maeve collier author at My Family Travels
Article
This Unassuming West Virginia Restaurant Serves Blackened Tuna Bites So Good Customers Dream About Them

Do not let the humble exterior fool you. This unassuming spot in a small West Virginia town serves blackened tuna bites so...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This West Virginia Drive-In Has Been Serving Messy, Sweet-Chili-Slaw Hot Dogs Since 1947

Since 1947, this West Virginia drive in has been perfecting the art of the messy, glorious chili slaw hot dog. No fancy tweezers or foam here.

Read More    7 min read

Article
One Of The Most Crave-Worthy Lunch Stops In West Virginia Serves Sandwiches That Bite Back (In A Good Way)

You push open the door and the chalkboard menu basically winks at you. This Fayetteville lunch spot doesn't do boring.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Wood-Fired Pizza In West Virginia Comes Hot, Melty, And Topped With Fresh Flavor

The crust blisters in a wood-fired oven until it chars in spots and bubbles along the edge. That is how you know it is real. This...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Sprawling West Virginia Market Houses Over 100 Vendors Across Two Levels And An Annex

You do not just walk into this place. You surrender an afternoon to it. Spread across two sprawling levels plus a separate...

Read More    7 min read

Article
13 Beginner-Friendly Hikes In West Virginia To Tackle This Spring

Spring in West Virginia means muddy boots and mountain views without the agony. These beginner friendly hikes serve up gorgeous...

Read More    10 min read

Article
The Best Onion Rings In West Virginia Are Hiding Inside This No-Fuss Local Spot

You smell the fryer before you see the sign. That's how you know you're in the right Huntington parking lot. This no-fuss counter...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Historic West Virginia Railroad Track Is Now A Magical Railbike Journey Through A Lush Mountain Gorge

You know those old railroad tracks that just sit there rusting? West Virginia took one of them and did something brilliant....

Read More    7 min read

Article
These West Virginia Springs Were So Good Even George Washington Became A Regular

Long before anyone called them presidents, a sixteen year old surveyor named George Washington camped here and scribbled in his diary about some warm springs.

Read More    6 min read

Article
A West Virginia Riverboat Ride Takes You To A Reconstructed 18th-Century Mansion On An Island Frozen In Time

You need a boat to get there. That is the first clue this place is special. Step aboard a real sternwheeler riverboat and let...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Market In West Virginia Is A Local Favorite For Fresh Finds And Community Spirit

What do you get when you turn an old freight depot into a food lover's paradise? This West Virginia market.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This National Register Historic Site In New Jersey Went From Drinking Water Source To Quiet Birdwatching Sanctuary

Once upon a time, this New Jersey landmark quenched the thirst of a growing city. Pipes and pumps did their duty for decades. But...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Museum Houses One Of The State’s Largest Collections Of Working WWII Vehicles And Secret Cold War Technology

History class never had wheels like these. This New Jersey museum hides one of the state's largest collections of working WWII vehicles plus secret Cold War gadgets that actually...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Jersey Pickleball House Is The Largest Indoor Facility In The Mid-Atlantic With 19 Pro Courts And A Full Taproom

You do not have to be a pickleball pro to appreciate the sheer size of this New Jersey facility. It is the largest indoor...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Massive Thrift Store In West Virginia Where You Can Haul A Cart For $45

Forty five dollars. That is the magic number at this massive Morgantown thrift store. You can haul an entire shopping cart...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Restaurant Transforms Afternoon Tea Into A Whimsical Experience

You might walk in expecting just a cup of tea, but this house in Wayne serves something closer to a fairy tale with crumpets. The...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Humble New Jersey Shop On Route 9 Is A Treasure Trove Of Forgotten Stories And Unique Finds

Route 9 in New Jersey is crowded with strip malls and fast food signs. But set between the chaos sits a dusty little shop that time forgot to lock up.

Read More    6 min read

Article
12 New Jersey Museums That Are Housed In Former Prisons, Factories, And Even A Lighthouse

New Jersey is full of surprises, and some of the best ones are hiding inside buildings you would never expect. Old prisons,...

