clara withmore author at My Family Travels
Article
This Minnesota Restaurant Serves Beef Brisket That’s Famous Across the State

The moment that tray hits the counter, you can smell exactly what makes this place legendary. That brisket has been smoking low and slow for hours, developing a bark so dark and...

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This Oregon Park Is a Hidden Gem With a Ferris Wheel, Mini Train and Paddle Boats

You can hear the distant calliope music before you even see the park, a sound that instantly sparks childlike joy. This hidden gem sits quietly along the river, offering old school...

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This One-Of-A-Kind Car Museum In Minnesota Transports You To A Completely Different Era

It is not every day you walk into a place and the scent of aged leather and vintage oil hits you like a time machine. One step through these doors, and you have left the modern...

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This Hidden Local Hangout on the Water in Oregon Is the Perfect Place to Unwind

The tourists are all fighting for tables downtown, but you know exactly where to go instead. This spot sits quietly by the water, away from the chaos and the endless crowds.

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This Giant Minnesota All-You-Can-Eat Hotspot Gives You Two Hours to Feast on Unlimited Meat

A buzzer sounds and the feast officially begins, two hours of nonstop grilling ahead of you. This place is a meat lover's dream, with endless trays of beautifully marbled beef,...

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This Oregon Cafe Serves All-Day Breakfast With Gluten-Free, Vegan and Low-Carb Options

Nobody should have to choose between eating well and eating what their body actually needs. This cafe gets that completely, offering a breakfast menu that welcomes everyone with...

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A Meat-Focused Minnesota Eatery Serving Southern Staples Like Smoked Wings, Brisket and Ribs

The smell hits you from half a block away, smoky, sweet, and absolutely impossible to ignore. You walk through the door and see the pit master tending to slabs of meat that glisten...

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This Oregon Round Barn Is a 100-Foot Relic of a Cattle Empire Built to Break Wild Horses

You have seen square barns, red barns, and falling down barns, but nothing quite prepares you for this. A massive wooden circle rising from the high desert, built not for hay,...

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The Homemade Pierogies at This Minnesota Spot Are Always Worth the Wait

Some things cannot be rushed, and these little dumplings prove that every single time. You will stand in line, watch the hands behind the counter work their magic, and smell that...

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You Can Buy Hormone-Free Meat At This All-Natural Oregon Farm

You know that feeling when you bite into a burger and just know something is off, like the meat is hiding something? That never happens here.

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11 Minnesota Beaches Locals Adore (That You’ve Probably Never Heard Of)

Everyone flocks to the same Minnesota crowded shorelines every summer, fighting for towel space and dodging stray frisbees. But the real magic happens at those hidden slivers of...

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Camp Right by the Water at This Oregon Lake With Stunning Mountain Views

There’s something about unzipping a tent flap and stepping out onto damp earth that just resets your entire brain. You know that first morning breath of crisp air that makes...

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11 Remote Minnesota Restaurants That Are Worth the Long Drive This Summer

A remote Minnesota restaurant often becomes a destination for those who love the journey itself. The drive winds through farmland, forest, and tiny towns that feel frozen in time.

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Oregon Has A European Deli So Authentic It Feels Like A Hidden German Market

A chalkboard menu lists around forty sausages made fresh daily, the smokehouse has been curing meats since the 1920s, and an outdoor grill runs rain or shine in the parking lot....

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This Seriously Cool Minnesota Museum Is a Must-See for Every Aviation Fan

The spirit of early aviation and a combat veteran fighter plane share a hangar at this Minnesota museum. This seriously cool spot is a must-see for every fan of flight, dedicated...

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This Massive Oregon Family-Owned Meat Market Is A Food Lover’s Hidden Gem You Need To Visit This June

A red brick building that has stood for over a century, a meat counter that spans an entire wall. And the kind of old school service that makes you feel like a regular on your...

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This Quirky Underground Minnesota Restaurant is Famous Worldwide for Its Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

A set of stairs leads down from the busy Minneapolis street into a basement space that feels more like an underground lair than a restaurant. This Minnesota spot is known around...

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This Oregon Attraction Costs Nothing but Feels Like a Private Retreat

A sprawling lawn, a glassy lake, and the kind of quiet that makes you check your phone just to make sure it is still working. That is the scene at this Oregon state park, where...

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10 Giant Bazaars in Minnesota That Are a Bargain Hunter’s Dream

A sprawling field full of tables, a maze of vendors, and the kind of chaotic energy that makes bargain hunting feel like a real sport. That is the scene at these giant bazaars...

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This Historic Oregon Arcade Has Been Entertaining Families on the Coast Since 1929

The year 1929 was not exactly a great time to open a business, but this Oregon arcade did it anyway and never looked back. Nearly a century later, families still crowd inside to...

