cassian brooks author at My Family Travels
Article
This Maryland Seafood Institution Proves Some Local Favorites Only Get Better With Age

Thirty-five years is a long time to keep Maryland diners interested, especially when seafood fans tend to have very strong opinions about where their crabs should come from.

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This Massive Thrift Store In Maryland Has Deals So Good, It’s Worth A Road Trip

Thrift stores are basically treasure hunts where nobody knows what the treasure is until somebody spots it three aisles away. This...

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9 Tiny Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants in Maryland Where the Food Is Worth Every Single Minute of Waiting

Some of Maryland's most memorable restaurants have approximately zero interest in looking impressive from the parking lot. They...

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The Maryland Spanish Restaurant Where the Portions Are So Generous You Will Be Eating Leftovers for Days

Tapas are supposed to be small plates, but nobody said you had to demonstrate self-control when ordering them. This Maryland...

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9 Overhyped Maryland Towns That Aren’t Worth Your Time or Money

Some Maryland towns are charming enough to justify the traffic, parking hunt, weekend prices, and crowds, while others can leave visitors wondering why they spent two hours getting...

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This Maryland Restaurant Serves a $19.99 Prime Rib Special That Makes Wednesdays Worth Celebrating

Wednesdays are usually the awkward middle child of the week, but Maryland has at least one restaurant giving people a much better reason to care about them.

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Affordable Maryland Family Adventures That Won’t Break the Bank

Family outings have an impressive talent for becoming expensive before anybody has even agreed on what they are doing. Luckily,...

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Maryland’s Most Authentic Puerto Rican Food Spot Is Tucked Away in a Place Only Locals Know About

Puerto Rican comfort food has a way of making a lunch order become considerably more ambitious once empanadas, mofongo, sandwiches, coffee, and homestyle dishes enter the conversation....

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This Maryland Park Has a 200 Foot Fishing Pier and a Beach Most Tourists Drive Right Past

Maryland waterfront parks can get overshadowed by destinations with louder boardwalks and significantly more souvenir T-shirts, which is exactly why this one feels like such a...

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9 Maryland Restaurants Where Family Recipes Have Survived for Generations

Restaurants can chase every new food trend on social media, but a handwritten recipe that has survived three generations probably does not care what is currently going viral.

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Maryland’s Coolest Hands On Experiences for Anyone Tired of Ordinary Day Trips

There comes a point when another perfectly nice day trip involving mostly walking around and looking at things starts feeling suspiciously like all the previous ones.

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This Maryland Bookstore Cafe Lets You Browse Books While Digging Into a Completely Veg Friendly Menu

Combining a bookstore and a cafe already feels dangerously effective for anyone who has ever walked in for one book and somehow lost an entire afternoon.

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Easygoing Maryland Walks That Feel Like a Little Escape

Not every Maryland walk needs steep climbs, complicated gear, or the emotional commitment of realizing you still have three miles left before the parking lot.

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This Maryland Bakery Makes Fluffy Hand-Crafted Buttermilk Donuts That Draw People From All Over

Maryland has no shortage of fancy dessert experiments, but there is something extremely satisfying about a bakery that still understands the power of doing the classics really...

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Abandoned Maryland Places So Eerie They Are Worth Exploring

Maryland has enough abandoned ruins, forgotten settlements, old industrial remnants, and weathered structures to make an ordinary history lesson feel considerably creepier.

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This Maryland Restaurant Collective Is Like a Culinary Trip Around the World Without Leaving the State

Choosing one cuisine for dinner can be surprisingly difficult when everyone suddenly develops very strong opinions, which is part of what makes this Maryland restaurant so interesting....

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This Maryland Swimming Spot Feels Like a Beach Getaway Without The Ocean Crowds

You want a beach day but you want to avoid the chaos of a packed shoreline. This Maryland swimming park is the solution you have been looking for.

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Maryland Locals Line Up Early at This Hole-in-the-Wall Spot for the Best Breakfast in the State

You know a breakfast spot is serious when people line up before it even opens. This Maryland hole-in-the-wall has that kind of following.

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8 Family-Owned Maryland Coffee Shops Worth the Drive

Chain coffee shops are everywhere. They are convenient and reliable, but they lack personality. This list highlights eight...

