maeve ashford author at My Family Travels
Article
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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This Alabama Mystery Was Built Without Explanation In The Middle Of Nowhere

What would you think if you stumbled upon a full-size Stonehenge replica hidden deep in the Alabama woods? No signs, no explanations, just 21-foot-tall stones rising from nowhere.

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This Washington Fire Lookout Offers 360-Degree Views After A Short But Steep Hike

What if the best view in Washington came with a workout, a history lesson, and a front-row seat to one of the state's largest wildfires? That is exactly what you will find at this...

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This New York Drive-In Theatre Still Uses Vintage Projectors And Original Neon Signs

A vintage neon sign, a 1950s rocket-ship detail, and a pair of brothers honoring their father's immigrant dream. That is the heart of this New York drive-in, where the movies are...

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This Tiny North Carolina Island Is Only Accessible By A Bridge And Feels Worlds Away

Step onto Harkers Island and you immediately feel the clock turn backward. This tiny North Carolina island was reachable only by boat until 1941, when a wooden bridge finally connected...

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This Historic Maine Lighthouse Is Rumored To Be Haunted By Its Former Keeper’s Wife

A lighthouse commissioned by George Washington, a ghost story involving a piano, and the brightest beacon on the Maine coast. This historic island light has it all.

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This Historic Connecticut Tavern Operates From A Perfectly Preserved 1776 Building

A building that was already nine years old when the Declaration of Independence was signed. A tap room that started life as a one-room schoolhouse down by the dock.

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This New York Recreation Area Was Named For A Dozen Submerged Towns And A Main Street Lost To The Deep

A dozen farming communities, their homes, churches, and mills, now lie beneath the water. Thousands of residents were displaced when the valley was flooded over a century ago.

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This Arkansas Bakery Is Famous For Its Handcrafted Croissants In Flavors Like Almond And Turtle

What do you get when two culinary instructors start "bootlegging croissants out of the back of a car"? One of Arkansas's most beloved bakeries, where handcrafted croissants in...

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This California Bin Store Turns Overstock Into A Deep-Discount Treasure Hunt

What happens when you combine thousands of mystery boxes, a weekly price drop, and a community of bargain hunters who cheer each other on? You get this California bin store, a...

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This Illinois Airport Cafe Lets You Enjoy Breakfast While Watching Planes Taxi Just Feet From Your Window

Ever watched a Cessna taxi past your window while you butter your toast? That is exactly what happens at this Illinois airport cafe, where breakfast comes with a front?row seat...

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This Georgia Drive-In Is One Of The State’s Last Remaining, Still Showing Double Features Since 1955

Building a drive-in on land filled with hills and gullies was no small task. The screen had to be raised in sections, and finding the right equipment took some doing.

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The 100-Acre Ohio Flea Market Where One Man’s Trash Becomes A Treasure Hunter’s Pure Gold

Eggs, poultry, and fresh produce sold from a single barn. That humble beginning in 1955 is how this massive Ohio flea market got its start, founded by an auctioneer named Emmet...

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This Legendary 1950s New York Diner Is Famous For Its Oversized French Toast And Classic Car Memorabilia

A plate of French toast the size of a steering wheel, a gleaming vintage Corvette parked near the door, and the smell of fresh baked bread rising from a basement bakery. That is...

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These Budget-Friendly Small Towns In Ohio Are Worth Exploring

When did a weekend getaway start feeling like a line item on your taxes? You are not alone if the price of travel has made you reconsider hitting the road.

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The Delightful Cat Cafe In Washington That Will Make Your Day Infinitely Better With Adoptable Rescue Kitties

Have you ever met a cat with Feline Leukemia and thought, "This one deserves a home more than any other"? That is the beautiful mission behind this delightful cat cafe in Washington,...

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This Under-The-Radar Florida Shop Is A Vintage Treasure Hunt Waiting To Happen

Have you ever walked into a place and immediately felt like you had stumbled into a friend's perfectly cluttered attic? That is exactly the feeling waiting for you at this under...

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This California Fire Lookout Doubles As A Cozy Overnight Cabin With Panoramic Forest Views

A fire lookout that was struck by lightning and burned down in 1936, then rebuilt from a Civilian Conservation Corps tower moved across the forest decades later. That is the unlikely...

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This Florida Airport Cafe Lets You Enjoy Breakfast While Watching Private Planes Take Off From A Waterfront Runway

What does a busboy turned restaurateur, a vintage aviator mural, and a plate of ribs that loses money have in common? They all come together at this Florida airport cafe, where...

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This Historic California Diner On Old Route 66 Has Been Serving Classic Burgers Since 1947

Some of the best burgers in California come from a building made of cinder blocks produced at a local factory. That is the humble, hardworking beginning of this historic diner...

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This Georgia Airport Cafe Lets You Enjoy Breakfast While Watching Private Planes Lift Off

What if the best breakfast you ever had came with a side of propeller noise and a mannequin in fishnet stockings hiding behind the bathroom door? That is the wonderfully unexpected...

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