caleb winslow author at My Family Travels
Article
These 9 Quiet New Hampshire Mountain Communities Are Perfect For Affordable Retirement Living

The air is fresh and the pace is slow. The mountains rise in the distance, and the neighbors wave as you pass. New Hampshire...

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This Virginia Botanical Garden Is Home To A Dozen Sprawling Paradises Waiting In Plain Sight

The paths wind through themed gardens, each one offering a different experience. From the rose garden to the Asian valley, the children's garden to the conservatory, this Virginia...

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Virginia’s Largest General Store Is A Shopping Experience Like No Other

You walk through the doors and the options spread out in front of you. Groceries, hardware, gifts, and a deli that serves sandwiches worth the trip.

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These 10 New Hampshire Activities Turn An Ordinary Trip Into An Adventure

You could spend a weekend in New Hampshire doing the usual things. Eating at chain restaurants and visiting the same old spots. Or...

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This New Hampshire Lake Town Is Made For Slow Summer Days By The Water

The lake stretches out in front of you, and the mountains rise in the distance. The pace is slow and the air is warm. This New Hampshire lake town is made for slow summer days...

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The Secret European-Style Bakery In Virginia Has Chocolate Croissants Known Throughout The State

The croissant is golden and flaky, the chocolate is dark and rich, and the layers shatter with each bite. This secret European-style bakery in Virginia has chocolate croissants...

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These 12 Virginia Churches Changed The Way We Look At The State’s History

Churches in Virginia are more than places of worship. They are markers of time, witnesses to history, and buildings that have shaped the way we understand the state's past.

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10 Cities In Virginia Where $1,700 A Month Covers Utilities, Groceries, And Rent

Finding an affordable place to live can feel impossible. Rents are high, costs are rising, and budgets are stretched thin. But...

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This Cage-Free Virginia Sanctuary Gives Rescued Cats The Love, Safety, And Second Chance They Deserve

The cats roam freely, exploring the rooms, lounging in the sun, and receiving the kind of care that every animal deserves. This cage-free Virginia sanctuary gives rescued cats...

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This Scenic Reservoir In Virginia Is Surrounded By The Kind Of Mountain Views You Remember

The water is calm, the mountains rise on all sides, and the views are the kind that stay with you. This scenic reservoir in Virginia is surrounded by the kind of mountain views...

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Even Meat Eaters Drive To This Virginia Vegan Cafe For Crab Cake Sandwiches And Loaded Mash Potatoes

You bite into the crab cake sandwich and the texture is right, the flavor is briny, and the seasoning is spot on. It is easy to forget that there is no crab in it.

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This Historic Virginia Steakhouse Serves Prime Cuts Inside A Charming 19th-Century Brick Building

The building dates back to the 1800s, with exposed brick, high ceilings, and a warmth that comes from decades of hospitality. This historic Virginia steakhouse serves prime cuts...

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These 10 New Hampshire Experiences Pack A Surprising Amount Of Fun Into Less Than $20

You do not need to spend a fortune to have a great time in New Hampshire. Some of the best experiences in the state cost less than twenty dollars.

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This New Hampshire Diner Feels Like A 1950s Movie Set With Pancakes Everyone Talks About

The neon sign glows in the window, and the jukebox plays oldies in the corner. The booths are red and the counter is chrome. This...

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The Quiet Virginia Nature Trail With Black Bears Most Travelers Miss

You walk through the forest, the trail winding between trees and over small streams, the only sounds being the birds and your own footsteps. This quiet Virginia nature trail is...

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This Virginia Diner Serves Prime Rib So Cheap You’ll Check The Menu Twice

Can a restaurant serve prime rib so good and so reasonably priced that it makes every other steakhouse feel embarrassing? I stumbled across a spot in Lynchburg, Virginia, that...

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12 New Hampshire Buffets That Locals Say Still Do Things Like It’s The 1980s

The food is piled high and the prices are low. The decor is a little dated and the carpet might be from another decade. But...

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This Virginia You-Pick Farm Lets Visitors Fill Their Baskets With Fresh Summer Blackberries

The blackberries hang heavy on the vine, dark and glistening in the summer sun, ready to be picked and eaten on the spot. This Virginia you-pick farm lets visitors fill their baskets...

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Welcome to Virginia’s Most Tourist-Ruined Town Where Locals Won’t Even Go Downtown Anymore

There was a time when this Virginia town was a quiet coastal community, where locals knew each other and the downtown was a place to gather. But then the tourists came.

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This Massive Virginia Lodge Has More Than 75 Rooms And Costs Surprisingly Little To Book

Lodges with more than seventy-five rooms usually come with premium prices. The scale, the amenities, the prime locations, all of it tends to add up to a hefty bill.

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8 Virginia Train Day Trips That Make The Ride Worth Every Minute This Summer

The wheels click on the tracks, the scenery rolls by, and the pace of the journey feels like a step back in time. Train travel has a way of making a trip feel like an experience,...

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These 8 Virginia Cabin Towns Prove Lake Views Do Not Have To Cost A Fortune

Lakefront cabins are often associated with high prices, the kind of places that require a second mortgage for a weekend stay. But these Virginia cabin towns prove that lake views...

