maeve ashford author at My Family Travels
Article
This Charming Bakery In Maine Prepares The Most Irresistible Potato Donuts You’ll Ever Enjoy

Maine is known for lobster, lighthouses, and rocky coasts, but a potato donut might just be the state's best kept secret. This charming bakery transforms humble potatoes into round,...

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The All-Day Breakfast at This Historic California Institution Will Spoil You for Every Other Eatery

The fork descends into a stack of hotcakes so tall it feels like a small dare. This is California, and you have just committed to a breakfast that will ruin every other eatery...

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The All-Day Breakfast at This Outstanding North Carolina Eatery Will Ruin You for Every Other Diner

You order breakfast at two in the afternoon, and nobody blinks. That is the first sign that this outstanding North Carolina eatery has redefined what a diner can be.

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This South Carolina Landmark Serves A Coastal Seafood Feast so Inexpensive You’ll Check The Menu Twice

You know those places that make you laugh a little when the food comes out because there is just no way that much seafood should land on a table that fast and still feel this unfussy?...

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The Most Legendary Old-School Cheeseburger In Washington Is Served At This Tiny Walk-Up Drive-In

You order at a tiny walk-up window, and a few minutes later, you hold the most legendary old-school cheeseburger in Washington. The thin, crispy patty is smashed on a flat top...

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Premier North Carolina Campgrounds Where You Can Fall Asleep Right By The Rushing Water

The sound of rushing water will be the last thing you hear before you close your eyes at night in North Carolina. That gentle, constant hum becomes a lullaby, a natural white noise...

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Highly-Rated Gluten-Free Dining Spots In Illinois For 2026

Gluten free eating in Illinois used to feel like a constant compromise. Not anymore, because two thousand twenty six brings a wave of highly rated spots where delicious and safe...

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Highly-Rated Gluten-Free Dining Spots In Colorado For 2026

Finding a great gluten free meal in Colorado used to feel like a lucky accident. That time is over, because the coming year brings a wave of highly rated spots where gluten free...

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The North Carolina Berry Farm Where You Gather Your Own Fruit And Enjoy Fresh Treats While Picking

You grab a bucket, walk into the field, and suddenly every berry you see feels like a small treasure. That is the simple joy at this North Carolina berry farm, where you gather...

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The Award-Winning Ohio Eatery Crafting Celebrated Deli Sandwiches National Food Critics Can’t Stop Praising

The pastrami is stacked so high that you might need to unhinge your jaw. That is the first thing you notice at this award winning Ohio eatery, where celebrated deli sandwiches...

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This Stellar Florida Italian Market Offers Traditional Pastries, Imported Delicacies, And Hearty Deli Entrees Worth Discovering

The smell of fresh baked cannoli shells and aged parmesan hits you before the door even closes behind you. That is your first clue that this stellar Florida Italian market offers...

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Spectacular Michigan Campground Where You Can Awaken Directly Next To The Water

You zip open your tent and the water is right there, inches from your sleeping bag. That is the experience at this spectacular Michigan campground, where lakefront sites put you...

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This Incredible Pennsylvania Dairy Farm Uses Real Horsepower To Churn The Creamiest Ice Cream You’ll Ever Taste

What if the creamiest ice cream you have ever tasted came from a farm where horses do the heavy lifting? This Pennsylvania dairy farm keeps an old tradition alive by using real...

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Step Inside Colorado’s Best-Preserved Ghost Town General Store, Still Stocked Like It’s 1890

You step into a building that hasn’t rushed for a hundred and forty years. That’s the welcome at a remote Colorado general store where the shelves are still stocked like it’s...

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This Wisconsin Market Prides Itself On Selling Produce And Goods Grown And Made By Wisconsin Producers

The first Saturday in 1972, eager shoppers circled the Wisconsin State Capitol only to find five lonely farmers with a few tables. Today, more than 200 vendors ring the entire...

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The North Carolina Waterfall That Plunges Into A Secret Swimming Hole Hidden Deep In The Forest

You won't find a sign. That is the first clue you are onto something good. Tucked deep in the Nantahala National Forest, a...

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These Abandoned South Carolina Ruins Now Rest Beneath Overgrown Forests

The kudzu is winning. That green monster has swallowed whole buildings, buried main streets, and turned old brick into soft, mossy mounds.

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These North Carolina Beach Towns Are Becoming Unaffordable For Locals

The salt air still smells the same. The waves still crash. But the people who grew up here can no longer afford to stay. North...

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Arizona’s Most Underrated Hot Springs Has Warm Pools, A Riverside Setting, And Zero Entrance Fee

No entrance booth. No parking fee. Just a desert canyon, a short hike, and three steaming pools carved into the rocks. This...

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The Enormous Flea Market In Pennsylvania That Keeps You Walking And Browsing All Day Long

Ever wandered through a wooded grove where every path leads to a different treasure? That is the magic of this Pennsylvania flea market, a sprawling outdoor wonderland tucked under...

