freya benson author at My Family Travels
Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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.

Read More    10 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    9 min read

Article
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.

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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.

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
10 New Jersey Fabric Stores Every Crafter Should Definitely Visit

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

Read More    8 min read

Article
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.

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    9 min read

Article
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.

Read More    7 min read

Article
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.

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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.

Read More    8 min read

Article
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.

Read More    7 min read

Article
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.

Read More    10 min read

Article
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.

Read More    7 min read

Article
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.

Read More    9 min read

Article
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,...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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.

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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.

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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."

Read More    10 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
New Jersey’s Adults-Only Spa Escape With Endless Mountain Views And Relaxation

Close your eyes and imagine the quietest deep breath you have ever taken. Now add mountain views that stretch forever and...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This West Virginia Cafe Serves Breakfast In A Former Church Under Beautiful Stained Glass Windows

Imagine biting into a fluffy waffle while sunlight pours through stained glass windows that are over a century old. This is...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This No-Frills Sub Shop In New Jersey Has A Roast Beef And Cheese You Will Dream About For Weeks

This is not a sandwich shop with moody lighting or a chalkboard full of poetry. It is a classic New Jersey sub shop on a practical...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Underrated New Jersey State Park Is So Secluded It Often Feels Like Your Own Private Sanctuary

New Jersey has a secret state park. It does not advertise. It does not need to. You find it by accident or through a local...

Read More    6 min read

Article
A Charming New Jersey Craft Village Where Three Floors Of Vendors Sell Jewelry, Pottery, Stained Glass, And Local Honey

Three floors. One charming New Jersey craft village. That is the whole deal here, where local vendors pack every corner with...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Jersey Nonprofit Heals Injured Birds And Lets You Visit Them For Free

A gravel path winds past outdoor aviaries holding bald eagles, golden eagles, snowy owls, and a raven named Jake. This New...

Read More    7 min read

Article
12 Best RV Parks In New Jersey For An Unforgettable 2026 Family Road Trip

Packing up the RV and hitting the road with the family sounds like pure chaos, and honestly, it kind of is. But somewhere...

Read More    10 min read

Article
This Buried New Jersey Stone Arch Bridge Dates To 1731 And Witnessed Revolutionary War Cannon Fire

Nobody knew it was still there. For more than 150 years, this 1731 stone arch bridge slumbered under a trucking company driveway, completely buried and forgotten.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Family-Run Farm And Garden Supply Has Been Serving Generations In New Jersey For Over 115 Years

That gravel driveway and the two dogs roaming loose are your first clue. This place is not a chain. It is a New Jersey family...

Read More    7 min read

Article
These New Jersey Chinese Restaurants Never Disappoint, From Sichuan Classics To Hand Pulled Noodles

Let’s be honest. You’ve had that sad, shiny takeout that leaves you wondering if the chicken even knew a wok existed. Not...

Read More    9 min read

Article
This New Jersey Lakeside Park Was Once An Amusement Destination, Now It Offers Trails And Recreation

New Jersey has a quiet secret. Lake Lenape Park West did not always feel this peaceful. Decades ago, the air buzzed with roller...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Abandoned New Jersey Station Once Controlled A Swing Bridge And Burned Down In 1983

Imagine a train station that moonlighted as a bridge operator. Set away in a quiet corner of New Jersey, this hidden relic...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Wildlife Area In New Jersey Is A Haven For Hikers And Nature Lovers

Imagine a place in New Jersey where the loudest noise is a frog belching. That's this wildlife area. With over 12,000 acres...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Unassuming Ice Cream Shop In West Virginia Makes A Pineapple Upside Down That Steals The Show

You might drive right past this little blue roofed building if you are not paying attention. That would be a sweet mistake. This...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Cash-Only New Jersey Diner Has Been Serving Locals Since The Truman Administration

Step back in time at this charming New Jersey diner where the cash register only accepts paper money and the welcome mat has been out since the Truman Administration.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Massive Thrift Store In West Virginia Lets You Load A Whole Cart For Just $25

Twenty five dollars. One shopping cart. Fill it with anything in the store. That is the deal at this massive West Virginia...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Jersey Ice Cream Shop Has Been Serving Over 70 Homemade Flavors Since 1975

Decisions, decisions. This New Jersey ice cream shop has been cranking out over 70 homemade flavors since 1975. That is not...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Highest Rated Restaurants In West Virginia That Are Always Worth The Visit

West Virginia does not mess around when it comes to good food. From James Beard Award winners and iconic hot dog shacks to...

Read More    10 min read

Article
We Discovered A New Jersey Indian Restaurant With A Lunch Buffet So Good You Will Want To Stay All Afternoon

A great Indian lunch buffet is a beautiful thing, and this one in New Jersey absolutely delivers. You will find all the classics:...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This No-Frills Restaurant In West Virginia Serves Seafood So Good, It’s Worth The Drive

West Virginia doesn't have an ocean. But this Huntington spot on the Ohio River proves it doesn't need one. No fancy dining...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Only Thing Better Than A Clam Bar Here Is Watching The Sun Set Across New Jersey’s Coastline

There’s a spot on the Jersey coast where the clam bar is legendary, but the sunsets steal the show. The sky melts into shades...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This State Park In West Virginia Is So Breathtaking, It Feels Like A Fantasy

Some places in West Virginia look too beautiful to be real. This state park is one of them. Think moss-covered rocks, ancient...

Read More    7 min read

Article
You Can Walk A Friendly Alpaca On A Leash At This Charming New Jersey Farm

Let's be honest: most walks are boring. Same sidewalk, same mailbox, same grumpy squirrel. But at this New Jersey farm, your...

Read More    6 min read