beckett lawson author at My Family Travels
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The One New Jersey Destination Where 18th-Century History Meets World-Class Design

Honestly, I showed up to Princeton expecting a stuffy campus full of serious people whispering in Latin, and instead found myself completely charmed by a place that somehow makes...

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This Legendary All-You-Can-Eat Restaurant Is So Good People Drive Across New Jersey For It

Every once in a while, a restaurant pops up that feels less like a meal and more like a celebration, and this all-you-can-eat buffet is exactly that.

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This Award-Winning Coffee Shop In New Jersey Is Loved For Bold Espresso Flavors And Crumb Cake

There’s a buzz in New Jersey, and it starts at Spire Coffeehouse, where the aroma alone feels like a warm welcome. The talk...

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The Legendary Crumb Cake That Made A New Jersey Bakery Famous

If you’ve ever wondered why a single slice of cake can turn a humble shop into a statewide legend, you’re in for a treat. Imagine...

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This Under-The-Radar Antique Store In New Jersey Is A Wonderland Of Retro Finds

There is something about stepping into a place that feels like time slowed down just for you. Walking into Red Bank Antiques...

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This Four-Story New Jersey Antique Mall Has The State’s Most Bizarre Artifacts

I've wandered through countless antique stores across the country, but nothing quite prepared me for this treasure trove. The...

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The Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurant In New Jersey That’ll Make Your Lunch The Highlight Of The Day

Some of the tastiest meals I’ve stumbled into came from spots I nearly walked right past. You too?

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A New Jersey Hike Through The Forest Of A Thousand Tiny Eyes

I set out for a hike at Gnome Hollow Nature Preserve, expecting trees, trails, and maybe a squirrel or two. Instead, I found myself surrounded by what felt like a thousand tiny...

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This Historic New Jersey Coffee Shop Captures The Perfect Small-Town Vibe

If you’ve ever wanted to step inside a cozy, small-town movie set without the dramatic plot twists, Jersey Java and Tea Co. in Haddonfield is your destination.

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Why This Century-Old Bakery Is Still A New Jersey Icon

Walking into Carlo's in Hoboken feels like a warm, buttery hug from 1910 that survived the fame of reality TV. The scent of...

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New Jersey’s 350-Acre Safari Park Lets You Get Surprisingly Close To Exotic Animals

I thought New Jersey was all diners and boardwalks, but then I found myself face-to-face with a giraffe. Driving through 350 acres of safari felt less like Jersey and more like...

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12 Beginner-Friendly Hikes In New Jersey To Tackle This Spring

I still remember the first time I laced up my sneakers and stepped onto a trail in New Jersey, half-expecting it to be boring and flat.

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10 Essential Stops To Taste New Jersey’s Legendary Tomatoes

I never thought much about tomatoes until I bit into one at a roadside farm stand in New Jersey. The juice ran down my chin, and the flavor was so sweet and tangy it made every...

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Mistaken Beliefs About Pennsylvania’s Amish Communities

Have you ever thought you “knew” the Amish, only to realize most of it came from TV or tourist brochures? That’s the tricky part, so many of us carry around half-true ideas...

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The Rugged New Jersey Hike That’s More Stunning Than You’d Ever Expect

I'll admit I had my doubts when I first heard about the Giant Stairs Palisades. How could a trail so close to the city offer...

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The Restaurant That Makes Cheesecake The Star Of New Jersey Nights

I’ll admit it: I don’t go here for dinner, I go here for cheesecake. Who needs entrées when dessert is clearly the headliner?...

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The New Jersey Coffee Hub Brewing A Full Feb-Brew-ary Of Events And Viral Vegan Treats

I wandered into Catfight Coffee on a frosty February morning, and wow... talk about a wake-up call. Forget your plain latte...

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11 Ethnic Food Stores In New Jersey That Keep Traditions Alive

New Jersey has always been a melting pot, and I swear the best proof of that is hiding in its incredible ethnic food stores. Walking...

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The Offbeat New Jersey Bar Serving Up Island Vibes All Year

I’ll let you in on a secret: on a quiet corner of Lyndhurst sits a portal to the tropics. No, seriously - one minute you’re in New Jersey, the next you’re surrounded by tiki...

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This Sprawling New Jersey Sanctuary Reveals A Secret Landscape Of Marshes And Wildlife

I set out for a simple stroll along the Delaware Bay and somehow ended up in New Jersey’s wildest reality show. Glades Wildlife...

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The Wonderfully Wacky Restaurant In New Jersey You’ll Crave Again And Again

Imagine stepping through a doorway and landing smack in the middle of the 11th century, complete with knights on horseback, clanging swords, and a four-course feast you eat with...

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Why This New Jersey Cafe Is The Most Unusual Spot For A Morning Coffee

Finding the perfect coffee shop can transform your entire morning routine, and Grooveground Coffeebar has mastered the art of creating an experience that goes far beyond your average...

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10 Off-The-Radar New Jersey Restaurants Every Foodie Should Visit

You know what I love about New Jersey? Behind every strip mall and down every quiet country road, there's a restaurant serving...

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This Little New Jersey Stand Serves The Shore’s Most Iconic Bread-Bowl Clam Chowder

I’ve got to tell you, Beach Haven hides one of the Jersey Shore’s best-kept secrets, and it comes steaming hot inside a hollowed-out sourdough bowl.

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The Highest Lake In New Jersey Is Ready To Be Your Springtime Living Room

The first time I visited Lake Hopatcong, I brought way too much gear. Cooler, fishing rod, folding chair, even a frisbee I hadn’t touched in years.

