caleb winslow author at My Family Travels
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This Historic Virginia Tavern Is Serving Thanksgiving Dinner With Live Music And Colonial Charm

Roasted turkey, venison stew, and live tavern music are all part of a Thanksgiving celebration inspired by colonial dining traditions. That's quite a different atmosphere from...

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This Virginia Italian Restaurant Crafts Fresh Pasta So Silky You’ll Think You Landed In Rome

The kitchen here has one firm rule: no changes allowed. That's how they do it in Italy, and this chef refuses to bend it. The...

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This 180-Acre Virginia Safari Park Lets You See Massive Bison Roaming Along A 3-Mile Wildlife Drive

Massive bison can wander surprisingly close to your vehicle during a three-mile safari drive. That's certainly different from watching wildlife through a fence, especially when...

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A Virginia Couple Opened A Tiny 2,500-Square-Foot Grocery Store In 1990, And It Grew Into A 75,000-Square-Foot Supermarket

A grocery store that started with just 2,500 square feet eventually expanded into a 75,000-square-foot supermarket. That's thirty times the original size!

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This New Hampshire Restaurant Serves A Sunday Brunch Buffet With An Omelet Station, Pastries And All-You-Can-Eat Favorites

A chocolate fountain at Sunday brunch, surrounded by strawberries, pineapple, cherries, and marshmallows. That alone got my attention.

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This Virginia Haitian Restaurant Brings The Flavors Of The Caribbean To Life With Traditional Island Cooking

Haitian griot, crispy pressed plantains, and a fiery slaw called pikliz once put a small Virginia kitchen on the map. Promotional listings even called it the only Haitian restaurant...

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This Virginia Restaurant Brings The Flavors Of Nepal To The Table With Handmade Momos And Family Recipes

Yak momos. Wild boar curry. A crispy ring of fried rice flour bread paired with a tangy radish pickle. That lineup alone made...

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Two New Hampshire Volunteers Led An $80,000 Effort To Restore A Historic Statue That Had Stood For Decades

A bronze cavalry officer has been charging across a city park for more than eight decades, sword raised and horse in full stride. In 2017, two local history lovers decided he deserved...

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Hollywood Turned This Historic Virginia Town Into A Movie Set For Steven Spielberg And Other Major Productions

Steven Spielberg spent 53 days filming Lincoln here in late 2011. A real 1854 train depot became a restaurant where Lincoln's Secretary of State recruited lobbyists.

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People Drive Along A Winding Virginia Mountain Road For The Wood-Fired Pizza At This Tiny Country Restaurant

A pizza called Hog in the Hive sits on the menu of a tiny mountain-town kitchen. Another one goes by Pearadise. I like a place...

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This New Hampshire Shopping Center Hides A Waterfall, Historic Mill Buildings And A Whole Village Of Little Shops

A 40-foot waterfall tumbles right through a shopping center, and someone built it on purpose more than 200 years ago. A mill owner dug a rock-lined canal around 1818 just to make...

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This Virginia Farm Lets You Cuddle Fluffy Mini Highland Cows, Brush Their Coats And Feed Them By Hand

Somewhere outside Richmond, a herd of shaggy mini Highland cows is waiting for someone to brush their bangs. Yes, cow bangs. They...

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10 Beginner-Friendly Virginia Autumn Trails That Look Like A Scene Straight Out Of A Movie

One Virginia walking path carries you across a bridge 125 feet above a river, and the surface under your shoes is flat crushed stone. That means you can float over a sea of orange...

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Vandals Shattered A Historic Virginia Statue, But Local Volunteers And Sculptors Brought It Back More Than A Decade Later

A stone Pan, the goat-legged Greek god of the wild, got knocked off his spot by vandals in December 2002. He stayed in pieces for more than ten long years.

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This Virginia Haunted Attraction Was Ranked America’s Third-Best Haunted House In 2026

A haunted house inside a shopping center just earned a 9.45 from one of the toughest haunt critics in the country. That score made it America's third-best haunted house for 2026,...

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This Tiny New Hampshire Town Has A 50,000-Square-Foot Store With Hardware, Lumber, Home Goods And Just About Everything Else

More than 5,000 firearms, a full lumber yard, Amish furniture, and root beer floats all share one address. Yes, really. One family...

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This Elegant Virginia Steakhouse Was Named After Two Fathers Who Both Served In World War II

Two dads who both served their country during the 1940s now have a steakhouse named in their honor. Their portraits greet every guest at the door, like proud hosts who never miss...

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This Historic New Hampshire General Store Has Been Part Store, Part Museum, And Part Time Machine For Generations

Shopping usually means buying things and leaving. One store in New Hampshire offers something different. It has been in continuous...

