isla cunningham author at My Family Travels
Article
This Beloved Virginia Restaurant Is Getting A Second Life After New Owners Stepped In

Closing a restaurant is not always the end. Sometimes it is just a pause, a gap between chapters. That is what happened to this...

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Article
4,000 Pounds Of Brisket And 1,100 Pounds Of Pork Disappear Every Week At This Virginia BBQ Joint

Numbers tell a story when it comes to barbecue. A place that goes through 4,000 pounds of brisket and 1,100 pounds of pork every week is not a small operation.

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This 240-Acre Virginia Horse Farm Lets You Saddle Up And Explore Miles Of Scenic Trails

Horse farms come in different sizes and purposes. Some are focused on breeding, some on training, and some on simply offering people a chance to ride.

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This Virginia Soul Food Spot Serves Crispy Fried Chicken With A Side Of Serious Comfort

Fried chicken is one of those dishes that separates good kitchens from great ones. Anyone can drop a piece of chicken in hot oil. Not...

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This Virginia Garden Center Has More Than 25,000 Pots Waiting For Plant Lovers

Gardeners know the struggle. You find the perfect plant, bring it home, and realize you do not have a pot large enough to hold it. Or...

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10 Virginia Spots Where Filipino Comfort Food Goes Way Beyond Lumpia

Filipino food has been gaining attention in recent years, and for good reason. The flavors are bold, the combinations are unexpected, and the comfort factor is high.

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This Virginia Market Is Bringing A Family Food Tradition Back To The Building Where It Started Generations Ago

Some businesses close and stay closed. Others find their way back. This Virginia market is doing the second thing, returning...

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9 Virginia State Park Cabins You Can Rent Overnight Without Paying Hotel Prices

Renting a cabin usually means paying a premium. Hotels charge by the night, resorts add fees, and by the time you check out, the weekend has cost more than you planned.

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This Virginia Pizza Spot Is So Good, Food Critic Robey Martin Says It Could Be Richmond’s Best

When a food critic with years of experience says a pizza might be the best in the city, that is worth paying attention to. Robey Martin has eaten her way through Virginia's restaurant...

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9 Virginia Children’s Museums That Can Keep Kids Busy For Hours

Keeping kids entertained for an entire afternoon is a challenge that every parent knows well. Screens work for a while, but they do not hold up for long, and eventually someone...

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10 Virginia Fall Fairs That Belong On Your Autumn Calendar

Autumn in Virginia has a rhythm of its own, and fairs are a big part of it. The weather cools, the harvest comes in, and communities across the state set up tents, fryers, and...

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Model Railroad Fans Lose Hours Inside This Family-Run Virginia Shop Packed With Vintage Trains

Walking into this Virginia shop feels like stepping into a miniature world. The shelves are packed with vintage trains, model kits, and accessories that would make any enthusiast's...

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An Entire Virginia Warehouse Is Packed With Architectural Salvage Waiting For A Second Life

Some buildings get torn down and everything inside disappears. Doors, windows, mantels, tiles, hardware. All of it ends up in...

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This Is One Of The Last Authentic Drive-Ins In Virginia With Carhop Service

Drive-ins used to be everywhere. Carhops on roller skates, burgers and shakes delivered to your window, neon signs glowing after dark.

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This New Virginia Rail Is Transforming A 49-Mile Abandoned Railroad Into A Scenic Path

Old railroad beds have a way of becoming something new. Across Virginia, abandoned lines are being converted into trails, and the latest project is one of the most ambitious yet.

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There’s A Restaurant Inside A Historic Virginia Mansion And The Interior Is Truly Unreal

Dining in a historic mansion is not something you do every day. This Virginia restaurant offers that experience, with an interior that is truly unreal.

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This Virginia Arts-And-Crafts Thrift Store Turns Scraps Into A Massive Treasure Hunt

Craft supplies are expensive. A few tubes of paint, some fabric, a set of brushes, and suddenly you have spent more than you planned.

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This Virginia Paper Shop Stocks Beautiful Custom Stationery You Will Fall In Love With

In a world of emails and text messages, there is something special about putting pen to paper. This Virginia paper shop stocks beautiful custom stationery that you will fall in...

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This Coffee Shop In Virginia Is A Little Slice Of Colombia In The City

Coffee tastes different when it comes from the source. This Virginia coffee shop proves that point with every cup it serves. The...

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This Virginia Farm Serves Sweet Ice Cream Treats And Has Alpacas Waiting Outside

Some farms are about the animals. Some are about the food. This Virginia farm does both. You can visit for the alpacas, who are...

