freya benson author at My Family Travels
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Locals Call The Sandwiches At This New Jersey Kosher Spot The Best They Have Ever Had

Some places have to beg for praise, this one gets it shouted from the rooftops. Locals do not just recommend the sandwiches...

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This New Jersey Park Connects Five Towns With A Trail That Winds Past A Waterfall And A Historic 1899 Mill

Five towns, one trail, and a whole lot of New Jersey charm waiting to be explored. This pathway winds past a waterfall that...

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You Can Still Get The Original Italian Hot Dog The Old-School Way At This New Jersey Spot

Some traditions refuse to fade. This New Jersey hot dog is one of them. Before food trucks and fancy toppings, there was the...

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Two Teenagers Saved This New Jersey Fossil Site By Sending A Dinosaur Footprint To President Nixon

In the late 1960s, a 14-year-old and his friend discovered a treasure trove of dinosaur tracks at a local quarry, uncovering over one thousand prints over several years.

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This New Jersey Pizzeria Won A Statewide Pizza Championship Just Months After Opening

Walk in as a rookie, walk out as a champion. That is the unlikely fairy tale this pizzeria lived just months after flipping open its doors.

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This 300-Year-Old New Jersey Inn Has A Restaurant That Was Named One Of The State’s Best

Three centuries of stories live within these walls. That is a lot of dinners, a lot of conversations, and a lot of secret recipes.

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This New Jersey Thrift Store Funds A Men’s Shelter And Addiction Recovery Program Through Every Purchase

Scoring a vintage jacket or a quirky lamp feels even better when you know your money is doing something real. Every purchase...

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One Bite Of The Pierogi At This New Jersey Deli And You Will Be Planning Your Next Trip Back

One bite of these pillowy dumplings and you will already be calculating when you can return. That is the effect this unassuming...

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You Can Find Authentic British Meat Pies And Groceries At This Charming New Jersey Bakery

Who knew a little slice of Britain was hiding in a New Jersey strip mall? This charming bakery has been a local favorite for...

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This New Jersey Market Has Fresh Produce At Prices So Low Customers Call It A Hidden Gem

My grocery budget and I used to have a very complicated relationship. Every week, I'd walk into a big-name supermarket, grab...

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This New Jersey Vessel Takes You Deep-Sea Fishing And The Crew Cleans Your Catch For Free

There is a moment when you feel that first tug on the line, a jolt of pure excitement that connects you to the rhythm of the ocean.

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This New Jersey Food Tour Brings You Face-To-Face With The Chefs And Owners Behind The City’s Best Restaurants

Forget just tasting the food. This New Jersey tour takes you behind the kitchen doors and right up to the chefs and owners...

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This New Jersey Raw Bar And Lounge Brings A Taste Of The French Riviera To The Shore

Who says you need a passport for a taste of the French Riviera? This sleek New Jersey hot spot brings the glamour of coastal...

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This New Jersey Cafe Has A Secret Entrance With Retro Nintendo Waiting Inside

Alright, here is the truth about this place. The whole "hidden" thing is not just a cute marketing gimmick. The adventure starts...

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12 New Jersey Trails Under 30 Minutes That Most Locals Have Never Fully Explored

These trails are the ultimate local secret, hiding in plain sight right off your usual commute. Each one takes under thirty...

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Discover The New Jersey Waterfront Haven With Trails And Boat Launches

Let us be honest, the Meadowlands is not usually the first place that comes to mind when you think of peaceful nature escapes. Then...

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This Adults-Only New Jersey Hideaway Turns A Shore Stay Into A Grown-Up Escape

An adults-only shore retreat where the only splashes you hear are from your own cocktail. Finally, a place designed for actual...

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This Historic New Jersey Gristmill Still Grinds Grain The Old-Fashioned Way

Have you ever watched a massive wooden water wheel turn slowly, powered by nothing but the force of a rushing stream? It is...

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This New Jersey Camping Resort Turns A Wooded Getaway Into A Full Summer Escape

There is something magical about sleeping under the stars, but let us be real, camping does not have to mean roughing it. This...

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The 11 Best Places In New Jersey To Forage For Wild Berries, Mushrooms, And More

Imagine ditching the grocery store for a walk in the woods. That is the thrill of foraging in New Jersey, a state bursting with wild edible treasures.

