lila merrick author at My Family Travels
Article
This Quiet Virginia Hike Leads To A Breathtaking Panoramic Peak Above A Hidden Woodland Cathedral

Some trails just have a name that dares you to show up. Tucked into the rolling mountains of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, this hike climbs through forested ridges, past open-air...

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We Found a Hidden Waterside Seafood Spot In Virginia That Feels Like A Local Secret

Some spots in Virginia just hit different, and locals would honestly prefer to keep them that way. Tucked along the shimmering edge of Lynnhaven Inlet, there is a waterside seafood...

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This Virginia Mega-Mall Merges Major Shopping And Endless Fun Into One Loop

Forget everything you thought you knew about outlet malls. Nestled in Woodbridge, Virginia, just off I-95, there is a sprawling shopping destination that genuinely earns the title...

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This Virginia Fairytale-Like Fun Park Has Become A Haunting Forest Relic

Somewhere in Virginia, a medieval dream was born, flourished briefly, and then quietly surrendered to the forest. What started as an elaborate fairytale kingdom, complete with...

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This Colossal Virginia Book Fair Is A 500 000-Title Paradise For Every Reader

Forget everything you think you know about book fairs. Somewhere in the rolling hills of the Shenandoah Valley, tucked just south of Harrisonburg, Virginia, sits a place that makes...

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Virginia Has A Museum Of Giant Forgotten Parades And It’s Every Bit As Surreal As You’d Hope

Somewhere in the rolling farmland of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, a warehouse full of giant, glittering parade floats sits waiting to blow your mind. I stumbled across this place...

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This Virginia Food Hall Feels Exactly Like A Mini Culinary Escape

Stepping into this vibrant food hall in Virginia feels like taking a quick vacation for your taste buds. Imagine wandering past colorful stalls, each offering a different aroma...

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The Ultimate Guide To 10 Most Iconic Vegetarian Restaurants In Virginia

Virginia is quietly becoming one of the most exciting plant-based dining destinations on the East Coast, and honestly, it deserves way more credit. From the rolling hills of the...

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This Legendary All-You-Can-Eat Japanese Seafood Restaurant Is So Good People Drive Across Virginia For It

Okay, let's settle this debate right now: is there actually an all-you-can-eat sushi spot in Virginia worth crossing county lines for, or is that just internet hype? I'm here to...

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This Small-Town Virginia Restaurant Is Known For Steaks People Drive Miles For

Somewhere tucked inside a charming small town in Virginia, there is a steakhouse so good that people genuinely rearrange their road trips just to eat there. Locals swear by it,...

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This Virginia Tunnel Dares Drivers To Face One Of The Scariest Crossings In The South

Hot take: crossing a body of water through a tunnel buried beneath the ocean floor is either the coolest thing you will ever do or the most nerve-wracking. Virginia has a crossing...

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This Virginia Cemetery Is A Gorgeous Park Where Presidential History Comes Alive

Strolling through a peaceful, tree?lined oasis just outside the city, you’ll feel the gentle hush of history wrap around you like a soft blanket. Imagine a place where winding...

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This Virginia Bookstore Is So Lively, You’ll Leave With Books, New Friends, And Story Nights Worth Attending

Some bookstores just sell books. Others become the heartbeat of an entire neighborhood, pulling strangers together over dog-eared pages, Saturday story sessions, and staff recommendations...

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10 Towns Virginians Flee To When They Need Peace

Life's too loud sometimes, isn't it? Between the honking horns on I-95 and the endless hustle of Northern Virginia's sprawl, even the most patient souls start craving a little...

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This Virginia Soul Food Spot Serves Recipes Passed Down Through Generations

Soul food isn't just about what's on the plate. It's about stories whispered through seasoning, laughter shared over second helpings, and recipes that refuse to be forgotten.

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The Virginia Diner Where The Burgers Are So Good You’ll Drive Miles For A Taste

Can a burger really make you detour off your route and add an extra hour to your road trip? Locals and tourists clash over this all the time, but Front Royal's most talked-about...

