chloe hartwell author at My Family Travels
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This Massive New Jersey Boardwalk Water Park Turns A Summer Beach Day Into A Full-Blown Splash Adventure

The sun is blazing, the boardwalk is buzzing, and your beach day is about to get a serious upgrade. This massive New Jersey water park turns a simple trip to the shore into an...

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This New Jersey Restaurant Combines Steaks With Stunning Manhattan Skyline Views

Perched atop a cliff within Eagle Rock Reservation, this historic spot pairs its panoramic views with a menu that has earned it a reputation as a top destination in New Jersey...

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This Haunted New Jersey Steakhouse Serves Prime Cuts Inside A Historic Stagecoach Stop

Picture this: you're savoring a perfectly grilled steak while ghosts from the 1800s supposedly watch from the corner. That's the deliciously eerie experience waiting at this historic...

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This New Jersey Sanctuary Gives More Than 400 Rescued Farm Animals A Peaceful Place To Live

Imagine wandering through rolling green pastures where hundreds of rescued animals finally know what safety feels like. That's exactly what awaits at this heartwarming sanctuary...

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This Old-School New Jersey Pizzeria Has Been Serving Classic Pies Since 1969

The Sicilian-style slices are thick, the sauce is tangy, and the old-school charm has been drawing crowds since 1969. This New Jersey spot is a local legend with that unmistakable...

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12 New Jersey Towns With Fascinating Name Origins You Need To Know

New Jersey is a state where a simple drive can feel like a crash course in history and linguistics. The names on roadside signs often hold secrets far stranger than you might expect....

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This New Jersey Farm Offers The Rare Chance To Ride One Of The World’s Most Impressive Horse Breeds

Some horses are built for speed, others for grace, but these giants were built to turn heads. Tucked in the rolling hills of New Jersey, this farm gives you a rare chance to ride...

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This New Jersey Creamery Makes Every Scoop From Scratch With Local Organic Ingredients

The cream is local and organic. The fruits come from nearby farms. Every scoop is made entirely from scratch, right in the shop. This is the simple, delicious promise of an ice...

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This New Jersey Buddhist Retreat Feels Worlds Away From Everyday Noise

Ever had one of those days where the noise of the world just feels like too much? This place is the antidote. Set on 32 wooded...

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This Enormous Thrift Store In New Jersey Is A Treasure Hunter’s Dream

One person's donation becomes another person's victory dance. That is the beautiful cycle happening every single day at this massive space.

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This New Jersey Hot Dog Spot Serves Creative Dogs You Won’t Find Anywhere Else

Hot dogs are having a moment. This New Jersey spot has made them a full-blown movement. You have probably had a hot dog before....

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This Charming French Bakery In New Jersey Serves Pastries That Taste Like Paris

You do not need a plane ticket to taste Paris. This New Jersey bakery proves it with every buttery bite. You have probably...

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This 400-Foot New Jersey Overlook Offers One Of The Best Free Manhattan Skyline Views

No ticket booth. No velvet rope. Just 400 feet of pure skyline magic. You...

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This Clifftop New Jersey Lookout Delivers Sweeping Hudson River Views Just Minutes From Manhattan

Some views make you reach for your phone. This one makes you forget you have one. The Hudson glides below. The Palisades rise...

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This Colonial New Jersey Mansion Hosted George Washington Before He Became President

Before he was on the dollar bill, George Washington was just a guest with great taste. You have probably visited historic homes before.

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10 Kinds Of People Who Make New Jersey Beach Days Far More Annoying Than They Should Be

There is something almost magical about packing up the car, rolling down the windows, and heading toward the Jersey Shore with nothing but a good mood and a cooler full of snacks....

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This Rustic New Jersey Cabin Resort Turns A Summer Weekend Into A Waterfront Adventure

Some cabins give you a bed and a view. This one gives you a playground on the water. You have probably done the whole cabin...

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12 Beachfront Playgrounds Along The New Jersey Shore Worth Planning A Family Day Around

A day at the beach is great. A day at the beach with a playground built right into the sand? That is next-level family magic....

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This New Jersey Bakery Was A Family Dream That Started In A Small Portuguese Town In The 1960s

Some dreams start small. This one started in a tiny Portuguese town in the 1960s. A family with flour on their hands and hope...

