lydia harper author at My Family Travels
Article
This 1865 Oregon Apothecary Is A Time Capsule With Medicine Bottles Labeled In Chinese

You have never seen a pharmacy like this. The jars on the shelves still wear their original labels, the Chinese characters faded but legible, a language that spoke healing to a...

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8 Oregon Hot Springs Where You Can Soak For Free

You do not need a resort, a reservation, or a fat wallet to soak in Oregon's natural hot springs. Scattered across the state, hidden in forests and canyons, are eight geothermal...

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Oregon’s Most Mysterious Rock Formations Have Giant Boulders Balancing On Top Like Hats

Some places look like nature decided to show off just because it could. These mysterious balancing rocks are exactly that kind of stop-and-stare sight, with chunky stone caps perched...

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The Adults-Only Minnesota Fitness Center With A Therapy Pool And No Childcare On Site

A fitness center designed entirely for grownups with a therapy pool and not a single child in sight. I walked in and the quiet was the first thing I noticed along with the absence...

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These Minnesota Tacos Are So Big, They’re Worth the Drive Alone

A taco so massive that the tortilla struggles to hold everything together with each bite you take. I picked one up and immediately needed a second hand to catch the filling that...

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This Weekly Sunday Flea Market In Minnesota Has Been A Hidden Gem For Over 50 Years

A Sunday tradition that has been hiding in plain sight for more than fifty years. I showed up early and the field was already filling with vendors setting up tables full of treasures...

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The Minnesota Museum With Over 7,000 Nutcrackers From 50 Different Countries

A collection of nutcrackers from around the world fills room after room in a quiet small town museum. I walked through the doors and found myself surrounded by rows of wooden soldiers...

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This Minnesota Lake Is Called The Little Bahamas of the North for Its Crystal Clear Water and Endless Shoreline

Crystal clear water sparkles under the sun like a tropical postcard planted right in the middle of the north. I stood at the water's edge and could see every rock and shadow on...

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This Unmarked Minnesota Supper Club Serves a Walleye Dinner for $14 That Tastes Like $40 Anywhere Else

No sign on the building just a parking lot full of cars and people who somehow know exactly where to go. I walked through the door and the smell of walleye frying made my stomach...

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The Minnesota Antique Store Where Your $20 Bill Feels Like $200 On a Good Day

A twenty dollar bill stretches further here than almost anywhere else especially when luck is on your side. I walked through the door and the rows of vintage treasures seemed to...

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The Minnesota Restaurant That Won WCCO’s Viewers’ Choice Award For Best Fried Chicken In The State

A little restaurant in a tiny town won a big award for its fried chicken and the locals were not surprised at all. I pulled into the gravel parking lot and the smell of hot oil...

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The Minnesota Trading Post Where You Can Feed Llamas

A trading post with a llama feeding station is not something you expect to find on a regular afternoon. I pulled into the parking lot and saw fuzzy faces watching me from behind...

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The Secret Oregon Basement Restaurant That Requires A Reservation Months In Advance

A hidden door, a quiet descent, and suddenly you’re in one of Oregon’s most elusive dining spots - tucked away in a basement that feels more like a secret than a restaurant....

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The Minnesota Toy Store With A Secret Door Hidden Behind A Bookshelf And A Hand-Carved Carousel

A bookshelf that opens like something from an old mystery novel leads to a whole new room. I stood there staring at it for a good minute before finally pulling the right book.

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The Renowned Minnesota Supper Club Where The Friday Fish Fry Draws Hundreds Every Week

The parking lot looks like a small city council meeting every Friday night somehow. Hundreds of people show up for the same fish fry week after week endlessly.

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The Minnesota Couch You’re Allowed To Sit On 30 Feet Above A Swamp

A brown couch sits thirty feet above a swamp on a wooden platform. I climbed up there and plopped down like it was my own living room.

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This Small Minnesota Restaurant Just Got A James Beard Nod And It Is Absolutely Worth The Drive

A James Beard nomination is a really big deal in the food world. This tiny spot just got one and nobody here seems surprised honestly.

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40,000 Square Feet Of Architectural Antiques Hidden In A Minnesota Industrial Park

An industrial park is the last place you expect to find treasure, but here it is hiding behind a plain gray loading dock. You walk inside and your jaw drops to the concrete floor...

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This Flat 1-Mile Roundtrip Boardwalk Through an Old-Growth Forest Is One of Oregon’s Most Relaxing Walks

This easy Oregon boardwalk walk feels like an instant reset. I step on and the world quiets down almost immediately. The path...

