asher bennett author at My Family Travels
Article
This Missouri Steakhouse Still Has Its Original 1940s Art Deco Bar And Wooden Booths

Some restaurants have history, but this one lets you sit inside it. A Missouri steakhouse has been serving the same community for nearly a century.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Missouri Lakeside Resort Includes Meals And More Than 30 Activities With Every Stay

The hardest part of a vacation should be deciding which activity to try first, not planning every detail. At a lakeside retreat in Missouri, that is exactly the kind of escape...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Welcome To Missouri’s Most Tourist-Packed Town Where Weekend Crowds Never Seem To Thin

A little chaos is part of the charm at this Missouri town. The main strip moves at a crawl on summer weekends. The shows start...

Read More    7 min read

Article
A Four-Story Mill And One Of Missouri’s Last Covered Bridges Stand Side By Side At This Riverfront Site

The water still turns the wheel, just as it has for more than a century. A massive four-story mill of stone and brick rises beside the river, its griststones still grinding corn...

Read More    7 min read

Article
After A Good Rain This Missouri Trail Drops From The State’s Highest Point To Its Tallest Waterfall

A three-mile loop is all it takes to check two major items off a Missouri hiking bucket list. The trail connects the state's highest point with its tallest waterfall.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This 165-Acre Missouri Ranch Lets You Spend The Day With Rescued Horses And Farm Animals

A quiet lane leads to a place where second chances are the main event. More than a hundred rescued animals roam the pastures. Goats,...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Chef Who Invented Springfield-Style Cashew Chicken Opened This Missouri Restaurant

In 1963, a Chinese immigrant chef faced a room full of diners who weren't sure what to make of his menu. So he did what any resourceful cook would do: he adapted.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Missouri Chocolate Factory Shows You How Cocoa Beans Become Chocolate On A Forty-Five-Minute Tour

A forty-five-minute tour is enough time to watch cocoa beans transform into chocolate, but it is also enough time to develop a serious appreciation for the craft. This Missouri...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Missouri BBQ Joint Serves Two-Pound Pork Steaks That Barely Fit On The Plate

Some barbecue plates arrive with a modest portion, but this one demands a second look. At a no-frills joint in Missouri, the signature dish is a two-pound pork steak that barely...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Welcoming Missouri Diner Serves Southern Comfort Food That Visitors Can’t Get Enough Of

A plate of crispy fried chicken, a side of creamy mac and cheese, and a biscuit that practically melts in your mouth. That is the kind of meal that makes this family-run diner...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Restored 1880s Missouri Café Lets You Browse A Boutique Between Sips Of House-Roasted Coffee

The coffee here is roasted in-house, filling the air with the kind of aroma that makes you want to linger. And linger you should, because this restored historic home in Missouri...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Wood-Fired Flatbread At This Missouri Balkan Restaurant Draws A Line Out The Door

A line of hungry diners snakes out the door on a regular Tuesday evening. That is the scene at a modest restaurant in Missouri that has become a destination for Balkan street food.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Missouri Café Buries Hash Browns Under Bacon Sausage Eggs Gravy And Cheese

There is a moment of beautiful chaos when a single plate arrives piled high with everything you could possibly want for breakfast.

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Tiny Missouri Café Serves An Off-Menu Breakfast Piled With A Burger Eggs Chili And Cheese

You know that feeling when you see something on a menu that is not really on the menu? This tiny Missouri cafe has built a quiet legend around one such dish, a towering breakfast...

Read More    5 min read

Article
This Missouri Deli Has Served The Same Hot Salami Recipe For More Than A Century

Some recipes are locked away in safes, guarded as fiercely as any family heirloom. At a small Italian deli in Missouri, the...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Century-Old Missouri Bakery Still Hand-Rolls Cannoli Shells The Old-Fashioned Way

In a world of shortcuts and frozen dough, a century-old bakery in Missouri still does things the old way. The cannoli shells...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Massive Missouri Buffet Is Worth Crossing The State With An Empty Stomach

Some meals are worth the miles, and this one practically demands a road trip. A sprawling buffet in Missouri has built a reputation that stretches across the state, drawing hungry...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Massive Missouri Outlet Mall Where A Bargain-Hunting Afternoon Still Goes A Long Way In 2026

Bargain hunting in the Ozarks takes on a whole new meaning at this sprawling open-air shopping destination. Nestled in the...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Missouri Lake Town That Summer Tourism Has Changed Beyond Recognition

Some lake towns change slowly, but this one transformed almost overnight. What was once a quiet stretch of shoreline is now a neon-lit strip of arcades, souvenir shops, and restaurants...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Hidden Missouri Mennonite Store Is Packed With Fresh Bread, Pies, And Old-Fashioned Pantry Finds

A simple green sign off the highway is the only hint that something special is hiding inside. But once you pull open the door, the warmth hits you, along with the unmistakable...

