asa whitlock author at My Family Travels
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This Little Texas Store Is Full of Vintage Records, Forgotten Toys, and Quirky Home Decor

There's a whole "man cave" section in this Texas shop, surrounded by vintage glassware, old toys, records, and collectibles. That is an ambitious amount of nostalgia under one...

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This Texas Restaurant Brings Grandma’s Sunday Dinner Back With Family Recipes and Homemade Comfort Food

Sunday supper happens every day at this Texas restaurant. The inspiration comes from a grandmother who once fed family and friends fried chicken, smothered pork chops, mashed potatoes,...

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This Texas Restaurant Once Welcomed Bonnie And Clyde And Still Serves Giant Chicken Fried Steaks

The chicken fried steak here comes in three sizes, and the biggest one goes by "hoss." That name alone tells you the kitchen isn't kidding around.

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A Texas Family Worked The Same Farm For Generations And Their Original Buildings Still Stand

Dinner still cooks on a wood-burning stove at this Texas farm, with original stone buildings standing nearby. Rangers churn butter, gather eggs, and care for animals as part of...

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This Texas Farm Market Sells Fresh Eggs, Local Produce, And Goods Straight From The Countryside

Sam Houston once ate a wedding supper at this farmhouse in 1841. He reportedly declared that the eating doings were first rate. That...

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A Texas Restaurant Brings The Flavors Of Istanbul To Life With Authentic Turkish Food And Generous Portions

One platter on this menu is built for two people and carries chicken kebab, beef kebab, gyro, and Turkish meatballs all at once. That's not dinner.

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A Giant Texas Fabric Store Has So Much To Explore That One Visit Might Not Be Enough

Some fabric stores can be browsed in ten minutes, but this Texas spot requires an entire afternoon and probably a return trip, because the selection is so extensive that one visit...

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This Texas Fabric Store Is a Hidden Paradise for Anyone Who Loves Sewing on a Budget

Sewing can get expensive fast, which is why a fabric store that keeps prices low without sacrificing selection feels like a genuine find, and this Texas spot has built a following...

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This Old-School Texas Sausage Factory Is Keeping a Nearly Forgotten Food Tradition Alive

Most sausage these days comes off a factory line without anyone thinking twice about how it got there, but this Texas spot still does things the slow way, using traditional methods...

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This Texas Museum Is Filled With Retro Signs, Forgotten Mascots, and Strange Pieces of American Nostalgia

Nostalgia has a way of making even the strangest objects feel important, and this Texas museum leans into that feeling with a collection of retro signs, forgotten mascots, and...

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8 Texas Restaurants So Good and Affordable They Feel Like Pricing Mistakes

Some restaurants charge premium prices and deliver forgettable food, but these eight Texas spots do the opposite, serving generous portions of genuinely good cooking at prices...

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8 Texas Attractions Built By People Who Took Their Obsessions Way Too Far

Most hobbies stay contained to a garage or a spare room, but the people behind these eight Texas attractions took their passions and let them grow into something far bigger than...

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This Texas Restaurant Combines Historic Architecture, Live Music, And A Riverside Dining Experience

Finding a restaurant that gets one thing right is easy, but finding one that nails historic architecture, live music, and a riverside setting all at once is rare, and this Texas...

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This Texas Restaurant Serves Philly Cheesesteaks That Taste Straight Out Of Pennsylvania

Finding a real Philly cheesesteak outside of Philadelphia is harder than it should be, but this Texas restaurant has managed to nail the formula with thinly sliced steak, properly...

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A Scenic Texas Dam Walk With Surprisingly Beautiful Views

Walking across a dam is not usually the first thing that comes to mind when planning a scenic outing, but this Texas spot has a way of surprising people who give it a chance, offering...

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The Donuts at This Tiny Texas Bakery Are the Most Unforgettable Thing You’ll Ever Taste

Most donuts are forgettable, gone from memory before the last bite is even finished, but this tiny Texas bakery has figured out how to make ones that stick with you long after...

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What A Texas Couple Created After Carefully Studying A Classic TV Show Is Almost Too Wild To Believe

Some people watch a favorite TV show and buy a t-shirt, but a Texas couple took their obsession several steps further by studying every detail of a classic series and turning that...

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This Texas Farm Sells Pasture-Raised Meat Directly To Shoppers Looking To Stock Up

Buying meat directly from a farm has become a real option for Texas shoppers who want to know exactly where their food comes from, and this operation makes the process simple by...

