maeve ashford author at My Family Travels
Article
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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This Old-Fashioned Ohio Restaurant Is The Last Surviving Location Of A Beloved Chain, Serving Nostalgic Fish And Chips

Remember when a chain restaurant could become so beloved that an entire city declared a holiday in its honor? That is the kind of nostalgia waiting at this old fashioned Ohio spot,...

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

What if you could spend the night in a fire lookout perched above the treetops, watching the sun set over Nevada's Great Basin from a cozy cabin built in 1934? This California...

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This Wisconsin Museum Is Famous For The Most Unforgettable Condiment Collection You’ll Ever Find

Have you ever wandered into a grocery store at 2 a.m. after a crushing sports loss and heard a voice from the condiment aisle telling you to start a collection? That actually happened...

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The South Carolina Flea Market Where One Man’s Trash Turns Into Pure Gold

Have you ever spent a rainy Saturday digging through treasure and felt absolutely no need to rush? That is the unexpected luxury of this massive South Carolina flea market, where...

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This Florida Optical Illusion Spot Lets Your Car Roll Uphill Against Gravity

Have you ever put your car in neutral only to feel it roll backward uphill? It sounds impossible, but there is a spot in Florida where exactly that happens.

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These Cost-Friendly Towns In Colorado Are Worth Exploring

Dreaming of Colorado but worried your wallet can't handle the altitude? You are not alone. We all know places like Aspen and...

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This Wisconsin Restaurant Has A Chinese Buffet That’s Absolutely Worth The Drive

Would you drive to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for a Chinese buffet? After hearing about this place, I think you just might. Tucked into...

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The Best 3-Michelin-Star Meal In The Midwest Is Hiding In This Illinois Landmark

Have you ever eaten a dessert straight off the table while talking in a squeaky voice from a helium balloon? No? Then you haven't...

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This Utah Basin Is Now A Vast White Expanse Where A Prehistoric Lake Once Spread Out

A landscape like this does not look real at first, which is part of what makes it so hard to shake once you see it. This Utah basin now stretches out as a vast white expanse, the...

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This Wisconsin Motorcycle Museum Is Packed With Big Rider Energy

Steel, chrome, and pure attitude hit fast in a place like this, and that is before you even start looking closely. This Wisconsin motorcycle museum runs on big rider energy, but...

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This Washington Seafood Buffet Features A Tremendous Spread And Live-Station Favorites Worth Arriving Hungry For

Some buffets make you choose between the food and the view, but this Washington spot clearly decided that was a boring limitation. The setting alone gives it an edge, with sweeping...

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This Nevada Seafood Buffet Features A Tremendous Spread And Live-Station Favorites Worth Showing Up Hungry For

Las Vegas buffets can blur together fast, but every now and then one still knows how to make showing up hungry feel like a very smart decision. This Nevada spot earns that kind...

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This California Seafood Buffet Features A Tremendous Spread And Seafood Nights People Show Up Hungry For

Ever walk into a buffet already knowing your first plate is going to be way too ambitious? This California seafood spot has that exact effect, because the spread is huge, the seafood...

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11 Haunted Hotel Stays Across Louisiana Worth Booking For A Genuinely Eerie Night

Checking into a hotel is supposed to help you relax, so why do some of them make you want to keep one eye open all night? Louisiana...

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11 Haunted Hotel Stays Across Arkansas Worth Booking For A Seriously Eerie Night

Booking a hotel is supposed to help you sleep, so why are some of the most memorable stays the ones that make you a little nervous to turn off the light?

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