cole brannigan author at My Family Travels
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The Illinois Resale Shop Where Great Clothes And Home Finds Keep Pulling People Back

You can feel a good resale shop the moment you start spotting real brands for real prices. This Illinois resale shop keeps pulling people back because the clothing racks stay strong...

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The Covered Bridge Town In Pennsylvania That Feels Straight Out Of A Storybook

Ready to drive into a town where the bridge looks like it belongs on a postcard you kept as a kid? A covered bridge town in Pennsylvania has that storybook charm, because the roads...

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This Abandoned Pennsylvania Highway Lets You Walk Through A Closed-Off Piece Of Road History

What does it feel like to walk on a highway that the rest of the world has already moved on from? This abandoned Pennsylvania stretch turns that question into a very real experience,...

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NFL Fans Could Easily Spend Hours Inside This Legendary Hall Of Fame In Ohio

Some places make it very easy to lose track of time, and this Ohio hall of fame is one of them. For NFL fans, it is the kind of stop that starts as a fun visit and quickly turns...

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This Florida Seafood Feast Turns Dinner Into A Full-On Lobster And Crab Event

Ready to make a normal dinner feel wildly underqualified? This Florida seafood feast does not just give you something good to eat. It...

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This Haunted Massachusetts Ghost Ship Has A Backstory That Gets Stranger The More You Look

The weirder the details get, the harder it is to stop reading the story. This haunted Massachusetts ghost ship has a backstory that gets stranger the more you look, because every...

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The Beloved Iowa Bookstore With An Upstairs Cafe That Makes Browsing Way Too Easy

Your browsing plan gets dangerously simple when the café is upstairs and the books are downstairs. This beloved Iowa bookstore turns a quick visit into a linger-and-loop routine,...

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This North Carolina Seafood Buffet Serves The Kind Of Feast That Steals Your Whole Vacation

Did your ever have your whole vacation schedule rearranged by a buffet line? This North Carolina seafood buffet serves the kind of feast that steals your whole trip, because once...

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This South Carolina Seafood Buffet Keeps The Calabash Favorites And Crab Legs Coming All Night

The butter cup is basically your compass for the night here. This South Carolina seafood buffet keeps the Calabash favorites and the crab legs coming all night, so the meal turns...

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This Forgotten South Carolina Church Ruin Looks Like A Movie Scene In Real Life

Ready to walk into a ruin that looks staged, even though it is completely real? This forgotten South Carolina church ruin looks like a movie scene in daylight, with open walls,...

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This California Bookstore Is So Big It Feels More Like A Book Village

Ever walk into a bookstore and immediately feel like you should have packed snacks and a schedule? This California bookstore is so big it feels more like a book village, because...

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This Louisiana Seafood Buffet Brings Big Cajun Energy With Crab Legs, Gumbo, And Fried Catfish

Want to treat dinner like a full Cajun celebration instead of a normal meal? This Louisiana seafood buffet brings big Cajun energy, with crab legs, gumbo, and fried catfish leading...

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This Haunted Tennessee Cave Tour Is Built Around One Legend Locals Still Argue About

What is that one cave story in Tennessee that locals still cannot agree on? Let's find out. This haunted cave tour is built around...

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This Arizona Thrift Spot Runs Like A Two-Building Treasure Hunt, And Regulars Drive In For The Big Finds

Want a thrift stop that feels like a mini treasure hunt with a sequel built in? This Arizona thrift spot runs like a two-building search mission, and regulars drive in for the...

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This California Thrift Store Makes Vintage Finds Feel Weirdly Easy To Score

Ready to walk into a thrift store and actually feel lucky for once? This California thrift store makes vintage finds feel weirdly easy to score, because the racks are stocked,...

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This Minnesota Amish Tour Turns A Day Trip Into A Shop Hop With Zero Guesswork

Want a day trip that feels planned by someone who hates wasting time? This Minnesota Amish tour turns the whole outing into a shop hop with zero guesswork, because the route is...