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This Texas Bakery Brings A Taste Of Sicily To One Seriously Tempting Pastry Counter

Sicilian pastries are not something you stumble across every day in Texas, but this bakery has made them its specialty, filling its pastry counter with cannoli, cassata, and other...

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Texas Has A Farmers Market Where Local Vendors Bring Fresh Finds And Plenty Of Variety

A farmers market only works when the vendors show up with something worth buying, and the one this Texas community has built delivers on that promise week after week with fresh...

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The Texas Restaurant Where Vietnamese Food Has Become Part Of The Local Food Scene

Vietnamese food has become a familiar part of the Texas dining landscape over the years, and this restaurant has played a real role in making that happen by serving pho, banh mi,...

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This Texas Filipino Food Shop Started In A Garage And Grew Into A 30-Year Family Business

Starting a food business in a garage takes nerve, and turning that garage operation into a thirty year family business takes something even harder to define, which is exactly what...

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A Texas Town Was Burned During The Revolution, But You Can Still Explore What It Looked Like Nearly 200 Years Later

Nearly 200 years ago, a Texas town was burned during the revolution, leaving behind little more than ash and memory, yet today you can still walk the grounds and get a sense of...

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Deep In Texas Lies A Forgotten Park Frozen In Time

Some places feel like they have been waiting for someone to notice them, and this forgotten Texas park is one of those spots, sitting quietly off the beaten path while the rest...

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These 10 Blue-Collar Texas Restaurants Serve Massive Portions at Low Prices

There is a certain kind of Texas restaurant that does not care about trends, does not fuss over presentation, and does not charge you extra for the privilege of eating there, and...

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This Unassuming Texas Taqueria Made The New York Times’ 50 Best Restaurants In The US

When the New York Times puts a taqueria on its list of the fifty best restaurants in the country, people pay attention, and when that taqueria turns out to be a small, unassuming...

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Texas Has A Historic Trail Where You Can Walk, Bike, And See Five San Antonio’s Missions In One Trip

Most people who visit San Antonio never make it past the Alamo, which is a shame because just a few miles south sits a chain of four more Spanish missions that together form one...

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This Texas Soul Food Spot Serves Fried Chicken with a Side of Serious Comfort

Fried chicken that crackles when you bite into it. Mac and cheese that is creamy and rich. Collard greens with just the right...

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This Texas Pottery Warehouse Is Packed With Cheap Pots and Surprising Garden Treasures

Pots. Planters. Garden decor. And prices that make you do a double take. This Texas pottery warehouse is the kind of place...

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This Compact Texas Airport Is Becoming a Haven For Affordable Flights

Big airports have their perks. But they also have long lines, expensive parking, and the kind of chaos that makes you question your life choices. This compact Texas airport offers...

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This Underrated Texas Town Has Historic Storefronts, A Classic Downtown Square, And Barely Any Tourist Chaos

A classic downtown square. Historic storefronts. And not a tour bus in sight. This Texas town is the kind of place that makes...

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Locals Pack This Beloved Texas Farmers Market Every Saturday For Sourdough, Baked Goods, And More

Saturday morning has a rhythm in this Texas town. The market opens, the vendors set up, and the locals start lining up. This...

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A Texas Store Packed With Fossils, Crystals, And Minerals Feels More Like A Museum Than A Shop

A store that feels like a museum. That is the kind of place that makes you stop and stare. This Texas shop is packed with fossils,...

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Wait, This Is Texas? A Hidden Attraction Feels Like It Belongs Thousands Of Miles Away

You look around and wonder if you took a wrong turn somewhere. This does not feel like Texas. The architecture, the atmosphere,...

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This Texas Meat Market Serves Sausage Plates Made In-House

A butcher counter and a hot plate of sausage. That is a combination that works. This Texas meat market makes its sausages in...

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A Tiny Texas Taqueria Turns Heirloom Corn Into Some Seriously Creative Tacos

Heirloom corn is not something you find at most taquerias. But this Texas spot is not most taquerias. It sources heirloom varieties...

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A Texas Monastery With Byzantine Style Architecture Feels Completely Removed From Everyday Life

The moment you see the domes, you know you are somewhere different. This Texas monastery is a stunning example of Byzantine architecture, with golden mosaics, arched windows, and...

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The Most Stunning White-Sand Beach In Texas Isn’t Where Most People Expect

When you think of Texas beaches, you probably picture something a little more rugged. But this spot is different. Soft white...

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The Colorful Mexican Restaurant In Texas That Serves Handmade Tortillas Worth The Drive

A tortilla made by hand is a different thing entirely. It is soft, warm, and slightly imperfect in the best way. This Texas...

