lila merrick author at My Family Travels
Article
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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Article
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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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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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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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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Virginia’s Hidden Mountain Bowl Looks Exactly Like A Volcano, But It’s Actually An Optical Illusion

You crest the ridge and look down into a bowl-shaped valley, ringed by mountains, and for a moment you think you are staring into a volcano. The shape is that perfect, that dramatic.

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9 Secret New Hampshire Swimming Holes To Beat The Summer Heat

When the summer heat hits New Hampshire, everyone heads to the same crowded beaches and public pools. The problem is, everyone else has the same idea.

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These 11 Restaurants Hold The Title Of Virginia’s Most Expensive in 2026

Fine dining comes with a price tag. Sometimes it is worth it, sometimes it is not. The eleven restaurants on this list hold...

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Inside The Incredible 17,000-Square-Foot Textile Destination In New Hampshire Every Crafter Needs To Visit

I thought I had seen big fabric stores before. Then I walked into this place and realized I had seen nothing. The building...

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Spend the Night Aboard a Historic WWII Battleship in Virginia and Act Like You’re on a Top-Secret Deployment

The bunks are narrow, the metal is cold, and the history is everywhere. Spending the night aboard this historic WWII battleship in Virginia is not a typical hotel stay.

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This Local New Hampshire Chinese-American Restaurant Serves Classic Fried Favorites For A Great Value

Sometimes you do not want a fancy meal with small plates and complicated sauces. Sometimes you just want a classic plate of fried chicken wings and an egg roll that is crispy and...

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This Virginia European Deli Is A Time Capsule Where The Pierogies Taste Authentic

You walk through the door and suddenly you are not in Virginia anymore. The air smells like sausage and sauerkraut, the shelves are packed with imported mustards and chocolates,...

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This Old-School Italian Deli In New Hampshire Is Worth The Drive From Anywhere

I have driven a long way for a sandwich before, but this New Hampshire Italian deli is so good that I would do it on purpose. The place is old school in the best possible way.

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The Elegant Virginia Italian Restaurant Where The Handcrafted Pasta Is So Decadent You’ll Savor Every Single Bite

The dining room is warm and intimate, with soft lighting and the quiet hum of conversation. The service is polished, and the pasta is handcrafted with care.

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Locals Say This Once-Peaceful New Hampshire Mountain Lake Town Is Now Overrun By Tourists

I have been coming to this mountain lake town in New Hampshire for years, and I have watched it change in ways that make me sad. The locals are the ones who told me the word "overrun."...

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Locals Say This Once-Peaceful Virginia Lake Town Is Now Overrun By Tourists

There was a time when this Virginia lake town was quiet. Locals knew each other, the water was calm, and the only traffic was a few fishing boats.

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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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