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Massive Missouri Lake That Submerged Roads, Foundations, And Entire Former Townsites

Some lakes hide their history beneath the surface, but this one keeps it buried in plain sight. When the Osage River was dammed in the late nineteen twenties, the rising water...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Tiny Mexican Bakery In Missouri Serves The Best Golden Churros Covered In Cinnamon Sugar

The smell hits you before the door even swings open. Warm fried dough, cinnamon, and sweet vanilla drift out onto the sidewalk. Step...

Read More    7 min read

Article
A Three-Ton Oven Built In Naples Turns Out Neapolitan Pizza At This Missouri Restaurant

Pizza crust should shatter, not bend. That is the philosophy behind a Missouri restaurant where the centerpiece is a three-ton oven shipped straight from Naples.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Missouri Chocolate Factory Tour Makes For A Surprisingly Sweet Day Trip

Some day trips are built on scenery. This one is built on cocoa. A family-run factory in Missouri has been turning out handcrafted...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Missouri Country Market Has Homemade Foods And Amish-Made Goods You Won’t Find Everywhere Else

The smell of fresh bread hits you the moment you walk through the door. Pies cool on wooden racks, and the deli counter is already busy stacking sandwiches high with meat and cheese.

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Missouri Festival Turns A Historic Riverfront Into A Real-Life Storybook This August

Three days every August, a historic riverfront transforms into something straight out of a storybook. The air fills with the melodies of live music while hundreds of artisans display...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Missouri Thrift Store Is Packed With Discount Art Supplies Instead Of Used Clothes

Most thrift stores are packed with racks of used clothing. This one is filled with something far more creative. A nonprofit...

Read More    7 min read

Article
9 Missouri Steakhouses With Gorgeous Patios For Late Summer Dinners

When summer in Missouri starts to mellow, the perfect way to savor it is with a steak dinner under the stars. A great patio turns a good meal into a memorable evening.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Free Missouri Food Truck Festival Returns Twice This August

The smell of grilled meat and fresh lemonade drifts across a sprawling city park, and the line at the taco truck is already fifteen people deep.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Missouri Botanical Garden Lets Local Seniors Visit For Just $4

A world-renowned garden in Missouri offers seniors a chance to explore its lush grounds for just a few dollars. That is a deal worth noting, especially for anyone who loves flowers,...

Read More    8 min read

Article
Tour A 31-Room Missouri Lodge Built Directly Over Two Natural Caves

A lawyer built a home over a cave. Two, actually. The lodge sits on a limestone bluff, and the cool air rising from the caves below keeps the whole building comfortable, even on...

Read More    7 min read

Article
9 Family-Owned Missouri Fabric Stores Worth A Road Trip

Most fabric stores are just a quick stop. A few bolts of cotton, a spool of thread, and you are on your way. But Missouri has...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Missouri Sanctuary Brings You Face-To-Face With Rescued Tigers, Lions, And Wolves

A tiger's roar is not something you forget. It is low and deep, and you feel it in your chest before you fully register the sound. At...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Missouri Noodle Shop Lets You Choose From More Than 100 Ramen Options And Cook Them Yourself

Walking in is like stepping into a Korean convenience store, but with one major upgrade: you are in charge of the entire process.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Missouri Bakery Is Home To A Gigantic Sandwich Called The Hook ’Em Up

The Hook 'Em Up is one of those sandwiches that demands to be seen in person, a colossal stack of meats that spills over the edges of its onion roll like a dare.

Read More    7 min read

Article
10 Missouri Lake Beaches Locals Swear By For A Summer Day Trip

You do not need a plane ticket to find soft sand and clear water. Missouri has its own collection of lake beaches that locals return to summer after summer.

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Quiet Missouri Lake Town That Is Perfect For A Cheap Summer Getaway

The highway noise fades the moment you turn off. A small Missouri lake town sits quietly ahead, and the water is never far away. Clearwater...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Missouri Cabin Getaway Has A Private 60-Acre Lake With No Motors And No Crowds

The only sound on the water is the dip of a paddle and the call of a distant bird. A spring-fed lake in Missouri stretches across sixty acres of quiet, private water, and there...