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This Maryland Restaurant Has Been a Beloved Local Tradition for Almost 50 Years

Restaurants come and go. But the ones that stick around for decades become something more. They become traditions. This Maryland...

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This Maryland Country Store Is In The Middle Of Nowhere But Always Packed

Driving down a quiet country road, you might wonder if you are lost. Then you see the building, a Maryland country store with cars lining the gravel lot.

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This Family-Owned Restaurant In Maryland Serves Some Of The Finest Homemade Pies Around

Pies are a labor of love. The crust, the filling, the golden brown finish. Get any part wrong and the whole thing falls flat....

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This 2.5-Mile Hidden Maryland Trail Deserves A Spot On Your 2026 Bucket List

A new year brings new resolutions, and a new list of places to explore. This hidden Maryland trail deserves a spot on your 2026 bucket list.

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This Family-Owned Maryland Mexican Restaurant Is Giving Every Chain In Town Serious Competition

Chain restaurants have their place. Predictable, consistent, and fine. But family owned spots often bring something different,...

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This Maryland Non-Profit Thrift Shop Turns Every Purchase Into Support for Local Animal Rescues

Thrift shopping is usually about finding a good deal. But this Maryland shop adds another layer to the experience. Every purchase...

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This Small Town Maryland Breakfast Spot Serves Portions So Massive You’ll Need A Nap

Big portions do not always mean good food. But when the portions are generous and the food is excellent, you have found something special.

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The Best Maryland Grocery Market For Peak Summer Produce And Homemade Goods

Grocery stores are fine. But a real market with peak summer produce and homemade goods? That is a different experience. This...

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8 Surprisingly Affordable and Amazing Fried Chicken Spots In Maryland

Fried chicken is everywhere. But good fried chicken at a price that does not make you wince? That is harder to find. Maryland...

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Where To Find The Best Antique Thrift Bargains In Annapolis, Maryland

Annapolis is known for its history and its waterfront. But the city also has a side that appeals to treasure hunters and bargain seekers.

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This Maryland Restaurant Serves Farm Fresh Comfort Food Straight From the Family Orchard

Farm fresh is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot. But at this Maryland restaurant, it actually means something. The food...

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This Secret Maryland Water Park Lets You Swim, Paddle, And Camp All Weekend

Water parks are usually a one day kind of trip. Arrive early, stay until your fingers prune, and head home tired. But this...

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This Old-School Deli In Maryland Is Worth The Drive From Anywhere In The Region

Old-school delis are getting harder to find. The ones with wooden counters, handwritten signs, and sandwiches piled high with meat.

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This Big Vintage Store in Maryland Is the Kind of Place You Won’t Believe Exists

Some vintage stores are small and curated. This one is the opposite. Big, sprawling, and packed with so much stuff you might...

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This Maryland Dog-Friendly Café Will Steal Your Heart And Keep You Coming Back for More

There is something special about a café that welcomes your dog like a regular. Water bowls at the ready, treats behind the counter, and staff who genuinely light up when a furry...

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The Massive Maryland Thrift Store That Feels Endless Inside

Some thrift stores are small and manageable. You can pop in, browse, and be out in twenty minutes. This is not one of them....

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9 Maryland Restaurants So Popular You Need Reservations Weeks In Advance

Maryland has a way of pulling you in with its mix of coastal beauty, historic neighborhoods, and food that genuinely stops you in your tracks. I've spent more time than I care...

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This Pay-What-You-Want Maryland Art Store Is a Thrifter’s Paradise for Creative Minds Who Love a Good Deal

Creative minds need supplies. Good supplies. But the cost of materials can add up fast. This Maryland art store solves that...

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8 Hidden Maryland Buffets That Serve Real Homemade Comfort Food Just Like Your Grandma Made

Buffets get a bad reputation sometimes. Dried out food, sad salad bars, mystery meat. But these Maryland buffets break that...

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This Maryland Studio Lets You Shape Clay, Create Glass Art, and Take Home Your Own

Creating something with your own hands is a different kind of satisfaction. This Maryland studio gives you the space, the materials, and the guidance to make that happen.

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Maryland’s Hidden Island Restaurant Feels Like a Vacation Before You Even Order

You drive out to the water, cross a bridge, and the world shifts. This Maryland island restaurant sits in that space between mainland and bay, where the air changes and the view...