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12 Italian Restaurants Hidden in Minnesota’s Suburbs That Are Absolutely Worth the Drive

You do not need to fight downtown traffic or pay for expensive parking to find excellent Italian food in Minnesota. The suburbs have quietly built a collection of Italian restaurants...

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You Can Get Up Close To Hundreds Of Wild Hummingbirds At This Enchanted Oregon Sanctuary

Standing still while dozens of hummingbirds zoom past your head is a strange and wonderful feeling. Their wings hum like tiny helicopters and their iridescent feathers flash green...

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You’ll Find an Unbeatable Breakfast at This Hidden Gem Diner in Minnesota

A tiny building with a simple sign and a line of people waiting outside before the door even opens. That is how you know you have found something special.

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Article
This Oregon Trailhead Leads to One of the Pacific Northwest’s Most Famous Natural Soaking Spots

A forest trail, a wooden boardwalk, and then steam rising through the trees like a secret finally revealing itself. This Oregon trailhead leads to one of the most famous natural...

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11 Minnesota College Towns You Should Visit for a Weekend Getaway in 2026

College towns have a certain rhythm that works perfectly for a weekend escape. Bookstores stay open late, coffee shops actually know how to pull a good shot, and live music pops...

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At 620 Feet, This Oregon Waterfall Stands Taller Than Any Other in the State

Six hundred twenty feet of water dropping straight down will make your neck hurt from looking up. That is the only complaint anyone has about this Oregon waterfall, the tallest...

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This Quiet Minnesota Town Is Silently Rising As The State’s Next Hotspot

A sleepy town with a historic main street and families who have lived here for generations has started to attract a different kind of attention lately. This quiet Minnesota town...

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This Minimalist Japanese Retailer in Oregon Has Everything From Apparel to Home Goods

Walk inside and your shoulders drop an inch. The lights are soft, the shelves are organized, and nothing screams for your attention.

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Spend a Day in Minnesota’s Friendliest Town and You’ll Be Glad You Did

Strangers wave at you from their porches in this Minnesota town and it does not feel weird at all. That is the first sign that you have found something special.

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Article
9 Lazy River And Tubing Spots In Oregon That Will Make You Feel Like You Left The State

Floating down a slow river on a hot summer day might be the closest thing to time travel we have. You hop on a tube, lean back, and suddenly the world moves at a much kinder pace.

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This Underrated Planetarium In Minnesota Will Take You On An Unforgettable Journey

You do not need a rocket ship to explore the universe, just a ticket to this underrated Minnesota planetarium. Most people drive right past it without knowing what awaits inside.

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10 Oregon Restaurants Offering Stunning Views Worth The Trip In June

June in Oregon means long daylight hours, blooming landscapes, and the perfect excuse to eat somewhere with a view. You could sit inside a dark restaurant anywhere.

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Standing 135 Feet Tall, These Minnesota Murals Rank as America’s Most Inspiring Artwork

A 135 foot tall painting on a grain silo stops you in your tracks. You look up, tilt your head back, and suddenly feel very small in the best possible way.

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The Only Place In Oregon Where You Can See Bison Roaming Free And Buy Their Meat On Site

Watching a herd of bison roam across an open field is a humbling experience. Those animals are massive, shaggy, and completely uninterested in your presence.

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This Old-Timey Diner in Minnesota Draws Burger Lovers From Every Corner of the State

Carhops used to bring your food right to your window and nobody thought that was strange. This old timey Minnesota diner still works that way and burger lovers drive from every...

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This Oregon Beach Is Beautiful During the Day and Terrifying After Sunset

Sunset at this Oregon beach feels like a postcard come to life. The light turns everything golden and soft. Families pack up...

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Minnesota’s Finest Ribeye Is Hidden Inside a Charming Old-School Supper Club

Old school supper clubs have a certain magic that modern steakhouses cannot fake. Dark wood paneling, soft lighting, and a relish tray that arrives before you even order drinks.

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10 Oregon Small Towns That Feel Like Stepping Into A Different Century

No chain pharmacies on every corner. No roundabouts confusing your GPS. Just Main Streets that still look like postcards from...

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This Unassuming Mexican Restaurant In Minnesota Has Been Run By The Same Family For Sixty Years

You would never guess what is hiding behind this plain storefront. No flashy signs, no Instagram walls, no trendy neon cactus logos.

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This Oregon Italian Restaurant Makes Handmade Pasta So Authentic, You’ll Swear You’re In Rome

Let's be honest. Most "authentic" Italian food outside of Italy is a lie covered in garlic powder and desperation. But then...

