amelia cross author at My Family Travels
Article
This Charming New Hampshire Diner Serves Nostalgic Comfort Food By The Plate

The moment I sat down at this diner in New Hampshire, I noticed that almost every plate coming out of the kitchen looked exactly like something my grandmother would have made....

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This Small New Hampshire Town Is Quietly Known For Its Historic Charm, Legendary Pancake Parlors, And Road Trip Appeal

Some towns shout for your attention with billboards and big attractions. This small New Hampshire town does the opposite. It...

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10 Enchanting New Hampshire Lakeside Cafes Whispering Majestic Mountain Views Over Breakfast Plates

There is no better way to start a day in New Hampshire than with breakfast by the water. The lake is calm in the morning. The...

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This Century-Old New Hampshire Bookstore Is Perfect For Rainy Days

Rainy days in New Hampshire used to mean sitting at home watching old movies. Not anymore. I have found the perfect place to...

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10 Hidden New Hampshire Caves Worth Exploring This Summer

Summer in New Hampshire is wonderful, but the heat can be overwhelming sometimes. That is when I head underground. The state...

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This New Hampshire’s Adults-Friendly Spa Resort Features Soaking Pools and Endless Relaxation

I did not realize how much I needed a break until I arrived at this New Hampshire spa resort. The drive up was stressful, my mind was full of lists and worries, and I was already...

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New Hampshire’s Fabric Treasure Trove That Brings Makers Back Again And Again

If you sew or quilt or make anything with fabric, you already know how hard it is to find a great store. Most places have a small selection and high prices.

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10 New Hampshire Towns Losing Residents Due To Record-High Property Taxes

I do not usually write about sad things, but this is a reality that people in New Hampshire are living with right now. Property taxes have gone up to record highs in many parts...

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This New Hampshire Town Is The Last Affordable Paradise With Homes Under $200,000

I check real estate listings sometimes, mostly just to torture myself with what I cannot afford. Prices seem absolutely insane everywhere you look these days.

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New Hampshire’s Vintage Paradise With An Eclectic Mix Of Local Vendors Under One Roof

I walked into this New Hampshire place thinking I would stay for twenty minutes, and I left over two hours later with a bag full of treasures. The building is enormous, and it...

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This Easy 3.2-Mile Hike In New Hampshire Is So Picturesque You’ll Be Dreaming About The Landscape For Days

I have done plenty of hikes that left me sore and exhausted, but this one in New Hampshire left me dreaming about the view for days afterwards. The trail is only 3.2 miles, which...

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This Vintage New Hampshire Bakery Has Been Perfecting Homemade Diner Classics Since 1947

The sign on the door says they opened in 1947. That was seventy nine years ago, which means this bakery has been doing its thing since before my parents were even born.

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New Hampshire Has A Scenic Meandering River Where You Can Kayak Through Boreal Forest And Moose Habitats

The water moves slowly here, almost like it is in no hurry to get anywhere. That is exactly what makes this New Hampshire river so perfect for kayaking.

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10 Enormous Thrift Stores In New Hampshire Where $35 Feels Like A Small Fortune

I love the feeling of walking out of a store with a bag full of treasures. And knowing I spent almost nothing. That feeling is...

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This Unassuming New Hampshire Trail Turns A Simple Hike Into A Sparkling Crystal Hunt

I have been on plenty of hikes that end with a view. A waterfall. A summit. Something pretty to look at before you turn around...

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This New Hampshire Woodland Restaurant Serves Italian Comfort In A Secretive Setting

You would never guess this place is here. The road is narrow and winding. The woods press in on both sides. And then suddenly...

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This Historic New Hampshire Mountain Resort Just Debuted A Multimillion-Dollar Makeover

Old hotels can go two ways as they age, either they get shabby and sad or they get a new life, and this historic mountain resort in New Hampshire has just gotten a serious upgrade....

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This Iconic 1940s New Hampshire Eatery Is Secretly Serving The Best Burgers In New England

The place has been standing since the 1940s, which means it has seen a lot of burgers come and go, and somehow it is still quietly making the best ones in New England without making...

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10 Unassuming New Hampshire Seafood Shacks Serving Outrageously Fresh Lobster Rolls Right Off The Boat

You do not need white tablecloths to get a good lobster roll. In fact, the best ones usually come from places with picnic tables and paper plates.

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10 Historic Haunted Places In New Hampshire With Legends That Still Creep Locals Out

I do not know if I believe in ghosts. But I know people in New Hampshire who do. And they have stories that will make the hair...