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This Virginia Theater Once Accepted Food Instead Of Cash, And Nearly A Century Later It’s Still Putting On Shows

A ticket to see a play once cost about 40 cents, or the same value in vegetables, milk, or even a live pig. Folks really paid with farm goods at the door.

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This Historic Virginia Battleship Required Pollution Cleanup Before Visitors Could Explore It, And Millions More Are Budgeted To Preserve It

A battleship nearly as long as three football fields was recently nudged a few feet away from its pier. It was the first time the massive ship had budged in nearly 26 years.

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10 Fall Sweet Spots In Virginia We’d Go Out Of Our Way To Try This Season

One of the fall bakeries I'm most excited about in Virginia is named after a 1954 Ford pickup truck. I love that an old red truck inspired a shop now famous for cakes and pies.

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A Wealthy Virginia Philanthropist Donated 1,100 Acres Of Farmland To The State, Turning It Into A Scenic Public Park

Land donations do not always make headlines, but they can change a landscape for generations. A wealthy Virginia philanthropist donated 1,100 acres of farmland to the state, and...

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This Virginia Pretzel Baker Uses A Generations-Old Alpine Recipe And Still Twists Every Pretzel By Hand

Pretzels are everywhere, but most of them are made by machines. This Virginia pretzel baker does it differently. The recipe is...

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11 New Hampshire Churches With Stunning Architecture That Feel Like A Tour Through Old Europe

Some buildings are designed for function, and some are designed to make you stop and look up. The churches of New Hampshire fall into the second category, and a tour through them...

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This Virginia Maritime Museum Lets Families Explore A Battleship And Discover Life At Sea

Battleships are not small. Standing on the deck of one gives you a sense of scale that photographs cannot capture. This Virginia...

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This New Hampshire Rail Trail Follows An Old Railroad Line Through Scenic Countryside

Some trails are built for speed, and some are built for wandering. This New Hampshire rail trail falls into the second category. It...

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This Virginia Trail Is An Easy Walk With A Historic Stone Bridge Along The Way

Easy walks do not get enough credit. Not every outing needs to be a challenge, and not every trail needs to climb a mountain. This...

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This 1890s Virginia Schoolhouse Was Turned Into A Charming Inn With Gardens And A Restaurant

Old schoolhouses have a certain feel. High ceilings, big windows, and the sense that generations of students once passed through the same halls.

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This Massive Virginia Bowling Alley Has 32 Glowing Lanes And A Retro-Inspired Interior

Thirty-two lanes is a lot of bowling. But this Virginia alley is not just about the number. The interior leans into a retro aesthetic,...

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This Virginia Hardware Store Has 7,000 Square Feet Of Tools And Access To More Than 80,000 Products

Hardware stores come in different sizes. Some are small and focused, the kind of place where you know the owner by name. Others...

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11 Virginia Restaurants That Are Worth Building A Road Trip Around

Some restaurants are worth a short drive. Others are worth planning an entire trip around. This list has eleven Virginia restaurants...

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This Virginia Attraction Is Home To The Only Public Korean Bell Garden In The Western Hemisphere

Bells carry meaning in Korean culture that goes back centuries. They are rung for peace, for remembrance, for hope. Most people...

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This Virginia Store Combines Vintage Finds, Collectibles And A Gem Mine In One Roadside Stop

Roadside stops are usually predictable. Gas, snacks, maybe a restroom. This Virginia store takes a different approach. It combines...

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This New Hampshire Cafe Serves A Turkish Breakfast Plate Worth Clearing The Table For

Breakfast plates come in all sizes, but few arrive with as much variety as this one. This New Hampshire cafe serves a Turkish breakfast spread that takes over the entire table,...

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This Virginia Restaurant Serves A Turkish Breakfast Platter Big Enough To Take Over The Table

Breakfast in most places is a plate. Eggs, toast, maybe some meat. This Virginia restaurant takes a different approach. The Turkish...

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This Popular New York-Style Virginia Deli Just Opened Its Second Arlington Location

Expansion is usually a good sign. It means people are buying what you are selling, and the demand is strong enough to justify a second location.

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This Colonial-Era New Hampshire Mansion Still Feels Like A Royal Governor’s Home

Some historic homes feel like museums, roped off and untouchable. This New Hampshire mansion feels different. It was built in...

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This New Hampshire Pizzeria Impressed Dave Portnoy Enough To Earn His Best Score In The State That Day

Pizza reviews can be brutal, and few reviewers are as blunt as Dave Portnoy. When he visits a spot and walks away impressed, people pay attention.

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This Virginia Pizzeria Beat 31 Other Pizza Spots To Win A Regional Pizza Championship

Winning a pizza championship is not just about having a good recipe. It is about consistency, technique, and the ability to execute under pressure.

