ethan calloway author at My Family Travels
Article
This Tiny Virginia Coffee Shop Serves Breakfast So Good Locals Keep Coming Back Early

There is something special about a coffee shop that opens early and means it. Not the kind that says 7 AM but shuffles around sleepily until 7:15.

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This Simple New Hampshire Trail Ends At What Just Might Be The State’s Most Stunning Overlook

I kept waiting for the hard part. The steep climb, the rocky mess, the moment where I would question my choices. It never came....

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This Virginia Ghost Lake Was Supposed To Be A Scenic Paradise, But Now It’s One Of The Weirdest Sights You’ll Ever Visit

Imagine a lake that decides to leave. Not dry up slowly over decades, but drain through a crack in the bottom and disappear almost completely.

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This Virginia Waterfall Trail Features A Historic 19th-Century Furnace

You come for the waterfall, but you stay for the history. That is how this Virginia trail works. The cascade is beautiful, falling...

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This Virginia City Was Purchased For A Single $100 Bill In 1800

Real estate prices have always been strange, but this one takes the cake. Back in 1800, someone bought an entire Virginia city for a hundred dollars.

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This Virginia Playground For Adults Is The Ultimate Way To Unleash Your Inner Child

Remember being a kid and running through obstacle courses, solving puzzles, and just causing chaos in the best way? Someone finally figured out that adults want to do that too.

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This Virginia Inland Lake Offers A Hidden Coastal Experience Far From The Ocean

You do not need salt in the air to feel like you are on vacation. I learned that the first time I stood at the edge of this Virginia lake, watching the sun bounce off the water...

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This Iconic Virginia Greenhouse Is A Lush Tropical Escape Hidden In The Heart Of The State

You know that feeling when you walk into a place and the air changes? Suddenly it is warm and humid, and everything smells like growing things.

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This Virginia Diner Bakes Peanut Pie So Delicious Travelers Journey Miles Just For A Slice

Let’s be honest. We have all driven past a roadside diner and wondered if the food is actually good or just “open.” But every so often, a legend emerges from the frying pan.

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This Gorgeous Virginia State Park Has Waterfront Views So Pretty They Feel Like A Secret

I am not sure why more people do not talk about this place. But honestly, a small part of me is glad they do not. Belle Isle...

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This Virginia Swinging Bridge Spans 366 Feet Across The Water, Making Every Step An Adventure For The Brave

I will be honest with you. I am not great with heights, so when I heard about a swinging bridge that stretches 366 feet across the water, my first reaction was polite interest...

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This Virginia Apple Orchard Has Been Owned by One Family For Nine Generations

Think about how long nine generations actually is. That is before the Civil War. Before cars. Before anyone even knew what a...

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This Quaint Virginia Town Is Known As The “Center Of The Universe”

I have to be honest. When I first heard that a small Virginia town calls itself the Center of the Universe, I laughed. It sounded...

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This Virginia Eatery Is Famous For Its Massive Vintage-Style Burgers

Let me describe a burger for you. Two hands required. Napkins mandatory. The kind of messy, glorious, drippy situation that makes you grateful nobody is filming you.

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These 10 Virginia Destinations Belong At The Top Of Your Spring Break Bucket List

Let's be honest. Spring break planning usually goes one of two ways. Either you blow your savings on a crowded beach or you sit...

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This Hillside Town Offers A View Of Virginia Life The Coast Could Never Understand

Forget the boardwalks and the salty air for a minute. Tucked into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lynchburg, Virginia, sits on seven rolling hills above the James River,...

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This Virginia Suspension Bridge Leads To One Of The State’s Most Beloved River Islands

You know that feeling when you find a spot so cool you almost do not want to tell anyone about it? Yeah, this is that place. Hidden...

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This Richmond Landmark Proves The State Capital Is The Real Heart Of Virginia Culture, No Matter What NoVA Says

Northern Virginia likes to think it runs the show. Good economy, fancy suburbs, a commuter train to D.C. But culture? History?

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This Northern Virginia Deli Thinks They Make Real Virginia Food While Everyone South Of Fredericksburg Disagrees

Let’s be honest, asking a New York style deli in Northern Virginia to represent the entire state’s food is like asking a cheesesteak to stand in for a barbecue sandwich. It...

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You Can Spend The Night In A Restored 1950s School Bus On This Virginia Farm

Ever crawled into bed after a long day and thought, “You know what’s missing? A donkey serenade”? Same. Let’s be honest,...

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This Dedicated Virginia Restaurant Serves 100% Gluten-Free Food Prepared Fresh Daily

Let's face it, eating gluten free usually feels like a punishment. You get a sad, dry cracker and call it a day. Not here. This...