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New Jersey Has A German Deli So Authentic It Feels Like A Hidden European Market

What if I told you there is a place in New Jersey that makes you feel like you just wandered into a Bavarian village, minus the plane ticket?

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This New Jersey County Fair Features Mass Balloon Launches Every Single Evening

Imagine hundreds of colorful orbs drifting into a twilight sky, each one carrying a little wish or a silent goodbye. It sounds...

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This Historic New Jersey Diner Serves A Tuesday Prime Rib Dinner Special For Less Than $25

Tuesday night rolls around, and you are staring into your fridge wondering if leftover cereal qualifies as dinner. Stop right...

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This New Jersey Meat Market Is A Carnivore’s Dream With Rare Game And Unusual Cuts

Ever stared at a menu and thought, "I have tried everything"? Well, this place exists to prove you wrong. Step into a wonderland...

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This New Jersey Fairy Tale Forest Reopened After Decades, Bringing Storybook Magic Back To Life

After sitting quiet for over two decades, this New Jersey treasure has finally sprung back to life. A German immigrant's dream...

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12 New Jersey Towers And Landmarks That Showcase The State’s Most Beautiful Vistas

Who said you need to leave the state for a view that steals your breath? These spots prove New Jersey has serious bragging rights when it comes to sky high scenery.

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This New Jersey Vietnamese Bakery Serves Bánh Mì So Fresh, Locals Can’t Stop Coming Back

Fresh bread. The true backbone of any great bánh mì, and this place has absolutely mastered the art of the perfect baguette. It...

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13 Amazing Swimming Pools Offering Day Passes Across New Jersey

Summer in the Garden State can get absolutely brutal, and sometimes a beach trip just is not in the cards. But here is the...

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You Can Buy Hormone-Free Meat At This All-Natural New Jersey Farm

Warning: your grocery store steak is about to become permanently ruined. This farm changes everything you thought you knew about meat.

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This New Jersey BBQ Joint Serves A Fried Bologna Sandwich That Became A Local Legend

Some food legends are born from secret recipes passed down through generations. Others come from a simple idea executed to...

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Locals Say This Once Peaceful New Jersey Lake Town Is Now Ruined By Tourists

There is a quiet sadness floating over the water these days. Locals in this New Jersey lakeside community will tell you straight up that things have changed.

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8 New Jersey College Towns Perfect For A Weekend Escape In 2026

Cobblestone streets, indie bookstores, and coffee shops that actually know your name after one visit. That is the vibe inside...

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10 New Jersey Fabric Stores Every Crafter Should Definitely Visit

Scissors ready. Thread matched. Coffee brewing. Now you just need the fabric.

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This Iconic New Jersey Diner Draws Diners From Near And Far With Its Hearty Meals

Hunger has a way of making people drive extra miles. Forty five minutes. An hour. Sometimes longer.

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10 Places In New Jersey To Watch The Most Spectacular 4th Of July Fireworks

There is something deeply ridiculous about standing in a crowd, neck craned skyward, jaw dropped, holding a half-eaten funnel cake while fireworks shake your chest like a bass...

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The New Jersey Ice Cream Landmark That’s Been Scooping Old World Italian Desserts Since 1939

Some places just know that dessert should never be rushed. This old school parlor has been scooping creamy Italian classics since before television sets had remotes.

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This New Jersey Spot Serves A Two-Foot-Long Cheesesteak And Customers Drive From Hours Away To Get One

Bring your appetite. No, really. You have not seen a cheesesteak like this before.

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80,000 New Jerseyans Flock To This Free Farm Fair Every July For Rodeos, Pig Races, And Tractor Pulls

You have to respect a fair that stays completely free after all these years. Eighty thousand locals cannot be wrong. Every...

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The Little New Jersey Donut Shop That Turns Breakfast Into Dessert One Creative Topping At A Time

Breakfast or dessert? At this New Jersey spot, that question becomes completely irrelevant. You walk in expecting a regular...

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10 Best Gluten-Free Restaurants In New Jersey That Deserve A Road Trip In 2026

Let's be real, hunting down a restaurant where the gluten-free menu reads like a love letter instead of a sad afterthought can feel like a quest.

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This New Jersey Lagoon Community Lets You Dock Your Boat In Your Backyard And Live On Permanent Vacation

Wake up, walk outside, and untie your boat from your own backyard dock. That is a Wednesday morning for many lucky residents in this New Jersey lagoon neighborhood.

