lila merrick author at My Family Travels
Article
This Charming New Hampshire Farm Offers Interactive Tours With Friendly Alpacas

The alpacas are curious and gentle, and they come right up to the fence to greet you. This charming New Hampshire farm offers interactive tours that let you get up close with these...

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11 Virginia Swimming Spots With Crystal-Clear Water Perfect For Summer 2026

Summer in Virginia means finding the water. And not just any water, the kind that is clear enough to see your toes on the bottom and clean enough to make you want to stay all day.

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This Quiet Beach Park In New Hampshire Belongs On Every Summer List

The beach is not crowded. The water is clear and calm. The views of the mountains are absolutely stunning. This quiet beach...

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These 12 New Hampshire Bed And Breakfasts Make Guests Feel Right At Home

You know that feeling when you walk into a place and you can instantly relax? When the host greets you by name and the room feels like it was made just for you?

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These 12 Virginia Bed And Breakfasts Make Guests Feel Right At Home

There is a difference between a hotel and a bed and breakfast. A hotel is efficient, a bed and breakfast is personal. The best...

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This Walkable New Hampshire Village Is Made For Shopping Dining And Wandering

The streets are lined with shops and cafes, and the sidewalks are made for slow strolls. This walkable New Hampshire village is the kind of place where you can spend an entire...

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We Came For The Food But Stayed For The Mood At These 10 Virginia Restaurants

A great meal is about more than just the food. It is about the atmosphere, the energy of the room, the way a space makes you feel while you eat.

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This Little New Hampshire Hot Dog Stand Serves A Legendary Local Relish That Keeps People Coming Back

The little stand looks like it has been there forever. It is small and unassuming, easy to miss if you are not paying attention. But...

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This Charming French Bakery In Virginia Serves Pastries That Taste Like Paris

You bite into the croissant and the layers shatter, delicate and buttery, the kind of pastry that makes you close your eyes for a moment. This charming French bakery in Virginia...

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This Man-Made New Hampshire Wonder Looks Almost Unreal Hiding In The Mountains

The structure rises out of the forest like something from another world. It looks almost unreal, a man-made wonder hiding in the mountains.

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These 11 Virginia Coastal Resorts Are Made For A Relaxing Beach Retreat

The sound of waves, the feel of sand between your toes, the kind of slow mornings where you do not have to be anywhere. Virginia's coast offers some of the best beach retreats...

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This New Hampshire Beach Town Brings Classic Summer Energy Without The Ocean

Hot take: the best summer escapes do not always involve saltwater and seagulls. Somewhere in New Hampshire, a lakeside spot has been quietly perfecting the art of the classic summer...

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These 11 Virginia Wildlife Parks Make It Easy To Spend An Entire Day Outdoors

Some days are made for being outside. The weather is perfect, the sun is warm, and the only thing you want to do is explore. These...

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This Adults-Only Aquarium Night In New Hampshire Feels Like A Totally Different After-Hours Adventure

The aquarium is a different place after dark. The lights are dim, the crowds are gone, and the fish seem to glow in the soft blue light.

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This Virginia Mountain Town Has Become A Retirement Favorite For Thousands

Retirement is supposed to be a time of ease, a chance to slow down and enjoy the years you have earned. But finding the right place to do that can be a challenge.

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New Hampshire’s Adults-Only Waterpark With A Swim-Up Bar And Endless Relaxation

Most waterparks are chaos. There are kids running everywhere, screaming at the top of their lungs, and lines that stretch for what feels like miles.

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A Food Court, 10 Specialized Saunas, And Indoor-Outdoor Pools Live At This Massive Korean Day Spa In Virginia

You walk through the doors and the world outside fades away. The noise, the stress, the constant hum of daily life, all of it disappears the moment you step into this massive Virginia...

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This New Hampshire Restaurant Has Brunch Locals Say Feels Like A Second Home

Some restaurants feel like a place to eat. Others feel like a place to belong. This New Hampshire restaurant has brunch that locals say feels like a second home.

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An Infinity Pool overlooking the Blue Ridge, Volcanic Hill Basalt Massages, And Forbes Five-Star Luxury Live At This Virginia Spa Resort

The water stretches out in front of you, seemingly endless, the Blue Ridge Mountains rising beyond it. You are floating in an infinity pool that makes you feel like you are suspended...

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This New Hampshire Coastal Wonder Lets Elite Travelers Experience Both the Waves and the Bay

The coast of New Hampshire is short, but it is mighty. The waves crash against the shore with a power that demands respect. The...

