harper livingston author at My Family Travels
Article
A Large North Carolina Indoor Center With Virtual Gaming And Boutique Bowling In One Spot

Rainy afternoons in North Carolina no longer mean canceled plans. This sprawling indoor center brings together virtual gaming and boutique bowling under one massive roof, so the...

Read More    7 min read

Article
A Massive Georgia Gaming Lounge With Classic Duckpin Lanes And Boutique Bowling In One Spot

A ball with no finger holes leaves your hand and wobbles down a short lane. The tiny pins explode like firecrackers. You turn...

Read More    7 min read

Article
A Colossal North Carolina Indoor Complex With Retro Duckpin Matches And Boutique Bowling In One Spot

You grab a retro ball with no finger holes and send it rolling down a short lane toward tiny pins that scatter with a satisfying clatter. That is duckpin bowling, and this colossal...

Read More    7 min read

Article
These California Towns Near San Francisco Are Smart Summer Stays For The 2026 World Cup Matches

The world is descending on the Bay Area for the 2026 World Cup, and hotel prices are shooting through the roof faster than a perfectly placed penalty kick.

Read More    8 min read

Article
Premier Pennsylvania Campgrounds Where You Can Fall Asleep Right By The Rushing Water

The river does not whisper here. It talks all night long, a constant, rushing conversation that somehow rocks you straight to sleep.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Peaceful Small Town In South Carolina Where Budget-Friendly Living Costs Truly Go Far

Imagine a place where your monthly budget leaves room for dinners out and weekends away. That is the reality in this peaceful small town in South Carolina, where affordable living...

Read More    7 min read

Article
A Massive Arizona Entertainment Hub Featuring Dozens Of Bowling Lanes And Immersive VR Under One Roof

The Arizona sun blazes outside, but inside this massive hub, the only heat comes from friendly competition. Dozens of bowling lanes glow with colorful lights as pins crash and...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Stunning Coastal California Farm Where You Pick Your Own Berries And Feast On Fresh Treats

If you have ever wanted one of those California afternoons where the ocean is right there, your hands smell like crushed berries, and dessert somehow happens before lunch, this...

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Scenic Michigan Berry Farm Where You Harvest Your Own Fruit And Enjoy Fresh Treats While Picking

You grab a bucket and the whole field seems to whisper your name. That is the simple joy awaiting you at this scenic Michigan berry farm, where you gather your own fruit and enjoy...

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Award-Winning California Eatery Crafting Celebrated Deli Sandwiches National Food Critics Can’t Stop Praising

A line forms outside this California eatery before the doors even open, and now you know why. National food critics keep praising the deli sandwiches coming from this award winning...

Read More    8 min read

Article
6 Small-Town Pennsylvania Bakeries Where You’ll Always Find Lines Standing Out The Door

The door has not even opened yet, and people are already waiting on the sidewalk. That is the scene outside six small town Pennsylvania bakeries where the pastries are worth every...

Read More    5 min read

Article
This Mysterious North Carolina Ruin Now Rests Within Overgrown Deep Forests

Walk into the deep North Carolina woods, and you might stumble upon a ghost made of stone. The old iron furnace stands half hidden beneath a blanket of vines and moss, its purpose...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Connecticut Pizza Parlor Has The Crispiest Coal-Fired Thin Crust In The Region

The coal oven has not cooled down in a hundred years. That massive brick hearth still glows at a legendary New Haven pizza parlor, where Italian immigrant Frank Pepe began selling...

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Gigantic Secondhand Shop In Washington That Is Absolutely Worth The Drive

What if you could shop by the pound and walk out with a whole new wardrobe for the price of a fancy coffee? That is the chaotic, dirty, and absolutely addictive promise of this...

Read More    8 min read

Article
Adrenaline-Fueled Indoor Karting And Arcade Fun In A Massive Florida Complex

The engine doesn't roar; it whines like a swarm of angry bees. That is the sound of pure electric torque pushing you back into your seat as you hug the apex of a professionally...