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This New Jersey Catfish Spot Has A Way Of Turning First-Timers Into Lifelong Regulars

I pulled up to 1254 Haddon Ave in Camden, New Jersey, not quite sure what to expect from a soul food spot that had been feeding locals for three decades.

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This Hole-In-The-Wall New Jersey Restaurant Deserves More Attention

I found a breakfast spot on Main Street in Barnegat, New Jersey that instantly felt like stepping into my grandmother’s kitchen on a Sunday morning. Lucille’s Country Cooking...

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This Magical New Jersey Spot Is Perfect For Spring Family Adventures

Let me spill the beans: 6415 Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township isn’t just an address; it’s the portal to a place where fairy tales stop pretending to be bedtime stories...

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The New Jersey’s Sweet Escape For Blueberries, Pies, And Family Fun

I wasn’t even looking for it... I was just cruising around on a sunny Saturday when I ended up at Emery’s Farm. Total...

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This New Jersey Lavender Retreat Feels Lifted Straight From The French Countryside

I never imagined that in the rolling hills of Port Murray, New Jersey, I'd discover a slice of Provence right here in the Garden State.

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This New Jersey Celebration Unites Food, Music, And Community Year After Year

Every Labor Day Weekend, I find myself on Spring Street in Lodi, New Jersey, where neighbors, families, and food lovers gather for a tradition that blends faith with heritage....

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This Classic No-Frills New Jersey Spot Might Just Serve The Best Fries In The State

The first time I pulled up to Tick Tock Diner on Allwood Road in Clifton, I wasn’t just hungry, I was curious. That gleaming chrome exterior practically screams “classic Jersey,”...

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9 Roadside Stops In New Jersey That Capture The Essence Of The State

Have you ever driven through a state and thought, “Wow, this place has way more personality than it gets credit for”? That’s...

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Why New Jersey Earned The Title Of Diner Capital Of The World

New Jersey holds a title that no other state can claim: the Diner Capital of the World. With over 500 diners scattered across its highways and neighborhoods, the Garden State has...

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This Challenging New Jersey Climb Ends With A View Worth Every Step

Ever thought your grocery-store cart workout could prepare you for a mountain climb? I did, and let me tell you, Mt. Tammany’s...

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11 New Jersey Soul Food Joints Locals Hope Stay Off The Map

You ever notice how Jersey folks get real quiet when you ask about their favorite soul food spots? That’s because they’d...

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The New Jersey Shoreline Hotspot Tourists Ruined By Too Much Love

Cape May, New Jersey, sits at the very tip of the state's southern peninsula, a place where Victorian elegance meets sandy beaches and salty ocean breezes.

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This Lesser-Known New Jersey City Lets Retirees Live Big Without Breaking The Bank

Camden, New Jersey, sits quietly along the Delaware River, just across from Philadelphia, offering retirees a surprisingly affordable place to call home.

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9 Hidden Lakes In New Jersey That Locals Treasure But Tourists Rarely Visit

New Jersey might be famous for beaches, but venture inland and you'll discover a completely different side of the Garden State. Tucked...

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The Roadside Oddities In New Jersey That Even Make Locals Scratch Their Heads

Ever stumble on a place so strange you wonder if you’ve slipped into another world? New Jersey has plenty of those, and they’re hiding in plain sight.

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The Family Attraction In New Jersey That Stays Busy Even In Winter

Jenkinson's Aquarium in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, is a beloved marine sanctuary that has been enchanting families for decades.

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The Enormous New Jersey Thrift Store Where Bargain Hunters Find Treasure Every Day

Step inside one of New Jersey’s biggest bargain havens, where two floors overflow with secondhand treasures waiting to be discovered. American Thrift Store has become a magnet...

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9 All-You-Can-Eat Seafood Buffets In New Jersey Where Catfish Could Be The Catch Of Your Life

New Jersey might be famous for its boardwalks and pizza, but the Garden State has quietly become a seafood lover's paradise, especially if you know where to look.

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Travel Back To The 1970s With New Jersey’s Quirky Monuments And Classic Spots

New Jersey holds a treasure trove of quirky landmarks and nostalgic hangouts that transport you straight back to the disco era. From...

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This Beloved New Jersey Diner Serves A $9.95 Breakfast That’s Road-Trip Worthy

On a quiet corner in Matawan, New Jersey, sits a cozy Greek diner that has won the hearts of locals and travelers alike with its unbeatable breakfast prices and homestyle cooking....

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This Amish Market In New Jersey Keeps Drawing Crowds Week After Week

In the heart of Cumberland County, the Greater Bridgeton Amish Farm Market at 2 Cassidy Court in Bridgeton, New Jersey, has grown into one of the Garden State’s most beloved...

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The Secret New Jersey Vintage Store Packed With Rare Finds You’ll Never Want To Leave

In the charming town of Andover, New Jersey, lies a treasure hunter's paradise that most people drive right past without a second glance.

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This Beloved New Jersey Cafe Turns French Toast Into A Statewide Obsession

Tucked along the bustling stretch of Route 35 in Wall Township, a contemporary breakfast haven has transformed the Garden State's morning routine into something extraordinary....

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The Charming Town In New Jersey Where Locals Say Slowing Down Is The Secret To Happiness

Set along New Jersey’s stunning coastline, Spring Lake is a seaside escape that feels like stepping into a slower, sweeter chapter of life.

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Boardwalk Bites On The New Jersey Shore That Even Locals Don’t See Coming

New Jersey's boardwalks are famous for saltwater taffy, funnel cakes, and the classic slice of pizza that everyone knows and loves.

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