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Maryland’s Hidden Persian Restaurant Serves Kebabs Worth the Drive From Anywhere

Persian food has a way of being both comforting and exciting. The rice is fluffy, the meat is perfectly seasoned, and the flavors linger long after the meal is over.

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This Maryland Estuary Center Has Scenic Boardwalks Through One of the State’s Most Beautiful Wetlands

Boardwalks are simple structures. Planks of wood and a bit of railing. But when they cut through a wetland, they become something...

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Marylanders Flock To This Simple Restaurant For Italian Dishes Too Good To Pass Up

Italian food has a way of making people happy. Maybe it is the carbs, maybe it is the cheese, or maybe it is the warmth of a meal made with care.

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This Maryland Indian Buffet Is a Locals-Only Secret Worth Finding

Buffets can be a gamble. Sometimes the food is sad and dried out, other times it is a feast worth writing home about. This...

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This Maryland Seafood Spot Brings Out Platters So Massive You Won’t Know Where to Start

Some seafood platters are modest. A few shrimp, a piece of fish, and a side. And then there are the platters that demand attention....

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The Humble Maryland Restaurant Serving Deli Sandwiches So Good Locals Don’t Want Tourists to Know

Some restaurants put all their energy into a flashy sign or a trendy menu. Others just focus on making really good food. This...

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Maryland’s Ramen Spot Delivers The Flavor You’d Find in Tokyo

A great bowl of ramen is more than just soup. It is comfort in a bowl, a meal that warms you from the inside out and makes you forget about everything else.

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Maryland’s Hidden Caribbean Restaurant Serves Jerk Chicken That Locals Cannot Stop Talking About

Jerk chicken is all about the marinade. The right spices, the right heat, the right smoky flavor. This Maryland Caribbean spot...

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This Maryland Restaurant Serves Japanese Barbecue Where You Cook Every Bite at the Table

Dinner is usually a passive experience. You order, you wait, you eat. But not here. This Maryland restaurant serves Japanese...

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One of Maryland’s Most Beautiful Gardens Is Surprisingly Free to Visit

Beautiful gardens usually come with an entrance fee. Sometimes a hefty one. But this Maryland spot breaks the mold. One of...

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This All-You-Can-Eat Maryland Seafood Buffet Is a Full-On Paradise with Something for Everyone

Seafood buffets can be a gamble. Sometimes the quality is lacking. Not this one. Maryland has an all-you-can-eat spot that...

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This Maryland Restaurant Turns Classic French Cuisine Into an Unforgettable Date Night

French cuisine is romantic. Cozy, elegant, and full of rich flavors. This Maryland restaurant takes classic French dishes and...

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This Texas Restaurant Lets You Watch Fish Swim Around While You Eat

Dinner and a show take on a new meaning at this Texas restaurant. Guests can enjoy a meal while watching fish, sharks, and other marine life swim in a massive aquarium.

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This Maryland Seafood Restaurant Feels Like a Hidden Island Escape Worth the Drive

You drive out to the water, and the road gets quieter. The views get bigger. And then you arrive at a seafood restaurant that...

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Homemade Ice Cream So Creamy You Will Drive Across the Maryland for It

Some ice cream is worth a short drive. And then there is ice cream worth crossing the whole shore for. This Maryland spot serves...

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This Maryland Restaurant Serves Authentic Ethiopian Food Meant to Be Shared From One Plate

Ethiopian food is about community. One large plate, a spongy bread called injera, and a table full of people sharing. This...

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This Maryland Fabric Haven Hides More Crafting Gems Than You Can Imagine

Fabric stores are easy to walk past. But this one? You will want to stop and stay a while. Maryland has a fabric haven packed...

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11 Maryland Diners That Still Cook Breakfast the Old Fashioned Way

Breakfast should be simple. Eggs, bacon, pancakes, and coffee that keeps coming. No fancy toppings, no deconstructed nonsense....

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This Maryland Smokehouse Has Meat So Tender It Falls Apart on the Fork

You know good barbecue when the meat does not need a knife. This Maryland smokehouse serves brisket and ribs so tender they fall apart the second your fork touches them.

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This Maryland BBQ Restaurant Has Smoked Brisket That Keeps Locals Completely Loyal

Good brisket is hard to find. Great brisket is worth a loyal following. This Maryland BBQ spot has the kind of smoked meat...

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