caleb winslow author at My Family Travels
Article
This Spring-Fed Virginia Lake Has Water So Clear You Can See the Bottom And Locals Intend To Preserve It

You look down from the dock and you can see the bottom. Rocks, sand, and fish swimming below, all visible through water so clear it almost does not seem real.

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11 New Hampshire Restaurants So Popular They Book Out Weeks Ahead

Planning a meal at these restaurants requires advance work. You have to mark your calendar, set a reminder, and call exactly when reservations open.

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These 9 Virginia Beach Waterfront Hangouts Pair Ocean Breezes With Unforgettable Views

There is no better way to end a beach day than with a cold drink and an ocean breeze. The salt in the air, the sound of the waves, and a drink in your hand that matches the setting.

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11 Family-Owned Virginia Cafes Locals Would Rather Keep To Themselves

There is a certain kind of cafe that locals protect. They do not tell their friends, they do not post about it online, and they definitely do not want it showing up on any tourist...

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9 Massive Virginia Lakes That Feel More Like Oceans Than Inland Waters

When you think of a lake, you might imagine something small, a pond you can see across. But these Virginia lakes are different. They...

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You Will Not Believe This Gorgeous Inland Virginia Beach Is Completely Cut Off From The Ocean

When you think of a beach, you think of the ocean. Salt water, waves, and the smell of the sea. But this Virginia beach is different....

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This All-You-Can-Eat Virginia Mexican Buffet Is a Total Paradise Where You Don’t Have To Choose

Buffets are about choice, but some buffets make you choose between quality and quantity. This Virginia Mexican buffet manages to deliver both, a spread that is wide enough to satisfy...

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These 10 New Hampshire Restaurants Are the Ones Locals Quietly Try to Keep to Themselves

Some places are too good to share. The locals know this, and they guard the secret carefully. These New Hampshire restaurants...

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This New Hampshire Landmark Has Housed The Oldest Continuously Operating Post Office Building In America Since 1816

The building does not look like much from the outside. Just a simple structure that has been standing on the same spot for over two centuries.

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This International Market in Virginia Turns Grocery Shopping Into A Delicious Trip Around The World

Grocery shopping is usually a chore. You have a list, you grab what you need, and you get out. But this Virginia international...

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This Virginia Beach Waterfront Spot Makes A Regular Lunch Feel Like A Coastal Getaway

Lunch is usually a quick affair, a sandwich eaten at a desk or a salad grabbed between meetings. But at this Virginia Beach waterfront spot, lunch becomes something else entirely.

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This New Hampshire Restaurant Feast Is So Exceptionally Rich The Taste Lingers For Days

A friend told me about this place months ago, and I finally made the trip on a crisp autumn afternoon. The drive through the countryside was beautiful, but nothing prepared me...

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This Famous New Hampshire Ice Cream Shop Serves Scoops That Locals Keep All to Themselves

Some places are too good to share. The locals know this, and they keep the secret to themselves. This famous New Hampshire ice...

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This Beatles Themed Pub In Virginia Has Been Entertaining Fans Since 1982

You walk through the door and the music hits you first. Not in a loud, overwhelming way, but like a familiar friend. This Virginia...

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At Under $16 For Lunch, This Virginia Buffet Is An Economical Feast With Sushi And Seafood

You can find a cheap lunch anywhere. But an economical feast with sushi and seafood? That takes a special place. At under sixteen...

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This Roadside Stop in Virginia Reveals One Of The State’s Grandest Mountain Views

You are driving along, not expecting much, and then you pull into a gravel lot and the world opens up. This roadside stop in Virginia reveals one of the state's grandest mountain...

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Virginia’s Massive Asian Marketplace Is A Vibrant Culinary Wonderland

You walk through the doors and the world expands. The smells, the sounds, the sheer variety of products, it is overwhelming in the best possible way.

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This Charming Virginia City Was Just Named The Number One Small Town In The South

Small towns are having a moment. People are tired of the noise, the traffic, and the constant rush of big cities. They are...

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This Virginia Farm Market Might Be The Finest Taste Of Summer You Will Find In The Old Dominion

The peaches are warm from the sun, heavy on the branches and fragrant in a way that store-bought fruit never is. The strawberries are ripe and sweet, and the blackberries are dark...

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This Wild And Rugged Coastal Forest Is Actually Virginia’s Last Truly Untamed Beach

You walk through the trees and the world opens up. The dunes rise high, covered in grass and scattered with shells. The beach...