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One of America’s Oldest Roads Winds Through a Forgotten Corner of Virginia

Few roads in America can claim the kind of history this one carries. It has been traveled for centuries, first by Native Americans, then by settlers, and eventually by stagecoaches...

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This Massive Virginia State Park Has A Native Copperhead Population So Locals Know To Watch Their Step

Hiking here means sharing the trails with wildlife. This massive Virginia state park has a native copperhead population, and locals know to watch their step.

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9 Virginia Counties Seeing A Massive Spike In Black Bear Sightings This Fall

Black bear sightings are on the rise in Virginia this fall. In some counties, the numbers are higher than they have been in years, and wildlife officials are paying attention.

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10 Virginia Places Where You Can Volunteer And Make A Real Difference For Animals

Helping animals is one of the most rewarding ways to spend your free time. Virginia has plenty of places where you can make a difference, and this list has ten of them.

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This Small Virginia Town Is Widely Considered the Ultimate Capital of Autumn Colors

Fall is the season for leaf peeping, and Virginia has plenty of places to see the colors change. But this small town is widely considered the ultimate capital of autumn colors.

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A Forest Service Cabin Sits High on a Virginia Mountaintop And You Can Rent It For $75 A Night With All The Comforts Of Home

Some cabins are rustic to the point of discomfort. You sleep on a hard bunk, cook over a fire, and spend the whole trip missing your own bed.

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These 11 Virginia Craft Schools Made Us Appreciate Handmade Work In A Whole New Way

Handmade work is easy to take for granted. A pottery bowl, a woven basket, a carved wooden spoon. They look simple, but they...

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This Virginia Estate Combines A Gilded Age Mansion A Japanese Garden And A 45 Foot Waterfall

Some estates are one thing. A house, a garden, a view. This Virginia estate is several things at once, and that is what makes...

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This Charming Virginia Town Near The Appalachian Trail Feels Made For A Mountain Getaway

Some towns are made for passing through. You stop for gas, grab a snack, and keep moving. This Virginia town is not one of those...

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This Quiet Virginia Coastal Town Has The Best Early Fall Oysters

Fall in Virginia brings cooler weather, changing leaves, and something else worth celebrating. Oysters. The waters along the...

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These 10 Unusual Virginia Attractions Might Change The Way You See The State

Virginia has plenty of famous attractions. Historic sites, scenic drives, and mountain views that draw visitors from across the country.

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This Virginia Mountain Town Still Feels Like A Real Hometown

Some towns put on a show for visitors. They polish the main street, hang the flowers, and sell the same souvenirs you can find anywhere.

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This Hidden Virginia Mountain Market Offers Incredible Amish Baking, Handcrafted Goods, And Giant Deli Sandwiches

You smell the bread before you see the building. Fresh, warm, and yeasty, the kind of smell that pulls you through the door without a second thought.

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10 Virginia Hiking Trails Locals Avoid In September Because The Copperheads Are Too Active

September is a beautiful month for hiking in Virginia. The weather is cooler, the leaves are starting to turn, and the trails are less crowded.

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10 Virginia Towns Where Almost Nothing Is Open After Dark And Nightlife Barely Exists

Some places in Virginia wear their quietude like a badge of honor. Long after the sun dips behind the mountains or melts into the Chesapeake, these small towns simply go still,...

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This Hidden Virginia Island Has Private Cabanas, Sandy Beaches, And Water So Inviting You’ll Never Want To Leave

You cross the bridge and the world slows down. The water is calm and blue, the sand is soft, and the cabanas are waiting. This...

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You Can Join A Book Club Or Meet An Author At This Virginia Bookstore

Bookstores are more than places to buy books. They are community hubs, spaces where readers gather to share ideas and discover new stories.

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This Virginia Restaurant Makes The Atmosphere Almost As Memorable As The Food

The setting is elegant, the lighting is warm, and the service is flawless. But the food is what brings people in, and this Virginia restaurant makes the atmosphere almost as memorable...

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This Virginia Picnic Spot Has The Kind Of September View You Never Want To Leave

The air is cool, the sky is clear, and the view stretches out in front of you like a painting. This Virginia picnic spot has the kind of September view you never want to leave,...

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This One Of A Kind Virginia Restaurant Deserves A Spot On Your Next Road Trip

Some restaurants are worth going out of your way for. This one of a kind Virginia restaurant deserves a spot on your next road trip, a place where the food is creative, the setting...