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This Mind-Blowing New Hampshire Labyrinth In The Woods Houses A Cryptic 4,000-Year-Old Calendar

I have been to plenty of quirky attractions in New Hampshire. Some make you smile. Some make you scratch your head. But I have...

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Locals Keep This Hidden New Hampshire Village Off Travel Guides

There is a certain kind of place that locals protect like a secret handshake, and this tiny village in New Hampshire is exactly that. You will not find it on any travel guides...

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How This New Hampshire Shopping Hub Transformed Into The State’s Most Vibrant Evening Destination

You would not expect a shopping center to become the place where everyone wants to be after the sun goes down, but that is exactly what happened at this spot in New Hampshire....

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This Cozy New Hampshire Breakfast Nook Serves Home Fries Locals Love

Some places are so small that you might miss them entirely if you blink, and this breakfast nook in New Hampshire is exactly that kind of spot. But the people who live nearby have...

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This Retro New Hampshire Diner Serves Banana Bread French Toast Locals Love

I thought I had tried every possible variation of French toast over the years, but then I walked into this retro diner in New Hampshire and saw banana bread French toast on the...

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This New Hampshire Strip Mall Italian Spot Has People Skipping Boston

You would walk right past this place if you did not know what was waiting inside, because it is tucked into a strip mall in New Hampshire with unremarkable storefronts and a parking...

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The 34-Mile Virginia Rail-Trail Where You Can Walk, Bike, Or Run Under A Lush Forest Canopy Away From Traffic

Thirty-four miles of trail with no cars, no trucks, and no exhaust fumes. That is the luxury of a good rail-trail, and this Virginia one might be the best in the state.

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This Humble New Hampshire Restaurant Serves Massive Cheeseburgers Worth The Drive

Let me tell you about a cheeseburger that made me forget how to speak for about twenty minutes. The place is humble and easy to miss, the kind of New Hampshire spot you could drive...

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This Secret New Hampshire Swimming Hole Glows With Emerald-Green Water

I have seen plenty of swimming holes in New Hampshire that are nice enough, clear and cold and good for a hot afternoon, but I have never seen water that actually glows green like...

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Swim Below A Cascading Waterfall At This Hidden New Hampshire Gem

I have been to a lot of waterfalls in New Hampshire that are beautiful to look at but off limits for swimming, which is fine for photos but not great for hot summer days when all...

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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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This Postcard-Worthy Botanical Garden In New Hampshire Feels Unlike Anything Else In The State

I have seen plenty of pretty gardens before in my life, with their neat rows of flowers and carefully arranged bushes, the kind of place where you take a quick photo and move on...

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This Charming Virginia Creamery Sells Artisan Cheese So Fresh, You Can Watch The Cows Being Milked

There is fresh cheese, and then there is cheese made from milk that came out of a cow an hour ago. This Virginia creamery falls into the second category.

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Civil War Soldiers Carved Their Names Into This Virginia Cave

Caves are naturally strange places. Dark, cool, full of rock formations that took thousands of years to grow. But this Virginia...

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This Coastal New Hampshire Seafood Spot Is A Local Favorite For Golden, Crispy Fried Platters

I have eaten enough sad fried clams to know the difference between good and great. Great ones are golden, not brown. Crispy,...

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This Iconic Virginia Overlook Features Breathtaking Panoramas Of The Blue Ridge Mountains

You have seen photos of Blue Ridge Parkway sunsets, the kind that make you question if they are even real. But standing at this Virginia overlook, watching the light hit the mountains...

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This Virginia Diner Trail Still Serves Full Plates For Less Than $15

Remember when you could walk into a diner, order a full meal, and still have change from a twenty? That era is not dead yet. It...

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Discover 10 Amazing Destinations With Direct Flights From Virginia Airports

I love a good road trip as much as the next person. But sometimes you just want to get on a plane and wake up somewhere new without spending six hours behind the wheel.

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Prepare To Be Terrified At This Bone-Chilling Virginia Haunted Mansion

Some people like cute haunted houses with plastic skeletons and friendly ghosts who say boo. This is not for those people. Deep...

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This Music Spot Proves The Real Soul Of Virginia Lives In The Southwest

Some places carry a sound so deep in their bones that you can almost hear it humming through the walls. Tucked into the southwestern corner of Virginia, Bristol sits on a state...

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This Small Virginia Town Thinks Their Fried Chicken Is Better Than Any Chain In NoVA And They Might Be Right

Let’s be real. You have probably eaten fried chicken from a drive-through so often you could recognize the box blindfolded. But...