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This Minnesota Mom-And-Pop Diner Makes Homemade Pies So Good You Will Never Forget Them

Some diners have a neon sign that screams for attention. This one has a quiet parking lot full of out of state license plates instead.

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The Breakfast Menu At This Oregon Diner Has Not Changed Since 1987 And That Is The Whole Point

Some people call it stuck in the past. Those people are wrong. This diner calls it knowing exactly what works. The breakfast menu has not been touched since 1987.

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This Minnesota Spot Lets You Walk Underwater Without Getting Wet

Walking under water usually requires a submarine or a very bad decision. This place offers a third option. You step into a...

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Out Of 11 000 Minnesota Lakes Just One Scored 100 For Fish Health

Eleven thousand lakes. That is an absurd number. Most states brag about having a dozen. Minnesota has so many lakes that people...

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Minnesota Has A National Park That Most Americans Have Never Even Heard Of

A national park that most Americans cannot name, let alone find on a map. That is rare these days. Minnesota has a watery wonderland...

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No Crowds, No Hype, Just A Whole Town In Oregon That National Geographic Just Called A Find

National Geographic does not hand out praise like candy. So when they call a place a find, people should probably pay attention. Oregon...

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This Haunted Oregon Inn Still Has Civil War Bloodstains On The Floors

The floors still hold the stains, and they do not scrub out no matter how hard anyone tries. That is what happens when history leaves a permanent mark.

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This Oregon Fair Food Stand Serves All Your Classic Carnival Favorites in One Place

The smell of fried dough and caramel corn hits you from fifty feet away. Your stomach immediately starts making decisions your brain did not approve.

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The Popovers at This Minnesota Restaurant Are So Good, They’re Worth the Drive

They arrive at your table tall, golden, and still steaming from the oven. Minnesota has a family restaurant where the popovers have achieved something close to legendary status.

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This Tiny Minnesota Bakery Has Been Serving Up Some of the Best Donuts Since 1903

Over a century of donuts. That is a lot of flour, a lot of sugar, and a lot of happy customers. Minnesota has a tiny bakery that...

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This 1.6-Billion-Year-Old Pink Cliff in Minnesota Looks Like It Was Teleported From Utah

A pink cliff in the middle of Minnesota. That sounds like a typo, but it is very real. This ancient rock formation has been sitting...

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This Bewitching Minnesota Shop Is Filled with Oddities and Old World Apothecary Charm

The door creaks when you push it open. That is intentional. Minnesota has a spot where normal shopping rules simply do not...

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This Massive Minnesota Salvage Center Features 40,000 Square Feet Of Stunning Architectural Antiques

Forty thousand square feet is not a typo. That is four football fields of old stuff waiting for a second chance. Walking in feels...

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This Beloved Minnesota Zoo and Conservatory Is One of the Few Free-Admission Attractions in North America

A beloved Minnesota zoo and conservatory offers something pretty rare. Free admission in a world where most attractions come with a ticket price attached.

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The “Castle On The Hill” That Houses Minnesota’s Deepest Swedish Secrets

A “castle on the hill” rises above Minnesota like something lifted straight out of a Nordic legend. Stone walls, steep angles, and old-world design give it a presence that...

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This Stunning Castle In Minnesota Is Just Too Beautiful To Stay Hidden

You do not expect to find a castle here. That is what makes it so fun. The building looks like it was plucked out of a European...

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The Oregon Restaurant Where Taco Tuesdays Never Disappoint

A casual Oregon restaurant turns Taco Tuesday into something people actually plan their week around. It’s loud in the best way - plates coming out fast, tables filling up.

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10 Oregon Towns Where You Can Still Buy A House For $150,000

Oregon isn’t all sky-high prices and competitive bidding wars. If you know where to look, there are still towns where homeownership doesn’t feel out of reach.

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The “Floating” Tea House In Oregon That Transports You To Kyoto

A quiet Oregon setting suddenly shifts the moment you spot it - a “floating” tea house that looks like it drifted in straight from Kyoto. Calm water, clean lines, and perfect...

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The Sacred Oregon Waterfall Where Ancient Tribes Have Fished For Thousands Of Years

A powerful waterfall in Oregon crashes through the landscape with a force that immediately commands attention. This happens long before you learn anything about its history.

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This Tiny Minnesota Bakery Is Famous for Its Scandinavian Donuts Loved Across the State

A tiny Minnesota bakery is quietly winning over the entire state, one Scandinavian donut at a time. Blink and you might miss it, but the smell alone is enough to pull you right...