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This Unfussy Arkansas Drive-In Serves Smoked Sandwiches That Locals Have Craved For Generations

Craving a smoked sandwich that tastes like it came from a roadside pit in the Ozarks? Head to this unfussy Arkansas spot, where the smokers have been working overtime for over...

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North Carolina Features A Giant Liquidation Warehouse Where Prices Drop To Only $1 On Specific Days

You pull on a pair of gloves, grab an empty bin, and join the crowd of early morning hunters circling a long table of returned merchandise. The rules are simple: prices start high...

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This Small Georgia Town Draws Visitors From Around The State With Antiques On Almost Every Corner

Wooden sidewalk benches invite you to sit and rest between shop doors, and friendly shopkeepers greet you like a neighbor returning home.

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The 8 Most Wallet Friendly Towns Across South Carolina For Families Living On A Budget

What if you could live in a charming Southern town with oak lined streets and a river view without spending your entire paycheck on housing? Across South Carolina, several small...

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The Best Food Hall In The U.S. Is Hiding In Massachusetts With 20 Distinct Food And Drink Concepts

Boston has a way of surprising you when you think you already know where the good food lives, and this spot in Massachusetts really got me because it feels tucked into a part of...

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The Stunning State Park In South Carolina That Is Perfect For Challenging Mountain Summit Day Trips

Your legs are already burning, and you have only just passed the trailhead sign. That is the honest welcome at this stunning South Carolina state park, where a 2,000 foot climb...

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This Connecticut Town’s Overloaded Lobster Roll Has the Whole State Divided

The argument starts before the first bite. A paper boat arrives at your picnic table piled high with knuckle and claw meat, no filler, no celery, just a mountain of fresh lobster...

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The Overstuffed Lobster Roll At This Small Town Maine Eatery Causes Debates All Across The State

The line starts forming before the sun is fully up, snaking along the edge of a quiet coastal road. Locals and tourists alike shuffle forward, patiently waiting for a paper boat...

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This Kentucky Flea Market Attracts Thousands Of Savvy Bargain Hunters Every Single Weekend

Aisles stretch in every direction, packed with vintage furniture, antique tools, collectibles, and handmade crafts. This Kentucky flea market has been a bargain hunter's paradise...

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This New York Italian Market Has Provided Traditional Gourmet Imports For Over A Century

A Star of David mosaic greets you at the entrance, a quiet clue that this beloved Italian market has an unexpected story to tell. Founded in 1915 by two Jewish immigrant brothers...

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The Best Historic Cheeseburger In Mississippi Is Found Inside This Tiny Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurant

The burger is a relic of another time, a "slugburger" made from a secret blend of beef, spices, and dough, pan-fried until its edges shatter like glass.

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The Breathtaking State Park In Kentucky That Is Ideal For Relaxing Day Trips

Have you ever wondered what happens when moonlight bends through a blanket of mist, creating a shimmering arc that rivals the daytime rainbow? That rare spectacle, known as a moonbow,...

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Journey Back In Time At This Tumbling New York Waterfall Tucked Inside A Fossil-Rich Gorge

Ever stood where ancient sea creatures once swam, their fossils still pressed into the rock beneath your feet? That is the quiet wonder of this tumbling New York waterfall, hidden...

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The Best Steamed Cheeseburger In Connecticut Is Served Inside This Tiny Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurant

What if the perfect cheeseburger never touched a hot grill? That is the secret behind a tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Connecticut, where a metal box steams each patty until...

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This Iconic North Carolina Hole-In-The-Wall Steakhouse Serves Massive Cuts And Famous Onion Rings Beneath Dim Vintage Lighting

Have you ever stepped into a steakhouse where the walls seem to whisper secrets from a time when Sinatra crooned over the radio? Tucked behind a modest storefront on a busy boulevard,...

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This Iconic Indiana Hole-In-The-Wall Steakhouse Serves Giant Steaks And Legendary Spicy Meatballs Beneath Red-Checkered Tablecloths

The smell of sizzling beef drifts down a narrow alley, and a humble door leads into a dimly lit room where red-checkered tablecloths cover every table.

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This Vermont Diner Serves All-Day Breakfast In A Family-Run Spot Topped With A Mini Windmill

A tiny windmill spins on the roof, catching the same breeze that drifts across the Vermont countryside. That whimsical landmark marks a family-run diner where breakfast is served...

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This Small-Town Wisconsin Diner Rotates Its Homemade Pie Selection Daily And Locals Call Ahead To Claim Slices

The phone starts ringing early in this small Wisconsin town, and it is not just for takeout orders. Locals call ahead to reserve slices of the daily pie selection, because the...

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This Massive North Carolina Flea Market Draws Thousands Of Bargain Hunters Every Single Weekend

The colorful triangular banners snap in the breeze as the cheerful organ music of a vintage carousel drifts through the air. This is not a county fair you are walking into, but...

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This Tennessee Artisan Cheese House Crafts Fresh Curds, Sharp Cheddar, And Specialty Wheels Right On Site

What if the key to the creamiest cheddar was a robot? It is in Tennessee. This artisan cheese house is a true farmstead operation,...