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This Fish Restaurant In New Jersey Serves Whole Fish In A Sizzling, Spicy Broth That Feeds Four

A fish so big it needs its own zip code. That is what lands on your table at this New Jersey spot. You have probably ordered...

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One Of New Jersey’s Treasured Shorefront Restaurants Is Back And Serving Seafood Again

The shore just got a little brighter. A beloved New Jersey seafood spot has risen from the ashes and is slinging fresh catches once again.

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This New Jersey Sandwich Shop Combines Italian And Latin Flavors In Every Bite

Two cultures walk into a sandwich shop. One leaves with pure magic. You have probably had Italian subs before. You have definitely...

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You Can Get Everything From Hibachi To Salad Bar At This All-You-Can-Eat New Jersey Buffet

This buffet does not force you to choose between a sizzling hibachi show or a fresh salad bar. At this spot, you can have both, and that is the beauty of it.

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Summer Isn’t Complete Without A Day At This Classic New Jersey Shore Pier And Waterpark

The salt air hits you, the boardwalk buzzes beneath your feet, and suddenly summer makes perfect sense. This classic shoreline...

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10 Historic New Jersey Sacred Sites That Will Make You Feel Like You’ve Stepped Back In Time

History has a way of lingering in certain places, and these sacred sites practically vibrate with it. New Jersey holds a collection...

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You Can Browse Books In Six Languages While Sipping Authentic Turkish Tea At This New Jersey Bookstore

You are not just looking at a book, you are holding a passport to another culture in your hands. This bookstore boasts a stunning...

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11 Summer Day Trips In New Jersey That Feel Like A Vacation Without The Airport Lines

The TSA line is a nightmare, the baggage fees are insulting, and you still have to take your shoes off. Skip all of it. New...

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12 New Jersey Restaurants With Senior Discounts Worth Knowing About

Discounts taste sweeter when the bill arrives. For seniors in New Jersey, that moment carries a special kind of satisfaction....

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This Stunning New Jersey Lake Beach Feels Almost Caribbean Without The Jersey Shore Crowds

To the people who love a beach day but hate the chaos, New Jersey has a secret waiting. A quiet, sprawling oasis on the banks...

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This New Jersey Ice Cream Trail Is The Sweetest Way To Celebrate National Ice Cream Day 2026

The third Sunday in July is the official start of a very important holiday. National Ice Cream Day 2026 lands on July 19,...

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This Portuguese Restaurant Is Known For Having The Best Rodizio In New Jersey

Some restaurants let you choose a few options from a menu. This one brings the entire meat parade to your table, nonstop, until you wave the white flag.

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A New Jersey Restaurant Where You Can Dock Your Boat And Join The Party All Summer Long

Imagine pulling your boat right up to the table. That is not a fantasy, that is a Tuesday afternoon here. This waterfront spot...

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This New Jersey Marina Has Great Bay Access By Day And Stunning Sunsets By Night

A marina is usually just a place to park a boat and buy some bait. This one refuses to be that boring. By day, it gives you...

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One Of New Jersey’s Most Unassuming Mexican Restaurants Serves Tacos Beyond Amazing

Tacos are supposed to be quick comfort food. Easy, familiar, the kind of bite you grab without much thought. Yet in New Jersey,...

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This New Jersey Town Has A Healthcare System So Advanced It’s Ranked Among America’s Best

This town does not just treat you when you are sick, it basically rewrites the entire playbook on healthcare. The medical...

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The Ghost Of A Little Girl Has Been Seen Roaming The Halls Of This Revolutionary War Mansion

This mansion has history written all over its walls, and apparently, a little girl refuses to leave the premises. Visitors...

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The Prime Rib And Crab Cakes At This New Jersey Inn Have Been Drawing Loyal Customers For Decades

Some meals are not just food. They are commitments. You plan your day around them, you refuse to share them, and you talk about...

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This New Jersey Diner Has A Menu So Big You Can Get Everything From Disco Fries To A Kobe Burger

What do disco fries, a Kobe burger, and General Tso's Calamari all have in common? They are all on the same menu at this New Jersey diner.

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This New Jersey Diner Has A Retro 1950s Train Car Design That Has Been Preserved For Decades

Is it a diner or a time machine? Pulling up to this spot feels like cruising into a scene from a 1950s movie. The gleaming...