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The Minnesota Spot Where Old Churches Donate Their Best Parts

When a church closes, most of what is inside ends up in a dumpster. The stained glass. The wooden pews. The doors that have welcomed...

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An Entire 1800s Minnesota Town, No Admission Fee, No Crowds

You do not need a ticket to walk through this Minnesota town. No booth at the entrance. No wristband. No gift shop at the exit.

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8 Minnesota Restaurants That Serve Broasted Chicken So Good It’s Famous Across The Midwest

The crackle of perfectly crisp skin gives way to impossibly juicy meat, and you finally understand why people drive across state lines for this singular Midwestern delicacy. Broasted...

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Oregon’s Most Obsessed Crafters Drive 4 Hours One Way For The Fabric Selection Here

Four hours. One way. That is how far obsessed crafters drive just to touch the fabric at this unassuming Oregon shop. The...

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Article
10 Bizarre Museum Exhibits In Minnesota You Won’t Believe Are Real

You want weird? Minnesota has it. A 17,400-pound ball of twine rolled by one man over 29 years. A working phrenology machine...

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6 Minnesota Ghost Towns You Can Still Walk Through Today, No Admission Fee Required

The church has no roof, the general store has no customers, and the only sounds are the wind and your own footsteps. These are the haunting remains of Minnesota's forgotten places,...

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10 Minnesota Waterfalls That Require Less Than A One-Mile Hike From The Car

The rumble grows louder. Your feet hit soft pine needles. In under a mile, you are there. Ten Minnesota waterfalls. Each one...

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The Minnesota Beach Where You Can Walk A Full Mile And Never Go Deeper Than Your Ankles

The moment you step onto the golden sand, you will do a double-take. You keep walking, and the icy, clear water of Sturgeon Lake barely tickles your ankles.

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The Minnesota Wetland Trail Where Birds Act Like You’re Invisible

You walk onto a wooden boardwalk that stretches across a sea of cattails. A great blue heron stands motionless just a few yards away, paying you no attention. A muskrat swims past,...

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You’ll Want To Spend Every Sunny Day At This Incredible Minnesota Waterpark

A sunny afternoon at this waterpark feels like the kind of summer day you wish could last forever. I grabbed a tube and floated down the lazy river while kids screamed with joy...

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This Historic WWII Site In Oregon Tells A Story You Won’t Find In Textbooks

A quiet army base hides a museum filled with stories that most history books leave out entirely. I walked through the doors and found myself surrounded by uniforms and vehicles...

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Article
The Bald Eagle Capital Of America Is In Minnesota, And It’s Well Worth Adding To Your Bucket List

A small river town where bald eagles gather by the dozens each winter along the open water of the Mississippi. I stood on a bluff and watched the white heads and dark bodies circle...

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Article
This Small-Town Oregon Boutique Is A Treasure Trove Of Sassy Finds

A small town boutique where the mannequins wear fishnets and the jewelry comes with a side of attitude. I walked through the door and immediately spotted a sign that made me laugh...

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Minnesota Day Trip Destinations So Pretty You Won’t Believe They’re Under $50

A full day of adventure for less than the cost of a fancy dinner in the city. I packed a bag and hit the road with a fifty dollar bill and a list of places that deliver big beauty...

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This Hidden Oregon Refuge Between the Plains And the Mountains is Where Endangered Species Hide

A quiet stretch of land where the wide open plains meet the foothills and the only sounds are birds and wind. I pulled off the highway and found myself in a place that felt completely...

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This Humble Minnesota Custard Stand Will Make You Forget Every Other Soft Serve You’ve Ever Had

A tiny walk up stand with a line that snakes along the sidewalk even on chilly evenings. I joined the queue and watched people walk away with cones piled high and smiles plastered...

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This Abandoned Oregon Pioneer Village is Free To Explore and Most People Have Never Heard of It

A scattering of old wooden buildings sits quietly off a rural highway where most drivers never bother to stop. I parked the car and walked toward weathered cabins and a schoolhouse...

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The Lesser-Known Minnesota Adventure Park Where You Can Drive A 36-Ton Tank

A thirty six ton tank sits in a field waiting for someone brave enough to climb inside and take control. I strapped into the driver's seat and my heart pounded with a mix of excitement...

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This Beautiful Minnesota Beach Is One Of America’s Best-Kept Secrets

A sandy beach stretching for miles along the largest freshwater lake in the world feels like a hidden paradise. I walked barefoot on the soft shore while the waves of Lake Superior...

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One of the Most Unique Museums in America Is Right Here in Minnesota and Won’t Cost You a Cent

A museum dedicated to canned meat sounds like a joke until you walk through the doors and realize it is completely serious and wonderful. I spent an hour learning about SPAM and...

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