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Bargain Hunters Can’t Stop Shopping At This Massive Discount Thrift Store In Virginia

Think thrift shopping is just dusty racks and random junk? Think again. Northern Virginia harbors a treasure trove that has bargain...

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This Small Virginia Eatery Is A Hole-In-The-Wall With Big Flavor

Think you know where Richmond's best breakfast lives? Spoiler alert: it's not in some shiny new brunch palace with Edison bulbs and overpriced avocado toast.

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This 52-Mile Bike Path In Virginia Combines Waterfront Beauty With Skyline Grandeur

Picture yourself gliding along a perfectly paved path where colonial history meets modern adventure, where river breezes kiss your cheeks and city skylines punctuate the horizon....

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Virginia’s Legendary Shack Still Frying Up Tradition After 75 Years

Think your local burger joint has character? Think again. There's a spot in Staunton that's been serving up nostalgia with...

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This Virginia Mountain Vista Serves Views Straight Out Of A Dream

Maybe you've driven past a thousand mountain overlooks, snapped a quick photo, and moved on without a second thought. But what if there's one spot that stops traffic, hosts wedding...

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The Highest Lake In Virginia Is Ready For Your Next Weekend Escape

Think you know Virginia's best kept secrets? Perched high in the Appalachian Mountains sits a place that's equal parts natural wonder and Hollywood legend.

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The Massive Antique Mall In Virginia That Feels Like Shopping Paradise

Think you can walk through an antique mall in an hour? Think again. Williamsburg Antique Mall in Virginia will challenge that...

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Top 10 Chinese Restaurants In Virginia That Always Deliver

Virginia and world-class Chinese food might not be the pairing you expect, but they absolutely belong in the same sentence. From...

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The Virginia Mountain Locals Don’t Want You To Know About

Think you know Shenandoah National Park? The scenic overlooks and the famous Skyline Drive might be what bring the crowds, but there’s a whole other side to this Virginia mountain...

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This Virginia Catfish Gem Has A Way Of Turning First-Timers Into Lifelong Regulars

What makes a restaurant so magnetic that people drive miles out of their way just to eat there again and again? The Fishin' Pig has cracked the code on creating that kind of irresistible...

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This Virginia Lavender Escape Feels Lifted Straight From The French Countryside

Picture endless purple rows stretching toward the horizon, the air thick with fragrance so intoxicating you'll swear you've teleported to Provence. Now imagine that scene exists...

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Explore 10 Surreal Virginia Quirky Roadside Attractions That Defy Expectations This Spring

Virginia, the Old Dominion, is a playground for the curious and the adventurous, hiding some of the most bizarre and jaw-dropping roadside attractions you’ve ever seen. From...

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This Little Virginia Coast Café Makes Clam Chowder That Wins The Show

On a stretch of Virginia’s Eastern Shore where the roads wind past marshes, tidal creeks, and quiet fishing villages, there’s a little café that has quietly captured the hearts,...

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10 Virginia’s Secret “Tiny-Villages” You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

When it comes to Virginia, most travelers immediately think of Williamsburg’s historic streets or the sun-soaked sands of Virginia Beach, but the real magic often hides in the...

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This Hidden Presidential Estate In Virginia Is The State’s Most Stunning Historical Gem

Tucked along the winding roads of Charles City County sits a treasure that most travelers zoom right past on their way to bigger names. Sherwood Forest Plantation isn't just another...

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This Virginia Mountain Escape Is Equally Famous For Its Beauty And Its Ghosts

Hidden deep in Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains stands a legendary retreat that has been hosting guests since before the United States was born. The Omni Homestead Resort isn’t...

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This Virginia Museum Turns A Simple Visit Into A Journey Through Time

What if you could walk through centuries of maritime history, touch artifacts from legendary sea battles, and explore miles of peaceful trails all in one afternoon? The Mariners'...