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This Popular Virginia Italian Restaurant May Be The Toughest Reservation In 2026

You scroll through the reservation app, check the dates, and find nothing available for weeks. This Virginia Italian restaurant has become so popular that it may be the toughest...

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This Virginia Park Is The Nearest Thing To Indonesia Without Crossing A Border

You walk through the forest and the landscape shifts. The trees are tangled, the sand is soft, and the whole place feels like something from a different continent.

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This View From Above New Hampshire’s Highest Peak Is Absolutely Breathtaking

The wind is strong and the air is thin. The clouds are below you, and the world stretches out in every direction. The view...

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These 9 Virginia Paddleboarding Spots Feel Like Secret Summer Escapes

The paddleboard glides across the water, the only sounds being the lapping of the waves and the birds in the trees. It is a quiet, meditative way to spend a summer day, and Virginia...

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The New Hampshire Escape Where Dining Feels Like A Scenic Retreat

The dining room looks out onto the water, and the mountains rise in the distance. The food is fresh and beautifully prepared, and the service is warm and attentive.

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This Giant Vintage Wonderland In New Hampshire Is Essentially The Costco Of Antique Markets

The building is enormous, and it is filled with treasures from decades past. This New Hampshire antique market is essentially the Costco of vintage wonderlands.

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A Charming and Affordable Virginia Town You Probably Haven’t Heard Of

There are towns that everyone knows, and then there are towns that quietly go about their business, charming visitors who happen to find them. This Virginia town falls into the...

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Cool Off This Summer At This Expansive Virginia Water Park Complete With A Massive Wave Pool

Summer in Virginia means heat and humidity, and the best way to deal with both is to jump into a wave pool. This expansive Virginia water park is the perfect place to cool off,...

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This New Hampshire Waterpark Campground Belongs At The Top Of Your Summer Bucket List

Imagine a place where you can camp under the stars and spend your days sliding down water slides. This New Hampshire waterpark campground belongs at the top of your summer bucket...

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This Virginia Waterpark Is the Perfect Place to Cool Off Without Leaving the State

Summer in Virginia means heat and humidity, and sometimes the only thing that helps is jumping into cool water. But you do not need to leave the state to find a place that does...

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The Mom-And-Pop New Hampshire Diner Serving Homemade Pies That Locals Call Unmatched

The diner has been in the same spot for decades, and the regulars still sit at the same counter. This mom and pop New Hampshire diner is the kind of place where everyone knows...

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This Massive Historic Virginia Cruise Boat Offers A Romantic Evening Out On A Beautiful Lake

The sun is beginning to set, the water is calm, and the boat glides across the lake with a quiet hum. There is something about being on the water at dusk that feels inherently...

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Article
11 Virginia Secondhand Bookstores Every Book Lover Needs To Visit In 2026

There is nothing quite like the experience of finding a secondhand bookstore. The shelves are packed with stories, the prices are low, and the discoveries are often unexpected.

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The Most Beautiful Dining Deck In Virginia Where Lake Sunsets And Shrimp Tacos Rule The Night

The sun is setting over the lake, the sky turning shades of orange and pink, and you are sitting on a deck with a plate of shrimp tacos that taste like summer. This Virginia spot...

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We Put Our Appetites To The Test At These 10 Virginia Buffets

Buffets are a test of willpower and appetite. You walk in, see the spread, and make a series of decisions that will determine how you feel for the rest of the day.

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Almost Nobody Outside Virginia Knows About This Secret All-You-Can-Eat Spot

The best buffets are the ones that tourists never find. They are hidden in plain sight, serving generous portions to a loyal local crowd that has been coming for years.

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10 Virginia Aquariums That Make Marine Life Fascinating To Explore

The ocean is a world of mystery, full of creatures that seem like they belong in a different universe. Virginia aquariums bring that world to the surface, making marine life fascinating...

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This New Hampshire Lake Beneath The Ledges Feels Like A Mountain Postcard Come To Life

You have seen the postcards. The ones with the crystal-clear lake reflecting the granite cliffs that rise above it. This New...

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11 New Hampshire Lakeside Eateries So Packed On Weekends Locals Refuse To Even Try Showing Up

The locals know better than to try on a Saturday afternoon. The lines are long, the parking is impossible, and the wait for a table stretches into hours.

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This Virginia Hike Leads To A 400-Million-Year-Old Sandstone Maze Above The Mountains

You climb through the forest, the trail steep enough to make your legs burn, and then you step through the trees and see it. A maze of sandstone, weathered and carved, stretching...

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11 Northern Virginia Restaurants That Stay Packed Without Spending A Dime On Advertising

In a world where restaurants spend thousands on social media ads and influencer campaigns, there are still places that rely on something simpler, word of mouth.

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

You know that feeling when you walk into a restaurant and every single thing on the menu looks good? The struggle of choosing just one thing is real.

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This Optical Illusion Café In Virginia Makes You Feel Like You Stepped Into A 2D Cartoon

You walk through the door and everything looks flattened. The walls, the furniture, even the plates on the tables, all of it seems to exist in two dimensions, like you have stepped...

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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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