isolde monroe author at My Family Travels
Article
This Underground Texas River Cavern Was Once a Speakeasy and a Notorious Hideout

The temperature drops fast when you start down the stone steps at Longhorn Cavern, and so does the outside world. Within minutes, I was standing underground in the Texas Hill Country,...

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The Best Places in Texas to See Wildflowers in Full Bloom

Every spring, Texas transforms into one of the most stunning natural displays in the country. Fields explode with color, roadsides glow with bluebonnets and paintbrushes, and hillsides...

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Texans Are Flocking To This Massive Thrift Store With Deals That Feel Unreal

Family Thrift Center Outlet on Little York is not the kind of place you go for a calm shopping trip. You go ready to dig. The...

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This Texas Restaurant Delivers One of the Most Jaw-Dropping Views in the State

I'll admit I was skeptical when friends kept insisting I had to visit The Oasis on Lake Travis. Another restaurant with a view, I thought, how special could it really be?

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Texas Markets That Guarantee a Weekend Packed With Surprises Around Every Corner

The first time I drove through the Texas Hill Country on a Saturday morning, windows down and no real plan, I stumbled onto a market that changed how I spend my weekends.

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The Catfish at This Texas Restaurant Makes Even a Long Drive Totally Worth It

I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much when I first heard about a little cafe tucked away on a back road in Tomball. But sometimes the best food finds you in the most unexpected...

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Texas Amusement Parks That Locals Swear Are Worth the Lines

I remember the first time someone told me Texas was serious about its theme parks, and I honestly thought they were exaggerating. Then I spent a summer hopping between roller coasters,...

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Locals Say You Haven’t Truly Experienced Texas Without This Breakfast

I walked up to The Breakfast Klub on a sunny Houston morning and saw the line stretching down Travis Street, immediately wondering if I'd made a mistake. But something about the...

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This Texas BBQ Spot Will Make You Question All Other BBQs You Tried

Zavala’s Barbecue is the kind of place that makes you stop mid-bite and look back down at your plate. This is not barbecue on autopilot.

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Giant Texas Flea Market Where $30 Gets You More Than You’d Expect

I went to the Austin Country Flea Market with a little cash and zero expectations, which is exactly how you should do it. Sitting off Highway 290, this place feels more like a...

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The Monument in Texas Everyone Seems to Have a Strong Opinion About

You cannot miss the Sam Houston Statue in Huntsville even if you try. Driving up Interstate 45, it suddenly rises out of nowhere, massive and unapologetic, like it is daring you...

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This Massive Pile of Junk in Texas Somehow Became a Work of Art

Tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood at 4422 Lareina Dr, Austin, TX 78745, sits one of the most unexpected and mesmerizing art installations you'll ever stumble upon....

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Texas Small Town You’ll Wish You Visited Sooner

Alpine caught me off guard in the best way. Sitting out in the high desert of West Texas, it feels like a mountain town that somehow slipped through the cracks while everyone was...

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11 Texas Restaurants Known for One Dish That People Travel For

Texas has always been a state where everything is bigger, bolder, and more flavorful. From smoky barbecue pits to sizzling Tex-Mex platters, the Lone Star State has carved out...

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Texas Cities Tourists Complain About the Most

Texas stretches across nearly 270,000 square miles, packed with cities that promise adventure, history, and unforgettable experiences. But not every destination lives up to the...

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10 Places That Were Once the Busiest Spots in Texas

Texas has always been a land of big dreams and even bigger stories. From coal mining boomtowns to jazz-filled streets, the...

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This Small Texas Diner Serves Breakfast You’ll Remember

Tucked along the I-45 corridor in South Houston, Dot Coffee Shop has been feeding travelers, truckers, and locals since it first opened its doors as the original Pappas family...

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Foodie Destinations Across the US Worth Traveling to in 2026

America’s most exciting flavors are no longer confined to white-tablecloth dining, and 2026 is the year to travel with your appetite leading the way. These cities reward curiosity...

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These Are the Strangest Things You Will See While Driving Through Texas

Texas stretches across nearly 270,000 square miles of dramatic terrain, from windswept deserts to rolling prairies, and along its highways you will encounter some of the most bizarre...

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The Bizarre Texas Museums That Surprise Even Seasoned Travelers

Texas stretches across vast landscapes where cowboys once roamed and oil derricks pumped black gold from beneath the earth, but hidden within its cities and small towns are museums...

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Walking Through 170 Years of One Family Legacy in Pennsylvania

Nestled along the banks of the Monongahela River in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, Nemacolin Castle stands as a remarkable testament to American history and one family's enduring connection...

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Why This Maine Coastal Town Feels Like a Stephen King Setting

Bangor, Maine sits along the Penobscot River in the heart of the Pine Tree State, a place where fog rolls through quiet streets and Victorian mansions cast long shadows across...

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10 Oklahoma Small Towns People Don’t Plan for but Always Remember

Oklahoma's landscape stretches far beyond its bustling cities, revealing hidden pockets of charm tucked between rolling plains and wooded hills.

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What Happened When a Town in Massachusetts Became Famous for Something It Didn’t Choose

Salem, Massachusetts sits along the rocky north shore about sixteen miles from Boston, a coastal city where colonial architecture meets ocean breezes and centuries of American...