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This Richmond Restaurant Does Southern Food Better Than Anything You’ll Find In Virginia Beach

Let the arguments begin right now, because I am not sorry. Someone finally said the quiet part out loud about who rules Southern cooking in this state.

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10 Virginia Scenic Drives With Pull-Off Views That Will Steal Your Breath

Virginia has a serious talent for making your jaw drop at every turn, and I mean that literally. The state is packed with mountain ridges, river valleys, colonial backroads, and...

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This Virginia Creek Contains 10% Of All Fish Species In The State

You would look at this creek and think it is just another pretty stream. You would be wrong. Somehow, this unassuming little...

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This Virginia Town Had The First Thanksgiving, 11 Years Before Plymouth

Most Americans grow up hearing the same Thanksgiving story: Pilgrims, Plymouth Rock, and a feast in Massachusetts. But Virginia has a bold counter-argument that rewrites the whole...

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This Virginia Town Has A Street Where You Can Walk In Two States At The Same Time

Not every standout destination is a landmark. Sometimes it is a street, and Virginia has one that quietly stands out from the rest.

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The Crispy Pan-Fried Chicken At This Historic Virginia Tavern Is Truly Worth The Trip

Hot take: the best fried chicken in Virginia is not at a modern restaurant, it is served on a wooden table inside a reconstructed 18th-century tavern while a musician plays period...

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The World’s Largest Naval Base In Virginia, Housing Over 70 Massive Warships

Virginia is home to one of the most jaw-dropping military installations on the planet, and most people have no idea just how massive it truly is. Sprawling across thousands of...

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This Retro Burger Stand In Virginia Has Been Serving Big Burgers Since 1956

It has stood the test of time without trying to chase trends. A small burger stand continues to draw loyal crowds decade after decade.

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This Unique Virginia Park Features Seven Natural Limestone Towers

Rising out of the landscape like something unreal, this natural wonder stops you in your tracks before you even get close. In Virginia, seven massive limestone towers stretch skyward,...

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This Hometown Favorite Drive-In In Virginia Has Been Drawing Hungry Crowds For Over 60 Years

Certain places build a reputation the old-fashioned way, and in Virginia, one roadside staple has been doing just that for decades. I arrived expecting nothing more than a quick...

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The Huge Flea Market In Virginia That Treasure Hunters Swear Is Better Than Costco

Forget your warehouse memberships and loyalty cards. Tucked away in the rolling countryside of Virginia, there is a weekend destination so packed with personality, bargains, and...

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This Virginia State Park Offers A Natural Pool Experience That Feels Otherworldly

Straight out of a storybook, one hidden corner of Virginia delivers a natural escape that barely feels real. Deep in the mountains, a striking formation reveals a crystal-clear...

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This Mom-And-Pop Restaurant In Virginia Has The Best Fettuccine Alfredo In The South

Bold claim, right? Somewhere tucked inside Virginia, a small family-run Italian kitchen is quietly winning the pasta wars across the entire South.

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This Cat-Loving Bookstore In Virginia That Feels Like A Hidden Labyrinth Of Shelves

Not all bookstores are built the same, and this one proves it the moment you walk in. In Virginia, there is an independent shop turns browsing into something far more immersive.

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This 45-Mile Virginia Rail Trail Is Perfect For Running, Biking And Discovering Historic Communities

Not every surprise in Virginia comes with bright lights or big crowds. Sometimes it stretches out for 45 miles, smooth, flat, and lined with stories waiting to be noticed.

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This Virginia Historic Site Hosted The Most Famous Speech In America

Step inside this modest church and the past feels suddenly immediate. This is where a gathering of uneasy colonists heard words that would echo far beyond the room itself.

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This Is The Most Eccentric Award Winning Restaurant In Virginia

Richmond’s dining scene sets a high bar, yet one restaurant manages to outshine the rest in the most unexpected way. This boldly imaginative spot has earned national attention...

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This Virginia Basilica Is The Only African-American Shrine Of Its Kind In The U.S.

Step inside and you feel it immediately, a sense of history and purpose woven into every detail. This place stands as a landmark unlike any other in the country.

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This Virginia Trail Lets You Discover Multiple Scenic Waterfalls In A Short, Enchanting Hike

You know a trail is special when the world fades the moment your feet hit the dirt. In the mountains of Virginia, a short loop manages to deliver more scenery in a mile and a half...

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