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12 Undercover Bars In New Jersey Where The Entrance Is A Velvet Curtain, A Purple Door, Or A Blank Wall

Imagine standing in front of a blank wall, a purple door, or a heavy velvet curtain with no sign, no windows, and no clue what lies behind it.

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This New Jersey Sandwich Shop Transforms Into An Exclusive Five-Course Dinner Club At Night

By day, you grab a sub and eat it on a bench with seagulls eyeing your fries. By night, the same counter becomes a passport to something extraordinary.

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10 New Jersey Book Exchanges, Free Libraries, And Community Shelves Where You Can Take Books For Free

Let’s be honest: your next great read should not cost you a single dollar. That is the beauty of these little wooden boxes and repurposed cabinets hiding all over New Jersey.

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The 300-Year-Old New Jersey Farm Where You Fill Your Own Bucket With Sun-Warmed Strawberries, Blueberries, And Peaches

Let me ask you something simple. When was the last time you tasted a strawberry that was still warm from the sun? Not the cold,...

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This New Jersey Shopping Village Offers Amish Goods, Antiques, And Local Farm Produce All In One Place

Nothing ruins a perfect Saturday quite like driving to five different spots for bread, furniture, and vegetables. A clever...

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This New Jersey Coffee Roaster Is Winning Hearts With Fresh Brews And Sweet Treats

You will smell this place before you see the sign. A small New Jersey coffee roaster, hiding off a quiet road, filling the whole block with warm, nutty magic.

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This Quiet New Jersey County Offers Rent Under $1,100 And A Slower Pace Of Life Locals Love

What if your rent left room for actual joy instead of just surviving? I found a corner of New Jersey where a full apartment...

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This Iconic New Jersey Restaurant Has Been Serving Some Of The Best Middle-Eastern Food In America For 25 Years

A quarter century of perfecting hummus is nothing to sneeze at. That is exactly what you will find here, spoonful after spoonful of silky, garlicky, lemony bliss.

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The Most Comforting Matzo Ball Soup in New Jersey Lives Inside This Humble Deli

Some soups announce themselves with a loud broth. This one just wraps around you like a warm kitchen towel. Inside a modest plaza...

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This New Jersey Antique Store Is Packed With Collectibles, Vintage Records, And Treasures For Every Taste

You know that feeling when you walk into a store and immediately lose track of time? That is the danger lurking behind the...

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This Under-The-Radar New Jersey Chocolate Boutique Crafts The Most Decadent Truffles By Hand

This under-the-radar New Jersey chocolate boutique is quietly crafting some of the most decadent truffles by hand. I like...

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This 19th-Century New Jersey Stone Arch Bridge Is A Hidden Relic Of Rural History

Some bridges just get you from point A to point B. This one transports you back a hundred and fifty years. Built before cars...

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This New Jersey Outdoor Store Has A 13,000-Gallon Freshwater Fish Tank And A Two-Story Waterfall Inside

A two story waterfall inside a store. That is not a typo, it is New Jersey doing retail like a theme park. You walk in for...

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The New Jersey Record Store With A Massive Collection And A Warning That It Is NOT A Garage Sale

Let me be straight with you. Not every pile of vinyl is a bargain bin. The owner here posted a blunt warning. This is NOT a...

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This New Jersey Dirt Track Has Been A Local Treasure Since 1946 And Families Keep Coming Back

Dirt in your hair. Dust in your teeth. The roar of engines that makes your chest vibrate. That is a good Saturday night in...

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Even Meat Eaters Drive To This New Jersey Vegan Cafe For The Buffalo Tofu Wrap And Homemade Ranch

Let me tell you a secret that will surprise your carnivore friends. There is a wrap out there made entirely of plants that...

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The New Jersey Spot Where Wednesdays Mean 99-Cent Wings Made Fresh To Order

Wednesdays used to be the most ordinary day of the week. Then someone invented 99-cent wings made fresh to order, and suddenly...

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12 Hidden New Jersey Lakes That Even Most Locals Have Never Heard Of

Let me be honest. I thought I knew this state's watery secrets until I started digging into old maps and chatting with retirees who love to whisper about "the quiet spots."

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The New Jersey Beach Town That Locals Say Is Tourist-Ruined Beyond Recognition

You remember that feeling when you discover a place that feels like your own secret? The locals here remember it too. They...

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