esme whitman author at My Family Travels
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This West Virginia Restaurant Offers A Prime Rib Dinner With Sides For A Great Price

Let us be real for a second. Finding a genuinely great prime rib dinner that also fits your budget is like finding a four leaf clover.

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A West Virginia Hot Dog Stand So Beloved It Was Featured On The Food Network

A West Virginia hot dog institution so legendary it has drawn crowds for decades. This classic drive-in has been serving up...

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This Hidden West Virginia Park Marks The Spot Where John Henry Defeated The Machine

There are legends, and then there is the story of a steel-driving man who took on a steam drill and won. This unassuming park...

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12 West Virginia Pools And Water Parks Offering Day Passes For The Ultimate Summer Cool-Off

Summer in West Virginia hits hard, and the humidity does not play nice. You need a game plan, and honestly, a giant inflatable slide sounds like a solid strategy.

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This Historic West Virginia Town Is Quietly Becoming One Of The State’s Most Talked-About Escapes

Let us be honest, we all love discovering a place that feels like our own little secret. But this town, it has gone and gotten popular.

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This West Virginia Building Is Where The State Was Born, And It’s Free To Visit

The Mountain State was born right here. Inside these walls, history took a sharp turn and a brand new state emerged from the chaos of a divided nation.

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This West Virginia Country Market Is A Seasonal Haven Of Flowers, Produce, And Amish Furniture

You say you are just popping in for a tomato, but we both know that rocking chair is already eyeing you back. Welcome to the...

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This West Virginia Horseback Adventure Delivers Views You’ll Never Forget

The highest valley east of the Mississippi is not just for hiking, it is for horseback riding through meadows that look like they belong in a painting.

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This West Virginia Lavender Farm Is A Purple Paradise Tucked In The Appalachian Hills

Purple as far as the eye can see, and that is not an exaggeration. High in the Appalachian hills, a family-run farm has turned...

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This Short Trail In West Virginia Leads To Two Stunning Seasonal Waterfalls

Two waterfalls. One short trail. Zero complaints. That is the kind of math I can get behind.

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This Small-Town West Virginia Grill Serves The Best Wings You’ll Ever Taste

What if a small town grill turned out to be the best wing spot you have ever visited? This unassuming Main Street gem has...

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12 Amish Shops Across West Virginia Offering Fresh Produce, Rustic Furniture, And Timeless Goods

You do not need a fancy city market to find the good stuff. You just need a dirt road and a little curiosity. Across this state,...

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The $8.23 Breakfast At This West Virginia Diner Is So Good, It’s Worth A Road Trip

Eight dollars and twenty three cents. That is not a typo. For less than the cost of a movie ticket, you get two eggs any style,...

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West Virginia’s Finest Ribeye Is Hidden Inside A Charming Stone Restaurants That Looks Like A Secret Mountain Retreat

Order the ribeye first. Ask questions later. That is the only rule you need at this charming stone restaurant set into the...

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These West Virginia Towns Are Losing Residents As Jobs Disappear And Tax Revenues Shrink

Some places in West Virginia are fighting a quiet battle. You will not see it on the news every night, but the numbers do not lie.

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Step Into A West Virginia Chocolate Shop That Feels Like A Sweet Trip Back In Time

The bell above the door chimes softly, and suddenly you are inside a different decade. Glass display cases glow with rows...

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West Virginia’s Rolling Time Capsule Of Classic Cars And Chrome Dreams

Classic cars do not just sit still. They whisper stories of Sunday cruises, first dates, and road trips that lasted all night. This...

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The Best Cheeseburger In West Virginia Is Found Inside This Hole-In-The-Wall Drive-In

You have to respect a place that refuses to call itself a restaurant. This West Virginia drive in is more of a feeling than a building.

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This West Virginia Fine Dining Spot In An Old Victorian House Serves Unforgettable Ribeye And Scallops

The front porch creaks slightly as you walk up. That is how you know this place has history. An old Victorian house painted...

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The Gigantic West Virginia Flea Market Where $40 Fills Your Cart With Treasures

Forty dollars and an empty cart. That is all you need to start your adventure at this West Virginia treasure hunting paradise. Spread...

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The TNT Bunkers In West Virginia That Still Hum With Danger And Mystery

Curiosity has a funny way of steering the wheel toward places that give you a delightful shiver down your spine. Scattered...

