dorian hayes author at My Family Travels
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This Seasonal Virginia Beach Park Has Free Admission, Classic Rides, And The Best Boardwalk Food In The State

The boardwalk is crowded, the ocean is sparkling, and the smell of funnel cake hangs in the air. This seasonal Virginia beach park has free admission, classic rides, and the best...

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This Stunning Boardwalk Hike Takes You Through Virginia’s Wetlands

There is a certain kind of walk that resets your brain. The kind where you are surrounded by water and sky and the only sounds are birds and wind.

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This Little-Known Virginia Overlook Might Just Have The State’s Most Spectacular View

Most people drive past this overlook without knowing it exists. The sign is small, the parking lot is gravel, and the turnoff is easy to miss.

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This Giant Italian Wonderland In Virginia Makes Fresh Pasta Daily And Serves Wall-To-Wall Comfort

You walk in and the smell hits you. Garlic, tomatoes, and something baking. The shelves are packed with imported olive oils,...

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10 Virginia Restaurants Offering Stunning Views Worth The Trip In June

A great meal is one thing. A great meal with a stunning view is something else entirely. The food tastes better when you are...

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This Winding 3.5-Mile Natural Lazy River in Virginia Is The Absolute Best Way To Float Your Afternoon Away

Floating down a river is one of the great simple pleasures. You sit in a tube, push off from the shore, and let the current do the work.

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This Virginia Drive-In Theatre Resurrects The 1950s Golden Age With Neon Lights And Retro Snacks

Forget streaming services and overpriced multiplexes. There is a place tucked into the rolling countryside of Virginia where the magic of movies still flickers under an open sky,...

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These 10 Secluded Virginia Cabins Are Locals’ Favorite Off-Season Getaway

When summer crowds fade and temperatures drop, locals across Virginia know exactly where to find peace. Secluded cabins tucked...

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This Massive Virginia Vintage Store Is A Goldmine For Rare Home Décor At Unbelievable Prices

Vintage shopping usually means digging. You sort through dusty shelves and crowded racks, hoping to find something good. But...

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10 Shockingly Affordable Virginia Cabins That Feel Illegal To Rent

Cabins are supposed to be expensive. You pay for the privacy, the views, the chance to wake up in the woods. But the cabins...

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10 Absurdly Specific Virginia Museums That Should Not Exist But Do

Some museums make perfect sense. Art, history, science, the usual subjects. But Virginia has another kind of museum, the kind...

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These 10 Majestic Mountain Towns in Virginia Will Steal Your Heart

There is something about a mountain town that gets under your skin. Maybe it is the air, crisp and clean at higher elevations. Maybe...

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10 Top Rated Free Activities For The Perfect Virginia Weekend

You do not need to spend a lot of money to have a great weekend in Virginia. Some of the best experiences here cost absolutely nothing.

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You Won’t Believe These 10 Stunning Natural Wonders Are Actually In Virginia

When people think of natural wonders, they picture the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, maybe Niagara Falls. But Virginia? Most people...

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This Virginia Potato Chip Factory Window Viewing Is Worth Taking For A Surprisingly Cool Day Trip

A day trip to a potato chip factory sounds strange. But this Virginia spot is surprisingly cool. The chips are made in small...

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The Virginia Swamp And Its Mysterious Lake Hide An Ancient Native American Legend

There is a place in Virginia where the trees grow close, the water is dark, and the silence feels heavy. The Great Dismal Swamp is not like other parks.

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This Virginia Fine Dining Spot Perfected Regional Italian Cuisine

Italian food in America often means red sauce and meatballs, hearty and delicious but not exactly regional. This Virginia restaurant takes a different approach.

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People Travel From Across Virginia Just For The Crab-Stuffed Mushroom Caps At This Old School Supper Club

Old school supper clubs have a certain vibe. Dark wood, low lighting, waiters who have been there forever, and a menu that does not change much because no one wants it to.

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10 Virginia Swimming Holes That Are Dangerously Beautiful And Totally Worth It

There is a certain kind of swimming hole that makes you sign a waiver in your head. The rocks are slippery. The current is strong....

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This Virginia State Park Features A Riverbank Where You Can Search For Ancient Shark Teeth

Most people go to state parks for hiking, camping, or picnicking. This Virginia park offers something else entirely. A riverbank...

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10 Shockingly Intact Virginia Historic Sites With Zero Gift Shops

You know the drill at most historic sites. You park, pay an entrance fee, walk through a roped-off house, and end up in a gift shop full of magnet and postcards.

