eli grant author at My Family Travels
Article
9 Quirky Tourist Behaviors in Louisiana Locals Can’t Help but Laugh At

Louisiana does not hide its quirks, it celebrates them. Travelers land expecting a postcard and quickly discover a living...

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10 Cozy Hole-in-the-Wall Cafés in Vermont That Feel Like Christmas Morning

Vermont winters invite you to slow down, breathe in the pine air, and watch the snow stack up outside a warm window. If you...

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The Lost Nevada Desert Carnival That Plays Its Own Music at Night

Some places hum after dark, and Nevada holds a few that seem to sing to themselves. In the Mojave, wind and memory turn old...

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These 10 Iowa Towns Are So Quiet Locals Call Them ‘Peace on Earth’

Iowa is full of small places where time seems to loosen its grip, and conversations drift as softly as the wind through tall grass.

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9 Arizona Laws So Strange Even Locals Don’t Understand Them

Arizona’s desert sun breeds bold myths and even bolder statutes, and some of them still raise eyebrows. I road-tripped from...

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Why Tourists in Utah Keep Getting Arrested for Building Rock Stacks

Utah’s red rock country looks like a giant playground, but the rules here are strict and the consequences are real. Visitors...

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The 10 Most Elegant Streets in America Are Hidden Somewhere in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania hides its finest elegance in plain sight, tucked along streets where stone stoops, brick cornices, and leafy canopies tell a quiet story.

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The 9 Best Small-Town Restaurants in Tennessee for a True Southern Thanksgiving

Tennessee’s small towns hold the kind of Thanksgiving magic that big cities rarely replicate. Historic dining rooms, porch-front...

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The Desert Resort in Arizona That Closed Overnight Without Explanation

Curiosity blooms fast in the Arizona sun, especially when a beloved hideaway goes dark without warning. Travelers once arrived to find locked gates, lights out, and an uncanny...

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10 Colorado’s “Boring” Towns That Are Hidden Beneath the Hills

Some Colorado towns stay quiet on purpose, tucked beneath ridgelines where the light falls slow and the streets never feel rushed.

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The Crab Feast in Louisiana So Good Locals Call It “Heaven by the Ocean”

Louisiana rewards travelers who follow the scent of spice and saltwater rather than the buzz of headlines. South of New Orleans,...

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The Sticky Reason Tourists in Vermont Keep Getting Fined

Vermont looks like a postcard, which tempts visitors to treat the woods as an open invitation. The sticky truth, however,...

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The 10 Wyoming Spots Locals Say Are Drowning in Tourists

Wyoming keeps showing up on bucket lists, and locals feel the surge. Scenic towns and parks now wrestle with packed parking lots, stressed services, and neighborhoods reshaped...

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Tourists Are Losing It Over This All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Lodge in New Hampshire

New Hampshire travelers keep swapping the same tip in hushed, excited tones. Drive to Sugar Hill, climb the ridge, and step into a warm lodge where history hangs in the rafters....

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9 Louisiana Bayou Communities Tourism and Promotion Have Changed for Good

Visitors come for the cypress silhouettes and quiet water, then leave ripples that never settle. In coastal Louisiana, tourism, infrastructure, and climate pressure have reshaped...

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8 Hole in the Wall Texas Spots Every Road Tripper Should Try

Texas backroads reward curious travelers with humble dining rooms, neon-lit counters, and stories etched into wood paneling and brick. This listicle skips the obvious and mixes...

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10 Forgotten Amusement Parks In New Jersey Frozen In Time

Hello, fellow adventurers! Get ready to dust off those memory-laden maps as we embark on an exhilarating journey through New Jersey's storied past. These amusement parks, now mere...

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9 Hidden Antique Shops That Make Missouri A Collector’s Haven

Missouri, the Show-Me State, is bursting with secrets. While many travelers may find themselves drawn to the hustle and bustle of the big cities, it's the quiet corners where true...

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10 Arizona Desert Flea Markets That Became Unexpected Travel Stops

Ever found yourself on a road trip through the Arizona desert, wondering what hidden treasures lie just off the beaten path? Well, buckle up, my fellow adventurers, because we're...

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10 Mistakes Tourists In New Mexico Keep Repeating

New Mexico: a land where the skies are vast, the cuisine is spicy, and the history is as rich as the landscape. Yet, even the savviest travelers find themselves making the same...

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Road Trippers Swear This Nevada Diner Serves the Best Chicken Fried Steak in the West

Nevada road trippers love a good discovery, and Jerry’s Restaurant in Fallon rewards anyone who veers off the main drag. The room hums with small town ease, the kind of place...

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The 10 Most Boring Towns in Illinois That Feel Weirdly Cinematic

Illinois hides quiet corners where the camera in your mind never stops rolling. These places are calm, often overlooked, yet full of visual cues that feel ready for a lingering...

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Article
The Tiny Italian Trattoria in Vermont That’s Worth the Drive for Every Traveler

Chasing foliage, powder, or quiet backroads, travelers often seek a meal that feels like a destination in itself. In Stowe, Vermont, Trattoria La Festa delivers exactly that, an...

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Why Locals Never Leave These So Called Boring Florida Towns

Some places keep people not with flash but with quiet rewards. I look for those steady habits and small rituals that anchor daily life. Florida holds many towns that outsiders...

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Tourists Keep Breaking These 7 Weird South Carolina Laws Without Even Realizing

South Carolina greets me with palmettos, sea breeze, and a legal playbook that reads like a time capsule. I keep running into statutes that locals know by heart, yet visitors miss...

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The North Carolina Town Where Locals Say Every House Turns Haunted After Dark

I arrived in Hillsborough, North Carolina just before sunset and felt the town exhale as the light thinned. Locals in Hillsborough, North Carolina often say every house turns haunted...

