harper livingston author at My Family Travels
Article
10 North Carolina Day Trips From Charlotte That Drop You Right Into Nature

Need a break from Charlotte that swaps traffic for trees without eating your whole weekend? North Carolina is stacked with day trips that drop you straight into nature, from waterfall...

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The Under-The-Radar Donut Spot In Wisconsin That Keeps The Display Case Moving Fast

My self-control lasted exactly one glance at the display case at Donut Squad in Milwaukee. This is the under-the-radar donut spot where the trays keep shifting, the favorites sell...

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The Artsy Small Town In New Mexico That’s Perfect For A Slow Spring Weekend

Ready to swap a packed itinerary for a slow spring wander where the main plan is just follow the color? Madrid, New Mexico, is small, artsy, and weirdly perfect for a weekend that...

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The Abandoned Pennsylvania Campus That Still Gives Visitors The Chills

Did you just feel the temperature drop, or is Pennhurst doing that again? Pennhurst State School and Hospital is an abandoned Pennsylvania campus that still gives visitors chills...

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Ohio’s Under-The-Radar Donut Stop With Donuts The Size Of Your Face

Ready for a donut that makes your coffee look like the sidekick? Bill’s Donut Shop in Centerville, Ohio is an under-the-radar stop that locals treat like a weekly ritual, and...

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This Amish Breakfast Buffet In Ohio Is The Weekend Plan People Do Not Cancel

Your weekend is officially booked the moment you smell this breakfast line. Mary Yoder’s Amish Kitchen in Ohio is the kind of Amish breakfast buffet people do not cancel, because...

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New York Has An Abandoned Island Castle That Makes The Hudson Feel A Little Haunted

Your boat ride feels normal until Bannerman Castle shows up and the Hudson starts acting haunted. Sitting on Pollepel Island, this abandoned-looking ruin has a dramatic silhouette...

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Wyoming Hot Spring Retreats With Big Views And Small Crowds

Your brain stops sprinting the second warm water meets cold air. Wyoming hot spring retreats feel like a real reset because the views are huge, the pace is slow, and the crowds...

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These Amish Bakeries In Ohio Turn Simple Pies Into A Road Trip Reason

Ever taste a pie so good it turns the car keys into a suggestion? Ohio Amish bakeries have a way of making simple pies feel like a full-on road trip reason, because the flavors...

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Massachusetts Has A Donut Shop With A Glazed Classic People Drive For On Purpose

You know a donut is serious when people plan their morning around the drive. Kane’s Donuts in Saugus is that kind of Massachusetts stop, especially for the glazed classic.

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A Massachusetts Prison Island That Makes Even Daytime Feel Suspicious

Think you are just taking a simple daytime trip and then the place makes you lower your voice without realizing it. A Massachusetts prison island has that effect, because the isolation...

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These Amish Farm Stores In Wisconsin Have Cheese Counters That Pull In Locals Weekly

Ready to watch a simple cheese counter turn into your weekly routine? In Wisconsin, Amish farm stores have a way of pulling locals back again and again, and the cheese counters...

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Missouri Has A Low-Key Donut Spot That Turns “One Glazed” Into A Dozen

Tell yourself you are only getting one glazed and see how long that plan lasts. Missouri has low-key donut spots that turn a quick stop into a full-on box situation, because the...

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New Mexico Has A Route 66 Ghost Town That Makes You Check Your Car Doors Twice

Feel that little “maybe I should lock the doors” reflex kicking in for no reason? That is the magic of a Route 66 ghost town in New Mexico, where the emptiness feels louder...

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The Utah Donut Stop People Swear By When They Want A Real Glaze

Some donut glazes are sweet, and some are the reason people reroute their whole morning. In Utah, there are donut stops locals swear by when they want the real deal, the kind of...

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Utah’s Crayfish Rule Is The Most Specific “Don’t Do That” Law You’ll Ever See

Some laws are broad, and then Utah hits you with a rule that feels like it was written after one very chaotic afternoon. Utah’s crayfish rule is famously specific, the kind of...

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Montana’s Main Street Ghost Town Where Dozens Of Buildings Still Stand

Want a ghost town that still looks like it could reopen for business if someone flipped the lights on? Montana has main street ghost towns where dozens of buildings are still standing,...

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The Arkansas Breakfast Buffet That Is Worth Every Mile

Early mornings feel a lot better when you know a big breakfast is waiting. In Fayetteville, Arkansas, that promise is delivered at Golden Corral Buffet & Grill. This spot...

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Paranormal Secrets Of Louisiana’s Haunted Plantations

Have you ever walked into a place and instantly felt like you weren’t alone? That’s the kind of experience people talk about when they visit Louisiana’s haunted plantations....

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Louisiana’s Smokehouse Lunch Stop That Turns One Sandwich Into A Story

You expect a quick lunch, and suddenly you are standing in line listening to strangers trade sandwich opinions like they are sharing family lore. That is how a legendary smokehouse...

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10 Scenic Michigan Road Detours Worth Slowing Down For

You know how some drives make you tap the brakes just to soak it in? Michigan does that a lot, and these detours are where...

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These Are The California Organic Stores That Stay Busy Despite The Reputation

You know how people love to joke about fancy markets and then still circle the lot like hawks? California makes that extra...

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Nevada Desert Art Stops Tourist-Ruined By Rock Stacking And Spray Paint

So what is it about the Nevada desert that makes people think: “Let’s leave a mark”? Desert art stops out here can feel like a miracle, with big empty horizons, strange beauty,...

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Spring Tulip Fields In Washington That Feel Like A Day Trip Flex

Washington does not do subtle when tulip season shows up. One minute it is gray roads and coffee, and the next it is rows of color that look edited in real life.

