ethan calloway author at My Family Travels
Article
This One-Mile Hike In Virginia Takes You Through An Ancient Limestone Tunnel And Cliffs

The trail is short, barely a mile, but it feels like a journey through another world. You start in the forest, then suddenly the ground drops away and you are walking toward a...

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This New Hampshire Fabric Hub Is A Dream Come True For Crafters

I am not a serious crafter myself, but I know people who are. And they have told me the same thing over and over again. Finding...

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8 Best Virginia Places To Find Fossils, Shark Teeth, And More

You are walking along a beach, scanning the sand, when something dark catches your eye. You bend down and pick up a tooth, black and sharp, millions of years old.

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This Legendary Mountain Notch In New Hampshire Features A Massive Boulder Suspended High In The Air Between Two Sheer Cliff Walls

I have seen a lot of strange rock formations in New Hampshire over the years. Balanced rocks, precarious boulders, cliffs that look like they could fall at any moment.

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The High-Flying Virginia Park Where Adults Rediscover Their Inner Child

There is a certain kind of fear that comes with being up high, clipped to a cable, standing on a wooden platform swaying in the breeze. And then you take the next step, and the...

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This Abandoned Tobacco Warehouse Is Richmond’s Most Unexpected Burger Spot

Richmond, Virginia is home to one of the most fascinating dining destinations in the South. The Tobacco Company Restaurant...

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The Historic Virginia Home Said To Be The Single Most Haunted Spot In All Of Commonwealth

The feeling hits before you even understand why something seems off. In the heart of Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, one historic house carries a reputation that unsettles even...

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10 Picture-Perfect New Hampshire Town Commons Guarding Historic Gazebos

There is something timeless about a town common with a gazebo at its center. The green grass, the old trees, the wooden structure where bands play on summer evenings.

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This Historic Museum Preserves the Fascinating 18th-Century Legacy of Virginia’s Faith Pioneers

Walk through the doors of this Virginia museum and you step into a world of faith, farming, and community. The Brethren and Mennonite heritage is preserved here with care, telling...

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This Remote New Hampshire Summit Features A Historic Weather Observatory That Clocked Some Of The Fastest Winds On Earth

The wind up here is like nothing else I have ever experienced. It pushes against you constantly, making every step a small battle.

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This Hidden Boardwalk Trail In Virginia Leads Straight To Stunning, Untamed Coastal Views

You would never know this trail is here. The entrance is easy to miss, tucked off a quiet road with no signs announcing what lies ahead.

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This Enchanting New Hampshire Restaurant Is A Farm-To-Table Eatery Overlooking A Historic Covered Bridge

I have eaten at farm to table restaurants before, but I have never eaten at one that looks out at a historic covered bridge. The setting alone is worth the trip to this New Hampshire...

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This Virginia Restaurant Has An Original 1760 Tavern Ambiance And A Steak Worth Remembering

Some restaurants have history. This Virginia restaurant is history. The building dates back to 1760, when it served as a stagecoach...

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This Charming New Hampshire Storybook Farmhouse Serves A Cozy Seasonal Lunch In A Fairytale Setting

I have eaten lunch in some beautiful places over the years, but I have never eaten anywhere that felt quite like this. The farmhouse looks like something from a children's book,...

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This Virginia Artisan Bakery Serves Showstopping Pastries With A Wild Seasonal Twist

Some bakeries play it safe. Same croissants, same muffins, same cookies no matter the season. This Virginia artisan bakery...

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This Spectacular New Hampshire Lakeside Castle Perches High Above The Clouds On A Breathtaking 5,500-Acre Mountain Estate

I have seen some pretty incredible homes in my life, but nothing prepared me for this place. The castle sits high on a mountain in New Hampshire, overlooking a lake that seems...

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This Virginia Fabric Emporium Is A Dream Come True For Crafters

Crafters know the feeling. You walk into a store and your heart speeds up just a little. The shelves are packed with possibilities....

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10 Nostalgic New Hampshire Diners Serving The Best Homemade Pies

There is something about a slice of homemade pie that takes you right back to your grandmother's kitchen. The buttery crust, the warm filling, the way the whole thing smells like...

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This Virginia Discount Warehouse Has Prices So Low, Shoppers Think It’s A Glitch

You walk down the aisle, see a price tag, and blink. Then you look again. It cannot be right. A brand name item for a fraction...