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10 Oregon Small Towns That Were Never the Same After Becoming Tourist Destinations

Oregon's small towns have always held a special kind of magic, with their quiet streets, friendly locals, and stunning natural surroundings drawing people in search of peace and...

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Why These 10 Iowa Towns Work Better Without Schedule

Iowa's rural heartland holds a secret that more travelers are discovering every year. Scattered across the state, a collection...

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Oregon Beaches Where Tourism Has Shifted the Experience

Oregon's coastline stretches for over 360 miles, offering dramatic cliffs, sandy shores, and charming seaside towns that have captivated travelers for generations.

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10 Oklahoma Destinations Struggling Under Heavy Tourist Traffic

Oklahoma has quietly become a magnet for travelers seeking natural beauty, quirky roadside attractions, and cultural experiences that rival those found in more famous states.

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The Cultural Differences in New Mexico That Leave Travelers Both Confused and Fascinated

New Mexico sits in the heart of the American Southwest, where the Rocky Mountains meet vast desert landscapes and ancient cultures blend with modern life in ways found nowhere...

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The North Carolina Mountain Town That Feels Like It Was Built for December

Tucked away in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Blowing Rock, North Carolina, stands as a charming village that seems to have been designed with winter magic in mind.

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What the Small Towns You Visit in Montana Say About You

Montana's small towns hold stories that whisper through mountain passes and echo across endless prairies. Each community you...

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How the Florida Towns You Visit Reflect Your Travel Style

Florida is home to an incredible variety of towns, each with its own personality and charm. From coastal retreats with pristine...

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Minnesota Lake Towns That Shut Their Doors Once Winter Settles In

Minnesota's lake country transforms dramatically when winter arrives, and the landscape shifts from bustling summer energy to quiet, snow-covered stillness.

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The New York Slice That Makes People Reconsider Every Other Pizza They’ve Tried

Tucked away in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn, Di Fara Pizza has been drawing travelers and pizza lovers from around the world since 1964.

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9 Florida’s Amusement Parks Worth Visiting Besides Disney and Universal

Florida is famous for its world-class theme parks, but the magic doesn't stop at Disney and Universal. Beyond the gates of...

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A Cozy Unincorporated Community in Arizona Tucked Away in the Pines

Nestled high in the White Mountains of Arizona at an elevation of approximately 8,400 feet, Greer stands as the highest town in the entire state.

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Why This Illinois Small Town Diner Feels Legendary

Tucked along West Jackson Boulevard in Chicago, Lou Mitchell's has been serving up legendary breakfasts since 1923, earning a reputation that stretches far beyond the city limits.

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9 Montana Small Towns With Legendary Hikes Nearby

Montana stretches across the northern Rockies like a wild canvas painted with jagged peaks, endless forests, and crystal-clear rivers that seem to flow straight from the heavens.

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The West Virginia River Hamlet Locals Keep Away From Travel Bloggers

Nestled at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, Harpers Ferry stands as one of West Virginia's most captivating destinations, yet many locals prefer to keep its...

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The Illinois Sandwich Shop Locals Protect Like a Secret

Tucked away in Chicago's bustling West Loop neighborhood at 901 W Randolph St, J.P. Graziano Grocery has been serving authentic Italian sandwiches since 1937, making it one of...

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Inside Oklahoma’s Most Infamous Ghost Town Where Time Stands Still

Nestled in the far northeastern corner of Oklahoma, near the borders of Kansas and Missouri, lies Picher, a once-thriving mining town that now stands as one of America's most haunting...

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9 Minnesota Lake Towns Everyone Secretly Wants to Live In

Minnesota's lake country holds a special kind of magic that draws people in with its sparkling waters, charming main streets, and friendly communities.

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Kentucky’s Small Towns Feeling the Pressure of Sudden Visitor Booms

Kentucky has always been a place of rolling bluegrass hills, historic bourbon distilleries, and charming small towns where life moves at a slower pace.

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Maine’s Small Towns Now Flooded With Tourists Every Season

Maine's rugged coastline and charming villages have always held a quiet appeal, but something has changed in recent years. Towns...

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The Most Scenic Historic Town in Delaware for Afternoon Wandering

Lewes, Delaware sits quietly at the mouth of Delaware Bay, where history whispers from every cobblestone street and salt air carries stories from centuries past.

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Wisconsin’s Most Magical Winter Spot

Tucked away in the heart of Wisconsin's Northwoods, Minocqua Winter Park transforms into a snowy paradise every winter, drawing travelers from across the Midwest and beyond.

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A Sleepy Montana Mountain Village Where Winter Mornings Stay Silent

Tucked into the heart of the northern Rockies in southern Montana, Bozeman offers a rare kind of winter peace that modern travelers crave.

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A Deserted Nevada Mining Town Frozen Between Past and Present

Rhyolite, Nevada sits in the Bullfrog Hills about 120 miles northwest of Las Vegas, near the eastern boundary of Death Valley National Park.

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The Most Comforting New Jersey Dinette Locals Never Skip

Tucked along Allwood Road in Clifton, New Jersey, the Tick Tock Diner has been drawing travelers and locals alike for decades with its gleaming chrome exterior and promise of honest,...

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This Indiana Amish Country Feels Serene Until Travelers Spot What’s Off Limits

LaGrange County, Indiana sits tucked into the northeastern corner of the state, where rolling farmland stretches beneath wide open skies and horse-drawn buggies clip-clop along...

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