Read More    7 min read

Article
A Massive Ohio Indoor Complex With Immersive Gaming And Boutique Bowling In One Spot

Bowling, but not as you know it. Step into a former Circuit City that has been transformed into a massive indoor playground where virtual reality meets boutique bowling under one...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Modest Diner In South Dakota Quietly Prepares Some Of The Finest Prime Rib In The State

The first thing you notice isn't the river view or the friendly staff. It's the sawdust crunching under your boots, a deliberate nod to the restaurant's humble start in a surplus...

Read More    9 min read

Article
The Enormous Flea Market In Michigan That Keeps You Walking And Browsing All Day Long

Ninety thousand square feet of aisles. Two hundred fifty vendors. One afternoon completely gone. That is the promise of this Michigan flea market, a sprawling indoor and outdoor...

Read More    8 min read

Article
One Small Bakery In North Carolina Prepares The Most Mouthwatering Donuts You’ll Ever Taste

You've never had a donut like this. One that starts as simple batter, then transforms into a warm, vanilla cake ring customized right before your eyes.

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Wisconsin Lazy River Offers The Ultimate Slow-Motion Adventure Through Stunning Indoor And Outdoor Scenery

The current does all the work. You just float, eyes half closed, as the warm water carries you through a glowing prehistoric jungle and then out into open sunshine.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Giant Louisiana Seafood Platter That Comes With A Bib And A Serious Warning That One Order Feeds A Village

That platter comes with a bib and a warning. The mountain of fried shrimp, oysters, catfish, soft?shell crab, and crawfish balls is famously large enough to feed an entire village.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Best Iconic Chili Dogs In Georgia Are Served Inside This Legendary Hole-In-The-Wall Drive-In

"What'll ya have?" The question hits you before you even reach the counter, shouted cheerfully by a cashier who expects your answer immediately.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Georgia Dining Room Is A Must-Visit Spot For Anyone Who Loves Authentic Southern Food

A single woman opened a small lunch counter in 1945, one of dozens of postwar "tea rooms" where ladies served home-cooked plates. Decades later, hers is the last one still standing.

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Top Food Hall In Colorado Is Tucked Away Featuring Dozens Of Diverse Food And Drink Spots

The scent of fresh pasta mingles with the aroma of wood-fired pizza and freshly shucked oysters. You are standing in a converted warehouse in Denver's historic district, where...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Iconic New Mexico Shop Along Route 66 Doubles As A Giant Wonderland Of Southwestern Souvenirs And Local Treasures

A 1950s gas station sign rises from the high desert plain, visible from the highway for miles. That is your first hint that this is not just another pit stop.

Read More    8 min read

Article
One Small Bakery In Washington Bakes The Most Incredible Donuts Of Your Entire Life

That aroma, warm, sweet, and yeasty, weaving through the market's arcades will stop you mid-stride long before you find its source.

Read More    7 min read

Article
One Legendary Bakery In Rhode Island Prepares The Most Mouthwatering Seasonal Donuts Of Your Whole Life

The fluorescent sprinkles on a sugar-glazed yeast doughnut, scattered haphazardly across your car seat on a summer Sunday morning.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Magnificent State Park In Arkansas That Is Ideal For Spectacular Waterfall Day Trips

A waterfall that plunges 95 feet into a lush canyon, a massive natural bridge carved by ancient seas, and a mountaintop lodge with a view that stretches for miles. That is the...

Read More    7 min read

Article
These Are The Local Georgia Fast Food Spots All Foodies Should Discover

Some of the best food discoveries happen when you skip the big names and follow the locals instead. Ever notice how the places with the shortest signs and longest lines usually...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Pennsylvania Italian Market Has Offered Traditional Gourmet Imports For Over A Century

The scent of aged parmigiano and cured meats hits you before your eyes adjust to the low light of a tiny, jam-packed nook. That olfactory welcome belongs to a Philadelphia landmark...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Best Historic Cheeseburger In Tennessee Is Tucked Inside This Tiny Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurant

The grease has been sizzling on the same griddle since 1912, strained and filtered after every use but never fully replaced. That...

