clara withmore author at My Family Travels
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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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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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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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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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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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This Underrated Minnesota State Park Delivers Beautiful Views Without The Massive Crowds

The river views here are the kind that make you want to sit down on a rock and just stay awhile. I found a quiet spot overlooking the water without any loud voices or competing...

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Almost Nobody Knows About This Minnesota Mexican Spot With 60 Years of Family History

A family recipe passed down through generations still sizzles in the same kitchen after sixty wonderful years. I walked in and the smell of homemade tortillas and simmering salsa...

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This Oregon Strip Mall Italian Spot Has People Skipping Portland

A strip mall Italian restaurant that has people driving past the big city because the food is that good. I walked through an unassuming door and the smell of fresh pasta and simmering...

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This Oregon Wellness Retreat Serves Up Hot Springs Soaking in a Garden Oasis

A garden oasis where warm mineral waters bubble up and invite you to leave all your stress behind. I slipped into the pool and felt the tension in my shoulders begin to melt away...

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You Can Eat a Full Oregon Lobster Dinner for $18 at This Unmarked Seafood Shack

No sign on the building just a line of people who somehow know exactly where to go. I stood outside wondering if I had the right place until the smell of garlic butter confirmed...

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This 4,500-Acre Oregon Reservoir Is A Paddler’s Paradise With Glassy Morning Waters And Great Blue Herons Gliding By

Glassy morning waters stretch out so calm that your paddle barely makes a ripple on the surface. I pushed my kayak into the reservoir before the sun had fully committed to rising...

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The No-Frills Oregon Bakery Locals Swear Has The State’s Best Donuts

The line starts forming before the sun even thinks about showing up most mornings. People clutch coffee cups and shuffle forward with the quiet determination of a donut mission.

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America’s Longest Row Of Victorian Homes Is Actually In Minnesota And You Need To See It

A street so grand that every single house looks like a millionaire's dream from another century. One Victorian home after another stretches for miles without any boring buildings...

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Most People Do Not Know About This Hidden Minnesota Tunnel And Its Incredible History

A dark tunnel hidden in the woods that most people walk right past daily. I almost missed the entrance because it is covered in leaves and quiet shadows.

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The Minnesota Farm Where Cheese Goes From Vat To Your Hand In Under An Hour

Walking into this dairy barn felt different from any other visit. The cheese goes from vat to my hand in under an hour. I watched...

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Three Pigs Fell Into A Hole In 1924 And Discovered This Minnesota Underground Wonder

Three pigs fell into a hole back in 1924 looking for water apparently. The farmer heard them squealing and went to see what happened next.

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A Historic Oregon Waterfront with a Romantic Love Locks Spot

A wooden pier stretches out over the water with old pilings and salty air all around. Couples have found their way here for years with little padlocks in their pockets.

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10 Oregon Italian Restaurants Where You Can Eat Gluten Free Pasta

Gluten free pasta usually tastes like cardboard that someone forgot to season properly. I have suffered through enough mushy noodles to know the sad truth.

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This Oregon Restaurant Is Inside A Bank Vault From 1921, You Can Eat Your Steak Where They Once Stacked Gold Bars

Walking through that massive steel door gave me actual chills. My steak dinner arrived where gold bars once stacked up high. The...

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The Minnesota Narnia Trail Hiding Inside A Wildflower Garden With 600 Plant Species

No wardrobe needed for this Narnia adventure at all. You just walk through a simple gate and everything changes suddenly. The...

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Minnesota Has A Museum Dedicated Entirely To Spam And People Drive Hours To See It

Spam. The meat in a can that launched a thousand jokes. Someone decided it deserved a whole museum. That someone was right. People...

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This No Frills Restaurant In Minnesota Serves Gyros That Stay On Your Mind For Seven Days Straight

Some food hits your stomach and leaves. Other food moves into your brain and pays rent. This gyro is the second kind. The...

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This Classic Minnesota Diner Has Been Serving Burgers Since 1949 And Never Lost Its Charm

The counter has thirteen stools and zero tables. That is not a design flaw, it is a statement. Minnesota has a classic diner...

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The Oldest Deli in Minnesota Feels Like a Trip Straight to Sandwich Heaven

The counter has been there since 1949, and so have some of the recipes. Minnesota's oldest deli does not mess with trends or chase whatever food bloggers are hyping this week.

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This Oregon Science Museum Lets You Explore 200+ Interactive Exhibits, a Planetarium, and a Real Submarine

An Oregon science museum doesn’t just ask you to look - it pulls you straight into the experience. I walk in and suddenly it’s hands-on chaos in the best way, with over 200...

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The Oregon Roadside Attraction Where A Blue Mantis And Wooden Bears Watch Over

Roadside attractions are either amazing or heartbreaking. This one is the amazing kind. You are driving along, minding your...

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This Small Oregon Town Is Quietly Known For Its Historic Charm, Cozy Bakeries, And Road Trip Appeal

Some towns yell for your attention. This one just sits there, pretty and patient, waiting for you to discover it by accident. You...

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One Oregon Beach Town Is So Overrun That Locals Have A Secret Code To Avoid It

Every beach town has a tipping point. You know the moment: the parking disappears, the coffee line hits fifteen minutes, and a family of six blocks the entire sidewalk.

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This Crazy Steep Oregon Gondola Takes You Straight To The State Highest Restaurant

The gondola goes up so steep you might close your eyes for the first few seconds. No judgment here. Oregon has a tram that...

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This Tiny Minnesota Restaurant Serves Broasted Chicken Famous Across the Midwest

The building is tiny. The parking lot is not. That should tell you everything. Minnesota has a small town restaurant that draws crowds from across the Midwest for one reason only.

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Forget Chicago, South Carolina Has A Deep Dish Pizza Worth The Drive

I know. Deep dish in South Carolina sounds wrong. Like ordering clam chowder in Arizona or barbecue in Maine. But hear me out.

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9 Minnesota Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurants Locals Claim Are Better Than Fancy Places

Fancy restaurants have tiny portions and big bills. These places have the opposite situation. Plastic booths, flickering signs,...

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The Whimsical Garden In Oregon That Will Make You Look Twice

A garden made almost entirely of rocks. Not pebbles, but actual miniature buildings, castles, and bridges all stacked by one person's hands.

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