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This Oregon Airport Has a Small Museum Where You Can Learn About Aviation Before Your Flight

Aviation history meets travel time at this Oregon airport, where a small museum turns waiting for your flight into something unexpectedly interesting. Displays of aircraft, stories...

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10 Real-Life Oregon Inspirations Behind the Town From The Simpsons

Springfield from "The Simpsons" might be fictional, but a surprising amount of its chaotic charm feels rooted in real places across Oregon. From quirky small towns to familiar...

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This Oregon Restaurant Brings a Taste of California Straight to the Pacific Northwest

A little slice of California shows up in the middle of the Pacific Northwest, and somehow it just works perfectly. This Oregon restaurant takes familiar West Coast flavors and...

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This One-of-a-Kind Antique Shop in Minnesota Is Housed Inside a Massive Historic Barn

A massive historic barn stands quietly in Minnesota, but step inside and it quickly turns into something far more unexpected than your typical antique shop. It’s not just a store...

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This Iconic Oregon Bakery Serves Massive Donuts for Under a Dollar

I thought I’d seen big donuts before, but nothing prepared me for the absolute units coming out of this iconic Oregon bakery. They’re massive, messy in the best way, and somehow...

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This Former Oregon Fort Was Once the Crossroads of the Entire American West

This former Oregon fort once stood at the center of movement across the entire American West. I arrive and it immediately feels less like a historic site and more like a place...

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10 Under-The-Radar Diners In Oregon You Have To Try

Oregon hides diners that don’t need attention to be good - they just quietly do their thing. I start the list and immediately realize each spot has its own personality, tucked...

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This Easy Oregon Stop Brings You Face-to-Face With River Otters, Old West History, and Desert Wildlife

This Oregon stop doesn’t make you choose between nature and history - it throws both at you right away. I walk in and suddenly I’m face-to-face with river otters, completely...

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This Oregon Campground Lets You Wake Up Right Next to the Water

This Oregon campground doesn’t ease you into the morning - it drops you straight beside the water. I wake up and the first thing I hear is the shoreline, not an alarm.

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9 Remote Oregon Restaurants Where the Drive Is Part of the Adventure

Oregon has restaurants that feel more like destinations than dinner spots. I hit the first one and immediately realize the drive is half the fun.

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This Oregon Late-Night Spot Is a Hidden Gem for Shareable Asian Bites and a Lively Vibe

Oregon has a late-night spot that doesn’t try to be quiet - it leans fully into the energy. I walk in and instantly feel the buzz of a hidden gem built for shared plates and...

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This Iconic Oregon Shipwreck From 1906 Is One of the Most Photographed in the World

Oregon has a shipwreck that refuses to fade into history. I arrive and immediately understand why it’s one of the most photographed in the world.

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10 Pet-Friendly Restaurants in Oregon Where You Can Dine With Your Furry Friend

Oregon’s food scene gets even better when your dog gets to come along for the ride. I bounced between spots where patios are just as important as the menus.

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This Eerie Underground Tour Beneath Oregon Reveals a Hidden Side of Its Oldest City

Beneath Oregon’s oldest city, things get a little eerie in the best possible way. I step underground and suddenly the world above feels like a distant memory.

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11 Highest Rated Seafood Restaurants in All of Oregon

Think you know seafood? Oregon’s top 11 spots are about to change your mind. I dove fork-first into fresh catches, buttery...

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10 High-Rated Oregon Restaurants That Are Actually Worth The Hype (And The Drive)

Think you know Oregon’s best eats? Think again. These 10 high-rated restaurants aren’t just hyped - they actually deliver,...

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This Floating Tiki Bar Is Bringing a Fun Tropical Vibe to Oregon’s Waterfront

Oregon just got a little taste of the tropics, and it floats. This floating tiki bar brings sunny vibes, fruity drinks, and just the right amount of “let’s pretend we’re...

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10 Remarkable Oregon Hikes That Offer A Truly One-Of-A-Kind Outdoor Adventure

Oregon has a way of making even short hikes feel like epic adventures. Each trail on this list delivers something totally unexpected, from hidden waterfalls to jaw-dropping viewpoints.

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These 9 Diverse Oregon Food Cart Pods Will Take Your Taste Buds On A Global Tour

Oregon’s food cart scene is basically a passport you don’t have to carry. Each pod packs flavors from around the world into tiny, mobile kitchens that somehow taste enormous.

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The Oregon Escape Where Dining Feels Like A Scenic Retreat

Dining at this Oregon spot feels like sneaking off for a mini vacation - without the packing stress. Every bite is paired with a view so good it almost steals the spotlight from...

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