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How Curious Visitors Are Changing Amish Country In Ohio

You know how road trips feel different when the goal is to slow down instead of check off stops? That is the pull of Amish Country in Ohio, where quiet roads and tidy farms spark...

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The Quiet Peninsula Town In Connecticut That’s Perfect For A Spring Reset

Scientists say your shoulders drop about three minutes after you arrive here. Stonington Borough in Connecticut is a quiet peninsula town that feels made for a spring reset, especially...

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The River Bluff Escape In Wisconsin That’s Ideal For A Scenic Spring Drive

Think you need a huge itinerary to get a spring drive that feels like a total reset? Alma, Wisconsin is the kind of river bluff escape that makes a scenic day feel effortless,...

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The Haunted Utah Mountain Resort That Still Plays Its Organ

Your spine straightens the moment you hear an organ note in an empty hallway. A haunted Utah mountain resort that still plays its organ has a way of making the whole building feel...

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This Illinois Thrift Store Is Packed With Clothes And Home Finds At Prices That Actually Feel Fun

Ready to shop without that little voice in your head doing painful math at every rack? This Illinois thrift store is packed with clothes and home finds at prices that actually...

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Takeout Containers Took Over These Massachusetts Harbor Walks And Sparked Crackdowns

A harbor walk feels a lot less charming when the shoreline starts looking like a takeout graveyard. In Massachusetts, discarded containers have taken over some waterfront paths,...

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This North Carolina Secondhand Mega Mall Has Aisles For Days, And Shoppers Treat It Like A Weekend Trip

Your weekend plans might accidentally become a secondhand marathon! This North Carolina secondhand mega mall has aisles for days, and shoppers treat it like a full-on weekend trip...

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This Virginia Thrift Store Is Packed With Everyday Finds That Cost Way Less Than Retail

Your budget gets a little smug the moment you walk through this door. This Virginia thrift store is packed with everyday finds that cost way less than retail, so a quick run for...

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Snack Wrappers Ruined These Oregon Waterfall Trails And Sparked New Patrols

Nothing ruins a waterfall vibe faster than seeing a shiny snack wrapper on the trail. Oregon waterfall hikes are supposed to feel clean and magical, with mossy paths, cool mist,...

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This Washington Thrift Store Is Built For Treasure Hunts, And Locals Never Leave After One Lap

Think you can do one quick lap and walk out empty-handed? Let's test that. This Washington thrift store is built for treasure...

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“One More Souvenir” Ruined These New Mexico Rock Art Stops And Brought New Rules

Stealing a tiny rock art souvenir sounds harmless until you realize you just damaged history. New Mexico rock art stops have been hit hard by people who chip, scratch, stack, or...

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This Oregon Seafood Counter Serves Fish Straight From The Docks

Let me suggest you a plan for a coast drive, and yes, it absolutely includes pulling off in Newport because you need to see the counter that sits practically on the docks.

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Timed Entry Ruined These California Coastal Park Days That Used To Feel Spontaneous

Nothing kills a coastal mood faster than realizing you need a time slot to see the ocean. Timed entry has changed the feel of some California coastal park days, because what used...

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This Wisconsin Secondhand Shop Feels Like A Warehouse Of Deals, And Shoppers Keep Coming Back

Your quick browse plan is about to get swallowed by the aisles. Bargains Galore Thrift Store in Wisconsin feels like a warehouse of deals, and shoppers keep coming back because...

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This Oregon Settlement Feels Like You Accidentally Time-Traveled

Picture us rolling into a small valley town where the first thing you notice is brick, wood, and quiet. The street corners...

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These Illinois Pizza Originals Still Make People Wait For A Slice

Nothing humbles you like being hungry and still happily waiting in line. That is what Illinois pizza originals do, because the slice is worth it and everyone in the room knows...

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The Hidden Waterfall Town In Arkansas That’s Most Beautiful In Early Spring

Want an early spring town where the waterfalls do the talking and the crowds have not shown up yet? Jasper, Arkansas is that hidden sweet spot, tucked into the Ozarks where fresh...