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This Historic Virginia Farm Is Where The Story Of George Washington Truly Began

Everyone knows Washington slept here, there, and everywhere. But this Virginia farm is different. This is not just a stop on...

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10 Historic Virginia Restaurants Where Southern Flavor Still Feels Classic

Southern cooking has a way of sticking with you. Not just the flavors, but the feeling, the warmth, the sense that someone in the kitchen actually cares whether you leave happy.

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This Scenic Virginia Drive Winds Past Mountain Views And Charming Towns

Interstates are not supposed to be pretty. They are for getting from one place to another, fast and efficient, with nothing but guardrails and exit signs to keep you company.

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This Massive Virginia Market Offers A Sensory Walk Through International Flavors From Across The Globe

You can buy rice anywhere. But can you buy rice from three different countries, a jar of kimchi, fresh durian, and a bag of ube cookies all in the same trip?

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This Stunning State Park In New Hampshire Is So Little-Known, It Feels Like Your Own Private Escape

I have learned over the years that the best state parks in New Hampshire are usually not the ones with the biggest parking lots or the most famous trailheads. This one is so quiet...

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10 Top-Rated Steakhouses Throughout All Of Virginia

A great steak does not need much. Good meat, high heat, and someone who knows when to pull it off the fire. Virginia has plenty...

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This Virginia Island Can Only Be Reached By Ferry Or Boat

Tucked away in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay, Tangier Island offers a rare glimpse into a world that time seems to have forgotten. This tiny Virginia community can only be reached...

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The Pastrami And Knackwurst Sandwich At This Virginia Jewish Deli Was Invented For WWII Sailors

Hungry sailors make for hungry inventors, apparently. Back during World War II, some genius at a certain deli decided that pastrami and knackwurst belonged on the same bun.

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This Undiscovered Virginia Retreat Is Brimming With Charm And Emerald-Clear Water

Some lakes get all the attention. Crowds, traffic, the whole busy scene. And then there is this one. Tucked into the mountains,...

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This Virginia Region Is Home To The Famous 151 Scenic Loop

Some drives are just transportation. This one is the destination. The 151 Scenic Loop winds through a part of Virginia that...

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This Virginia Hill Is The Site Of The East Coast’s Last Active Volcano

Volcanoes are not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Virginia. Mountains, yes. Beaches, sure. But an actual...

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8 Delicious Virginia Spring Food Festivals You Can’t Miss This Year

Spring in Virginia means more than just blooming flowers and warmer weather. It means food festivals. Lots of them. I have...

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10 Authentic Virginia Eateries That Aren’t Tourist Traps And Locals Actually Love

Let me tell you something about Virginia's food scene. The best meals never make it onto those glossy visitor guides. They are...

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This 2.4 Mile Virginia Loop Offers A View Of Shenandoah Mountain Without Having To Climb It

You know that feeling when you want a killer mountain view but your knees have a different plan? Same. The good news is that...

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This Virginia Beach Is Rated One Of The Most Undiscovered In The State And Regulars Prefer It That Way

There is a stretch of sand in Virginia that most tourists never see. Not because it is hidden, but because the people who love it have a quiet agreement not to make too much noise.

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10 Virginia Rooftop Bars With Amazing Skyline Views

There is something about sitting on a rooftop while the sun sets behind a city skyline. The lights start to flicker on, one by one, and for a moment everything just feels right.

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Legend Says One Kiss On This Virginia Bridge Binds Hearts Forever

Let me tell you a story. There is a bridge tucked away in Virginia, hidden among trees and moss and the quiet footsteps of students hurrying to class.

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This No-Frills Virginia Stand Is Famous For A Hot Dog Named After A Pool Shark

You do not need fancy tables or a waiter when you have a hot dog this legendary. This tiny stand looks like it hasn't changed a thing since the 1950s, and that is exactly the point.

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This Unassuming Virginia Steakhouse In A Strip Mall Serves Ribeyes That Locals Call A Religious Experience

You would drive past this place without a second glance. That would be a mistake. It sits in a strip mall next to who knows...

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Virginia’s Most Celebrated Botanical Jewel Is A True Living Museum

First glance and you already know this place is different. In Virginia, a sprawling botanical garden unfolds with winding paths, reflective ponds, and layers of color that shift...

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This Virginia Gorge Hides The State’s Second Tallest Waterfall And An Old-Growth Hemlock Forest

You would walk right past this place if you did not know any better. That is the whole charm of it. The trail drops you into...