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These 11 Virginia Restaurants Serve Country Cooking With Plenty Of Local Charm

Country cooking is about more than just food. It is about the feeling, the warmth, the sense that someone in the kitchen cares about what they are serving.

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This Virginia BBQ Joint Is Recognized As The State’s Oldest Barbecue Restaurant

The smoke rises from the pit, the meat is slow-cooked, and the recipe has been the same for decades. This Virginia BBQ joint is recognized as the state's oldest barbecue restaurant,...

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This Mennonite-Owned Virginia Butcher Shop Is A Meat Lover’s Paradise With Old-School Custom Butchering

The counter is full of cuts, the knowledge behind it is deep, and the quality is evident in every piece of meat. This Mennonite-owned Virginia butcher shop is a meat lover's paradise,...

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This Woodland Virginia Hike Rewards You With A Swinging Bridge At The End Of The Trail

You walk through the forest, the path winding between trees and over small streams, the canopy filtering the light into a soft green glow. The trail is not long, but it feels like...

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Why Travelers Keep Escaping To This Charming Mountain Lodge Restaurant In Virginia

Some places are worth the drive just for the food. Others are worth it for the setting. This Virginia mountain lodge restaurant...

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This Charming Virginia Farm Offers Interactive Tours With Friendly Alpacas

You step into the pasture and the alpacas approach, curious and gentle, their soft eyes watching as you reach out a hand. This charming Virginia farm offers interactive tours with...

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This Fascinating Museum In Virginia Takes You Deep Into America’s Maritime Past

The anchors are massive, the figureheads are carved with care, and the stories of the sea are told in every exhibit. This fascinating museum in Virginia takes you deep into America's...

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10 Hiking Trails In Virginia That Offer Jaw-Dropping Views And Unforgettable Adventures

Virginia holds a special place in the hearts of outdoor lovers who crave stunning scenery and exciting trails. From rocky peaks...

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This Family-Run Virginia Spot Gets Real Heritage Flavor Right

Virginia is a state built on history. From the first English settlements to the Civil War to the civil rights movement, the ground is layered with stories.

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Most People Have Never Heard Of This Enchanting Waterfront Village In Virginia

You cannot drive there. There are no chain stores. And most people have never heard of it. This enchanting waterfront village...

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The Historic Virginia Mountain Theatre Where Actors Once Traded Shakespeare for Ham and Eggs

During the Great Depression, this Virginia mountain theatre found a way to survive. When audiences could not pay for tickets, they traded food instead.

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This Virginia Shopping Village Offers Handcrafted Goods, Antiques, And Local Farm Produce All In One Place

You walk through the doors and the first thing you notice is the smell. Fresh bread, cinnamon, and something frying. Then you...

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The Indoor Virginia Market Where Mennonite Vendors Sell Everything From Handcrafted Furniture To Fresh-Baked Apple Pie

You walk through the doors and the smell hits you first. Fresh bread, cinnamon, and something frying. Then you see the rows of...

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11 Virginia Mountain Towns That Still Feel Like The 1950s

That winding road through the Blue Ridge made me slow down the moment a brick storefront and a hand-painted sign caught my eye. Virginia's...

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10 Bucket List Adventures In Virginia You Cannot Have Anywhere Else

Ancient caverns glitter beneath Virginia's surface, wild ponies splash across open water, and rugged mountain trails give way to untouched Atlantic coastline.

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This Danville Monument Reminds Virginia Of A History Much Of The State Tries To Forget

Grand Italian Villa-style homes usually make me think of wine country or coastal estates, not the raw weight of American history. Virginia proved me wrong.

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This Is The Only Place In Virginia Where You Can Ride A Historic Hand-Cranked Carousel

Virginia has a carousel that stopped me mid-stride the moment I saw it. A small, spinning carousel sits just outside a museum, and it looks like something pulled straight out of...

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9 Virginia Villages That Keep Their Charm By Avoiding Tourists

Most road-trippers never discover Virginia's quiet side, and honestly, that is part of what makes it so special. I have spent...

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This Historic Virginia Quarry Is A Hidden Nature Park Surrounded By Ancient History

Walking along a creek in Virginia, I found a place that stopped me cold the moment I understood what I was standing on. The...

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This Virginia Town Is A Real-Life Victorian Postcard Where The 20th Century Never Happened

This Virginia town still feels like it belongs to another century, and I stumbled onto it almost by accident. Wrapped in brick...

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