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This Virginia State Park Feels More Like New England Than The South

Most people picture Virginia as a land of rolling tobacco fields, Civil War battlegrounds, and humid summer heat. So what happens when you stumble onto a mountaintop that feels...

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This Former Virginia General Store From The Roaring Twenties Is Now A Stunning Destination Restaurant

Set beside the river and backed by towering limestone cliffs, a three story brick building stands as a quiet witness to a century of change. It began as a lively general store...

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This Mountain Loop In Virginia Takes You Past Waterfalls, Wild Ponies, And High-Country Meadows

You know that feeling when your legs are screaming but your soul is doing cartwheels? That is exactly what this trail serves up from the first step.

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This Exclusive Virginia Restaurant Requires A Prime Reservation Months in Advance

Getting a table at this Virginia restaurant feels like winning a small lottery. You cannot just show up on a Friday night. You...

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This Unassuming Coastal Shack In Virginia Serves The Eastern Shore’s Most Legendary Clam Chowder

Great food doesn’t always shout for attention, but this spot has a way of pulling people in and keeping them talking. On Virginia’s Eastern Shore, a bright, easygoing seafood...

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This Virginia Mansion Was Once Left To Decay, Now It’s A Gorgeous Ruin You Can Wander Through

High above Virginia rises a marble palace that feels almost unreal in its scale and beauty. Weathered yet magnetic, it commands attention with chipped columns, fading frescoes,...

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This Mysterious Virginia 4,000-Pound Pyramid Was Built To Defy The Secrets Of Ancient Egypt

Among Virginia’s many historical oddities, one sight feels almost unreal: a towering granite pyramid rising from a quiet hillside cemetery. It dominates the landscape, weighing...

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This Easy 1.5-Mile Hike In Virginia Is So Scenic, You’ll Be Dreaming About The Views For Days

Not every unforgettable hike demands steep climbs or sore legs. In Virginia, one short and easy trail delivers sweeping panoramic views that stay with you long after the walk is...

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This Haunted Virginia Museum Has A Secret Collection That’s Not For The Faint Of Heart

Some places in Virginia carry stories that go far beyond what any history textbook could ever capture. Tucked along the cobblestone streets of Old Town Alexandria sits a building...

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This Quirky Virginia Town Is Known As The “Moonshine Capital Of The World” For Its Famous Mountain Spirits

Some towns are known for their beaches, others for their skylines, but this one in Virginia has a reputation that's entirely its own. This small but spirited town earned the bold...

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The Virginia City Where $1,400 A Month Easily Covers Rent, Groceries, And Utilities

Most people assume you need a hefty paycheck to live comfortably in Virginia, but this place is flipping that script in the best way possible. Tucked into the southern part of...

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This Tiny Drive-In Restaurant Has Been Serving The Best Burgers In Virginia Since 1983

Certain spots cling to your memory long after the last bite, and one of Virginia's local treasure is exactly that kind of place. Nestled within a smallVirginia town sits a classic...

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A Taste Of New Orleans Is Hiding In This Virginia Spot With The Best Fresh Beignets Ever

Virginia just got a whole lot sweeter, and I'm not sure locals are ready to admit how good it is. A a little café opened its doors and quietly started serving up the kind of powdery,...

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The High-Octane Virginia Track Where You Can Pilot A Professional Race Car

Adrenaline kicks in long before you reach this place. In the rolling hills of southern Virginia, a legendary road course has spent decades turning everyday drivers into track-day...

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The Best 3-Michelin-Star Meal In The World Is Hiding In This Small-Town Virginia Landmark

Okay, real talk: is a tiny Virginia village really home to one of the most jaw-dropping dining experiences on the planet? I walked into a small Colonial town, fully skeptical,...

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This Is Officially The Greatest Day Trip You Can Take In Virginia

Okay, let me just say it out loud: some places in Virginia make you feel like you stumbled into a painting that nobody told you about. The Blue Ridge Mountains stretch across the...

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This Virginia Destination Pairs Asparagus Picking With Mountain-Slide Fun

Forget the typical weekend routine. There is a working farm in Virginia that somehow manages to combine fresh asparagus harvests with four massive mountain slides, zip-lines, hiking...

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This Giant Virginia Cement Mixer Was Transformed Into A Functional Walk-In Kaleidoscope

In Virginia, an ordinary cement mixer took an unexpected turn into something unforgettable. Once built to haul concrete, this 3,000-pound machine now delivers a completely different...

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This Underground Organ In Virginia Is The Largest Instrument On Earth

Deep underground in Virginia, a hidden symphony waited millions of years to be heard. This instrument transforms ancient stone into music, turning natural formations into resonating...

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This Old-Fashioned 1950s Diner In Virginia Is A Timeless Comfort Food Classic

Step inside and the world shifts in an instant. One moment you are in present-day Virginia, the next you are surrounded by gleaming chrome, glowing neon, and the comforting rhythm...