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This Cozy Portuguese-American Dining Room Is Known For Having The Best Salt Cod In Virginia

Salt cod is one of those ingredients that separates the cooks who know what they are doing from the ones who do not. It requires patience and skill to prepare properly, soaking...

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History Buffs Flock to This New Hampshire’s Haunted Forest After Dark

I have walked through a lot of forests in New Hampshire, but I have never walked through anything quite like this. The trees are old and twisted, and the light filters through...

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This Virginia Mountain Lodge Serves Hearty Meals With Shenandoah Views Worth The Climb

You climb the winding road, switchback after switchback, the trees growing taller and the views growing wider. At the top, there is a lodge, and inside that lodge, there is a dining...

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The Small New Hampshire Village With A Tight Knit Community And Historic Main Street That Bonds Everyone Together

I have spent a lot of time thinking about what makes a town a great place to live. Good schools matter. A vibrant downtown...

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The Virginia Lounge That Turns Forbidden Books Into Its Boldest Calling Card

You walk through the door and the first thing you notice is the books. Shelves lined with leather-bound volumes, some of them classics, some of them banned in other places at other...

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If You Visit These 11 Places, Your New Hampshire Trip Is Complete

I have spent years exploring New Hampshire, driving every back road and hiking every trail that I could find. I have eaten at the best restaurants, swum in the clearest lakes,...

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This Virginia Town Has A Healthcare System So Advanced It’s Ranked Among America’s Best

When people think of Virginia, they think of history, mountains, and beaches. They do not usually think about healthcare. But...

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11 Family-Friendly Hikes In New Hampshire Where The Trails Are Short And The Payoffs Are Big

I remember taking my kids on their first hike in New Hampshire. They were small and their legs were short, so we needed a trail that was easy and rewarding.

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This Virginia Celebration Is One Of The Longest-Running Memorial Day Parades In The United States

The flags wave in the warm spring air, the bands march in perfect rhythm, and the streets fill with families, veterans, and neighbors who have been coming to this event for decades....

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This New Hampshire Coastline Where Time Slows and Lobster Shines Is a Beloved Seacoast Treasure

There are places that make you feel like you have entered a different rhythm. A different pace. This New Hampshire coastline...

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This Virginia Rock Shop Is Packed Floor To Ceiling With Fossils, Crystals, And Giant Geodes

You walk through the door and the world sparkles. Crystals catch the light, geodes crack open to reveal hidden treasures, and fossils sit on shelves like ancient souvenirs.

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The Huge New Hampshire Farmers Market That Has Locals Buzzing Week After Week

You can feel the energy before you even park the car. The sound of people laughing and chatting. The smell of fresh bread and...

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This Historic Virginia Swimming Hole Stays A Naturally Warm Constant Temperature All Year Long

You lower yourself into the water and the warmth wraps around you. It is not heated artificially. The water comes from deep underground,...

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10 Unassuming New Hampshire Restaurants With Outrageously Fresh Seafood

The best seafood in New Hampshire is often found in the most unexpected places. Not the fancy restaurants with white tablecloths and ocean views, but the unassuming spots tucked...

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This Spectacular $116 Million Virginia Bridge Transforms Into A Beautifully Lit Landscape On Special Holidays

By day, it is a bridge. Functional, practical, a way to cross the water. But by night, it transforms. This spectacular $116 million...

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This Spectacular New Hampshire Eatery Makes Gluten-Free Comfort Food That Tastes Completely Authentic

Gluten free food has a reputation for being dry and disappointing. Most people who have to eat it do so out of necessity, not because they actually want to.

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This Virginia Observatory Lets You Gaze At Cosmic Wonders Through A Historic 140-Year-Old Telescope

You look into the eyepiece and the world falls away. Stars that have been burning for billions of years come into focus, distant planets and galaxies that feel impossibly close.

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9 Breathtaking New Hampshire Trails Under 5 Miles That Offer The Most Spectacular Scenic Views

I love a good hike, but I do not always have the time or energy for a long trek. Sometimes I just want a short walk that gives me a spectacular view.

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9 Breathtaking Blue Ridge Hikes Under 5 Miles That Offer The Most Spectacular Virginia Scenic Views

You do not need to hike all day to see the best of the Blue Ridge. Some of the most spectacular views in Virginia come from trails that are under five miles.

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9 New Hampshire Coastal Beaches That Face Sudden Jellyfish Warnings This Summer

I love going to the beach in New Hampshire. The sand is soft, the water is cool, and the views are beautiful. But this summer,...

