freya benson author at My Family Travels
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This New Jersey Arts Center Was A Family Farm That Became A Creative Oasis For All Ages

You would never guess it from the outside. A 176-acre farm that once raised chickens turned into a creative oasis for thousands of people.

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Dinner Comes With Centuries Of History And Reported Ghostly Guests At This New Jersey Inn

Dinner gets a little more interesting when the building may already have a few regulars you cannot see. This old inn has been...

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Behind This Quiet New Jersey Farm Is A Cheese Cave Filled With Aged Italian Favorites

Cheese lovers, this is where self-control goes to take the afternoon off. Behind a quiet farm sits something far more exciting...

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This Secret French Bakery In New Jersey Has Chocolate Croissants Worth Crossing The State For

Chocolate croissants are one of those foods that can ruin perfectly good plans in the best possible way. You stop in for coffee,...

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A Former Landfill In New Jersey Is Now A 640-Acre Park With Boardwalks And Skyline Views

You would never guess this place used to be a dump. Seriously. This remarkable New Jersey park transformed former landfill...

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Pack Your Bike And Head To This Flat, Paved New Jersey Trail Perfect For All Ages

I once bought a bike that sat in my garage for two years. If only I had known about this trail, that bike would have seen the light of day much sooner.

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This New Jersey Hiking Trail Looks Easy At First But Gets Wildly Different Once You Reach The Woods

A gentle stroll around a pond. Then the trail laughs and shows you what it is really made of. Rocks, ledges, and a climb that...

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Treasure Hunters Could Spend Ages Browsing This New Jersey Vintage Store

Some people plan their weekends around garage sales. Others have a better idea. This New Jersey vintage store is a treasure...

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The Pasta At This New Jersey Restaurant Is Made Using A Method Found Nowhere Else In America

Who knew a cold heart could be a good thing? Turns out, it is the secret behind the most unique pasta in America. This New...

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This Lesser-Known New Jersey Mountain Hike Is Where Locals Go To Avoid Crowds

There is a trail in New Jersey where the crowds vanish and the views feel like a secret. Locals have been keeping this spot...

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13 Places In New Jersey To Eat Breakfast With A Million-Dollar View This Fall

Breakfast should feel like more than just a pit stop. This fall, some of the best mornings in New Jersey come with waterfront...

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This Massive New Jersey Vintage Shop Has Two Floors Of Clothes You Won’t Find At The Mall

Two floors of vintage treasures in Jersey City, and you will need every minute to explore them. This New Jersey shop is packed...

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This Historic Irish Pub In New Jersey Has A Janitor-To-Owner Story You Won’t Believe

You know a place has a good story when the owner used to mop the floors. That is exactly how this Wildwood legend began. A local...

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This Is The Oldest Pick-Your-Own Orchard In New Jersey, And It Is Still Going Strong

The sun had barely risen over the fields when this New Jersey orchard started doing something revolutionary. In the early...

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This New Jersey Gas Station Is Famous For Fried Chicken Made Right Inside The Store

You pull up for gas. You leave with a box of crispy, golden fried chicken. That is the magic of this New Jersey stop.

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Spend A Quiet Afternoon Wandering This Beautiful New Jersey Garden

It is barely an acre. But somehow, it packs more charm than gardens three times its size. A tiny oasis set between a school...

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This New Jersey Farm Turns Fresh Apples Into Cider Donuts That Sell Out Before Noon

There is something about a cider donut that just hits different when it comes from the farm where the apples were grown. That...

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This New Jersey Italian Restaurant Takes Chicken Parm To A Seriously Delicious Level

Okay, picture this. A cart rolls up to your table with a chicken parm that is about to become the highlight of your week. They...

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This Rural New Jersey General Store Serves Some Of The Best Hoagies In The State

You know a hoagie is good when people drive past half a dozen other spots just to get to this one. Hidden in rural New Jersey,...

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This New Jersey Restaurant Turns Dinner Into A Wacky Museum With Free Candy On The Way Out

This is not just dinner. This is a scavenger hunt with a side of comfort food. The place is a maze of quirky decor, antique...

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Good Luck Choosing Just One Flavor At This Irresistible New Jersey Italian Ice Shop

Walk in and the hardest decision of your day begins. Flavors everywhere. Lemon, cherry, mango, lime mint, pina colada, and...