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The Peaceful Virginia Town Where Residents Say Living Slower Is The Secret To Joy

You know that feeling when a place instantly slows your heartbeat. Set in the Virginia countryside, this spot feels like stepping into a softer rhythm where pine-scented air and...

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10 Charming Virginia Small Towns Where Retirees Live The Good Life On A Budget

Virginia has a secret, and retirees are catching on fast. Tucked between the Blue Ridge Mountains and rolling Shenandoah valleys, a string of small towns offers big-hearted living...

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This Breathtaking Virginia Trail Leads To A 66-Foot Waterfall Tucked In A Shaded Mountain Creek

Most trails promise a view. This one delivers a roar. Deep in Jefferson National Forest in southwestern Virginia, a shaded mountain...

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This Breathtaking Virginia Trail Leads To A Sparkling Mountain Reservoir Tucked Away In The Pines

Tucked deep inside the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, there is a place in Virginia so quietly spectacular that locals practically guard it with their lives....

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This Elegant Virginia Barn Eatery Is Famous For Its Seasonal Farm-To-Table Cuisine

Weekend plans tend to change quickly once this Purcellville spot comes into view. Set inside a beautifully restored grain mill, it pairs historic character with a menu that shifts...

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This Virginia Caffeine Escape Is The Ultimate Off-Beat Roastery

Hidden in the folds of Nelson County’s Blue Ridge landscape, this unassuming coffee roastery delivers an experience that lingers long after the last sip. I came across it by...

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This Virginia Staple Serves Family-Style Cuban Recipes That Feel Like Home

Certain restaurants have a way of pulling you back before the meal is even over. Richmond, Virginia offers plenty of standout spots, yet one corner of the Fan neighborhood keeps...

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This Twisted Virginia Bamboo Forest Might Be The Most Intense Outdoor Fright You Experience This Season

Virginia knows how to do fall, but one attraction on the edge of Chesapeake stands in a league of its own. Hidden within a dense, winding bamboo forest, this outdoor haunt has...

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Virginia’s Field Of Crumbling 20-Foot Statues Is The Most Haunting Post-Apocalyptic Sight In The South

In a quiet stretch of Virginia countryside, 43 massive presidential busts stand abandoned, slowly sinking into the ground as they crack, crumble, and stare into empty space. I...

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This Whimsical Virginia Forest Is Home To Over 100 Hand-Painted Tree Carvings

Virginia has its share of quiet trails, but this one doesn’t stay quiet for long. In the small town of Warsaw, a stretch of forest comes alive in the most unexpected way.

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This Picturesque Peach Orchard In Virginia Is A Scenic Mid-Summer Destination

Okay, hot take: not all orchard experiences are created equal, and somewhere in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia is quietly proving that point in the...

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This Secluded Virginia Kitchen Is So Far Off The Beaten Path The Journey Is Part Of The Reward

Some places just stop you in your tracks, and this one does exactly that. A stunning Victorian mansion has been quietly wowing food lovers and overnight guests for years.

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The Ultimate Hunt For These 10 Iconic Love Signs Across Virginia

Virginia has a love language all its own, and it spells it out loud and proud across the entire state. Scattered from the misty Blue Ridge Mountains to the sun-soaked Tidewater...

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You’re A True Virginian If You Know These 10 Hidden Small-Town Restaurants By Heart

Virginia has a serious secret, and it has nothing to do with politics or history class. This state is absolutely packed with small-town restaurants that locals would rather keep...

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This Rustic Orchard In Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley Offers A Sweet Taste Of A Simpler Time

Picture a sun?dappled pathway winding through a rustic orchard in Virginia’s scenic Shenandoah Valley, inviting you to pause and breathe in the simple joys of country life. Here,...

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Dine With The Dead At Virginia’s Oldest And Most Haunted Tavern

Some restaurants serve great food. Some serve history. But very few serve both, with a side of the supernatural. This centuries-old...

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This Virginia Seasonal Spectacle Is The Most Instagrammable Spot In The State

Okay, so I need you to picture this: rolling fields bursting with every shade of pink, purple, red, and yellow you can imagine, all tucked away in the Virginia countryside. Spring...

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This Hearty Virginia Eatery Serves Authentic Romanian Comfort Food That Locals Can’t Get Enough Of

Forget everything you think you know about comfort food in Virginia. Tucked along Patterson Avenue in Richmond's West End sits a small, unassuming gem that has been quietly stealing...

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This Virginia Restaurant Lets You Dine Right Next To Vintage Airplanes

Okay, I have a serious question for you: is a burger automatically better when a real airplane taxis past your window while you eat it? My gut says yes, and Virginia apparently...

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