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This Over-100-Year-Old Virginia Country Store Has Locals Swearing Off Chain Grocery Meat for Good

The wooden floors creak under your feet. The shelves are stocked with items that look like they have been there for decades. And...

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11 New Hampshire Farm-To-Table Restaurants Using Only Local Ingredients

I have eaten at a lot of farm to table restaurants over the years, and I have learned that not all of them are created equal. Some use the label loosely, buying a few local items...

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This Vibrant Virginia Market Sells Authentic Halal Meats And Hard-To-Find Middle Eastern Spices

You walk through the doors and the smell of spices wraps around you. Cumin, sumac, and something sweet. This vibrant Virginia...

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9 Incredible New Hampshire Suburb Restaurants Worth The Drive In 2026 For Serious Food Lovers

I have eaten at a lot of restaurants in New Hampshire over the years, and I have learned that some of the best ones are not in the cities. They are in the suburbs, tucked away...

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10 Incredible Virginia Suburb Restaurants Worth The Drive In 2026 For Serious Food Lovers

You do not need to go into the city for a great meal. Some of the best restaurants in Virginia are hiding in the suburbs, tucked into strip malls and small-town main streets.

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This Sprawling New Hampshire Brazilian Steakhouse Serves Continuous Tableside Meat For One Set Price

I have eaten at a lot of steakhouses over the years, but I have never eaten at a Brazilian steakhouse quite like this. The place is sprawling and welcoming, with a salad bar that...

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Virginia Has A German Restaurant So Authentic It Feels Like A Cozy Alpine Chalet

You step through the door and the warmth hits you. Wooden beams, soft lighting, and the smell of sausages and sauerkraut. This...

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This Battlefield Walk Revisits A Side Of Virginia History That Still Sparks Debate

The ground is quiet now. But the history is loud. This battlefield walk revisits a side of Virginia history that still sparks...

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11 Storybook New Hampshire Villages You Didn’t Know Existed Outside Of A Postcard

You know those towns that look so perfect you think they cannot possibly be real? New Hampshire is full of them. I have found...

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9 Unusual New Hampshire Museums Dedicated To Random Collectibles

I love a good museum as much as anyone, but I have to admit that the usual ones can get a little repetitive. Art, history, science.

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11 Insanely Beautiful Virginia Hikes That Are Actually Worth The Sweat

Some hikes are beautiful. Others are insanely beautiful, the kind of views that make you forget the burning in your legs. These...

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9 New Hampshire State Parks With Pristine Swimming Beaches

New Hampshire may be small, but its collection of state park beaches punches way above its weight class. From the Atlantic coastline to glassy mountain lakes, this state serves...

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You’ll Want to Drop Everything and Explore This Subterranean Cave in Virginia

You step through the entrance and the temperature drops. The world above disappears. And you find yourself in a subterranean...

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This Brand New Virginia State Park Offers Rich Indigenous History And Stunning River Views

The land has been here for centuries. The river has carved its way through the landscape. But the park itself is new, a brand...

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5 of the World’s Last 7 Covered Railroad Bridges Are Hiding in New Hampshire

I have driven through a lot of covered bridges in New Hampshire over the years, but I did not realize how special some of them truly are. There are only seven covered railroad...

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This Scenic New Hampshire Chairlift Carries You High Above The Lake For Panoramic Views At Mount Sunapee

I have seen the lake from the shore more times than I can count. I have seen it from the hiking trails that wind around its edges.

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12 Beachfront Campgrounds Across Virginia That Feel Like Your Own Private Coastal Escape In 2026

You wake up to the sound of waves, step out of your tent, and feel the sand between your toes. These beachfront campgrounds across Virginia offer a coastal escape that feels private...

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11 Highest Rated Italian Restaurants In All Of New Hampshire

I love Italian food, and I have spent a lot of time searching for the best Italian restaurants in New Hampshire. Some are casual, with red checkered tablecloths and family style...

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9 Old-School Virginia Soda Fountains You’ll Want to Road Trip Across the Commonwealth For

The ice cream is scooped by hand, the syrup is poured from glass bottles, and the soda is made the old-fashioned way. These old-school Virginia soda fountains are worth road tripping...

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This Enormous New Hampshire Family-Run Meat Market Is A Culinary Award-Winning Sensation You Must Explore This June

New Hampshire has a lot going for it, but nothing quite sparks a debate like this question: is there one spot that genuinely deserves every single award it has ever won?

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