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This Hidden Virginia Gem Serves Pristine Sushi Sourced Directly From Tokyo

Virginia does not exactly scream sushi capital. You expect barbecue. You expect oysters. You do not expect fish that left a Tokyo...

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This 18th-Century Church In Virginia Is So Haunted That Confederate Soldiers Refused To Go Near It

History doesn’t just sit quietly here, it lingers in every shadow and corner. In Virginia stands an 18th-century church wrapped in stories so unsettling that even Civil War soldiers...

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This Eerie Virginia Tunnel Was Carved By Hand And Is Said To Echo With Ghostly Whispers

Hidden beneath Virginia’s mountains lies a hand carved tunnel that feels equal parts triumph and enigma. Cut straight through solid rock with hand drills and black powder, it...

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Virginia Locals Avoid This 28-Mile Long Beach At All Costs During The Tourist Season

The shift happens almost overnight. As summer settles over Virginia’s coastline, the calm gives way to a surge of visitors flooding in from every direction.

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This Virginia Town Played A Key Role In Major Hollywood Films Including Evan Almighty And Gods And Generals

Step onto these streets and it feels like you’ve wandered onto a film set. In Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, this place blends small-city charm with a cinematic edge that has...

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This No-Frills Virginia Spaghetti House Has Been Serving Massive Family-Style Feasts For Decades

Great food does not need to show off to earn its reputation. Some places become legendary by serving honest, satisfying meals that keep families returning year after year.

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This Quirky Virginia Town Is Home To A 20-Foot-Tall Pencil That Proves Local Stationery Is A Big Deal

You spot it before you even realize what you are looking at. In a small Virginia town, one of the most unexpectedly bold landmarks rises above Main Street, impossible to ignore.

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This Secluded State Park In Virginia Is The Absolute Best Place To Escape The Crowds

Forget the packed parking lots and elbow-to-elbow trail traffic. There is a state park in Virginia so quietly spectacular that most people drive right past it without a clue.

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The Authentic Wiener Schnitzel At This Virginia Restaurant Is So Good, You’ll Dream About It For Weeks

One bite is all it takes to make this place unforgettable. Virginia has a knack for delivering meals that linger in your memory, and this one stands out immediately.

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This Tiny Virginia Diner Quietly Serves One Of The Best ‘Cheesy Westerns’ In The Region

Some places just refuse to be forgotten. There is a tiny diner in Virginia that has been feeding the city since 1930, and locals will argue passionately that nothing else comes...

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This Spectacular Cascading Waterfall In Virginia Should Be On Everyone’s Radar

Virginia has a way of surprising you when you least expect it, and nothing proves that more than a roadside waterfall so jaw-dropping it stops traffic. Somewhere in Virginia, a...

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This Revolutionary War Battlefield In Virginia Will Transport You Back To 1781

Few places hit with the kind of impact that makes everything else fade for a moment. In Virginia, the ground itself tells the story of a turning point that reshaped an entire nation...

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This Virginia Country Buffet Serves An All-You-Can-Eat Southern Feast With Over 100 Homestyle Dishes

Forget fast food and fancy menus. Somewhere in Virginia, there is a place that smells like Sunday dinner and feels like a grandmother's kitchen.

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This Floating Tiki Boat Is Bringing A Fun Tropical Vibe To Virginia’s Riverfront

Virginia just got a whole lot more tropical, and no, you did not need a plane ticket to get there. Picture yourself gliding down a scenic river, bamboo all around you, a thatched...

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10 Virginia Dining Destinations That Were Made For Your Instagram Grid

Virginia has a serious secret, and it's not just about the history books. The dining scene across this state is a full-on visual feast, where jaw-dropping interiors, dreamy outdoor...

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Why This Virginia Festival Is The Ultimate Spring Destination

Spring in Virginia hits differently when thousands of apple trees burst into bloom and an entire city transforms into a celebration. Locals call it "The Bloom," and trust me, that...

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Readers Travel Miles To This Labyrinthine Virginia Used Bookstore Where 100,000 Stories Wait To Be Re-Read

Some bookstores you browse. Others pull you in and refuse to let go. In Charlottesville, Virginia, there is a used bookstore...

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This Virginia Steakhouse Is Redefining Upscale Korean BBQ

Plenty of restaurants across Virginia make an impression, but occasionally one raises the standard entirely. One Korean BBQ spot delivers an experience that feels deliberate, refined,...

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