asa whitlock author at My Family Travels
Article
These Texas Towns Don’t Want to Be “Discovered” but You’ll Want to Find Them

Texas has a way of holding onto its secrets, tucking away small towns that locals cherish and visitors stumble upon like hidden treasure. I've found that the best places in this...

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This Real Working Texas Cattle Ranch Lets You Live the Cowboy Life for a Weekend

There is something about pulling onto the wide open land at Dixie Dude Ranch that makes you sit up a little straighter. Horses move through the pastures like they own the place,...

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This Texas Market Offers Fresh Food, Global Flavors, and Artisan Crafts

I pulled into that lot on Airline Drive thinking it would be a quick in and out. Five minutes, grab something, leave. That plan...

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This Scenic State Park In Texas Feels Like Paradise For Nature Lovers

Spending a day at Brazos Bend State Park feels like stepping into a different side of Texas. The trails wind past lakes and through wetlands where Spanish moss hangs from old trees...

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This Quirky Small Town In Texas Is Rich In Charm And History

Rolling into Brownwood feels like easing into a different rhythm. The streets are lined with historic buildings that have clearly seen decades come and go, and downtown has that...

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A Texas Antique Store That Will Be the 2026 Destination Everyone Talks About

I walked into Carol Hicks Bolton Antiques expecting another quaint shop, but what I found was something entirely different. Spread across three massive warehouse buildings on South...

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This Classic Restaurant Is a Reminder of What Tex-Mex Should Be

I pulled into the parking lot of Lopez Mexican Restaurant on a weeknight and immediately noticed something unusual. Cars filled nearly every space, which is always a good sign,...

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This Spring in Texas, You Can’t Miss This Peaceful Nature Wonderland

When I first heard about a hidden garden tucked away in Weatherford, Texas, I didn't know what to expect. Most places that promise tranquility end up being overhyped or underwhelming,...

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9 Texas Mexican Restaurants That Nail Authentic Flavor

I've spent years chasing authentic Mexican food across Texas, and what I've learned is that the best spots rarely shout about themselves.

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This Obscure Texas Restaurant Serves Seafood You Won’t Be Able to Get Out of Your Head

I was surprised when I first pulled up to Gaido's on Seawall Boulevard in Galveston. From the outside, it looks like just another beachside restaurant trying to catch tourists...

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A Texas State Park That Has the Kind of Views You Remember Forever

Pedernales Falls is one of those places that makes you stop mid-step and just stare for a second. I was not expecting that much scenery packed into one Hill Country park.

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8 Texas Thrift Stores That Make $35 Feel Like a Fortune

I set myself a challenge that sounded ridiculous at first. Walk into Texas thrift stores with just thirty-five dollars and see what actually happens.

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These Texas Cheeseburgers Will Make You Travel as Far as It Takes Just To Taste Them

I almost missed this place, which would have been a huge mistake. Rhome is one of those tiny Texas towns most people blow through without a second thought, but that changes fast...

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This Texas Restaurant Proves Sometimes the Best Ribeye Comes From a Simple Spot

If someone told me the best steak of my life would come from a converted hay barn in the middle of nowhere, I probably would have laughed. Then I went to Perini Ranch Steakhouse...

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This Massive Texas Flea Market Brings Bargain Hunters From Every Corner of Texas

The first time I went to Traders Village, I thought I was just stopping by a flea market. I was very wrong. Sitting off Mayfield...

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People Travel Miles Across Texas Just for the Homemade Pies at This Restaurant

Stephenville, Texas, might not be the first place you think of when planning a road trip, but locals and travelers alike know better.

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A Texas Thrift Store Where $16 Can Completely Upgrade Your Wardrobe

Tucked away on South Broadway Avenue in Tyler, Texas, sits a fashion treasure chest that has savvy shoppers buzzing with excitement. Uptown Cheapskate Tyler at 4540 S Broadway...

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This Texas Flea Market Is a Giant with 5,000 Vendors and Food for Every Craving

Tucked away in East Texas, about an hour southeast of Dallas, lies a treasure hunting paradise that transforms the small town of Canton into a bustling marketplace four days every...

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This Texas Festival Feels Completely Bizarre But Locals Love It

Picture a world where knights thunder past on horseback, jesters tumble through dusty lanes, and everyone around you wears velvet capes and leather boots like it's the most natural...

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This Enormous Texas Antique Store Keeps Everyone Wandering for Hours

Walking into Lone Star Mercantile feels like stumbling onto a treasure map where X marks every single spot. Located at 2031...

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People Can’t Stop Driving Across Texas for These Legendary Onion Rings

West Texas isn't exactly where you'd expect to find one of the state's most talked-about restaurants, but Lowake Steak House in tiny Rowena has become a full-blown phenomenon....

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The Abandoned Texas Town in the Middle of Nowhere That Everyone is Flocking To

Deep in the dusty heart of the Chihuahuan Desert, where tumbleweeds roll past crumbling adobe walls and the nearest traffic light is a solid hour away, sits Terlingua, Texas.

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This Texas Mansion Looks Private but It’s Actually a Restaurant

Ever driven past a stately mansion in Dallas and wondered who lives behind those grand doors? Tucked along the prestigious Turtle Creek Boulevard sits a stunning estate that looks...

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This Texas Restaurant Locals Save for Special Occasions Only

Travelers exploring Houston's vibrant culinary scene often stumble upon a restaurant that locals whisper about with reverence, saving their visits for life's most meaningful celebrations....

