maeve collier author at My Family Travels
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The West Virginia Restaurants And Bakeries Where Gluten-Free Foodies Can Indulge Without Worry

Finding a gluten free meal that does not taste like cardboard should not require a treasure map. But let us be honest. It...

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This West Virginia Town Is The Peaceful Escape Locals Keep To Themselves

I almost did not tell you about this place. Not because I am greedy, but because that is exactly what locals are hoping. They...

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The Smallest Church In West Virginia Is A Perfect Escape For Quirky Roadside Photos And Peaceful Reflection

Pull over. Seriously. You will see a tiny white building nestled among the trees and wonder if you just stumbled into a storybook....

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Locals Have Been Flocking To This West Virginia Carhop Since 1932 For The State’s Most Legendary Hot Dog

Carhops bring your food right to your car window. No need to put on real pants. Since 1932, locals have been pulling into this...

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The West Virginia Caverns Where Towering Rock Formations Reveal A Hidden Underground Wonderland

You step off the ladder and into another world. Fifty feet below the surface, the air turns cool and the silence feels sacred. Towering...

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11 Antique Malls And Shops In West Virginia Offering Salvaged Furniture, Vintage Décor, And More

Let me ask you something. Do you ever walk into a furniture store and feel absolutely nothing? Same here. That is why I hunt...

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The Countryside Flea Market In West Virginia Where Every Sunday Feels Like A Festival

Sunday mornings possess a particular magic when they begin with a treasure hunt stretching across sprawling countryside fields. In...

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This Historic West Virginia Town Lets You Explore The Roots Of American Resilience

Matewan is not just a town; it is a defiant scar on the map where American workers finally drew a line in the dust. The infamous shootout on Main Street in 1920 might have ended...

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The New Jersey Pond Where Martians “Landed” And Panicked The Nation (Yes, There’s A Memorial)

A quiet pond in suburban New Jersey is the last place you would expect to find proof of a Martian invasion, but the plaque on the rock says otherwise.

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10 West Virginia Factory Tours That Make For A Surprisingly Fun Day Trip

Have you ever watched something being made and thought, wow, humans are actually pretty clever? That feeling hits you over...

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The New Jersey Antique Store Where Hollywood Set Designers Secretly Shop

Notice how movies always get the details right? The perfect lamp in a 1940s bedroom. That odd clock on a villain's desk. Someone...

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This Mountain Town In West Virginia Hides History, Hospitality, And Breathtaking Vistas

This small town was built on the belief that clear, mineral-rich spring water could change your life. For centuries, weary travelers have arrived in the heart of West Virginia...

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The West Virginia U-Pick Farm Where You Can Get Fresh Blueberries For Just $2.25 A Pound

There is something deeply satisfying about picking your own food straight from the bush. This family-run farm in the Greenbrier...

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This Massive West Virginia “Amish Walmart” Is Packed With Bulk Deals And Homemade Goods

Have you ever walked into a store and suddenly realized you need twelve pounds of flour, a jar of homemade jam, and a fresh donut you did not know existed?

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This Haunted West Virginia Hospital Has Become A Must-Visit Destination For Paranormal Hunters From Around The World

I am not the kind of person who chases ghosts. I get spooked by my own closet door. But even I felt a strange tingle walking...

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This West Virginia Cathedral With Italian Marble Is A Stunning Slice Of Europe In Appalachia

Close your eyes for a second. Now open them and pretend you just stepped into Rome without the expensive flight. Pink Italian...

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The Artisan Donuts At This New Jersey Bakery Are So Delicious, They Literally Melt In Your Mouth

My willpower completely abandoned me the moment the smell hit me from the parking lot. There was no turning back after that.

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This Abandoned West Virginia Railroad Is Now One Of The Most Unique Bike Trails In The State

I love a good transformation story. This one starts with a forgotten railroad track, overgrown and silent, rusting quietly...

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The West Virginia Race Track Where Amateurs And Government Agents Train On The Same Pavement

Imagine this. On one side of the pit lane, a dentist in a slightly too tight racing suit is learning to brake later. On the...

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10 Haunted West Virginia Towns Where History And Ghosts Share The Same Address

Some places wear history on their sleeves. Others keep it buried in the walls, whispering through floorboards when the living finally go quiet.

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The West Virginia Road Trip That Hits Four Iconic State Parks In One Weekend

You have just read a small novel’s worth of West Virginia beauty. Grist mills kissing creeks, bridges that steal your breath,...

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This 6.6-Mile Trail In West Virginia Combines Civil War History With Scenic Overlooks

History fans and view chasers, this one is for you. This West Virginia trail follows the footsteps of soldiers who once defended...

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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...

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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.

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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.

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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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.

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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...

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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.

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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.

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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,...

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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...

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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.

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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.

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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,...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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.

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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.

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