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Thomas Edison Lost A Fortune On This New Jersey Iron Mine That You Can Still Hike Through Today

What do you get when the greatest inventor in history bets millions on a mountain of low-grade rock? A colossal financial...

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Plant Lovers Keep Returning To This Massive New Jersey Garden Center Year After Year

Plant people are a loyal bunch, and they keep flocking back to this sprawling garden center like it is their second home. Maybe...

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This New Jersey Boardwalk Restaurant Serves A Giant Pizza Slice That Takes Two Hands To Hold

This is not a pizza slice. This is a public event. A carbohydrate commitment that requires its own seatbelt.

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Everyone Goes to Atlantic City, But This Nearby New Jersey Town Might Be Even Better

Atlantic City has the neon, the boardwalk, and the crowds. This little town has something quieter, better, the ocean without the circus.

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This Walk-Up New Jersey Hot Dog Stand Has Been Called The “Holy Grail Of Hot Dogs”

Some places achieve legendary status without trying. They just keep serving the same perfect thing, day after day, until the reputation builds itself.

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This New Jersey Transit Hub Is A Cathedral Of Art Deco With Terrazzo Floors And Stained Glass

Can a train station actually feel like a cathedral? This one absolutely does. The soaring ceilings, the intricate terrazzo...

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You Can’t Even Rent A Cabana At This New Jersey Beach Town Unless You Know A Member

You know that feeling when you spot a perfect beach cabana and immediately start daydreaming about a day of sun and surf? At...

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This New Jersey Tea Room Serves Authentic British Tea With Fresh Scones And Clotted Cream

What happens when you combine a charming colonial setting with authentic British tea traditions and a few American twists? You...

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12 New Jersey Pancake Houses Where The Stacks Are So Big They Hang Off The Plate

What is the limit for pancakes? Honestly, these places test the boundaries of a standard plate. The stacks are so generous...

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This Historic New Jersey General Store Has Been Serving The Community Since 1925

What happens when a grist mill built in 1925 turns into a breakfast spot that serves sandwiches all day long? You get a historic...

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This Historic New Jersey Trestle Has Been Standing Over The Rockaway River Since The 1860s

Honestly, I had no idea what I was getting myself into when a friend casually mentioned an old railroad bridge hiding inside a park in New Jersey.

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This New Jersey Store Has Been Serving Premium Homemade Ice Cream For Over 50 Years

Fifty years is a long time to be doing anything, let alone churning out some of the creamiest, most satisfying ice cream you will ever taste.

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This New Jersey Seafood Market Rivals Manhattan’s Best At A Better Price

For a long time, Manhattan was the only game in town for seafood that truly impressed. Then this Jersey City market came along...

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This New Jersey Shore Spot Is Open 24/7 In Summer And Has A Man Vs. Food Challenge

There is a place at the Jersey Shore where the lights never go out and the wing sauce never runs dry. This spot operates around...

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13 Latin Restaurants In New Jersey You Need To Try This Summer

Summer in New Jersey just got a whole lot more flavorful. From sizzling street food to elegant dining, the state is brimming...

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This Cage-Free New Jersey Sanctuary Has Rescued Nearly 5,000 Cats From Desperate Circumstances

What has over 4,000 whiskers, zero cages, and enough purrs to power a small generator? This incredible sanctuary, that is what. Since...

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This New Jersey Spot Is Where You Can Watch Boats Pass By While Enjoying The Freshest Seafood Around

Let us be real for a second. Seafood restaurants that actually deliver on their promises are about as rare as a parking spot at the shore in July.

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This New Jersey Carriage House Serves Menus Inspired By The Stage Next Door

You know how some meals just feel like they have a story behind them? Well, this place takes that literally.

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This New Jersey Spot Serves Smash Burgers Built For Serious Cheeseburger Fans

Crispy edges, gooey cheese, and that perfect smash that makes burger lovers weak in the knees. This place knows exactly what...

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Why This New Jersey Deli Has Locals Lining Up For Fresh Meats And Sandwiches

Let us talk about a place that takes sandwiches very, very seriously. This is not your average corner deli throwing some cold cuts between bread and calling it a day.

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This New Jersey Chocolate Tour Takes You From Bean To Bar With Tastings Of Single-Origin Chocolate

Have you ever wondered how a humble cacao bean transforms into that silky, melt-in-your-mouth bar you crave? This immersive...

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