maeve ashford author at My Family Travels
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Why Carrying A Cone In Your Back Pocket In Alabama Can Get You Ticketed

Could an ice cream cone in your back pocket really get you in trouble? That’s the story everyone tells about Alabama, and it’s the kind of legend that sticks because it’s...

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These Ohio Hidden Gluten-Free Cafes Don’t Taste Gluten-Free At All

Ohio might not be the first state you think of when it comes to gluten-free cuisine, but hidden across its towns are cafés that quietly redefine what gluten-free can taste like....

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These Weird Laws In Louisiana Feel Like A Comedy Sketch

Read through Louisiana’s law books and you might think someone slipped in a stand-up routine. Some rules are so oddly specific and outdated that they feel less like legislation...

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A Full-Day Ride On The Scenic North Carolina Railway Everyone Talks About

Ever wonder what it feels like to let the mountains roll past while someone else does all the driving? The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad winds through North Carolina landscapes...

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Minnesota’s Largest Indoor Theme Park Is A Full-Day Adventure For Friend Crews

Your group chat lights up with plans, but nobody wants the same old brunch and movie combo again? Then Minnesota’s largest indoor theme park might be the chaos you are all secretly...

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A Two-Day Winter Road Trip Through Idaho’s Quiet Grain-Town Cafés

Ever pulled off a highway just for a cup of coffee and ended up staying an hour because the place felt so welcoming? That is the vibe this two-day winter road trip through Idaho’s...

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Locals Treat This Harbor Village In Michigan Like Their Personal Hideout

You know a place is special when even the locals act like it’s their little secret. Leland, Michigan, is one of those towns. Tucked...

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Why Maryland’s “Sleepiest” City Is A Quiet Haven For Antique Hunters

Only a few towns manage to feel perfectly calm while secretly holding endless treasures. Havre de Grace, Maryland, is one of those places.

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This “Forgettable” Colorado Town Sits Beside The Prettiest Canyon You’ve Never Seen

What if the town everyone drives past turned out to be hiding one of Colorado’s best-kept secrets? This quiet little spot seems easy to overlook until you catch a glimpse of...

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Why Locals Guard This Wyoming Wildflower Village From Outsiders

I stumbled into Centennial one early June, and the place hit me like a painter’s palette spilled across the valley. Fields...

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These Michigan Destinations Spark Childhood Nostalgia

I still remember the first time I ran full-tilt across the sand at Lake Michigan, the sun baking my shoulders and the water cold enough to make me yelp.

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Secret Hidden Beaches Along California’s Coastline

What if the perfect beach didn’t have a name on any map and only the tide and a whisper of locals knew it existed? California’s coastline is full of these secret stretches,...

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9 New Mexico Adventures That Keep Kids Happy All Day

You want a day where the kids are happy from breakfast to bedtime, right? New Mexico nails that with big skies, quirky art,...

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9 Desert Hot Springs In Nevada Locals Hope Stay Off Your Radar

Nevada hides its warm water like a friend who never quite shares the cool stuff until you ask twice. You want the quiet kind...

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Why Travelers Are Obsessed With A North Carolina Town Locals Shrug Off

You know how some places get hyped online and the locals just kind of shrug? That is exactly what happens in Blowing Rock,...

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This Georgia City Feels Ordinary Until Hot Air Balloons Take Over The Sky

You know how some towns feel like background noise until something wild flips the switch? Helen, Georgia does that in the...

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Why This Quiet Maine City Became A Renewable Energy Standout

You know how some places get loud about change and others just get on with it? Mars Hill in Maine feels like that quiet friend...

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How To Visit Indiana’s Amish Country Respectfully

You want to cruise country roads, breathe that slow Indiana air, and actually do it right? You and me both!

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Weekend Minnesota Winter Roads To Old Family Diners

You free this weekend and are we finally doing that slow Minnesota loop to those old family diners? I say we lean into the...

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10 Nebraska Roadside Stops That Are Way More Fun Than They Look

Nebraska is sneakier than it gets credit for, especially from the driver’s seat. You pull off expecting a quick photo, and...

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The Arkansas Carnival Ruins You Only Find If You Wander

Ever wondered what happens to a theme park after the crowds vanish but the stories stay put? Dogpatch USA sits tucked into...

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The Texas Salt Lake Locals Have Kept Secret For Centuries

You know that stretch of West Texas where the map goes quiet and the sky fills the whole windshield? Out there sits a salt lake locals talk about like a family story.

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Ask A Local About This Washington Lake Village And Watch Them Dodge

Ask about that little village at the far end of Lake Chelan and watch locals go vague. You’ll hear hints about boats, quiet,...

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10 Texas Buffets Travelers Swear Are Worth The Miles

You ready to chase some miles for places that feel worth the detour? I’m talking the kind of buffet stops that make a Texas...

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The Hidden Oklahoma Buffet That Never Needs A Billboard

If you like the kind of place where the parking lot tells you everything, this quiet stop near Lake Texoma will win you over before you even grab the door handle.

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11 South Dakota Towns That Look Empty And Turn Out Packed With Life

You know that moment on a South Dakota drive when a town looks sleepy from the highway? It’s a trap, in the best way!

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Two-Day Loop Through Virginia’s Frosty Village Corners

You know that moment when you arrive somewhere and think: Yep, this was the right call. This two-day Virginia loop hits small...

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Locals In This Virginia Town Pray It Stays Off Social Media

Clifton Forge is the kind of Virginia getaway that feels like you found it, not like you followed a crowd. Mountain views...

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Oklahoma Hillside Water Park Frozen In Time

If you love stories where a familiar place quietly fades out, this one will hook you from the first sentence. On a hillside...

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12 Pennsylvania River And Mountain Villages Made For Slow Cold Days

If you crave quiet streets, frosty views, and the kind of slow days that let you actually notice the details, these Pennsylvania river and mountain villages deliver the vibe.

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West Virginia Winter Waterfalls That Come With Secret Stories

Think waterfalls are a summer thing? Winter in West Virginia says otherwise! Cold air pulls the crowds off the trails and...

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Why Maryland’s Crab Counters Turn A Simple Stop Into A Lifelong Fix

Think a quick fuel stop can’t flip your whole day? Wait until a hand painted crab sign pulls you off the highway in Maryland. These...

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Hidden Vermont Winter Villages Locals Would Rather Keep Quiet

If you thought Vermont’s magic ended at the ski resorts, these quiet winter villages will change your mind fast! Each one...

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Exploring Lanesboro, Minnesota, A Charming Small Town With Big Surprises

Ready to meet the small Minnesota town that quietly outshines big city weekends? Lanesboro welcomes you with bluff country...

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The Lost Forest of Missouri Where Nature Keeps The Upper Hand

You want a place where the map stops feeling important and the woods finally take over? The road leads toward Hercules Glades...

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