asher bennett author at My Family Travels
Article
This Missouri Thrift Store Has Over 15,000 Square Feet Of Secondhand Finds Arriving Daily

This is the kind of thrift store where checking “just one section” is a lie you tell yourself at the door. More than fifteen thousand square feet are filled with clothes, furniture,...

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This Missouri Bulk Food Store Has A Bakery Turning Out Homemade Bread And Cinnamon Rolls

A cinnamon roll the size of your appetite can turn a pantry run into something much more interesting. This Missouri bulk food...

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More Than 900 Animals Roam Across This 281-Acre Missouri Attraction With Free Admission

Finding a full day out that does not immediately start draining your wallet is getting harder. That is what makes this Missouri attraction so appealing.

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Prices Drop All The Way To $1 At This Missouri Bin Store Packed With Retail Returns

There is a reason people keep checking this place throughout the week. This Missouri bin store starts with retail returns, overstock, shelf pulls, and liquidation finds, then lowers...

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This Missouri Wurst Haus Lets You Make Sausage By Hand And Take Home Several Pounds Of It

The sausage casings are laid out on the counter, and the grinder is ready to go. A three-time Hall of Fame sausage maker leads the class, sharing techniques that have been passed...

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This 1848 Missouri Mill Started As A Whiskey Distillery Before Becoming A Working Grist Mill

Before flour and cornmeal took over, this old Missouri mill was making whiskey. Built in 1848, it started as a distillery and quickly became part of a small community that grew...

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Weekend Crowds Pack This Quirky Missouri Breakfast Joint For Big Plates And Creative Brunch

By late morning, the tables are full and somebody is almost definitely eyeing the plate that just passed by. This Missouri...

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For More Than 40 Years, This Missouri Candy Shop Has Been Handcrafting Truffles, Caramels, And Chocolates

This is where your self-control goes to disappear. One case is filled with truffles, another with caramels, and then there are chocolates in enough shapes and flavors to make choosing...

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This Missouri Sushi Restaurant Serves Omakase, Wagyu, And Robata-Grilled Dishes In A Moody Modern Dining Room

This is not the kind of sushi dinner where you order a couple of rolls and call it a night. This Missouri restaurant leans...

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Tea Lovers Could Lose An Entire Afternoon Inside This Missouri Shop Packed With Teas, Herbs, And Spices

Tea people know how fast one little jar can turn into a whole afternoon. This Missouri shop is packed with loose-leaf teas, herbs, spices, and blends that make browsing feel a...

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More Than 8 Million Tacos Have Been Sold At This Family-Run Missouri Mexican Restaurant

Eight million tacos is the kind of number that makes you stop for a second. This Missouri restaurant has been serving them...

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This 10.5-Mile Missouri Trail Climbs To A 1,740-Foot Peak With 10-Mile Valley Views

Your legs will know pretty quickly that this is not a casual little walk. This Missouri trail climbs through forest, rocky glades, and steep stretches before reaching some of the...

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This Old-Fashioned Missouri Supermarket Still Has Butchers Who Cut Your Steaks Exactly How You Want Them

There is something satisfying about pointing at a steak and saying, “Make it this thick.” At this Missouri supermarket, the butcher counter still works that way.

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This One-Mile Missouri Trail Turns Into A Dark After-Hours Adventure Every October

The woods get a lot stranger after sunset here. Every October, this Missouri garden turns a one-mile trail into a dark, immersive adventure filled with lights, music, fog, performers,...

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This Massive Missouri Antique Mall Has 30,000 Square Feet Of Booths And New Finds Every Day

That warehouse off the interstate in Missouri looked deceptively simple from the parking lot, like a friendly name on a plain building. I had pulled over expecting a quick stretch...

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This Three-Story Missouri Secondhand Bookstore Belongs On Every Reader’s 2026 Road Trip List

You do not expect to find a three-story temple of used books in a Kansas City strip mall. But there it is. Prospero's Books rises...

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Walk Through The Real Missouri Cave That Inspired Tom Sawyer And See Mark Twain’s Signature

The same twisting passages that once sent a young Samuel Clemens scrambling through the dark later became the labyrinth where Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher lost their way in American...

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Step Inside An 1860 Missouri Woolen Mill Where More Than Fifty Original Machines Still Fill Three Floors

Three stories of handmade brick with rows of windows watching the road. That is what stopped me in my tracks the first time I looked up at a mill in rural Missouri.

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This Missouri Chapel Surrounds Visitors With Floor-To-Ceiling Hand-Painted Murals

Painted angels, bronze fountains, and stained glass stretched across a property in southwest Missouri where I expected nothing more than a quick stretch of the legs. I had pulled...

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This Missouri Thrift Store Refreshes Its Racks Every Morning, So You Never Know What You’ll Find

Morning is a pretty good time to show up here with an empty cart and no real plan. This Missouri thrift store refreshes its racks daily, so the mix of clothes, housewares, furniture,...