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This West Virginia Lake Features A No-Wake Backwater Perfect For Swimming, Kayaking, And Paddleboarding

There is a special kind of happiness that comes from gliding across water so calm it barely ripples under your paddle. You know the feeling.

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This 1950s Pre-Fab West Virginia Diner Lets You Sink Your Teeth Into Hand-Cut Fries And A Legendary Steak Sandwich

Steel sides, neon glow, and a parking lot full of hungry people who know exactly why they showed up. This little gem rolled...

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The West Virginia Campground Where Wild Horses Roam Free Beside Your Cabin Door

You step onto your cabin porch with a hot mug of coffee. Then you freeze. A wild horse is grazing just a few strides away,...

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This Cemetery In West Virginia Preserves The History Of America’s Most Famous Feud

Some places tell stories without saying a single word. This quiet hillside is one of them. Set in the Appalachian shade, it...

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The West Virginia Spaghetti House That Has Been Serving The Same Family Recipe For Over 85 Years

Some recipes are so sacred they become heirlooms, passed down with the same care as a grandmother's wedding ring. A beloved...

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The Best Biscuits In West Virginia Are At This Small Town Breakfast Joint Locals Love

Some breakfast spots hand you a biscuit. This one hands you a cloud wrapped in a golden crust. The line moves fast because...

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12 Quirky Roadside Eateries In West Virginia Where Locals Swear By The Menu

A hand painted sign that just says "EAT." A gravel parking lot full of pickup trucks. That is how you find the best meals in West Virginia.

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This Gluten-Free Bakery In New Jersey Makes Pastries So Flaky You Won’t Miss A Thing

The warm smell of butter and sugar hits you the moment you walk through the door. This 100 percent dedicated gluten free kitchen...

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This Quaint West Virginia Town Blends Civil War History With Riverside Beauty

A covered bridge, a river, and the first land battle of the Civil War. That is what you will find in this quaint West Virginia town, where history and natural beauty share the...

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The Only Frank Furness Church In New Jersey Has A 100-Foot Tower And A Caruso Connection

You would never expect to find a Frank Furness masterpiece in a New Jersey beach town, but here it stands with twin 120 foot spires reaching for the sky.

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The West Virginia Buffet That Locals Call The Best All-You-Can-Eat Spot In The State

Let us talk about a place where "all you can eat" actually means something. This West Virginia buffet has a reputation spread...

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This Magical Bog In West Virginia Is The Closest Thing To Narnia You’ll Ever Walk Through

I did not believe a bog could be beautiful until I saw this one with my own eyes. You start on a half mile boardwalk surrounded...

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10 Italian Bakeries In West Virginia Keeping Century-Old Traditions Alive

Let's get this dough started. I walked into one of these bakeries and a man behind the counter handed me a warm pepperoni...

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This Quirky West Virginia Cafe Has Funky Decor And Pizza That Keeps Locals Coming Back

You know that feeling when a place smells so good your stomach decides before your brain catches up? That happens here.

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This Hidden West Virginia Lake Stays Warm All Year Thanks To A Power Plant

A warm lake in West Virginia? That sounds like a riddle, not real life. But here is the twist: it is completely real.

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The 2-Mile Trail In West Virginia That Takes You Past A Spooky Staircase To Nowhere

I have hiked a lot of trails, but nothing prepared me for the moment I turned a corner and saw a beautiful old staircase just standing in the middle of the woods. No house.

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This West Virginia Historic Town Lets You Walk The Same Streets As John Brown And Explore 22 Miles Of Trails

Some towns you visit. Others you feel. This is one of those places where history does not just live in museums, it lives in...

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This West Virginia Ghost Town Was Once The Richest Railroad Hub In The Gorge

Imagine a place so lively that money practically flowed through the streets like water. Now imagine that same place silent,...

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This West Virginia State Park Features 50 Miles Of Trails And Sandstone Cliffs Overlooking The Cheat River Gorge

Guess you could say West Virginia rocks. And it does, especially at this state park where sandstone cliffs hang high above a rushing river gorge.

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The Historic New Jersey Farmstead Serving Warm, Hand-Rolled Cider Donuts All Year Round

New Jersey’s countryside hides a sweet secret that smells like cinnamon and nostalgia. Here, hand-rolled cider donuts aren’t...

