dylan mercer author at My Family Travels
Article
This Whimsical New Hampshire Cottage Serves An Exquisite Five-Course Herbal Luncheon In The Garden That Inspired Little Red Riding Hood

I have eaten in a lot of beautiful settings over the years, but I have never eaten anywhere quite like this. The cottage is small and charming, with flower boxes under every window...

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This Rustic New Hampshire Waterfront Restaurant Lets You Dine With Your Toes In The Sand On The Lake

Tucked away in the rolling countryside of New Hampshire's beloved Lakes Region, there's a restaurant that makes you feel like you've stepped into another era the moment you walk...

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This Historic New Hampshire Mill Is The Oldest Largely Unaltered Brick Textile Mill In The United States

I have visited a lot of historic industrial sites over the years, but I have never visited anything quite like this. The building is a massive brick structure, and it has been...

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This Unassuming Restaurant In New Hampshire Is Serving Up Out-Of-This-World Fish And Chips That Puts Big Eateries To Shame

You would drive right past this place if you were not looking for it. The building is small and plain, tucked into a strip mall where you might not give it a second glance.

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This Scenic 1-Mile Walk In New Hampshire Is So Gorgeous, You’ll Be Dreaming About It For Days

I have taken a lot of walks in New Hampshire, but this one is different from all the others. The path is only a mile long, which means almost anyone can do it.

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11 Highest Rated Seafood Restaurants in All of New Hampshire

I have eaten a lot of seafood in New Hampshire, and I have learned that the best places are not always the most obvious ones. Some of the highest rated restaurants are tucked away...

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9 Beginner-Friendly New Hampshire Mountain Hikes With Million-Dollar Views

I remember my first hike in New Hampshire, and I remember how intimidated I felt. The mountains here are big, and the trails can be steep.

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This New Hampshire Hidden Gem Features Old-School Charm And Handmade Gifts

You could walk right past it and never know what was waiting inside. The building is small and unassuming, painted red like a schoolhouse from another era.

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New Hampshire Has A Submerged Settlement History That Once Flourished On The Lakeside

Beneath the surface of a quiet New Hampshire lake, there is a secret. A settlement that once flourished on the lakeside, now submerged and forgotten.

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This Massive Flooded New Hampshire Quarry Secretly Holds Sunken Industrial Machinery On The Bottom

The water looks calm and clear from the surface, almost inviting. You would never guess what lies beneath. This massive flooded...

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The Historic General Store Site That Showcases A Glimpse Into New Hampshire’s Turn-Of-The-Century Past

The wooden floors creak when you walk on them. That is the first thing you notice. Then the smell hits you. Old wood and candy...

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The New Hampshire Country-Style Buffet That Locals Call The Finest All-You-Can-Eat Spot In The State

I am usually skeptical of buffets. The food sits out too long. The quality suffers. You pay for way more than you actually...

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10 New Hampshire Farm Markets Worth Visiting For Fresh Bakes And Handmade Pantry Finds

I love a good grocery store as much as anyone, but there is something special about buying food directly from the people who grew or made it. New Hampshire is full of farm markets...

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10 New Hampshire Restaurants Offering Scenic Waterfront Views Worth The Trip In June

New Hampshire in June is basically nature showing off. The lakes sparkle, the rivers hum, and the coastal breezes carry that unmistakable salt-and-pine perfume that makes you want...

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This Mysterious Underground Gorge In New Hampshire Hides A Thunderous Glacial Waterfall Crashing Inside A Pitch-Black Cave

You can hear it before you see it. A low rumble that grows louder with every step into the darkness. The air gets colder and...

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This Hauntingly Beautiful New Hampshire Ghost Town Hides Abandoned Stone Cellars Deep Inside A Quiet State Forest

I have walked through a lot of forests in New Hampshire, but I have never walked through anything quite like this. Deep inside a quiet state forest, hidden by the trees, there...

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10 Century-Old New Hampshire Bookstores Perfect For Rainy Days

Rainy days in New Hampshire used to mean sitting at home watching old movies or staring out the window wishing the weather would clear. Then I discovered something better.

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10 Secret New Hampshire Waterfalls Hidden Deep Inside The Woods

Everyone knows the famous waterfalls in New Hampshire. The ones with parking lots and boardwalks and crowds of tourists taking selfies.

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This Legendary New Hampshire Submarine Is A Secret Cold War Time Capsule

Most people drive right past it without even noticing. The submarine sits on dry land now, pulled from the water and placed in a park in New Hampshire.