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This Missouri Sandwich Shop Hand-Cuts Its Meat And Cheese Every Day Before Building Lunch On Fresh Bread

Lunch feels a lot better when the sandwich was not sitting wrapped up hours ago. This Missouri shop cuts the meat and cheese...

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This Missouri Artist Refused To Let His Hometown Disappear, So He Rebuilt It On His Farm

Most people would probably accept that their old hometown was gone. This Missouri artist had a different idea. After returning...

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A Former Missouri Silica Quarry Is Now A White-Sand Lake With Blufftop River Views

White sand is not exactly what you expect to find in the middle of Missouri. That is what makes this old quarry site so interesting.

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This Small-Town Missouri Steakhouse Serves Prime Rib, Filet Mignon, And Lobster Tails

A small-town dinner gets pretty serious when prime rib and lobster tail are both on the menu. This Missouri steakhouse keeps things classic with filet mignon, ribeye, seafood,...

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Five Generations Have Kept The Ovens Going At This Missouri Bakery Since 1937

That is a lot of donuts for one family tree. Five generations have helped keep this Missouri bakery going since 1937, and the ovens are still turning out the kind of treats people...

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This Missouri Breakfast Spot Serves A 3-Pound Cinnamon Roll The Size Of A Pie

A three-pound cinnamon roll is not breakfast. It is a challenge. This Missouri spot serves one that is literally the size of...

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Ten Toppings Turn One Pizza Into The Main Attraction At This Missouri Italian Joint

Some pizzas are happy with pepperoni and cheese. This Missouri Italian joint clearly likes to keep things busier. Its specialty...

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This Missouri Farmers Market Keeps The Local Food Coming Long After Summer Ends

Summer ending does not mean the local shopping has to stop. This Missouri market-style event keeps the weekends lively well into the colder months, with local vendors, food, handmade...

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Breakfast All Day And Homestyle Comfort Food Keep This Missouri Main Street Cafe Going From Morning To Night

Sometimes breakfast sounds right long after breakfast is over. This Missouri cafe keeps the griddle going all day, with eggs, pancakes, biscuits, burgers, sandwiches, and other...

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28 Lakes And Hundreds Of Old TNT Bunkers Hide Inside This Missouri Conservation Area

You can come here to fish and end up staring at a World War II bunker instead. This Missouri conservation area mixes 28 lakes and ponds with woods, trails, wetlands, and a surprisingly...

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Giant Pastries And Mexican Sweet Breads Fill The Cases At This Missouri Bakery

It is hard to walk past a bakery case like this without stopping. This Missouri bakery is known for big pastries, Mexican sweet breads, cookies, cakes, and plenty of colorful treats...

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This Fifth-Generation Missouri Meat Company Has Been Smoking Hams Since 1896

Five generations later, the smokehouse is still doing its thing. This Missouri meat company started with a small butcher shop in 1896 and grew into a family business known for...

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9 Missouri Parks That Feel Completely Different Once Fall Arrives

Fall can make a familiar park feel brand new. Trails that seemed ordinary in summer suddenly open to brighter views, cooler walks, and trees putting on their best show of the year.

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This New Missouri Sushi Spot Is All-You-Can-Eat, From Wild Rolls To Hibachi

This is not the place to order one roll and call it a night. This new Missouri sushi spot is all about trying a little bit of everything, from simple classics to big specialty...

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This Missouri Italian Market Has Been Handcrafting Salami And Other Cured Meats Since 1902

There are not many food shops where the recipes have been hanging around for more than a century. This Missouri Italian market has been making cured meats since 1902, and salami...

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This Missouri Country Market Has One Of The State’s Largest Bulk-Food Sections And A Bakery Full Of Homemade Treats

A pantry restock can get serious fast when the bulk-food section seems to keep going. This Missouri country market is known for a huge selection of baking supplies, spices, grains,...

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More Than 70 Clydesdales Live At This Missouri Ranch, And You Can Meet Them Up Close

This Missouri ranch gives horse fans a lot more than a quick look over a fence. Visitors can tour the property, learn how the Clydesdales are bred and cared for, and see the barns...

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After Three Years Away, This Missouri Greek Favorite Is Finally Serving Its Classics Again

Three years is a long time to miss your favorite bowl of avgolemono. Now, this Missouri Greek spot is finally back, and plenty of familiar dishes came with it.

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This Dog-Themed Missouri Ice Cream Shop Serves Warm Cookies, Homemade Desserts And Treats For Pups

This Missouri ice cream shop clearly believes dessert is better with a little dog personality mixed in. The whole place is...

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This Missouri Waterfront Hangout Is The Perfect Place To Kick Back By The Lake

Lake days are better when you have a relaxed spot to settle in and enjoy the view. This Missouri waterfront hangout brings together lakeside scenery, casual food, drinks, live...