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Don’t Sleep On This Massive Maryland Thrift Superstore, It’s Easy To Get Lost In The Deals

I went in for “one quick look” and walked out a different person. That is the magic of a massive Maryland thrift superstore, because it is less of a stop and more of a full-on...

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10 Oregon Hidden Spots Most Locals Don’t Even Know About (With Map)

You think you’ve seen the best of Oregon? This list is here to prove you wrong. Oregon is packed with famous stops, but the...

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A Bin-Store Treasure Hunt In Pennsylvania Where You Pay A Fraction Of Retail If You Time It Right

Ready to turn bargain hunting into a full-contact sport? A Pennsylvania bin store is where that happens, because the whole game is timing, patience, and spotting something good...

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The Flower-Filled Small Town In Georgia That Feels Like A Spring Secret

Want a spring town that looks like it got styled overnight? Thomasville, Georgia, pulls off that “secret garden” feeling without trying too hard.

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The Mountain Road In North Carolina Everyone Ends Up Filming

You know that road that shows up in everyone’s phone clips the minute they drive it? That swooping curve that looks like...

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7 Michigan Morning Diners People Gladly Drive Out Of The Way For

Let’s map out a slow Michigan morning the way we actually like it, with a few miles on the odometer and a diner waiting at the end.

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8 Colorado Peaks And Trails That Push Brave Hikers Further

You want Colorado big and bold, right? Then, let’s pick trails that make you breathe deeper, focus harder, and grin like you just surprised yourself.

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Delaware’s Boardwalk Snack Run That Keeps Your Budget Weirdly Happy

You know that moment when you are walking a boardwalk, everything smells amazing, and you assume your wallet is about to suffer. Delaware flips that script.

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Maine’s Seafood Shack That Makes A Budget Meal Feel Like A Treat

Tell me you have ten minutes, because I want to make a case for a roadside stop that feels bigger than it looks. Some places just reset your mood the second you pull in, and this...

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Heads Up, Pennsylvania Museum Photos Get Complicated The Moment You Set Up A Tripod

You think snapping a few museum photos will be easy until the tripod comes out. That is the moment everything changes. Guards...

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Iowa Has A Small-Town Diner That Turns Strangers Into Regulars

What does it take for a place to turn a first-time visitor into a regular by the second visit? Somewhere in rural Iowa, there...

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Massachusetts Harbor Walks Tourists Ruined By Feeding Wildlife And Crowding Railings

I learned this the awkward way, wedged between a stroller and a selfie stick while someone tossed snacks at a seagull right next to my elbow.

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Alabama’s BBQ Shack That Smells Like A Detour You’ll Never Regret

The smell hits before the sign does, and suddenly your planned route feels optional. Somewhere off a quiet Alabama highway, smoke curls over a low wooden shack, and the air carries...

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The Small North Carolina Coastal Town That Feels Built For A Spring Weekend

Ready to trade the noise of the city for slow streets, salty breezes, and a hint of history? Beaufort, North Carolina, feels like it was designed for that kind of weekend escape.

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The Most Common Michigan National Forest Mistakes Nobody Warns You About

Think you know how to tackle a Michigan national forest? Most visitors walk in confident, only to realize that even the smallest slip-ups can turn a perfect trip into a headache.

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Alaska Laws That Make The Outdoors Feel Surprisingly Strict

You think Alaska is the last place anyone would tell you what to do outdoors? Step into the wild here and you will quickly learn that freedom comes with a surprisingly detailed...

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The Mississippi Catfish Spot That Keeps Locals Coming Back For More

Looking for a meal that tastes like tradition served on a plate? Taylor Grocery & Restaurant in Taylor, Mississippi, has been doing exactly that for decades, and it keeps locals...

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9 Florida Bridge Maintenance Delays You Should Know About

Trying to cruise around Florida without getting stuck inching across a bridge? I feel that, because nothing kills a good drive faster than brake lights hovering over open water....

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12 Adirondack, New York, Hidden Trails That Feel Like A Private Park

You want a day that feels quiet like a secret park, not a busy boardwalk, right? The Adirondacks in New York deliver that hush if you know where to pull over and lace up.

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Quiet Two-Day Winter Routes Through Amish Colorado Farm Towns

Ever wondered what happens when snow falls on farm roads and time slows down? Colorado’s Amish towns transform into a winter retreat, with quiet lanes, frosted fields, and simple,...

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A Quiet Winter Escape At The Wort Hotel In Wyoming That Influencers Can’t Pronounce

Are you in a need of a winter escape so quiet it feels like the world forgot to check in? Wyoming’s Wort Hotel is exactly that, a cozy hideaway that balances rustic charm with...

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Unique Seasonal Travel Fairs Run By Amish Locals In Pennsylvania Small Towns

Come, take a step into a fair where time feels slower and every detail is hand-tuned by generations. Pennsylvania’s small towns host Amish-run seasonal fairs that are as charming...

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The Plainest Place In Kansas That’s Weirdly Fun To Explore

You might roll into Lucas, Kansas, expecting flat fields and quiet streets, but the town has a way of surprising every visitor. Known for its wide-open plains and unassuming charm,...

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Gen Z Can’t Stop Posting About This Quirky California Town

Scroll through Instagram or TikTok and you’ll notice Santa Cruz popping up again and again, a coastal California town that seems made for photos and short videos.

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These Cozy Idaho Restaurants Feel Straight Out Of A Winter Storybook

Snow falls softly outside while the door opens to warm air, clinking dishes, and the smell of something rich simmering in the kitchen. That is the kind of scene you find in Idaho’s...

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I Took My Best Friends To Arizona’s Top-Rated Botanical Garden And We Couldn’t Stop Taking Photos

My camera roll doubled in size before we even made it past the entrance. That was the moment I knew this was not just another garden stop.

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