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Everyone Goes To Williamsburg, But This Nearby Virginia Town Might Be Even Better

Williamsburg gets the attention, and it deserves it. The historic district is impressive, the interpreters are skilled, and the whole place feels like a step into the 18th century.

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11 Virginia Restaurants To Try When You’re Tired Of Chain Restaurants

Chain restaurants have their place. They are predictable, convenient, and you know exactly what you are getting. But after a...

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This Virginia Spot Makes So Many Kinds Of Georgian Khachapuri You Might Need A Second Visit

Khachapuri is one of those dishes that sounds simple until you see the variations. At its core, it is bread filled with cheese, but the regional differences are significant.

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This New Virginia Restaurant Brings Izakaya Dining, Sushi, Ramen, And Hibachi Under One Roof

Most restaurants pick one lane. Sushi bar, ramen shop, hibachi grill. This new Virginia restaurant decided to do all of it, and...

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Still Family-Owned After 56 Years, This Virginia Italian Restaurant Keeps Feeding Generations

Restaurants come and go, especially family-owned ones. The hours are long, the margins are thin, and the next generation does not always want to take over.

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This Massive Weekend Flea Market In Virginia Is Where Bargain Hunters Fill Their Trunks With Treasures

Bargain hunters have a sixth sense for certain places. They know which markets are worth the early alarm, which vendors to hit first, and which aisles get picked over before most...

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This Virginia Airport Is Becoming A Haven For Low-Cost Flights

Air travel has gotten expensive, and finding a cheap flight often feels like a part-time job. But some airports make it easier than others, and one Virginia airport is quietly...

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Virginia’s Fall Colors Are About to Pop And These Are the 10 Best Spots

Every year it happens the same way. The green starts to fade, the air turns crisp, and suddenly the mountains are on fire with color.

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This Classic New Hampshire Drive-In Keeps Old-Fashioned Movie Nights Alive

Drive-in theaters have mostly disappeared, but a few still survive, and this New Hampshire spot is one of the best. The screen is huge, the lot is wide, and the sound comes through...

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11 Virginia Restaurants Serving Irish Breakfasts Worth Getting Up Early For

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and an Irish breakfast takes that idea seriously. These Virginia restaurants serve plates that are hearty, filling, and worth setting...

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This Old-Fashioned Virginia Candy Shop Is The Kind Of Place Kids Never Want To Leave

Walking into this Virginia candy shop feels like stepping back in time. The shelves are lined with jars of sweets, the counters are full of chocolates, and the smell of sugar hangs...

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10 Blue-Collar Virginia Restaurants That Serve Huge Portions For Cheap

Value is easy to talk about and harder to find. Plenty of restaurants claim to serve big portions at low prices, and plenty of them fall short.

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12 Dog-Friendly Virginia Hikes That Get Even Better In The Fall

Fall changes everything about a hike. The air cools down, the leaves turn, and the trails that felt brutal in July suddenly feel inviting.

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10 Virginia Hikes With Views That Look Like They Should Require Much More Effort

Some views feel earned after hours of climbing. Others feel like a gift, offering a stunning payoff without the punishing ascent. This...

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9 Virginia Pottery Studios Where Beginners Can Try Something Completely New

Getting your hands in clay is one of those experiences that sounds intimidating until you actually try it. Virginia has pottery studios that welcome beginners, places where you...

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This Virginia Pottery Warehouse Is Packed With Cheap Pots And Unexpected Garden Finds

Gardeners know that pots can be expensive. A few large planters, some smaller containers, and suddenly you have spent more than you planned.

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This New Virginia Greek Diner Is The Comfort Food We Need Right Now

Comfort food has a way of showing up exactly when you need it. This new Virginia Greek diner delivers that kind of meal, with dishes that are hearty, familiar, and made with care.

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You Can Observe Tens Of Thousands Of Migrating Waterfowl At This Peaceful New Hampshire Coastal Refuge

Migration season turns this New Hampshire coastal refuge into one of the best wildlife viewing spots in the region. Tens of thousands of waterfowl pass through every fall, using...

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9 Beautiful Virginia Parks Where Late-Summer Nights Reveal The Full Milky Way

Late summer is the best time for stargazing in Virginia. The nights are warm, the skies are clear, and if you find the right spot, the Milky Way stretches across the sky in full...

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This Virginia Resort Restaurant From Gordon Ramsay Serves His Iconic Beef Wellington

Gordon Ramsay has built a reputation on high standards and iconic dishes. One of those dishes is beef Wellington, a classic that is notoriously difficult to get right.

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This Nostalgic Mountain Coffee Stop In New Hampshire Keeps Cozy Historic Main Street Vibes Alive All Year Round

Main streets in small mountain towns have a certain feel that is hard to replicate anywhere else. This New Hampshire coffee stop has managed to hold onto that feeling, even as...

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