't...

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This Virginia Arboretum Offers A Magical Blend Of Wild Forests And Sculpted Gardens

Some places just stop you in your tracks, and this botanical gem tucked inside a Virginia university campus is absolutely one of them. Sprawling across more than a hundred acres,...

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This Shadowy Virginia Trail Deep In The Woods Is A Nightmare Journey You Won’t Soon Forget

Some places in Virginia earn their reputation the hard way, one scream at a time. Tucked deep in the woods of Purcellville, there is a haunted trail experience so wildly immersive...

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This Tiny Virginia Diner Is A Living Piece Of Americana That Feels Like A Set From A Mid-Century Road Movie

Some places just stop time. Tucked into the heart of downtown Roanoke, Virginia, there is a tiny diner that has been slinging comfort classics since 1930, and somehow, nothing...

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A Shadowy Pier In Virginia That Even The Bravest Locals Avoid After Midnight

Some places earn their reputation in daylight, but this one earns it after dark. Tucked along the Potomac River in Virginia, a certain pier has become the stuff of local legend,...

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This Majestic 34-Foot Virginia Lord Of The Waves Is The Perfect Photo-Op On The Atlantic

Standing tall on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, a bronze giant commands the Atlantic with a trident in hand and the ocean at his back. This is King Neptune, Virginia Beach's most...

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10 Top Restaurants Along Virginia’s Atlantic Coastline To Visit

Virginia's Atlantic coastline is one of those rare places where the scenery and the food compete equally for your attention. Stretching from the lively Virginia Beach boardwalk...

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The Only Thing That Tops This Virginia Breakfast Is The Unbelievable View

Perched four stories above the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia, there is a breakfast spot so breathtaking that your eggs might actually get cold while you stare out the window....

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This Massive Mennonite Buffet In Virginia Is Actually Worth The Long Road Trip

Some places are worth every single mile, and this sprawling buffet tucked in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley is proof of that. Rooted in Mennonite cooking traditions, it serves up...

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This Virginia Museum Chronicles The Lives Of Both Settlers And Indigenous Peoples

Think you know the real story behind America's first permanent English colony? Most history books skip the messy parts, the cultural clashes, and the daily grind of survival that...

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This Scenic Mountaintop Restaurant In Virginia Feels Like A Fairytale

Somewhere along Skyline Drive in Virginia, tucked into the misty ridgeline of Shenandoah National Park, sits a dining room that genuinely stops you in your tracks. Mountaintop...

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This Massive Virginia Smorgasbord Is A Southern Comfort Food Dream Worth Traveling For

Somewhere in Portsmouth, Virginia, there is a place that makes grown adults call their grandmothers just to say thank you. Locals know it.

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This Virginia Diner Has Been Crafting Pure Nostalgia And Legendary Milkshakes For Generations

What makes a diner truly unforgettable? Is it the perfectly crispy hash browns, the milkshakes thick enough to stand a spoon in, or that retro vibe that transports you straight...

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Step Inside The Twisted Virginia Beach Nightmare That Has Been Haunting The Oceanfront For Generations

Think you know scary? Think again. Tucked along the bustling Virginia Beach boardwalk sits a terror trap that has been making...

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This Virginia Lake Town Is A Culinary Destination That Catches People Off Guard

Think all Virginia lake towns are just about boats and sunburns? Think again. Tucked away in the heart of the state sits a waterside...

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10 Virginia Unique Museums That Are Surprisingly Fun For All Ages

Virginia is bursting with quirky collections and interactive exhibits that'll surprise even the most skeptical visitors. From immersive environments that put you right in the middle...

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Locals Recommend These 8 Virginia Artisans Keeping Centuries Of Tradition Alive

Virginia's got something most states can only dream about: artisans who've been perfecting their crafts for generations, keeping traditions alive that date back centuries. Think...

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This Hidden Virginia Ice Cream Spot Serves Sundaes From An Epic Menu With Over 100 Different Flavors

Think you've tried every ice cream flavor under the sun? Hold that thought. Tucked away on Chincoteague Island sits a scoop shop...

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9 Beginner-Friendly Hikes In Virginia To Experience This Spring

Virginia has a way of making spring feel like a full-on celebration, with blooming wildflowers, rushing streams, and mountain views that stop you right in your tracks. The good...

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The Virginia Tavern Mixing Creative Burgers With Local Tunes

Picture this: you're strolling through historic Fredericksburg, and hunger hits. Not just any craving, but the kind that demands creativity on a bun paired with the soulful strum...

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9 Virginia Hamburger Joints That Seriously Know How To Bring The Beef

Think you know where to find the best burger in Virginia? Think again. From college towns to historic cities, the Old Dominion...

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The Virginia Café Serving Pancakes So Good, Locals Hope It Stays Under The Map

Some places are so good, regulars practically whisper about them. Tucked in the charming Occoquan Historic District, The Secret Garden Cafe has become the kind of spot where locals...

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This Retro Virginia Diner Serves A Chicken-Fried Steak That Crushes All Others

Can a diner really transport you back to the golden age of chrome bumpers and jukeboxes while serving up comfort food that makes your taste buds sing? Tucked away in Arlington,...

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10 Virginia’s Steakhouse Experience That Turns Regular Nights Into Destination Dining

Think your average Tuesday dinner has to be boring? Think again. Virginia has perfected the art of turning ordinary evenings...

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This 52-Mile Long Path Is Perfect For Running, Biking, And Spotting Forgotten Virginia Ruins

Picture a ribbon of smooth pavement winding through centuries of American history, connecting two of Virginia's most storied cities while passing forgotten plantations and hidden...

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10 Tastiest Virginia Burger Shacks To Hit This February

Something special is sizzling across Virginia right now, and burger lovers are the ones reaping the rewards. February might bring...

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This Virginia Lake Town Is A Foodie Oasis Feeding Visitors Way Above Its Pay Grade

Can a town of just over a thousand people serve up restaurant experiences that rival big-city dining scenes? Clarksville makes a compelling case that size doesn't dictate sophistication.

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Inside Virginia’s Beloved Seafood Shack, Where Tradition Still Tastes Fresh

Think all seafood joints are the same? Think again. Along the waterfront in Virginia Beach, there is a spot that has built its...

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The Giant Thrift Warehouse In Virginia Where $30 Travels Far

Thrift shopping hits different when you skip the standard racks and head straight for the bins. While most people browse neatly hung items at traditional stores, seasoned bargain...

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This Virginia BBQ Joint Is Known For Its Secret Family Recipes

Tucked along Timberlake Road in Lynchburg, Virginia, sits a spot where smoke billows like morning fog and the smell of slow-cooked perfection hits you before you even park. County...

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This Massive Virginia Flea Market Feels Like A Treasure Hunt Jackpot

Few places capture the thrill of a real treasure hunt like this flea market. This sprawling outdoor bazaar turns ordinary weekends into exciting adventures, with rows of vendors...

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