lila merrick author at My Family Travels
Article
New Hampshire Has A European Deli So Authentic It Feels Like A Hidden Polish Market

I closed my eyes for a second and listened. The voices around me were speaking Polish. The smell was kielbasa and sauerkraut...

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The Best Legendary Cheeseburger In Virginia Is Hidden Inside This Tiny Hole-In-The-Wall Drive-In

The building is small, the sign is faded, and the menu is written on a board behind the counter. But the cheeseburger is legendary.

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This New Hampshire Bakery Serves Old-World Pastry Flavors With A Delicious Homemade Twist

The first thing I noticed was the butter. The smell of it, warm and rich, coming from the oven. This New Hampshire bakery is...

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10 Lesser-Known Virginia Thrift Shops Brimming With Vintage Finds

The best thrift shops are not the famous ones. They are the ones tucked into strip malls, hidden in small towns, and overlooked by everyone but the locals.

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This Quiet New Hampshire Town Has A Pancake Parlor So Good It’s Becoming A Local Spring Tradition

Tucked into the rolling hills of Sugar Hill, New Hampshire, there's a little breakfast spot that has quietly become one of the most talked-about morning destinations in all of...

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The Cheesecake At This Charming Café In Virginia Is Worth The Drive From Anywhere In The State

Some desserts are fine. You eat them, you move on. But this cheesecake is different. The cheesecake at this charming Virginia...

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This New Hampshire Iconic Red Covered Bridge Is Famous For Having A Distinctive S-Curve Path Hidden Right Inside Its Wooden Walls

There is a special kind of happiness that comes from pulling over at a farm stand on a country road. The little wooden building appears out of nowhere, and you never know exactly...

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This Old-School Italian Joint in Virginia Has Been Serving the Same Red Sauce Favorites for Decades and Every Bite Still Hits

The red sauce recipe has not changed in decades. The meatballs are still made by hand. The spaghetti comes in a large bowl, the...

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10 Haunted New Hampshire Historic Sites With Spine-Chilling Local Legends

I do not know if I believe in ghosts. But I know people in New Hampshire who do. And they have stories that will make the hair...

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A Family Homestead In Virginia Grows Bundles Of Lavender As Far As You Can See And It’s the Perfect Summer Escape

The rows of purple stretch toward the mountains, a sea of lavender that hums with bees and smells like calm. This family homestead in Virginia grows bundles of the fragrant herb...

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This Virginia Bookstore Features A Cozy Reading Nook Where You Can Linger Over A Latte From The Adjacent Cafe

Most bookstores want you to buy something and leave. This one wants you to stay. There is a reading nook tucked into the corner,...

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This Stunning New Hampshire Mountain Highway Offers Over 30 Miles Of Continuous Alpine Views

Some roads are just ways to get from one place to another. This New Hampshire mountain highway is not one of those roads. It...

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This Stunning Virginia Reservoir Boasts 500 Miles Of Spectacular, Mountain-Ringed Shoreline

You look out across the water and cannot see the other side. The lake stretches into the distance, surrounded by mountains that roll and rise and fall.

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This Legendary New Hampshire Mountain Parlor Stone-Grinds Its Own Flour For Indulgent Heirloom Pancakes

I did not know that flour could make that much of a difference in a pancake. But then I ate at this legendary New Hampshire mountain parlor, and now I understand.

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These 10 Charming Small-Town Cafes in Virginia Are Worth The Drive

The best cafes are not on the highway. They are in small towns, tucked away on main streets that look like postcards. The coffee...

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New Hampshire Locals Say This No-Frills Hidden Gem Serves The Best Comfort Food

I have learned over the years that the best restaurants are usually the ones that do not have to try very hard. No fancy lighting.

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This Virginia Museum Lets You Get Hands-On With Science And Meet Amazing Animals

Science museums can be stuffy. Glass cases, roped-off exhibits, signs that say "do not touch." This Virginia museum is the opposite.

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10 Scenic New Hampshire Biking Trails Following Old Abandoned Railroads

I love a good mountain bike trail as much as anyone, but sometimes I just want a smooth, easy ride through beautiful scenery. That is exactly what you get on the old railroad trails...

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10 Restaurants In Williamsburg, Virginia That Are Worth Visiting In 2026

Williamsburg is famous for history. Colonial buildings, costumed interpreters, the kind of place where you feel like you have stepped back in time.