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A New Texas Deli Inside A 1947 Building Feels Like It Has Been There For Decades

Some places feel new. Some feel like they have been there forever. This Texas deli falls into the second category, even though...

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A Massive Texas Nature Preserve Gives You More Than 2,600 Acres To Escape The City

Sometimes you need to disappear for a while. Not forever, just for an afternoon. This Texas nature preserve gives you more than...

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This Short Texas Trail Packs Caves, Dramatic Rock Formations, and an Incredible View Into Just a Few Miles

A short trail that delivers caves, rock formations, and a view worth the hike. That is a rare combination. This Texas spot...

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Blink And You Could Miss This Tiny Texas Hole-In-The-Wall With Decades Of History

You would drive right past it. The sign is small. The building is easy to overlook. But the people inside know exactly what they are doing.

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This Old School Texas Cafe Has Been Serving Southern Comfort Food Since The 1938

Eighty plus years in business is not luck. It is consistency. This Texas cafe has been serving Southern comfort food since...

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This Underrated Texas Town Packs Historic Homes, Museums, And River Views Into An Easy Day Trip

Some towns try to be everything to everyone. This one just does what it does well. Historic homes, local museums, and river...

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This Texas Hill Country Bakery Is Worth The Drive For Warm Pecan Pies With A Flaky Crust

A warm pecan pie is a thing of beauty. But one with a flaky crust and fresh local pecans? That is worth the drive. This Texas...

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The Massive Texas Amish Market Locals Treat Like Their Best-Kept Comfort Food Secret

A market that locals treat like a secret is the kind of place worth knowing about. This Texas spot is massive, packed with homemade baked goods, bulk foods, deli meats, and comfort...

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This Tiny Texas Creamery Sells Farm-Fresh Milk and Cheese Around the Clock

Fresh milk and cheese at any hour of the day or night. That is what this tiny Texas creamery offers. It runs on an honor system,...

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7 Wildlife Conservation Programs in Texas Where You Can Volunteer or Learn

Want to do more than just admire Texas wildlife from a distance? These conservation programs let you get involved. From bird...

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This Texas Vintage Market Is Packed With Mid-Century Furniture, Retro Clothing, And One-Of-A-Kind Decor

Mid-century chairs. Vintage leather jackets. Lamps that look like they came straight out of a 1970s living room. This Texas...

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A No-Frills Texas Restaurant In The Middle Of Nowhere Has Been Drawing Diners For More Than 80 Years

A restaurant in the middle of nowhere should not be this busy. But this Texas spot has been drawing crowds for over 80 years, proving that great food does not need a big city zip...

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8 Small Texas Towns With Schools So Strong Families Are Moving There

Good schools are not just a selling point. They are the reason families pack up and move. These nine small Texas towns have...

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More Than 40 Years Later, This Family Run Texas Italian Restaurant Is Still Doing Things Its Own Way

Plenty of restaurants have come and gone in 40 years. This Texas spot is still standing, and it is still doing things exactly the way it wants.

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This Quiet Texas State Park Has A Snake Problem So Bad Locals Know To Watch Their Step

A quiet park with beautiful trails and a hidden warning locals have learned to respect. The snakes here are no joke. They are...

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One Woman’s Land Donation Helped Start The Entire Texas State Park System

Texas state parks exist because of one woman's vision. She saw the land, loved it, and decided it should belong to everyone. That...

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Customers Drive from Hours Away to Buy Premium Meats at This Texas Butcher Shop

A butcher shop worth driving hours for is not something you find every day. But this Texas spot has earned that kind of loyalty. The...

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This Texas Christmas Store Brings Holiday Magic Even When It’s 80 Degrees Outside

The heat is thick, the sun is blazing, and the air conditioner is running on overdrive. But step inside this Texas store and suddenly it is December.

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This Texas Garden Center Has A Cafe Hiding Between The Plants And Flowers

Plant shopping becomes significantly more dangerous when coffee and lunch are waiting somewhere between the flowers. Texas...

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Ride Through Texas Hill Country On A Vintage Train With Historic Cars And Scenic Views

Road trips are great, but they rarely come with restored railcars from the 1930s through the 1950s and the satisfying excuse to let somebody else handle the driving.

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This Texas Getaway Lets You Sleep Inside A Luxury Yurt Beneath A Dark Country Sky

The first time I looked up from a quiet stretch of West Texas country, I honestly forgot to breathe for a second. There were so many stars that the sky looked crowded, almost busy,...

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