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A Massive Used Bookstore In Michigan With Endless Shelves And A Welcoming Pet-Friendly Atmosphere

What happens when a book lover turns a 1965 seed of eight volumes into a thriving, four-floor factory bursting with over a million stories? You get a sprawling wonderland where...

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Step Into The Past At This Cascading Ohio Waterfall Hidden Inside A Fossil-Rich Gorge

Step carefully along the limestone ledge, and you might just spot a spiraled shell pressed into the rock, a fossil from an ancient sea that covered Ohio millions of years ago....

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The Best Fresh Peach Cobbler In Georgia That Locals Can’t Stop Raving About

The cobbler came first, baked from a family recipe that turned fresh farm peaches into something legendary. Then came a roadside stand, a café, and eventually a destination that...

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A Massive Bookstore In Ohio With Endless Shelves And A Welcoming Pet-Friendly Atmosphere

How many rooms does it take to hold a million books? In a historic German Village building, the answer is thirty two. This...

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This Giant Georgia Flea Market Welcomes Thousands Of Bargain Hunters Every Weekend

The smell of sizzling tacos and fresh tortillas drifts through an enormous warehouse, where more than seven hundred vendor stalls stretch in every direction.

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10 Must-Visit Museums In Virginia For History And Culture Lovers

Let’s map out a Virginia road trip that actually feels fun instead of crammed with musts and maybes. You bring the playlist,...

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The Fried Shrimp At This Homey South Carolina Stand Is Out-Of-This-World Delicious

The oil shimmers in a well-seasoned fryer, and the scent of fresh, briny shrimp mixed with cornmeal dust drifts across a gravel parking lot. That is the welcome at this unassuming...

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A North Carolina Beach Town That Is Ranked One Of The Most Underrated Shores In America

Pale sand, miles of quiet shoreline, and a top-secret missile project hidden in plain sight. That is the unexpected combination at this underrated North Carolina beach town, ranked...

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An Enormous Used Bookstore In Arizona With Endless Shelves And A Pet-Friendly Atmosphere

What does a father?son handshake for one dollar and a customer's unexpected record collection have to do with one of Arizona's most beloved used bookstores? The answer fills an...

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A Maine Bakery Is Famous For The State’s Official Treat, Drawing Fans From Miles Away

What do you get when you combine a grandmother's secret recipe, a local slang word for "excellent," and a five-pound whoopie pie that serves a dozen people? You get Maine's official...

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Under The Crystal Clear Surface Of This South Carolina Lake Lies An Abandoned 1800s Church And Historic Ruins

A church steeple that once pointed toward heaven now rests beneath crystal clear water, still standing after all these years. That is the haunting beauty of this South Carolina...

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A Vermont Bakery That Has Been Serving Scratch-Made Pastries From A Cozy Storefront For Over A Decade

A tiny kitchen, a handful of bakers, and a lifetime of rolling pie dough by hand. That is the quiet heart of this Montpelier bakery, where scratch-made pastries have been coming...

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Alabama Treasure Hunt Fills Its Shelves With Vintage Records, Comic Books, And Guitars From A Bygone Era

Vinyl records stacked in milk crates, comic books carefully bagged and boarded, and a vintage guitar leaning in the corner with its strings still humming. That is the scene at...

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This Historic Ohio Market Has Been A Hub For Local Produce And Artisan Goods For Over 170 Years

A bell that once rang at Cincinnati's very first public market still calls shoppers to attention each morning. That is just one piece of the history waiting at this historic Ohio...

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This Arizona Pizzeria Has The Crispiest Thin Crust In The Region

What do you get when a pizza maker turns a childhood memory of onion bialys into a pie topped with pistachios? You get one of the most celebrated thin crust pizzas in the region,...

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Pennsylvania Flea Market Draws Thousands Of Bargain Hunters Every Weekend

A tree shaded grove, a bottle show that draws collectors from across the country, and a name inspired by Robin Hood. That is the unexpected charm of this Pennsylvania flea market,...

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This California Waterfront Tavern Serves Seasonal Californian Cuisine With Breathtaking Bay Views

The Golden Gate Bridge may be the star of the skyline, but the best seat in the house might just be inside a century-old ferry terminal. Welcome to this California waterfront tavern,...

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Arizona Swap Meet Draws Thousands Of Bargain Hunters Every Weekend

Nearly forty acres of covered vendor booths, one and a quarter miles of breezeways, and a misting system that keeps the desert heat at bay. That is the sprawling scene at this...

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This Michigan Drive-In Still Delivers Nostalgia Through Its Original Outdoor Speaker Posts

A single movie about dinosaurs kept this drive-in from disappearing forever. In the early 1990s, with indoor theaters taking all the film contracts, the owners just prayed that...

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A Bakery Hidden In North Carolina Still Uses A Wood-Fired Dome Oven For Over Two Centuries

What does it take to bake bread in a wood-fired dome oven that was built before Thomas Jefferson became president? You wake up at five in the morning, light a fire, and heat 700...

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