Read More    10 min read

Article
This New Jersey Chainsaw Artist Turns Fallen Trees Into Bears, Eagles, And Custom Signs

A chainsaw might seem like an unlikely paintbrush, but in the hands of this New Jersey artist, it is the only tool he needs. Fallen...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Restaurant Serves Caribbean Flavor And NYC Backdrops In Equal Measure

This New Jersey restaurant gives you the best of two worlds. On one side of the window, the New York City skyline lights up like a postcard.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Museum Honors Harriet Tubman’s Work To Free Others From Slavery

She worked hotel kitchens so others could walk free. That is the story this New Jersey museum tells with quiet power. The exhibits...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Step Back In Time At This New Jersey Museum Where Vintage Trains Still Chug Through The Woods

There is something magical about standing on a small train platform surrounded by pine trees and the smell of hot steam. This...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Jersey Town Has A Prison Museum That Is A National Historic Landmark And Rumor Has It The Inmates Never Left

Could a place that once held the worst criminals now hold the attention of ghost hunters from around the world? This National...

Read More    7 min read

Article
A Rooftop Pool, A Food Hall, And A Yoga Studio All Live At This New Jersey Spa Worth The Day Pass

What if your perfect day off included a rooftop pool and a food hall without leaving New Jersey? This Edgewater spa lets you...

Read More    7 min read

Article
South Jersey Swears By Their Sliders But This North Jersey Roadside Joint Just Won A National Award

Let us settle this once and for all. A tiny smoke filled roadside stand in North Jersey just landed on USA TODAY's list of the top 44 restaurants in America.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Farm Grows Hundreds Of Plants In Its Greenhouses And Lets You Pick Your Own Produce Across 20 Acres Of Orchards

Ever wonder what happens when a basement flower business decides to dream big? It becomes 500 acres of New Jersey farm fabulousness,...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Colossal Abandoned Railroad Viaduct Stands As A Forgotten Monument To New Jersey’s Industrial Past

Did you know there's a crumbling concrete giant hiding in the New Jersey woods? This 1,100 foot abandoned railroad viaduct...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Easy-To-Miss New Jersey Spot Is Serving Some Of The Most Authentic Balkan Food You’ll Find In America

Order the cevapi. That is where this story really begins. Hidden inside a modest strip of storefronts in Cliffside Park, this...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Historic WWII Open-Cockpit Biplane Offers The Ultimate Thrill Ride Over The New Jersey Coastline

Strap in, because this isn't your average sightseeing tour; we're talking about climbing into an open-cockpit WWII biplane and actually taking the controls over the Jersey Shore...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Unique New Jersey Stay Serves As A Retro Wonderland Hiding A 1950s Diner

Okay, pull over, because this New Jersey stay is basically a time machine set to "adorably excessive." I half-expected a poodle-skirted...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Most Photogenic Reflecting Pools In New Jersey Are Found At This Historic Education Center

Ever think New Jersey’s best mirrors aren’t in bathrooms but in gardens? At Bamboo Brook, the reflecting pools turn sky...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Haunted New Jersey Mansion Features A Gothic Revival Design That Feels Like A Living Ghost Story

New Jersey has a mansion that looks like it was designed by someone who thought “haunted chic” was a lifestyle. Its Gothic...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Overlooked New Jersey Nature Sanctuary Lets You Walk On Boardwalks Right Over The Marshlands

This isn’t your average walk in the park. It’s a marshland runway with boardwalks as your catwalk. The birds provide the...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Century-Old New Jersey Waterfront Restaurant Where You Can Watch Tugboats While You Eat

This century-old New Jersey waterfront café isn’t just about food; it’s about flavor with a view. Tugboats float by like...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Massive New Jersey Rooftop Bar Offers A Skyline View That Most Locals Still Haven’t Discovered

New Jersey has rooftop bars, sure, but this one feels like it’s hiding in plain sight. Step off the elevator and suddenly...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Beloved New Jersey Mountain Preserve Hides A Glistening Pond At The End Of A Rugged Hike

My legs were burning, my trail mix was gone, and a squirrel had been side-eyeing me for the last quarter mile. Somehow, none...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Oceanfront New Jersey Eatery Where Sizzling Seafood Comes With Breathtaking Views

There are meals you forget by Tuesday, and then there are meals that make you text three people mid-bite because you simply cannot keep the joy to yourself.

Read More    6 min read

Article
10 New Jersey Towns Where You Can Still Buy A House For $150,000

You tell someone you found a house in New Jersey for under $150,000, and they look at you like you just claimed you spotted a unicorn in a Wawa parking lot.