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This Elegant New Hampshire Tea Parlor Morphs Traditional Afternoon Tea Into a Whimsical English Countryside Celebration

I have been to a few afternoon tea services over the years, and they are usually lovely but predictable. Fine china, dainty sandwiches, and a pot of Earl Grey.

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9 Historic New Hampshire Courthouses Where You Can Still Experience The 19th Century

Old buildings have stories to tell. The ones that have been standing for over a century have seen generations pass through their doors.

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This Thrilling Virginia Amusement Park Has Record-Breaking Coasters, A Massive Waterpark, And Full-Throttle Summer Energy

The coaster launches you from zero to seventy in seconds. The waterpark sends you plunging down a slide that feels like a free fall.

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This Mind-Blowing Virginia Italian Spot Is Worth Booking a Month in Advance

The line forms before the door opens. The tables are close together, the noise is constant, and the pasta is worth every bit of effort it takes to get in.

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This Cozy New Hampshire Tavern Packs Major Lake Vibes, But The Seafood Steals The Show

I walked into this tavern expecting a cozy lakefront spot with good vibes and decent food. And I got all of that. But what...

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This Adults-Only New Hampshire Lakeside Retreat Turns A Country Stay Into A Grown-Up Escape

I have stayed at a lot of lakeside retreats over the years, and they are usually full of families and children. That is wonderful, of course, but sometimes you just want a quiet...

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9 Virginia Pick-Your-Own Farms For The Best Strawberries And Peaches

There is a moment in early summer when the strawberries are ready. The sun has been warm, the rain has been just enough, and the fields are heavy with fruit.

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This Unassuming Virginia Thrift Warehouse Is Hiding Designer Brands For Less Than A Cup Of Coffee

The building is plain, the parking lot is gravel, and the sign is easy to miss. But inside this unassuming Virginia thrift warehouse, designer brands are hiding for less than the...

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Article
We Tried a Virginia Cast-Iron Cornbread That Could Be the Best Bite of Your Life

The cast-iron skillet comes to the table, the cornbread still sizzling. The top is golden, the edges are crisp, and the butter melts into every crevice.

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The Hidden Mountain Lake Beach With Gorgeous Views You Have To See To Believe

You drive through the mountains, past fields and forests, and then you see it. Water stretching to the horizon, framed by green hills and blue sky.

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This 0.8-Mile Virginia Boardwalk Trail Takes You Through A Hidden Wetland Sanctuary Most People Drive Past

You would never know it is there from the road. The entrance is easy to miss, tucked behind trees and parking lots. But this...

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9 Historic Virginia Courthouses Where You Can Still Feel The 18th Century

The ceilings are high, the wood is dark, and the rooms still carry the weight of decisions made centuries ago. These historic Virginia courthouses are places where you can still...

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This Virginia Waterfront Marina Grill Is Where You Can Watch Ships Pass By While Enjoying The Freshest Catch Around

The ships glide past in the distance, large and slow, carrying cargo across the bay. Meanwhile, you are sitting on a deck, cracking open oysters and sipping a cold drink.

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The Homemade Ice Cream at This New Hampshire Dairy Farm Is Worth Every Mile of the Drive

I have driven a long way for food before, but I have never driven a long way for ice cream. Until now. This New Hampshire dairy...

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10 Secret Spots in Virginia That Feel Like a Total Vacation

You do not need a plane ticket to feel like you are on vacation. Sometimes you just need to find the right spot, a place that feels worlds away from your everyday life.

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This New Hampshire Sandwich Shop Serves Bánh Mì So Fresh, Locals Can’t Stop Coming Back

I have eaten a lot of sandwiches in my life, but I have never eaten anything quite like this. The bread is light and crispy, the fillings are fresh and flavorful, and the balance...

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This Unassuming New Hampshire Schoolhouse Serves Award-Winning Lobster Rolls With Unbeatable Treehouse Views

You would drive right past this place if you were not looking for it. The building is a small, unassuming schoolhouse, painted red and tucked into the trees.

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The Massive Virginia Garden Center Where Plant Lovers Can Spend Hours Getting Lost

You walk through the gate and suddenly you are surrounded by green. Rows of plants stretch in every direction, from tiny succulents to towering trees.

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Vibrant Street Murals Celebrate This Virginia Town’s Rich Pottery and Agricultural History

The walls of this Virginia town tell a story. Bright murals cover the sides of buildings, celebrating the pottery and agricultural history that shaped the community.

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7 Virginia Drive-In Theaters That Are Still Open And Still Packed

Drive-in theaters are a dying breed. But in Virginia, they are still alive. This list has seven drive-in theaters that are still...