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The Most Intimate Memorial In Virginia Where Each Individual Bench Tells A Story Of A Life Lost At The Pentagon

The moment you enter, everything slows to a near standstill. Just outside one of the most secure buildings in the world in Virginia, an understated outdoor space holds 184 illuminated...

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10 Quirky New Hampshire Roadside Attractions Worth A Quick Detour

Road trips are great, but the best ones have a few unexpected stops along the way. I have driven thousands of miles across New Hampshire, and I have found ten quirky roadside attractions...

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These 10 Virginia Villages Are Struggling To Stay Peaceful Under The Weight Of Overtourism

Tourism is supposed to be good for small towns. It brings money, jobs, and new faces. But too much of it can crush the very...

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This Secret New Hampshire Oasis Was Just Named America’s Best New Spa

I almost did not write about this place because I wanted to keep it for myself. But the secret is out now anyway. This New...

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This Historic New Hampshire Tavern Serves a Haddock Fry for $19 That Tastes Like $40 Anywhere Else

I have paid forty dollars for fish dinners that were not nearly as good as the one I ate at this New Hampshire tavern. The place has been around for a very long time, and you can...

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This 1-Mile Virginia Trail Is Our May Hike of The Month

May is the month when Virginia's mountains wake up. The trees are green, the wildflowers are blooming, and the rhododendrons are about to put on a show.

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This New Hampshire Store Is Packed With Mind-Blowing Architectural Antiques

I did not know I needed a gargoyle until I walked into this place. The store is tucked away in a quiet corner of New Hampshire, and it is filled with things you simply cannot find...

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Classic Country Ham And Smoked Sausage Keep This Virginia Smokehouse A Favorite For Foodies

Some foods are timeless. Country ham, cured and hung for months, salty and rich. Smoked sausage, peppery and firm, perfect sliced...

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10 Most Beautiful Walkable Towns In New Hampshire You Should Explore This Spring

Spring in New Hampshire is a gift that arrives right when you need it most. The snow finally melts away. The days get longer...

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10 Virginia Towns Losing Residents Due To Record-High Property Taxes

Virginia is growing in many places, but not everywhere. Some towns are shrinking, and the main reason is property taxes. They...

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This New Hampshire Restaurant Turns A Simple Pancake Breakfast Into A Local Favorite

Pancakes are simple things. Flour, eggs, milk, a hot griddle. Nothing fancy. But somehow, this restaurant in New Hampshire turns that simple breakfast into something that people...

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This Virginia Arboretum Has A Small Stone Tower Overlook With Seriously Amazing Views

Arboretums are usually about the trees. And this Virginia one has plenty of those, acres of them, from towering oaks to delicate dogwoods.

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This New Hampshire Town Gives You New England Charm Without The Boston Price Tag

Boston is wonderful. I love visiting. But the prices make my eyes water. Rent is insane.

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This Virginia Mountain Summit Offers Panoramic Views That Will Take Your Breath Away

Some mountain views require a full day of suffering. Steep climbs, rocky scrambles, legs that scream for mercy. This Virginia...

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This Unassuming New Hampshire Museum Brings America’s Fight For Independence Back To Life

History class was never my favorite subject. Too many dates. Too many names. Too much sitting still at a desk.

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This 50,000-Acre Virginia Reservoir Is A Paddler’s Dream With Calmer Morning Waters And Herons Gliding By

There is a certain kind of peace that comes from being on the water before everyone else wakes up. The surface is glass, the only sounds are birds and the quiet dip of your paddle,...

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This Moose Safari In New Hampshire Turns The Mountains Into A Wildlife Treasure Hunt

I have seen moose in New Hampshire before. But always by accident. A flash of brown in the trees. A shape disappearing into the...

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The Magical European-Style Resort Tucked Deep Inside The Virginia Mountains

You do not need a passport to feel like you have escaped to the Alps. Deep in the Virginia mountains, there is a resort that looks and feels like a European alpine village, with...

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This Cozy New Hampshire Breakfast Spot Serves Hearty Plates Locals Keep Coming Back For

Some breakfast places are fancy. Some are fast. This one in New Hampshire is just cozy. I walked in on a chilly morning and the...

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You’ll Never Guess Which Virginia Town Is Home To The World’s Largest Arby’s

Fast food is usually predictable. Same building, same logo, same sandwich no matter which state you are in. But this Virginia...

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This Virginia Spot Has Diners Driving For Miles Just For The Stumble Down Mac N’ Cheese

Macaroni and cheese is not complicated. Pasta, cheese, maybe a breadcrumb topping if someone is feeling fancy. But when it is...