Read More    7 min read

Article
One Of Missouri’s Strangest Scenic Overlooks Sits On Top Of A Sealed Nuclear Waste Site

The view is undeniably beautiful, a sprawling patchwork of rolling hills and distant city buildings. Yet the view itself is perhaps the strangest part, because this scenic overlook...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Sprawling Missouri Flea Market Where You Can Eat, Shop, And Wander For Hours

Eighty acres of vendors, gravel aisles, and the kind of treasure hunt that turns a quick stop into an all-day affair. That is the pull of this sprawling Missouri flea market, where...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The First Solid Proof Humans Lived Alongside Mastodons Was Found At This Missouri Site

The first solid proof that humans and mastodons walked the same land was found here. A stone spear point wedged against a mastodon bone. That discovery changed everything.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Forgotten Building In The Missouri Ozarks Is Now A Foodie Paradise That’s Worth The Drive

An old gristmill on a Missouri river has been transformed into a food destination. The menu changes with the season. Ingredients...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Thousands Of Couples Have Said “I Do” Inside This Beautiful Missouri Cave

Have you ever imagined getting married in a place that feels completely otherworldly? A mile-long cave in Missouri has hosted thousands of weddings, and the setting is unforgettable.

Read More    6 min read

Article
A Former Missouri Quarry Is Now A Crystal-Blue Swimming Hole With Sandy Beaches And Cliff Jumps

You would never guess this place used to be a quarry. Now it holds water so blue it looks like a tropical postcard. Sandy beaches...

Read More    8 min read

Article
Missouri’s Most Famous Natural Swimming Hole Has Strict Rules Every Summer Visitor Should Know

The water crashes through billion-year-old rock, carving out chutes and pools that look like nature's own water park. A state...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Tiny Missouri River Town Is Becoming One Of The State’s Best Grown-Up Weekend Escapes

A tiny Missouri river town is quietly becoming one of the state's best escapes for anyone who needs a weekend that feels a little more grown-up.

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Missouri Canyon Is Actually The Roofless Remains Of A Cave That Collapsed About 10,000 Years Ago

A collapsed cave system in Missouri has left behind a roofless canyon that stretches three-quarters of a mile between towering walls, and it has been called the "Little Grand Canyon"...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Old-School Missouri Rib House Still Cooks Barbecue Over Open Brick-Walled Hickory Pits

Hickory smoke rises from brick-walled pits that have been slow-cooking meat since the nineteen fifties. A family-run Missouri...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Missouri Trail That Ends At A Volcanic View Most Visitors Never Realize Is There

What if the oldest rocks in the country were hiding at the top of a Missouri trail? Some of the most ancient exposed rock in the United States awaits hikers at the summit of a...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Chic Missouri European Cafe Serves Up Incredible Scratch-Made Pastries And Brunch Right On The Town Square

The chocolate croissant shatters just enough, and the butter in the pastry tastes like it was made for a slower kind of morning.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Missouri Restaurant Delivers Your Burger By Overhead Train After You Order From A Table Telephone

The small train rumbles along a track above your head, carrying a basket of fries and a burger straight to your table. You...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Former Missouri Luxury Hotel Hides An 1860 Train And A Vintage Carousel Under One Roof

You walk through the doors of a former luxury hotel in Missouri, and the first thing you see is a full-sized steam locomotive from the eighteen nineties sitting inside the building....

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Downtown Missouri Oyster Bar Serves Cajun Food With Live Music Seven Nights A Week

A 170-year-old building that once housed a brothel now serves some of the best Cajun food in the Midwest. Live music starts every single night of the week.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Rural Missouri Store Sells Everything From Homemade Pie To Porch Furniture

You can pick up a jar of homemade jam, then a cast-iron skillet, then a slice of pie so good it makes the drive worth it all. A...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Clearest Summer Creek In Missouri Is Almost Too Beautiful To Be Real

The water is so clear it almost doesn't look real, and the creek flows beneath a towering bluff that gives the park its name. Sinking...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Wild Story Behind The Haunted Ghost Town Submerged At The Bottom Of This Missouri Lake

A drowned town rests at the bottom of a Missouri lake, its streets still visible to those who know where to look. The town...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Oklahoma City Pizza Spot Got Dave Portnoy’s Attention For A Reason

A pizza place in Oklahoma City caught the attention of a national pizza critic for a reason that goes beyond social media buzz. What he found was a spot in the Plaza District where...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Missouri Amish Country Store Where Bulk Goods, Baked Treats, And Backroads Charm Make A Simple Day Trip

A country store in Missouri has been serving travelers and locals for years, and the shelves are packed with bulk spices, homemade jams, and baked goods that came out of the oven...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Overrated Missouri Resort Towns That Have Become Way Too Congested And Packed In Summer

A lake that used to feel like a quiet escape has turned into something else entirely. The shoreline is packed, the boat traffic is relentless, and the roads leading in are clogged...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Missouri Battlefield Is Peaceful Now, But Its History Still Speaks

Some battlefields feel like they are still holding their breath, and this one in Missouri is no exception. More than a century...

Read More    7 min read