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This Thrilling New Hampshire Mountain Road Drives You Straight Through The Clouds To The Highest Peak In The Northeast

The first time I drove this road, I was nervous. The second time, I was excited. The third time, I felt like I was driving to...

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This Conceptual Virginia Eatery Is Decorated With Words Of Wisdom And Inspiring Quotes On Every Table

You sit down for a meal and end up leaving with something much harder to forget. A family-owned restaurant in Virginia has been turning simple dining into a thoughtful experience...

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This New Hampshire Entertainment Hub That Lets You Enter For Free And Only Spend On The Games You Actually Enjoy

I am so tired of places that charge a cover fee just to walk through the door. You show up, pay twenty dollars before you have done anything, and then you still have to pay for...

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This Breathtaking New Hampshire River Boardwalk Tucks You Deep Inside Glacial Cave Tunnels

I have walked through a lot of beautiful places in New Hampshire, but I have never walked through anything quite like this. The boardwalk follows the river for a while, and the...

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This New Hampshire Beach Is Gorgeous During The Day And Haunting After Sunset

I have been to this New Hampshire beach more times than I can count. During the day, it is everything you want in a coastal escape.

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This Iconic New Hampshire Mountain Tavern Is An Authentic Irish Escape Right Along The Highway

OYou would never expect to find an authentic Irish pub right off the highway in the middle of the New Hampshire mountains, but there it is, and it is the real deal. The owners...

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New Hampshire’s Most Underrated Lake Has 61 Miles Of Shoreline And Tranquil Waters

Everyone talks about the famous lakes in New Hampshire, but the one I found recently is better than all of them combined. It has 61 miles of shoreline, which means there is plenty...

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This New Hampshire Nonprofit Features Native Wildlife Encounters And Lets You See Black Bears and Bobcats Up Close

I have seen black bears in the wild before. Always from a distance. Always a little bit scary. This place in New Hampshire...

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New Hampshire’s Year-Round Heated Pool With A Luxury Spa And Boundless Relaxation

There is something almost rebellious about swimming outside when there is snow on the ground. I felt that way the first time I stepped into this New Hampshire pool in the middle...

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This New Hampshire Beach Is Such A Hidden Gem We Almost Kept It A Secret

I almost did not write about this beach, and that is how much I love it. The selfish part of me wanted to keep it quiet, just for the people who already know about it.

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This Jaw-Dropping New Hampshire Gorge Features A Spectacular 2-Mile Hike Past Roaring Waterfalls

You can hear the water before you see it. A low rumble that grows louder with every step. Then you turn a corner and the gorge...

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This Retro New Hampshire Diner Serves A 1950s-Style Breakfast Locals Love

You can feel the decade the moment you walk through the door. The checkered floor. The red vinyl booths. The counter with spinning...

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This Quirky New Hampshire Town Keeps A Decommissioned Cold War Rocket Parked Directly On Main Street

You do not expect to turn a corner on a quiet main street and come face to face with a Cold War rocket. But that is exactly what happened to me in New Hampshire last week.

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10 Beginner-Friendly Trails In New Hampshire To Explore This Spring

Spring in New Hampshire is unpredictable, with mud and melting snow and weather that cannot make up its mind, but it is also the perfect time to get outside before the summer crowds...

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This Unassuming New Hampshire Restaurant Serves Outrageously Fresh Seafood Right Off The Boat

The building does not look like much, and honestly that should have been my first clue that the food was going to be exceptional. This unassuming seafood spot in New Hampshire...

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No Crowds, No Hype, Just A Tiny Town In Virginia That Travel Experts Recently Called A Hidden Gem

There is a certain kind of town that does not advertise. No billboards on the highway, no viral TikTok videos, no influencers posing in front of murals.

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This Hidden New Hampshire Hike Leads To Over 100 Incredible Sculptures In The Woods

I have been on plenty of hikes in New Hampshire that end with a view or a waterfall, which is great and all, but I have never been on one that ends with over a hundred sculptures...

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The Gigantic Secondhand Shop In New Hampshire That Is Absolutely Worth The Drive

Thirty minutes. That is how long I thought I would last inside this place before getting bored and moving on with my day. Two...

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This Peaceful New Hampshire Boardwalk Opens Onto A Strange Ancient Floating World

I did not expect to feel like I had stepped back in time when I walked onto a boardwalk in New Hampshire, but this place is different from anything else I have seen in the state....

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This Roadside View Might Be One Of The Most Beautiful In New Hampshire

You do not always have to earn a view in New Hampshire by hiking for hours and sweating through your shirt, and this roadside overlook is proof of that. I pulled over without any...