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This New Jersey Town Has A 272-Year-Old House That Served As A Revolutionary War Hospital

Some houses get a plaque. This one got a battlefield. A 272-year-old New Jersey home that watched the Revolution unfold from...

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The New Jersey Towns Where Almost Nothing Is Open After Dark And Nightlife Barely Exists

Forget the neon lights and late-night crowds. In these New Jersey towns, the streets roll up early and the quiet takes over after dark.

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This Cold War Missile Tracking Base In New Jersey Was Bought For Just $1 And Transformed Into An Art Park

A Cold War relic bought for a single dollar. That is not a typo. This New Jersey site once tracked Soviet bombers heading for...

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What $100 Gets You In One Of New Jersey’s Most Popular Beach Towns

The salty air hit me before the parking meter did, and somehow that felt like a warning. I had exactly one crisp hundred-dollar...

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11 Shady New Jersey Hike Trails Perfect For Surviving Late Summer Heat

Summer in New Jersey hits hard. The sun blazes. The humidity clings. Your hiking plans start to look like a terrible idea.

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A New Jersey Shore Classic That Proves A Great Lobster Roll Doesn’t Have To Cost A Fortune

Some lobster rolls require a second mortgage. This one just requires a parking spot. A walk-up window on the Jersey Shore,...

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The Build-Your-Own Breakfast Sandwich Is The Top Seller At This New Jersey Bagel Shop

There is a breakfast revolution happening in New Jersey, and it involves a bagel, endless toppings, and pure creativity. This...

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13 New Jersey Campgrounds That Make Last-Minute Outdoor Trips Easy

You know that feeling when you need to get out of town and you need it now? The car is packed and your patience is thin. The...

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This Old-School Polish Bakery In New Jersey Has Been A Family Tradition Since 1917

Butter. Sugar. That is what hits you first at this New Jersey bakery. Since...

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This New Jersey Movie Theater Has A Full Dine-In Menu Delivered Right To Your Seat

Imagine settling into your movie seat and having a gourmet burger arrive before the trailers even finish. That is the reality...

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One Of New Jersey’s Best-Ranked Tomato Pies Is Hiding Inside This Unassuming Cafe

A plain white building next to a firehouse. A modest sign. A small dining room. Not the kind of place you would expect to...

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This New Jersey Town Looks Peaceful Today But Its Creek Once Made National Headlines

Today, you would never guess it. The water looks calm. The town feels quiet.

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This New Jersey Indoor Waterpark Is North America’s Largest With Over 40 Slides And A 1,500-Foot Lazy River

It does not matter what the weather is doing outside. Inside this New Jersey behemoth, it is always a perfect summer day. North...

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13 Of New Jersey’s Most Remote Places That Are Well Worth The Drive

Forget everything you think you know about the Garden State. Tucked far from the crowded highways and bustling shore towns lie pockets of pure solitude that feel completely worlds...

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This Rustic New Jersey Steakhouse Serves Prime Cuts On A Scenic Three-Acre Country Estate

Imagine sinking your teeth into a perfectly grilled steak while surrounded by rolling lawns and towering trees. This rustic steakhouse sits on a stunning three-acre estate that...

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This New Jersey Fun Center Has Enough Games To Keep The Whole Family Moving

Arcade lights flash, bowling pins crash, and laughter echoes from every corner of this sprawling New Jersey fun center. One visit here and the hours slip away without anyone even...

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This Veteran-Owned New Jersey Food Truck Serves Everything From Lobster Rolls To Birria Tacos

Find a spot in line and prepare for a menu that defies all expectations. This veteran-owned food truck in New Jersey serves up an unexpected mashup of coastal classics and Mexican...

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This New Jersey Bakery Is One Of The Best Gluten-Free Spots In The State

Nobody should have to sacrifice taste for dietary needs, and this New Jersey bakery proves that point beautifully. Everything here is gluten-free, but you'd never know it from...

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The Old-Fashioned New Jersey General Store Where The Bakery Case Is Only The Beginning

You know that feeling when you walk into a place and instantly feel at home? That's exactly what happens the moment you enter this charming general store. The bakery case catches...