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Michigan’s Most Unexpected Laws That Are Still On The Books

Did you know Michigan still has laws that can make you pause mid-road trip? Beyond the lakes and lighthouses, there is a whole layer of rules that quietly shape daily life, and...

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Oregon Towns That Feel Paused Between Rainstorms

You know that hush after a storm where everything smells clean and the streets look freshly drawn? That feeling hangs around a lot in Oregon, and some towns wear it like their...

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Budget Shoppers Hit This North Carolina Closeout Store Because $25 Here Still Buys Real Finds

You think $25 cannot buy anything fun anymore? Ollie’s Bargain Outlet in North Carolina loves proving you wrong, because the shelves are packed with closeout deals that still...

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“Sunrise Club” Crowds Ruined These Hawaii Viewpoints And Made Early Alarms Mandatory

So when did watching sunrise turn into a ticketed sport with a headcount? In Hawaii, early-morning viewpoint culture has gotten so crowded that peaceful dawn moments can feel like...

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This Massive Kansas Thrift Store Feels Like A Warehouse Of Finds, And The Aisles Never End

Your sense of direction is about to lose this fight. City Thrift in Overland Park, Kansas feels like a warehouse of finds, and the aisles never seem to end once you start roaming.

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This Florida Getaway Isn’t As Dreamy As It Seems

This town catches people’s attention in a second. On the surface, Cassadaga, Florida, looks like a quiet little town with a quirky reputation, but once you spend some time here,...

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This North Carolina Liquidation Store Has Deals That Feel Slightly Unfair, In A Good Way

I walked into Bin City Liquidation Store in North Carolina expecting a quick browse, and walked out feeling like I had pulled off a tiny heist. This is the kind of liquidation...

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These Are The Botanical Gardens In Washington State You Never Knew About

Did you know Washington State is home to more than just mountains and coffee shops? Scattered across the state are botanical gardens that many visitors and even locals don’t...

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The Overlooked Waterfront Town In Maryland That Feels Different In Spring

Want a Maryland waterfront town that feels calm, pretty, and slightly under the radar before summer cranks the volume up? Chesapeake City hits different in spring, because the...

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This Desert Café In Arizona Is Where Pie Rules Supreme

We all want that one road trip stop that feels worth the detour, right? Rock Springs Café at 16825 N Black Canyon Hwy in Black Canyon City is exactly that. It’s not fancy, but...

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The Hidden Valley Getaway In Utah That Feels Surprisingly Green In Spring

Want a Utah spring getaway that feels less desert and more secret valley reset? Midway is that surprise, because when spring hits, the area goes greener than you expect, with soft...

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Georgia’s Quirkiest Small Town Museum You Won’t Believe Exists

Have you ever thought about how different life was before smartphones? There’s a place that shows you exactly that: the Georgia Rural Telephone Museum. It’s not your typical...

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The Underrated Coastal Getaway In Maine That Shines In The Spring

Want a Maine coastal getaway that feels relaxed, scenic, and still a little under the radar? Belfast shines in the spring, when the harbor looks extra crisp, the air feels clean,...

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Crowd Chasing Ruined These Alaska Wildlife Viewpoints And Sparked New Warnings

Ever notice how one viral wildlife photo can turn a quiet lookout into a crowded stage? In Alaska, some wildlife viewpoints that once felt calm now fill up fast when people chase...

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The Scenic Bluff Town In Minnesota That Locals Don’t Talk About

I drove into Frontenac expecting a quick scenic pause, and it turned into the kind of bluff-town detour you do not shut up about later. This small Minnesota town sits above Lake...

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This Illinois Thrift Store Is So Huge And Loaded With Collectibles, People Lose Track Of Time Inside

Ready to turn thrifting into a time-warp sport? I walked into Thrift And Dollar in Aurora thinking I would browse for ten minutes, and suddenly my brain was doing math like, Wait,...

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This Ohio Thrift Store Sells Surprise Finds For Pennies Compared To Everywhere Else

Feel like paying full price is officially canceled today? Where Ya Bin in Dublin, Ohio is a thrift-style bin store where surprise finds show up for pennies compared to everywhere...

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