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This Missouri Country Store Is Packed With Bulk Foods, Fresh Produce, And Discounted Groceries

A grocery cart can get surprisingly ambitious in a place like this. This Missouri country store combines bulk foods, fresh produce, pantry staples, and discounted groceries in...

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This Missouri Ghost Town Still Has A Battlefield, Historic Buildings, And A House Pierced By A Cannonball

Talk about a house with a story to tell. This old Missouri town still has one with cannonball holes in the walls, and that is only the beginning.

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This Missouri State Park Has Native Pine Forests, Sandstone Canyons, And Crystal-Clear Streams

Missouri does not usually bring pine forests and sandstone canyons to mind at the same time, but this park manages to pull both together.

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The World’s First Machine-Sliced Bread Was Sold In This Tiny Missouri Town

Turns out sliced bread really did have a first day on the job. This Missouri town became the first place in the world to sell machine-sliced loaves in 1928, and the story is much...

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This Missouri Urban Market Butchers Local Meat On-Site And Serves It From Its Own Kitchen

Most markets send you home to cook. This Missouri spot can do the cooking for you. The same place that sells local meat, fresh...

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This New Missouri Bakery Looks Straight Out Of The ’70s And Is Filled With Nostalgia-Inspired Sweets

Apparently, the seventies are back, and this time they brought pastries. This Missouri bakery leans all the way into the retro mood with wood paneling, lava lamps, nostalgic details,...

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This New Missouri Bagel Shop Boils Its Bagels From Scratch And Cures Its Own Salmon

Fresh bagels are good. Fresh bagels that are made from scratch, boiled the traditional way, and paired with house-cured salmon are a whole different story.

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This Missouri Seafood Spot Serves Maine-Style And Connecticut-Style Lobster Rolls Worth The Trip

Lobster rolls do not have to come with an ocean view to be worth craving. This Missouri seafood spot brings two East Coast classics to the same menu, so you can decide which style...

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One Of Missouri’s Coolest Free Nighttime Experiences Comes With A 32-Inch Telescope

A free night out gets a lot more interesting when a giant telescope is involved. This Missouri park has a dedicated astronomy area where visitors can look up at planets, stars,...

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This Missouri State Park Hides A Giant Natural Bridge, Caves, And A Turquoise Spring

This is the kind of park where you keep thinking, “Wait, there’s more?” One minute you are looking at old stone ruins...

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You Can Get Lost In A Sixteen-Acre Corn Maze And Stay For A Campfire At This Missouri Farm

Corn stalks brushed together in the wind, a dry rustle that followed me as soon as I stepped off the gravel lot. I had heard about the sixteen?acre maze outside a Missouri town,...

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This Missouri Bakery Makes A Croissant So Chocolatey They Call It The Darkness

A friend in St. Louis told me about a chocolate croissant with a name that sounded more like a movie title than a pastry, and I could not stop thinking about it. So one bright...

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This Missouri Bistro And Bookstore Took Over The Factory Where Levi’s Were Made For Fifty Years

The hum of sewing machines has been replaced by the clatter of plates and the rustle of book pages. A historic factory building in Missouri once produced thousands of pairs of...

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A 15-Ton Underground Locomotive Sits Inside This Former Missouri Mine Powerhouse

The gravel crunches under your feet as you step out of the car, and the first thing you notice is the scale of it. The rusted skeletons of the old mill rise against the sky, their...

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This Missouri Basketball Museum Lets Almost Anyone Throw Down A Slam Dunk

The squeak of sneakers echoed off the walls, a scoreboard blinked overhead, and a kid nearby was already sprinting toward a lowered rim with pure confidence. I walked into a Missouri...

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This Missouri Restaurant Serves Fried Guacamole Inside One Of The City’s Oldest Buildings

The building has witnessed over a century of history, from its origins as a doctor's office and pharmacy to its current life as a vibrant Peruvian kitchen. The walls that once...

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This Missouri Italian Market Stocks More Than Sixty Kinds Of Ravioli And Tortellini

Brick homes sat shoulder to shoulder, little front porches faced the street, and at the end of the block stood a corner market that looked like it had been there forever. That...

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You Can Watch Pretzels Being Hand-Twisted At This Century-Old Missouri Bakery

Warm and yeasty, that smell drifting out of a plain brick building almost made me drive past it. Instead, I pulled over and walked into this Missouri spot, where a hallway lined...

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This Missouri Vegetarian Cafe Makes Its Own Seitan And Turns It Into Crispy Chiken Katsu

A vegetarian cafe that makes its own seitan is rare enough. One that turns it into crispy, golden chikn katsu is something else entirely.

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This 700-Acre Missouri Resort Has Private Cottages And An Outdoor Saltwater Pool For An Easy Lake Weekend

The road narrowed into trees the moment I passed through the gate, and the noise of the highway just disappeared behind me. I had come for a lazy lake weekend, the kind where you...

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