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This Cozy Hideaway In New Hampshire Serves Coffee With A Side Of Cats

Imagine ordering a latte and having a fluffy orange cat wander past your table, not because you are in your own living room but because this is just how things work at this New...

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People Drive For Hours Just To Feast At This Legendary Virginia Buffet Where Fried Chicken Livers Rule

Buffets are usually about quantity, not quality. But there is a Virginia buffet that has people driving for hours, and the unlikely star of the spread is fried chicken livers.

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This Hidden Gem Is Secretly The Best Italian Spot In New Hampshire

A friend told me about this Italian place months ago and I forgot about it, which now feels like a personal failure that I will have to answer for someday. When I finally made...

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10 Creepy Virginia Cemeteries Where Locals Refuse To Walk Alone At Night

Cemeteries are supposed to be peaceful. Quiet places for reflection, for remembering, for leaving flowers on a stone. But some...

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This Charming Virginia Store Serves Sky-High Sandwiches And Fry Pies

There is a certain kind of country store that feels like stepping back in time. Wooden floors, creaky shelves, jars of local honey lined up by the register.

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This Magical Virginia Mountaintop Where Wild Ponies Roam Feels Like A Real-Life Fairytale

You are walking along a rocky trail, surrounded by twisted trees and thick moss, when something moves in the distance. At first you think it is a dream.

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This Unique Virginia Boat Ride Feels Like A Wild West Adventure On The Water

A boat ride that feels like a cowboy movie. That is not a sentence I expected to write. But this Virginia cruise company has...

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This New Hampshire Hangout Mixes Great Food With Live Music That Takes Over The Night

There are plenty of places in New Hampshire where you can get a good meal, and there are plenty of places where you can hear live music, but finding a spot that does both well...

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This Giant Salvage Store In Virginia Is A Treasure Hunter’s Paradise

Some people collect stamps. Others collect coins. The people who shop here collect things that most folks would throw away, old...

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This Cozy New Hampshire Diner Serves Breakfast Locals Keep Coming Back For

There is a certain kind of diner that becomes part of a town's identity without anyone ever having to announce it officially, and I found one of those in New Hampshire last weekend....

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This Cuban Eatery In Virginia Delivers A Vibrant Escape That Transports You Directly To Havana

The music hits you first, then the smell of roasted garlic and citrus. By the time the first plate arrives, you have forgotten you are in Virginia.

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10 Massive Thrift Stores In New Hampshire That Feel Almost Too Good To Be True

There is a special kind of thrill that comes from walking into a thrift store and realizing within thirty seconds that you are going to be here for a while, because the place is...

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One Small Bakery In Virginia Prepares The Most Mouthwatering Donuts You’ll Ever Taste

Donuts are not complicated. Flour, sugar, fat, and someone who knows what they are doing with hot oil. But somehow most places...

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This New Hampshire Burger Joint Has People Driving Over An Hour For One Meal

I have driven an hour for a lot of things in my life, but usually those things involve an airport or a doctor's appointment, not a hamburger. Then I tried the burger at this New...

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This Virginia Art Studio Offers A Dreamy Workshop In Flower Pressing And Arranging

Picture yourself in a welcoming Virginia art space, where a skilled instructor leads a dreamy workshop that demystifies flower pressing and arranging. In just a few hours you’ll...

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Virginia Locals Swear This Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurant Is Better Than Gourmet Places

There is a certain kind of restaurant that does not care about your opinion. No Instagram walls, no trendy cocktails, no waiters explaining the menu like they are reading poetry.

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This 100-Acre Virginia Estate Features World-Class Themed Gardens

Walking through these gardens, I had to keep reminding myself that I was still in Virginia. The Italian garden with its fountains and sculptures feels like something from a European...

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This 15th-Century Virginia Manor Was Originally Built In England

Imagine a house that has crossed the ocean. Not a person, not a piece of furniture, but an entire building. That is what happened...

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This Virginia Cove Has A Desert Environment With Plants Found Nowhere Else

You would sooner expect to see a tumbleweed than a tulip poplar here. This one cove completely ignored the lush green rules of the rest of the state.

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The Enormous Flea Market In New Hampshire That Could Take An Entire Day To Explore

I thought I would be in and out of this place in about two hours, which turned out to be a hilariously incorrect assumption on my part. This flea market in New Hampshire is enormous...

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