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Texas Restaurants Locals Trust Without Checking Reviews

Texas is home to some of the most legendary restaurants in the country, places where locals have been eating for generations without ever needing to scroll through online reviews....

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Texas Small Towns That Look Charming Online but Feel Different in Reality

Texas small towns often appear picture-perfect in online photos, with charming main streets, historic buildings, and promises of authentic Southwestern hospitality. Social media...

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This Texas Small Town Locals Say Is Getting Too Much Attention

Nestled in the rolling hills west of Austin, Dripping Springs has transformed from a quiet Texas hideaway into one of the most talked-about destinations in the Hill Country.

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This Texas Ghost Hotel Locals Say You Should Never Stay In

Towering over the quiet streets of Mineral Wells, Texas, stands a 14-story monument to a bygone era. The Baker Hotel, once...

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Texas Locals Say This Overlooked Buffet Deserves Way More Respect

Tucked along Jacksboro Highway in Fort Worth, Pancho's Mexican Buffet stands as a colorful reminder of a bygone era when all-you-can-eat Mexican restaurants ruled the dining scene...

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Underrated Texas Food Spots Locals Say Still Feel Authentic

Texas has always been a place where food tells a story, and the best stories are often found in the most unexpected corners. While...

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Texas Places Locals Warn You Not to Explore Alone

The Lone Star State stretches across vast deserts, dense forests, and sprawling prairies, hiding secrets in every shadowy corner. Some...

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These Texas Small Towns Know Food Better Than Big Cities

Texas has always been a place where food tells a story, and nowhere is that story more authentic than in the state's small towns.

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This Texas Restaurant Looks Ordinary Until the Food Hits the Table

Tucked away in the tiny town of Lexington, Texas, sits a modest building that could easily be mistaken for just another roadside structure.

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Hidden Texas Waterfalls That Locals Believe Are Pure Magic in Winter

Texas might be famous for its wide-open plains and desert landscapes, but tucked away in its hills and canyons are some of the most breathtaking waterfalls you'll ever encounter.

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These Texas Cafes Feel Extra Cozy After a Day Wandering Small Towns

Small-town Texas holds a special kind of magic that you won't find anywhere else in the Lone Star State. After spending hours...

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A Look Inside New York’s Highest Priced Luxury Hotels

New York City has always been a magnet for those seeking the finest things in life, and nowhere is this more evident than in its collection of ultra-luxurious hotels.

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The Factors That Make Washington, D.C. Easy for Tourists to Get Around

Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, sits along the Potomac River and borders Maryland and Virginia. Visitors...

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These Soul Food Restaurants in Oklahoma Feel Like Places Families Pass Down

Oklahoma's soul food scene carries stories that stretch back decades, where recipes travel from grandmother to granddaughter and restaurant booths hold memories of countless family...

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These Hawaii Places Are Known for Being Quiet, Uneventful, and Surprisingly Restful

Hawaii is famous for its stunning beaches, vibrant luaus, and bustling tourist hotspots, but not every corner of the islands is filled with crowds and excitement.

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These Florida Keys Seafood Spots Locals Avoid During Peak Tourist Season

The Florida Keys stretch like a necklace of tropical islands connected by the scenic Overseas Highway, offering some of the freshest seafood in the entire country.

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Miami, Florida Neighborhoods Locals Say Tourism Has Made Hard to Enjoy

Miami shimmers along Florida's southeastern coast like a jewel dropped into turquoise waters, where the Atlantic Ocean kisses sandy shores and palm trees sway in the subtropical...

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What Increased Visitor Traffic Is Doing to This Oregon Town’s Historic Core

Astoria sits at the very edge of Oregon where the mighty Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, creating a dramatic landscape of rolling hills, Victorian homes, and misty waterfront...

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These Oregon Restaurants Are the Ones Locals Quietly Try to Keep to Themselves

Oregon's food scene stretches far beyond the trendy spots that crowd travel guides and social media feeds. Scattered across...

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Under-the-Radar Buffets in Illinois Locals Keep to Themselves

Illinois might be famous for deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs, but hidden across the Prairie State are incredible buffets that most travelers never discover.

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Maryland Seafood Buffets Where Freshness Is the Main Draw

Maryland's coastline is famous for serving some of the freshest seafood in America, and nothing showcases this bounty quite like the state's incredible seafood buffets.

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9 Delaware Small Towns That Have Become Increasingly Crowded With Visitors

Delaware's coastline once offered peaceful retreats where visitors could escape the noise of everyday life. Over the years,...

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10 Lesser-Known Breakfast Buffets in Pennsylvania Worth Visiting

Pennsylvania holds a special place in American breakfast culture, particularly in its quieter corners where family-run establishments have perfected the art of the morning spread.

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Amish Country in Illinois Is Open to Visitors, but Its True Heart Remains Hidden

Tucked away in the heart of Illinois, far from the towering skyscrapers of Chicago and the bustling highways that slice through the Prairie State, lies a quiet world that seems...

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Strange Unspoken Rules Leave Travelers Curious in Kentucky’s Amish Regions

Rolling hills and farmland stretch across Kentucky's countryside, where Amish communities have quietly built their lives for generations.

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10 Nevada Small Towns Often Missed but Well Worth a Weekend

Nevada stretches far beyond the glittering lights of Las Vegas and the bustling casinos of Reno. Tucked into valleys, perched...

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