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This New Hampshire Drive-In Still Delivers A Truly Classic Summer Night

There is something about a drive-in movie theater that feels like summer should always feel, with the windows rolled down and the sound of the film crackling through your car speakers...

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This Virginia Island Town Has Locals Saying The Tourist Crowds Changed Everything

There is a sadness that comes with watching a quiet place get discovered. The locals feel it first, the slow creep of traffic, the new hotels, the restaurants that used to know...

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The No-Frills Diner In New Hampshire Quietly Serves Some Of The Best Prime Rib In The State

You do not normally walk into a diner expecting prime rib, because diners are supposed to be for eggs and coffee and maybe a turkey club if you are feeling fancy. But this place...

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This New Virginia Spot Is Serving The State’s Most Authentic Coastal Italian Flavors

Virginia just got a serious upgrade on the fine dining front, and trust me, you are going to want to hear about this one. A newly reimagined restaurant is turning heads across...

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This Virginia County Is Home To Towering 120-Foot Natural Chimneys

Driving through this part of Virginia, you might not expect to see massive rock formations rising out of the ground like something from the desert southwest. But there they are.

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This Charming Virginia Consignment Shop Is A Decor Treasure Hunt With Shockingly Low Prices

I walked into this Virginia consignment shop with twenty dollars and no expectations. I walked out with a lamp, a vintage mirror, and a very confused look on my face.

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10 Virginia Towns And Places That Feel Like A Little Trip Through Europe

You do not need a passport to find European charm in Virginia. I have spent years driving around the state, and I have lost count of how many times I have turned a corner and thought,...

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The 5,000-Acre State Park In New Hampshire Most Tourists Have Never Heard Of

I have lived in New Hampshire long enough to know that the famous parks get all the crowds, but the one I found last weekend is completely different. Nobody talks about this place,...

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This Serene New Hampshire Farm Acts As A Compassionate Haven For Hundreds Of Rescued Animals

I spent an afternoon surrounded by cows that wanted nothing more than a chin scratch. Goats followed me around like puppies. A...

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Forget The Crowds At This Little-Known Virginia State Park Paradise

I love Shenandoah National Park. Everyone does. But sometimes the crowds make it hard to actually relax, which defeats the whole...

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Locals Tried To Keep This Breathtaking Virginia State Park Quiet For A Reason

I get why the locals wanted to keep this place to themselves. Douthat State Park is the kind of beautiful that makes you want to be selfish.

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The Prime Rib At This Classic Virginia Supper Club Is Seriously Out Of This World

There is a certain kind of restaurant that feels like stepping back in time. Dark wood. Low lighting. Waiters who have been there forever and know exactly how to take care of you.

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This Virginia RIverside Town Is Packed With Creative Arts And Historic Charm

Some towns have history. Some towns have art. This Virginia riverside village somehow packed both into a space so charming...

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This European-Style Market In Virginia Feels Like A Walk Through Imported Flavors And Old-World Finds

No passport required. No transatlantic flight. Just a little storefront in Virginia that somehow manages to feel like a German village market.

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This Virginia State Park Spans Over 400 Acres And Protects A Rare Freshwater Tidal Marsh Ecosystem

You have probably driven past the exit a hundred times without a second glance. But tucked off that familiar highway is over a thousand acres of pure Virginia magic, and honestly,...

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This Haunted Virginia Inn Still Has Civil War Bloodstains On The Floors

Check in, if you dare, but maybe bring a nightlight and a backup nightlight. This old inn doesn't just have ghost stories; it has physical proof that history got very messy.

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This Southwestern Virginia Steakhouse Proves That Real Hospitality Lives Below The James River

Some restaurants serve food. Others serve an experience so layered in history, warmth, and flavor that you walk out feeling like you witnessed something rare.

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This Remote Virginia Beach Ghost Town Is Slowly Being Swallowed By The Atlantic

There is something creepy and beautiful about watching a town disappear. This one is doing exactly that, one storm at a time. What...

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This 300-Vendor Virginia Flea Market Is Where One Man’s Trash Becomes Another Man’s Treasure

Forget the mall. Forget the big-box stores. Some of the most thrilling shopping experiences happen on a grassy field in the heart...

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This Historic Department Store In Virginia Is Now A Monthly Artisan Market Open One Weekend A Month

Virginia has a way of tucking extraordinary things into small towns, and this place is no exception. Once home to a beloved historic department store, this charming little town...

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This Virginia Jail Is One Of the Oldest Places In The State You Can Still Visit, If You Dare

Not all of Virginia’s history feels polished or comfortable. Some of it hides behind thick stone walls and iron bars, waiting to be explored.

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