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The Ghostly Remains of a South Carolina Attractions No One Dares Visit

I went looking for a quiet corner of South Carolina and found two places that rewrite how we talk about memory and time. Springs Recreational Park near Inman whispers from behind...

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Article
Shrimp Pasta at a Georgia Seafood Grill That Alone Is Worth the Drive

I chase coastal meals that feel rooted in place, and Crab Daddy Seafood Grill delivers. On Saint Simons Island in Georgia, a plate of shrimp pasta meets the sea breeze just a block...

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The Real Reason People Visit Washington, It’s All About the Fish Stalls

Most travelers come to Washington for mountain views, ferry rides, and coffee culture. But ask around, and locals will tell you the real attraction isn’t in the skyline, it’s...

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Article
9 Most Boring Towns in Colorado Where Time Seems to Stand Still

Not every corner of Colorado is about ski lifts or concert crowds. Beyond the mountain resorts and city skylines are small towns that move at their own speed, slow, steady, and...

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This Hidden Illinois Spot Serves Italian Beef Sandwiches Worth the Wait

I came to Elmwood Park for a quick bite and stayed in line longer than I planned. The first whiff of peppers and broth told me I made the right call. Illinois prides itself on...

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The Clam Bake at This Rhode Island Beach Spot Is a True East Coast Legend

Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but it has perfected one of New England’s biggest traditions, the seaside clam bake. And no place captures that coastal magic better than...

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Article
A Tranquil Day Trip From Chicago Where You Can Just Breathe

Chicago moves fast, traffic, noise, and endless schedules. But less than two hours away, there’s a stretch of calm that feels like an exhale you didn’t know you needed. Starved...

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Article
Why Tourists in California Get Fined for Doing the Most Normal Things

California’s beaches, trails, and cities draw millions of visitors every year, but many leave lighter in the wallet. Across the state, travelers find out too late that “normal”...

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10 Most Boring Towns in Wyoming That Travelers Keep Coming Back To

Wyoming’s small towns often look quiet, flat, and uneventful from the highway. Many travelers stop for gas, stretch their legs, and move on. Yet those who linger discover subtle...

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Why New Jersey Locals Stay Away From the Boardwalks Tourists Love

Every summer, crowds pour into New Jersey’s beaches for fried food, flashing lights, and seaside music. I grew up loving that buzz, yet I step around it when the season peaks....

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Locals Warn Tourists Never to Tell Anyone About This South Carolina Shrimp Buffet

I’d heard whispers before I ever set foot in Myrtle Beach. “There’s a buffet here that locals don’t like to talk about,” someone told me, half joking, half serious. The...

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Why Travelers in Colorado Can’t Stop Talking About the State’s Butcher Counters

I travel for flavor, and in Colorado I keep finding it at butcher counters that feel like mini field guides to the land. Skilled butchers talk about breeds, pastures, and weather...

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Article
10 Florida Murals That Turned Into Must-See Photo Spots

Hello, fellow wanderlusters and Instagram aficionados! Florida isn't just about beaches and theme parks; it’s a canvas of vibrant street art waiting to be discovered. Let’s...

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Article
BBQ Lovers Are Flocking to This Missouri Smokehouse for Its Famous Ribs

If there’s one smell that defines St. Louis, it’s hickory smoke rolling through the air just before lunch. I went to Pappy’s Smokehouse to see why this local landmark keeps...

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Article
Couple Spends 8 Years Sailing From Alaska Across the World, Calling the Ocean Their Backyard

They swapped commutes for currents and made the horizon their address. This is the story of a couple who turned a 45-year-old sailboat into a self-sufficient home and sailed past...

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8 Pennsylvania’s Classic 24 Hour Diners Everyone Should Try Once

I chase great late night plates across Pennsylvania, and these 24 hour classics keep pulling me back. If you love bottomless coffee, chrome counters, and menus that never sleep,...

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9 Rainy Night Steakhouses In Washington Worth The Trip

There's something magical about the patter of raindrops against windows while you're cozied up inside, knife in hand, ready to slice into a perfectly seared steak. Washington state,...

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Article
Viral TikTok Shows Alaska Earthquake That Sent Families Running for Higher Ground

A shaking living room. Sirens echoing through rain. A low aircraft crossing a gray Aleutian sky while families scramble uphill. A new viral TikTok from King Cove, Alaska, turned...

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Why Travelers Say Ohio’s Gastropubs Are Underrated Gems

I’ve eaten my way across the Midwest, and Ohio keeps surprising me. The state doesn’t shout about its food scene, but what it offers feels grounded and real. Its gastropubs...

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8 Hidden Gem Retro Diners in Texas You’ll Want to Find

I chase the kind of diners where chrome stools squeak, neon hums, and plates land hot and honest. Texas hides plenty of those spots in plain sight, and each one tells a different...

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How a Famous Musician’s Stay Made This Nevada Hotel a Ghost Story

Nestled on the scenic border of Nevada and California, the Cal Neva Lodge holds a unique place in American history. This legendary resort was once a glamorous playground for Hollywood’s...

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Article
5 Days Exploring Georgia’s Untold Legends

Embark on a captivating five-day journey through Georgia, exploring its mysterious legends and folklore. Each day uncovers a unique tale rooted deep in local history, offering...

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Article
8 Amazing and 3 Frustrating Things About Traveling in Virginia

I’ve road tripped across Virginia more times than I can count, and it still surprises me. The mix of mountains, shore, and layered history creates a rhythm that never gets old....

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Article
9 Kentucky Fast Casual Spots Reinventing Comfort Food

I hit the road across Kentucky looking for fast casual spots that treat comfort food with respect and a spark of fun. I wanted places where the line moves, the flavors pop, and...

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