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This West Virginia Festival Transports You To The 16th Century With Jousting, Turkey Legs, And Cheering Crowds

Step right up, because this West Virginia festival ditches phones and deadlines for jousting knights and giant turkey legs. Suddenly you're in the 16th century, minus the plague.

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This Tiny West Virginia Town Offers Mountain Views, A Historic Main Street, And Warm Appalachian Hospitality

You know those towns that feel like a secret handshake? This one is hiding in the hills of West Virginia. It does not shout...

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This West Virginia Steakhouse Serves A Perfectly Seared Steak Worth Every Bite

You have not had a real West Virginia steak until you have eaten at this place. Why?

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A West Virginia Breakfast Spot That Will Transport You Right Back To Your Grandma’s Table

The biscuits and gravy alone are worth crossing state lines. This West Virginia breakfast spot feels like your grandmother's...

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This Haunted Asylum In West Virginia Serves Paranormal Thrills With Historic Charm

Deep in the hills of West Virginia, this former asylum is no ordinary haunted house. It's a colossal stone fortress where...

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This Historic West Virginia Town Was Once Home To More Millionaires Per Capita Than Anywhere In America

Back in the late 1800s, this tiny West Virginia spot had more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in America. No, really. It...

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This No-Frills Restaurant In West Virginia Has A Chicken Fried Steak That Is Absolutely Unforgettable

West Virginia does not do fancy. It does real. This little diner looks like somebody froze 1958 and never thawed it.

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This Pet-Friendly New Jersey Campground Offers Full Hookups, Cable TV, And A Private Fishing Lake

Bring the whole family including the four-legged members. This New Jersey campground welcomes pets with open arms while offering every modern comfort you could want.

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This 3.1-Mile Trail in West Virginia Leads You To A Jaw-Dropping View Of The New River Gorge Bridge

Want a jaw dropping view without spending all day on your feet? This short but sweet West Virginia trail delivers exactly...

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This New Jersey Nature Escape Features A High-Tech Digital Trail To Guide You Through Historic Pine Barrens Bogs

History class met a smartphone app. This New Jersey nature escape gives you a high tech digital trail that guides you through historic Pine Barrens bogs.

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The Tragic History Of West Virginia’s Abandoned Amusement Park Built On An Ancient Burial Ground

Roller coasters rusting in a field. A ferris wheel that has not spun in decades. This abandoned West Virginia amusement park...

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This Historic 300-Acre New Jersey Retreat Is A Screen-Free Paradise For Families And Nature Lovers

No Wi-Fi. No problem. This 300 acre New Jersey retreat forces you to do something rare: actually talk to your family.

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This Sprawling 10,000-Square-Foot Used Bookstore In West Virginia Is Paradise For Literary Treasure Hunters

Ten thousand square feet of used books sounds like a glorious maze, and this West Virginia shop absolutely delivers. Wander...

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This Historic West Virginia Suspension Bridge Broke World Records In 1849 And Is Now A Peaceful Pedestrian Walkway

Standing at the edge of something genuinely old is a strange feeling, like the ground beneath you has a memory. My expectations...

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The Enormous Flea Market In West Virginia That Keeps You Walking And Browsing All Day Long

You know that feeling when you walk into a store planning to spend ten minutes and emerge five hours later clutching a vintage fishing lure, a handmade quilt, and absolutely no...

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This Charming New Jersey Village Is A Living History Museum Hiding In Plain Sight

Most museums ask you to keep your hands off. This one hands you a broom and says "sweep." Just off the parkway, this New Jersey...

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10 Peaceful Mountain Towns In West Virginia That’ll Make You Want To Slow Down And Stay

Let's be honest. Most travel lists shout "Go go go!" This one whispers "Stay a while." These West Virginia mountain towns...

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The Highest Natural Point On The New Jersey Coast Offers Stunning Ocean Views

At just 266 feet, this New Jersey spot barely qualifies as a hill. But location is everything. It sits on the highest natural...

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Only The Bravest Visitors Explored This New Jersey Asylum Before It Was Demolished In 2015

Let's be honest: exploring an abandoned asylum takes a certain kind of bravery, the slightly questionable kind. This New Jersey...

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