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This Historic Virginia Lodge Was Founded Before The United States Existed, And It’s Still Active Today

Step inside and you are face to face with a story that began before the nation itself existed. In this corner of Virginia, a group of men once formed a fraternal brotherhood that...

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10 Historic New Hampshire Taverns Serving Hearty Colonial-Era Comfort Food

There is something special about eating a meal in a building that has been standing for over two hundred years. The wooden beams are thick and dark with age.

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10 Historic New Hampshire Castles And Stone Mansions Open To Visitors

When most people think of New Hampshire, they think of mountains and lakes and covered bridges. They do not usually think of castles.

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This 11-Lake Virginia Hidden Gem Is A Paradise For Fishing And Grilling

Some lakes are for looking. Pretty from a distance but not much to do once you get there. This Virginia hidden gem is different....

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These 10 Virginia Beach Food Trucks Are Quietly Redefining Tacos

Virginia Beach has become an unexpected hotspot for taco lovers who crave something beyond the ordinary. Food trucks parked...

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These 10 Fairy-Tale Towns in New Hampshire Belong on 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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This Peaceful Virginia Town Is Becoming One Of The Loveliest Places To Retire

Retirement is supposed to be peaceful. Quiet mornings, slow walks, time to read and relax. And this Virginia town is becoming...

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10 Breathtaking New Hampshire Mountain Peaks Accessible By Car

I love a good hike as much as anyone, but sometimes I want the view without the work. New Hampshire is full of mountain peaks that you can drive right up to, and I have found ten...

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This Virginia Italian Restaurant Crafts Handmade Pasta So Authentic, You’ll Swear You’re In Rome

Most Italian restaurants in America serve pasta that comes from a box. It is fine, nothing special. But this Virginia restaurant...

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10 Historic New Hampshire General Stores Guarding Century-Old Nostalgia And Penny Candy

I remember going to a general store as a kid, and the feeling of picking out penny candy from big glass jars has never left me. That feeling is getting harder to find these days,...

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10 Highest Rated Restaurants In Virginia That Are Always Worth The Visit

Restaurant ratings can be tricky. A place with five stars might disappoint you, and a place with four might become your favorite. But...

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10 New Hampshire Coastal Getaways That Aren’t The Hampton Beach Boardwalk

I love the energy of a busy boardwalk sometimes, but when I want to actually relax, I go somewhere else entirely. New Hampshire has a small coastline, but what it lacks in length...

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These 10 Nostalgic Beach Towns In Virginia Are Pure Magic

Virginia has a coastline that doesn't just sit there looking pretty. It tells stories. From wild ponies roaming barrier islands...

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This Classic New Hampshire Steakhouse Is Still Celebrated For House-Aged Steaks Locals Can’t Forget

I have eaten a lot of steaks in my life, and most of them were fine but completely forgettable. Only a very few have stuck with me for years after the meal was over.

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This Virginia Mountain Cascade Is Worth The Short But Steep Hike Down

Some waterfalls require a long, gentle walk through the woods. This Virginia cascade requires something else entirely. The...

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This Tiny New Hampshire Restaurant Is Officially A 2026 James Beard Finalist And It Is Absolutely Worth The Drive

I have been to a lot of restaurants that people told me were worth the drive. Most of them were fine. A few were good. But only a handful have made me feel like I understood what...

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This Virginia Landmark Is Secretly Famous For Its Colonial Spoon Bread And Fried Chicken

Some restaurants have dishes that people talk about for years. This Virginia tavern has two. Spoon bread, a colonial-era dish...

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This Small-Town New Hampshire Tavern Is Famous For Steaks Folks Drive Hours For

I heard about this place from a stranger. A guy at a gas station. He saw my out of state plates and asked where I was headed....

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Virginia Has A Historic Ghost Tour And It’s Every Bit As Spooky As You’d Hope

A certain historic Virginia city is charming during the day. But at night, with the gas lamps flickering and the crowds gone, it takes on a different feeling.

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This Historic New Hampshire General Store Is Packed With Old-Fashioned Charm

The wooden floors creak when you walk on them. That is the first thing you notice. Then the smell hits you. Old wood and candy...

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This Unassuming New Hampshire Valley Barn Serves Award-Winning Artisanal Maple Ice Cream

You would drive right past this place if you were not looking for it. The barn sits in a green valley, surrounded by fields and trees.

