beckett lawson author at My Family Travels
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This New Jersey Lakeside Tavern Serves Up Stunning Waterfront Views For The Perfect Afternoon

Have you ever found a New Jersey spot that feels less like a local eatery and more like a front-row seat to a private nature show?

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This New Jersey Bar Lets You Catch The World Cup Final With Elite Gourmet Sandwiches

New Jersey has a bar that somehow makes watching the World Cup final feel like a gourmet event. Instead of just fries and wings, you’re handed sandwiches so fancy they deserve...

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The Most Unexpected Coffee Shop In New Jersey Serving The Best Ube Pandesal In The State

Nobody ever told me that the best coffee experience in New Jersey would be hiding inside an office building. Seriously, I...

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The New Jersey Chocolate Lab Where Easter Eggs Are Hand-Painted With Actual Gold

Walking into this boutique feels less like visiting a candy store and more like entering a high-end art gallery where everything happens to be edible.

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12 Legendary Trenton, New Jersey Eateries That Belong On Your 2026 Bucket List

My stomach had no idea what it was getting into, and honestly, neither did I. Some cities hide their best food secrets down...

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This New Jersey Trail Lets You Discover Three Hidden Waterfalls In Less Than A Mile Of Hiking

Honestly, I packed snacks for a two-hour hike and ended up standing in front of a stunning waterfall in about seven minutes flat. My jaw dropped so fast I nearly lost my trail...

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This Cat Lounge In New Jersey Lets You Trade Coffee Shop Noise For Purrs While You Sip A Latte From Next Door

In New Jersey, there is a lounge where the soundtrack isn’t clinking cups or laptop keyboards; it’s steady purrs. Instead...

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This Historic New Jersey Train Offers Seasonal Excursions Through Breathtaking Landscapes

Did you know New Jersey is home to a train that feels like a moving postcard? Seasonal rides take you through landscapes so pretty you’ll want to press your face against the...

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This New Jersey Thrift Store Makes Style, Savings, And Giving Back Possible

New Jersey thrift stores can be goldmines if you know how to dig. Here, the racks are packed with quirky finds, from vintage...

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Top 12 Restaurants Along New Jersey’s Shore To Visit This Spring

Spring at the Jersey Shore isn’t just about dusting off your flip-flops; it’s about loosening your belt a notch too. The...

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This Charming New Jersey Village Features 114 Historic Tents Arranged Near The Sea

Have you ever wandered into a neighborhood that feels like a literal time machine from the late 1800s? Ocean Grove is a charming...

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This Underrated New Jersey Town Is A Secret Most Locals Don’t Even Know Exists

New Jersey has plenty of towns you’ve heard of, but this one feels like it slipped through the cracks on purpose. It’s...

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10 New Jersey Cinnamon Rolls Worth The Early Alarm

There’s something about cinnamon rolls in New Jersey that makes waking up early almost worth it. The smell alone could drag...

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This Scenic New Jersey Escape Combines Purple Fields And Playful Alpacas

Did you know alpacas hum when they’re curious or content? It’s like their own little soundtrack to life. Now picture that...

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This Historic New Jersey Village Is A Treasure Trove Of Antiques And Authentic Amish Food

New Jersey has a village that feels like it was designed for curiosity. Antique shops line the streets, each one packed with relics that make you wonder who owned them before.

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The French Onion Soup At This Steakhouse In New Jersey Is A Must-Taste Classic

Okay, so here is the thing: I did not drive to Princeton, New Jersey expecting a bowl of soup to completely steal the show. I...

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From Karting To Road Racing, This New Jersey’s Motorsports Paradise Has It All

If you’ve ever thought New Jersey was just about diners and boardwalks, think again. This place is basically a playground for anyone who loves speed.

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Why This Local New Jersey Favorite Is The Ultimate Destination For A Traditional Jersey Plain Pie

New Jersey has plenty of pizza spots, but there’s one local favorite that takes the plain pie to legendary status. The kind...

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10 Must-Visit Portuguese Restaurants Serving Flavorful Traditions Across New Jersey

The first time I visited Newark's Ironbound district, I genuinely thought I had taken a wrong turn into Lisbon. The smell...

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New Jersey Locals Drive Miles For Apple Fritters That Are Crispy, Sweet, And Totally Worth It

There are two kinds of people in New Jersey: those who have been to this bakery, and those who are seriously missing out. I...

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Mountains, Models, And Miniature Magic: This New Jersey Wonderland Is An Absolute Small-Scale Marvel

New Jersey has a knack for hiding wonders in plain sight, and this one feels like stepping into another universe. Imagine...

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Sleep Among The Pines In New Jersey’s Magical Riverside Hideaway

I wasn't expecting much when I first turned onto Godfrey Bridge Road, just another campground tucked somewhere in the Pine Barrens.

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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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