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Overstuffed Lobster Roll At This Small Town Massachusetts Eatery Sparks Debates All Over The State

Some of the best seafood arguments in Massachusetts start with a single bite of an overstuffed lobster roll. This small town eatery, perched on a rocky outcropping where waves...

Read More    9 min read

Article
This Alabama Dining Room Is A Must-Visit Destination For Anyone Who Craves Authentic Southern Food

The cafeteria line moves with a slick efficiency that has customers joking the state should hire the crew to fix traffic. That smooth rhythm has made this Alabama dining room a...

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Thin-Fried Catfish At This Rustic Louisiana Landmark Is Absolutely Out-Of-The-World Delicious

The catfish fillets are sliced so thin they're almost translucent, then fried into golden, lacy crisps that shatter like glass with every bite. That's the magic of a rustic Louisiana...

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Best Fresh Peach Cobbler In South Carolina That Hungry Locals Keep Raving About

The best peach cobbler in South Carolina starts with a family that has been coaxing sweetness from the soil for over a hundred years. In 1916, a farmer named Hector bought just...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Fried Catfish At This Rustic Mississippi Stand Is Truly Out-Of-This-World Delicious

The catfish comes out of the fryer golden and craggy, served on a paper plate with nothing more than a slice of onion and a wedge of lemon. That simplicity is part of the magic...

Read More    8 min read

Article
A Kansas Gas Station Where A Highly Skilled Pitmaster Prepares Legendary Homemade Barbecue From Scratch

The smell of wood smoke and sizzling brisket drifts out from a place you would least expect: a working gas station. There, behind the fuel pumps and convenience store snacks, one...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Indiana Amish Creamery Crafts Fresh Curds, Smoked Cheeses, And Longhorn Cheese Right On Site

Have you ever tasted cheese curds that still squeak against your teeth, made just hours before you bought them? That is the daily magic at this Indiana Amish creamery, where fresh...

Read More    8 min read

Article
A Georgia Soul Food Kitchen Where A Weekday Lunch Comes With Golden Fried Chicken And Rotating Seafood

The lunch crowd starts lining up before the doors even open, and by noon, every vinyl booth is filled with regulars who know exactly what they want. That is the rhythm at this...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Arkansas State Park Requires An Early Start To Secure A Spot At Its Hidden Mountain Swimming Hole

The alarm clock buzzes before dawn, and you are not heading to work. In the rugged heart of the Ouachita Mountains, a hidden swimming hole with a large gravel beach waits for those...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Breathtaking Georgia Waterfall Offers A Natural Water Slide With A Hidden Forest Oasis Vibe

What if the most thrilling natural waterslide in the South was hidden deep within a rugged mountain gorge, accessible only by a limited daily permit? That is the secret waiting...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Tennessee Seafood And Sushi Spot Lets You Dine Right Beside Massive Saltwater Aquariums

Have you ever sat down to dinner while a blacktip reef shark glided silently above your head? That surreal moment is just the appetizer at this Tennessee seafood and sushi spot,...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Small-Town Illinois Diner Rotates Its Homemade Pie Selection Daily And Locals Call Ahead To Reserve Slices

A phone ringing off the hook before the lunch rush even starts. At this small-town Illinois diner, that familiar sound means one thing: someone is calling ahead to claim a slice...

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Massive Georgia Antique Center Where You Can Spend Long Hours Hunting For Treasures In Hundreds Of Stalls

A single weekend each month, the doors swing open to reveal a sprawling kingdom of 75,000 square feet and over 500 dealer spaces.

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Tennessee State Park Demands An Early Start To Secure A Spot At Its Secluded Riverside Swimming Hole

The alarm clock buzzes before the sun has even cracked the horizon. You are not heading to work. You are racing the clock for a single piece of paper, a digital permit that guarantees...