Read More    10 min read

Article
A Tiny New Jersey Kitchen That Might Just Have The Best Burgers In The State

There are moments in life when you bite into something and your brain just stops working for a second. Everything goes quiet,...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Incredible Manasquan Hub Serving The Best Beach-Day Sandwiches In New Jersey

Some places just hit differently when you stumble onto them by accident, and this was absolutely one of those moments. There...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Pizza Haven Is Known For Its Organic Ingredients And Dedicated Gluten-Free Menu Options

New Jersey’s pizza scene has plenty of stars, but this cozy haven shines with a healthier twist. Organic ingredients pile...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Dreamy New Jersey Tea Room Has Every Corner Covered In Flowers

If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to sip tea inside a flower shop that exploded in the most Instagrammable way possible, this tea room in New Jersey has you covered....

Read More    6 min read

Article
People Drive From All Over New Jersey To Enjoy Shrimp And Grits At This Local Favorite

Shrimp and grits so good people will happily cross half of New Jersey just to get a taste? That’s the magic of this restaurant,...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Remote New Jersey Marsh Where The Only Sound Is The Beat Of A Bird’s Wing

Step into this New Jersey marsh and the world slows down. The air hums with quiet, broken only by wings slicing through sky. Reeds...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Farm Is A Photo-Op Paradise That Only Opens Its Gates A Few Times A Year

In New Jersey, there’s a farm that feels more like a giant playground for your camera roll. Imagine fields bursting with color, seasonal displays popping up like magic, and crowds...

Read More    7 min read

Article
13 U-Pick Farms In New Jersey That Serve Up The Freshest Flavors In The State

There I was, standing in the middle of a strawberry field with juice running down my chin and absolutely zero regrets. Somehow,...

Read More    10 min read

Article
11 New Jersey Lakes And Reservoirs Currently Drying Out Under The Historic 2026 Drought

Picture showing up to your favorite lake, ready for a peaceful morning, only to find mudflats stretching out where the water used to be.

Read More    9 min read

Article
The Rugged New Jersey Ridge Guarding The State’s Most Important Bat Sanctuary

Perched on a rugged ridge in New Jersey, nature has carved out a fortress for bats. This sanctuary is so vital that the caves...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Secret New Jersey “Ghost Farm” That Once Connected America To The Rest Of The World

Ever heard of a “ghost farm” in New Jersey? Sounds spooky, right? But actually, it’s more quirky than scary. Imagine fields...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Industrial New Jersey Bakery Where The Smell Of Butter Hits You Before You Even Open The Car Door

Ever roll down your car window in New Jersey and get smacked in the face by the smell of butter before you’ve even parked? That’s...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Luxe New Jersey Tea Room Lets You Savor 22-Ounce Pots Of Rare Herbal Blends

Did you know New Jersey has a tea room that feels more like stepping into a cozy little fantasy than just grabbing a drink? Instead...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Massive New Jersey Craft Shop Is Packed With Handmade Gifts And Supplies

Walking into this massive craft shop in New Jersey feels less like shopping and more like diving headfirst into a treasure chest.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Famous New Jersey Spot Serves A 20oz Char-Broiled Ribeye That Rivals Any Steakhouse

There are moments in life when a meal stops you mid-bite and you just sit there, quietly reconsidering every restaurant decision you have ever made.

Read More    6 min read

Article
A Legendary New Jersey Tomato Pie Shop That Might Just Have The Best Slice In The Country

Did you know New Jersey is home to one of the country’s earliest tomato pie traditions, dating back over a century? The...

Read More    7 min read

Article
10 Best-Kept New Jersey Secrets For The Perfect Day Trip, From Hopewell To Sicklerville

I used to think New Jersey was all highways and strip malls until someone told me about a hidden castle made from junk in the middle of nowhere.

Read More    9 min read

Article
This Abandoned New Jersey Railway Is Now A Stunning Forest Trail Over Historic Trestles

New Jersey has a way of recycling history; who knew abandoned railways could double as scenic gyms for people who hate treadmills?

Read More    6 min read

Article
New Jersey’s Scenic Train Day Trips That Feel Like Mini Vacations On Tracks

There’s something about train rides in New Jersey that feels like stepping into a mini vacation without the hassle of packing.

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Waterfront New Jersey Classic Is The Seafood Spot Locals Try To Keep For Themselves

New Jersey has seafood spots that locals guard like secrets, and this one is definitely on that list. The waterfront view sets the stage, but it’s the plates piled high with...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The New Jersey Bridge With A Pedestrian Path Linking Two States

New Jersey has a bridge that doesn’t just connect roads, it connects people. With its pedestrian path, you can stroll from one state to another like it’s no big deal.

Read More    6 min read

Article
The New Jersey Dining Escape That Feels Like A Disco Dream

Imagine sitting down to dinner in New Jersey and suddenly realizing the room feels like a disco ball exploded (in the best way possible).

Read More    7 min read