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This Virginia Bakery Is Turning Heads With Organic Flour, Handcrafted Pastries, And No Preservatives

The bread is made the old way. Organic flour, natural fermentation, and hands that shape each loaf with care. This Virginia bakery is turning heads with its handcrafted pastries...

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9 Desperately Forgotten Virginia Ghost Towns With Chilling Backstories

The buildings are empty. The streets are silent. And the stories are chilling. These desperately forgotten Virginia ghost towns...

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This Historic Williamsburg Tavern Serves A Colonial Feast That Puts Modern Virginia Restaurants To Shame

The wooden tables are worn smooth. The fire crackles in the hearth. And the food arrives on pewter plates, the same way it...

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10 Virginia Lakes So Clear And Calm You’ll Forget About The Ocean

The ocean is loud. The waves crash, the wind blows, and the salt sticks to your skin. But Virginia's lakes are different. They...

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This Historic New Hampshire Tavern Has Been Pouring Ales And Serving Travelers Since The Stagecoach Era

I have stayed in a lot of historic hotels over the years, but I have never stayed anywhere with a history quite like this. The tavern has been standing on the same corner since...

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This Bizarre Ancient Stone Structure In New Hampshire Has Baffled Experts For Decades

I have been to plenty of quirky attractions in New Hampshire over the years, but I have never been anywhere that made me question everything I thought I knew about history. This...

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This Challenging Virginia Mountain Peak Rewards Hikers With A Mind-Blowing 360-Degree View

The trail starts gently enough, winding through the forest with a few switchbacks. Then it steepens, and you feel the burn in your calves.

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This Unassuming Virginia Park Is Secretly Home To 11 Incredible Fishing Lakes

The entrance is easy to miss, the parking lot is gravel, and the signs are small. But this unassuming Virginia park is secretly home to eleven incredible fishing lakes, a paradise...

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Article
10 Storybook Small Towns In Virginia That Will Charm Your Socks Off

You turn a corner and suddenly you are in a place that looks like it belongs on a postcard. Old brick buildings, tree-lined streets, a main street where everyone waves.

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This New Hampshire Natural River Offers The Ultimate Slow-Motion Journey

There is no better way to see New Hampshire in the fall than from the water. The colors are everywhere, reflected in the surface and towering above on both sides.

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9 Historic New Hampshire Country Inns That Hosted Presidents and Poets

I have stayed in a lot of historic hotels over the years, but nothing compares to the country inns of New Hampshire. These are the kinds of places where you can feel the weight...

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These 10 Historic Taverns in Virginia Serve Food With a Side of History

Virginia has a way of making you feel like you've stepped straight into a history book, and nowhere is that more true than at its legendary old taverns.

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11 Peaceful Virginia Rail-Trails That Feel Impossibly Secluded

The trail stretches ahead, lined with trees and quiet fields, and the only sounds are your feet on the gravel and the birds in the branches. These peaceful Virginia rail-trails...

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10 Virginia Movie And TV Filming Locations You Can Visit In Real Life

You have seen them on screen, a Virginia courthouse where a scene unfolded, a bridge where a character had a moment, a small town that looked so perfect it must have been a set....

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9 Spooky Ghost Tours In Virginia That Will Keep You Awake

The guide lowers their voice. The shadows grow longer. And somewhere in the darkness, a story begins that will make you look...

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This Underrated State Park In Virginia Is So Little-Known, You’ll Practically Have It All To Yourself

You cannot drive to this park. That is the first thing you need to know. The only ways in are by foot, bike, or boat, which...

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This Unassuming Virginia Farm Is Quietly Keeping Centuries Of Traditional Agriculture Alive

The fields are plowed by mule, the crops are harvested by hand, and the rhythms of the farm have not changed much in centuries. This unassuming Virginia farm is quietly keeping...

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You Can Swim Under A Waterfall For Free At This Virginia Spot Locals Won’t Name

The water cascades over the rocks, plunging into a pool below, and you can swim right into the spray. It is free, it is beautiful, and locals will not tell you where it is.

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This New Hampshire Shop Is A Dream Come True For Chocolate Lovers

The smell hits you before you even open the door. Chocolate. Rich, deep, and intoxicating. This New Hampshire shop is a dream...

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This New Hampshire European Deli Is A Time Capsule Where The Pierogies Taste Authentic

I closed my eyes for a second and listened. The voices around me were speaking Polish. The smell was kielbasa and sauerkraut...

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