Read More    8 min read

Article
A Historic California Motel Where Guests Still Find Original Metal Keys, A Vintage Phone, And A Neon Vacancy Sign

Have you ever checked into a motel using a real metal key with a plastic diamond tag, then dialed a rotary phone just to hear it ring? That old-fashioned experience is still alive...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Small-Town Wisconsin Diner Rotates Its Homemade Pie Selection Daily And Locals Call Ahead To Reserve Slices

The phone starts ringing early at this small-town Wisconsin diner, and it is not just for takeout orders. Locals call ahead to reserve slices of the daily pie selection, because...

Read More    8 min read

Article
A Historic Arizona Motel Where Guests Still Get Real Metal Keys, A Rotary Phone, And A Neon Vacancy Sign That Flips By Hand

Remember when checking into a motel meant receiving a real metal key with a plastic diamond tag, not a plastic card? That ritual is still alive at this historic Arizona hideaway,...

Read More    9 min read

Article
The Best Wild Blueberry Pies In Maine That Locals Can’t Stop Talking About

The scent of wild blueberries and buttery crust drifts through the air in a small coastal town, drawing hungry visitors off the main road. That aroma belongs to a family-run restaurant...

Read More    9 min read

Article
This Pennsylvania Asylum Provides Seasonal Historical Tours And Spine-Chilling Overnight Ghost Hunts

What happens when a sprawling institution that once housed thousands of people transforms into a theatrical haunted attraction with underground tunnels and overnight ghost hunts?...

Read More    9 min read

Article
This Colorado Fire Lookout Rents Out Its Historic 1940s Cabin For A Secluded Mountain Stay

Ever wondered what it feels like to sleep with the clouds beneath your feet and the Denver skyline glimmering on the horizon? That is the nightly reward at this historic Colorado...

Read More    9 min read

Article
This California Drive-In Has Been Showing Movies Under The Stars Since 1948

The old Art Deco screen tower still stands against the Riverside sky, a silent witness to more than seven decades of first kisses, family station wagons, and flickering film reels....

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Pennsylvania Eatery Welcomes Guests Inside A Beautifully Restored 1870s Train Station

What do Teddy Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and a juicy burger have in common? They have all passed through this beautifully restored...

Read More    8 min read

Article
A Colorado Drive-In Theatre That Has Been A Two-Screen Favorite Since The 1960s

Remember when a night at the movies meant piling the family into the car, tuning the radio, and watching a double feature from the comfort of your back seat? This Colorado drive-in...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Popular Off-Price Retailer Expands In Nevada With A New Fall Store Opening

A new treasure hunt just landed in North Las Vegas, and this one does not involve shovels or maps. The world's largest off-price retailer has opened its doors on West Craig Road,...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This California Video Rental Store Is One Of The Last Remaining Of A Bygone Era, Featuring Over 45,000 Physical Films

What happens when a video store organizes its movies into delightfully odd sections like "pregnant men" and "big goofy monster movies"? You get one of the last remaining rental...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Mexico Pizzeria Is Famous For Its Signature Thin And Crispy Cornmeal Crust

The crust crackles when you bite into it, a thin, golden layer of cornmeal giving way to a perfectly crisp base. That signature texture has made this New Mexico pizzeria a local...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Popular Off-Price Retailer HomeGoods Expands In Georgia With A New Spring Store Opening

Is it just us, or does finding the perfect accent pillow or a one-of-a-kind mirror feel like discovering buried treasure? That’s the everyday magic of HomeGoods, and the popular...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Under The Surface Of This Pennsylvania Lake Lies A Ghost Town And An 1800s Bridge

Imagine paddling across a clear, deep lake knowing that just beneath your kayak lies a main street, a handful of homes, and an ancient stone bridge from the 1800s. That is the...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Montana Ghost Town Preserves Over 50 Structures From Its Gold Rush Era As A National Historic Landmark

A gold nugget pulled from a creek in 1862 turned a quiet patch of Montana into a roaring boomtown of three thousand souls. Within two years, that same settlement became the territory's...

Read More    8 min read