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This Hidden Island Bakery Serves World-Famous Sweet Bread That People Drive Hundreds Of Miles For

Chincoteague is famous for wild ponies. But there is another reason people drive hundreds of miles to this Virginia island. Sweet...

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They Say Virginia Is Home To The Most Renowned Roast Beef Sandwich Ever Built

People say a lot of things about sandwiches. Best in the city, best in the state, best you will ever eat. Most of the time, it...

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This Fascinating New Hampshire Living-History Hub Lets You Walk Through Four Centuries Of Coastal Heritage

History museums can be dry and boring. They are full of glass cases and velvet ropes. Signs tell you not to touch anything. This...

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10 Secret Strawberry Picking Havens In Virginia Locals Keep Hidden

There is a moment in late spring when the strawberries are ready. The fields are red and green, the air smells sweet, and the berries come off the vine warm from the sun.

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Take This Scenic New Hampshire Train Ride For The Ultimate Low-Stress Spring Day Trip

There is no traffic on a train, no one cutting you off, no decision fatigue about which exit to take, just you sitting by a window while the landscape of New Hampshire rolls past...

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This Historic Virginia Spot Just Landed A James Beard Nod For Its Reimagined Southern Soul Food

James Beard nominations do not come easy. They require skill, creativity, and a kitchen that refuses to coast. This Virginia...

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This Short 1.5-Mile New Hampshire Hike Is So Scenic You Will Be Thinking About It For Weeks

I have done plenty of hikes that require a full day and leave you exhausted, but this one in New Hampshire is proof that you do not need to suffer for hours to earn a view that...

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We Found A Virginia Indian Eatery With A Table-Serve Buffet So Tasty You Will Want To Linger All Day

Buffets are usually about quantity, not quality. Fill a plate, go back for more, leave feeling heavy and slightly disappointed. But...

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7 Abandoned Virginia Asylums Where The Patients Never Really Left

Abandoned buildings have a way of holding onto their past. The walls remember. The hallways echo. And when those buildings once...

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This Tiny Virginia Town Is Home To A Steakhouse Serving Unforgettable Ribeye

Small towns are not supposed to have great steakhouses. That is the rule, or at least the assumption. Drive far enough away from...

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This Massive Virginia Hardware Store Is A Multistory Treasure Trove Of Unique Oddities

Most hardware stores are predictable. Aisles of tools, rows of paint, the same brands you have seen a hundred times. This Virginia...

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This Classic New Hampshire Restaurant Serves Onion Rings Locals Keep Talking About

Confession: I usually skip onion rings when I eat out, because most of them are sad, greasy disappointments that are not worth the calories or the heartburn. But the people in...

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This Virginia Treehouse Lets You Sleep 2,700 Feet Above The Blue Ridge Mountains

Most hotel rooms have four walls, a bed, and a window. This one has a treehouse perched on a mountain, 2,700 feet above the Blue Ridge, with views that make your phone camera work...

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This Hidden New Hampshire Breakfast Spot Feels Like Home From The First Bite

You know that feeling when you walk into a restaurant for the first time and within five minutes you are already relaxed, like you have been coming here for years instead of just...

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This Hidden Virginia Trail Leads To A Wild Beach That Feels Frozen In Time

The path is narrow, shaded by trees, and easy to miss if you are not paying attention. That is the first clue that you have found something special.

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This New Hampshire Museum Feels Like A Cabinet Of Curiosities Spanning Nearly Four Centuries

I have been to museums that tell one story very well, and I have been to museums that try to tell too many stories and end up feeling confused. This one in New Hampshire is something...

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10 Senior-Friendly And Tranquil Nature Trails Across Virginia

Not every trail needs to be a workout. Some should just be pretty, flat, and easy on the joints. Virginia has plenty of those,...

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The Historic 460-Foot Covered Bridge In New Hampshire Most Tourists Have Never Heard Of

There is something about a covered bridge that feels like a secret handshake between people who have lived in New Hampshire for a long time and everyone else who is just passing...

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This Virginia Horseback Ride Lets You Trek Through Coastal Marshes Just Like A Wild Pony

Okay, real talk. Is Chincoteague the most underrated coastal gem in Virginia, or has it secretly been the best-kept secret all along?

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11 Virginia Locations That Still Feel Undiscovered Despite Being On The Map

Virginia holds countless secrets tucked between its mountains, valleys, and coastline. While many travelers flock to popular destinations, some remarkable places remain wonderfully...

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