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This Hidden Virginia Museum Brings America’s Horsepower History Roaring Back

Think all museums are dusty, boring, and full of stuff your grandparents dragged you to see? Think again. Tucked away in Colonial...

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This Virginia Zipline Adventure Lets You Soar Above The Blue Ridge

Tucked into the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, there's a mountain playground that refuses to pick just one season to shine. Massanutten Resort sprawls across the Virginia landscape...

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This Virginia Tower Lets You Spot Five States From One Scenic View

Think you've seen the best views in Virginia? Think again. Tucked away in the mountains near Clintwood sits a towering secret...

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This Virginia Diner Has Legendary Pancakes That Locals Swear By

What makes a pancake legendary? Is it the fluffiness, the toppings, or maybe the secret ingredient that keeps locals lining up before dawn?

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This Little-Known Virginia Boardwalk Trail Rewards You With Sweeping Coastal Scenery

Think all the best coastal trails in Virginia are already overcrowded tourist traps? Think again. Tucked away in Kilmarnock,...

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This Secret Virginia Swimming Hole Is Nature’s Most Perfect Answer To A Summer Heatwave

I thought I knew what summer swimming was until I ended up deep in the backcountry of southwestern Virginia, standing in front of a pool that made every neighborhood swim spot...

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10 Virginia Towns Every History Buff Will Argue About

What makes a Virginia town historically significant? Ask ten history lovers and you'll get twelve different answers. Some swear...

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This Sprawling Flea Market In Virginia Turns Browsing Into An All-Day Adventure

Massaponax Flea Market in Fredericksburg, Virginia, sprawls across enough space to turn a casual stroll into a full-blown treasure hunt that'll gobble up your entire weekend. Packed...

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This Rare 200-Year-Old Bridge In Virginia Is One Of The Few Still Standing In America

Picture a bridge so old it remembers when horses ruled the roads, yet it still stands proud and sturdy over a crystal-clear creek in the heart of Virginia. Humpback Covered Bridge...

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This Haunted Virginia Sanatorium Still Draws Chills From Its Troubled Past

Think your town has ghost stories? St. Albans, Virginia holds secrets that make most haunted tales look like bedtime stories. Tucked...

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This Historic 17th-Century Church In Virginia Is A Must-See Architectural Treasure

Picture this: a brick church standing proud since the days when Jamestown was still finding its footing, where the original stained glass still catches the light just like it did...

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This Classic Virginia Drive-In Keeps The Burger-And-Shake Tradition Alive

Picture this: vintage neon signs glowing against the evening sky, the crackle of old-school tunes floating from a jukebox, and the sweet scent of fresh burgers sizzling on a griddle....

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This Virginia Town Is Dividing Tourists and Locals For Unexpected Reasons

Picture this: cobblestone streets lined with colonial buildings, costumed interpreters spinning tales of revolution, and tourists snapping selfies while locals just want to grab...

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Score A Whole Cart Of Treasures For Just $22 At This Huge Virginia Thrift Store

Ready to fill your home with vintage treasures without emptying your wallet? Class and Trash at Scott's Addition in Richmond, Virginia, is calling your name with one of the most...

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This Virginia Restaurant’s Waitlist Is Longer Than A Concert Line

Picture this: a tiny Virginia town where Main Street goes dark at night, no streetlights to speak of, and a single restaurant so beloved that people book tables months in advance...

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This Underrated State Park In Virginia Is So Hidden, Even Locals Rarely Know About It

Tucked away in the rural heart of Virginia lies a treasure that even seasoned locals might miss: Camp Paradise, the lesser-known entrance to High Bridge Trail State Park. While...

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This Restaurant In Virginia Is Hidden Inside A Historic Train Station

Ever stumbled upon a place that makes you feel like you've traveled back in time? Tucked away in the heart of Virginia sits The Depot Grille, a restaurant that lives inside an...

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