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11 New Jersey Waterfront Restaurants So Packed On Weekends Locals Refuse To Even Try Showing Up

Picture this: a gorgeous waterfront view, twinkling lights reflecting off the water, and the smell of amazing food drifting through the air. Now imagine trying to get a table on...

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This New Jersey Tea House Turns An Afternoon Into A Trip To Japan

The garden gate swings open, and the noise of everyday life melts away instantly. The air shifts, your pace slows, and you enter a completely different world. This is a dedicated...

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This Abandoned New Jersey Transmitting Station Helped Broadcast Voice Of America Around The Globe During WWII

There is something hauntingly poetic about a place that once shouted America's voice across the globe, now standing silent in a New Jersey marsh.

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This New Jersey Mansion Looks Like It Was Airlifted Straight From The English Countryside

Somebody once looked at the English countryside and thought, "I want that. In New Jersey. On a mountain." And then they actually...

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Locals Keep Coming Back For The Made-To-Order Sandwiches At This New Jersey Country Store

There's something special about a place where everybody knows your name and your order by heart. This charming country store has mastered that art completely. Locals have been...

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This Hidden New Jersey Pond Park Feels Like A Full-Day Escape Without Leaving Town

The pond sits quietly, tucked away in a residential neighborhood. Ducks and geese drift across the water, and the shade of oak trees makes even summer afternoons feel cool and...

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This Old-School New Jersey Fish Market Has Handpicked Its Fresh Seafood Daily Since 1989

he moment you step into this old-school New Jersey fish market, you know it's the real deal. Since 1989, this spot has been a cornerstone of its community, earning a reputation...

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This New Jersey Farm Helps Veterans And People With Disabilities Through Animals, Gardens, And Family-Friendly Visits

A place where goats offer comfort, horses provide healing, and vegetables come with a side of hope. That is what you will...

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Cool Off This Summer At This Massive New Jersey Water Park With A Million-Gallon Wave Pool

Summer in New Jersey means heat, humidity, and a desperate need for water. This place delivers in a massive way. You have probably...

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This New Jersey Hike Takes You Past A 180-Ton Boulder Left By A Glacier 18,000 Years Ago

Some hikes reward you with a view. This one rewards you with a rock. But not just any rock. A 180 ton boulder that hitched...

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It Turns Out This Bustling New Jersey City Ranks Among The Happiest In America

Money can't buy happiness, but apparently, living in Jersey City is a pretty good start. According to a new study, this bustling...

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This Adults-Only New Jersey Beach Club Turns Summer Afternoons Into A Full-Blown Poolside Party

This is not your childhood pool. You have probably lounged by a hotel pool before. Quiet. Calm. A little boring.

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This New Jersey Spot Serves Slow-Smoked Barbecue So Good The Platters Barely Reach The Table

Smoke. Meat. Magic. That is the formula at this New Jersey barbecue joint. You have probably waited for food before. Hungry....

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The Hot Bar At This New Jersey Polish Deli Sells Out So Fast You Have To Get There Early

You set your alarm. You skip the snooze button. You arrive before the lunch rush even thinks about starting. And still, you...

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New Jersey Is Home To One Of The Largest And Most Acclaimed Performing Arts Centers In America

You do not need to cross a river to catch world-class performances. This New Jersey landmark proves that every single night. You...

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This Giant New Jersey Sunflower Field Is A Bright Summer Detour Worth Waiting For

Six acres of pure golden sunshine. That is the size of this New Jersey sunflower field, a sprawling sea of over 100,000 blooms that stretches across the landscape like a living...

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This New Jersey Shop Is A Must-Try For Its Crispy Korean Corn Dogs And Vibrant Mochi Donuts

You have had a good donut. You have had a decent corn dog. But you have never had anything quite like this.

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Meat Lovers Across New Jersey Should Visit This Incredible Country Store

Most butcher shops do not come with a history lesson, but this one gives you both. This New Jersey country store has been...

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This New Jersey Tavern Has Been A Gathering Place Since Before The Nation Was Founded

A tavern that opened its doors in 1756 is older than the country itself. You can still see the initials that famous intellectuals carved into the wooden booths decades ago.

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Find Breathtaking Ocean Views At This Glass-Wrapped New Jersey Restaurant

Most ocean views come with a catch, a crowded deck, a tourist trap menu, or a parking nightmare. This place skips all of that.

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