maeve collier author at My Family Travels
Article
West Virginia Restaurants So Popular They Book Out Weeks Ahead

There is a special kind of anxiety that comes with calling a restaurant and hearing the words, "Our next available reservation is in three weeks." It stings.

Read More    9 min read

Article
The Seneca People Smoked Meat In This West Virginia Cave Long Before It Opened To The Public In 1940

Imagine a cave that has witnessed centuries of quiet history. Long before tourists wandered through with flashlights and cameras,...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Locals Call This West Virginia Brunch Spot The Best In The City Time And Time Again

Is it possible for a brunch spot to feel like a warm hug with a side of crispy bacon? This place has locals returning again and again for good reason.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This West Virginia Track Was Called A Lost Racetrack, But Now It’s Back And Better Than Ever

A legendary speedway that sat silent for years, but the engines are finally roaring again. This historic track originally...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This West Virginia House Was Built On A Burial Mound And Is Said To Be Haunted

They say a house is just bricks and mortar until the bricks start talking. This one was built directly on an ancient burial...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This West Virginia Forest Is So Quiet And Remote That Even Locals Do Not Know Where It Is

Try asking a West Virginia local for directions to this forest, and you might just get a blank stare. Even the superintendent...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Paranormal Investigators Call This West Virginia Mansion One Of The Most Haunted Places In The State

Alright, let us talk about a bed and breakfast where "checking in" might mean a ghost checking you out. Perched in a tiny...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This West Virginia Steakhouse Is Widely Considered One Of The State’s Best Fine Dining Experiences

A piano player, a historic hotel, and a steak that melts like butter. What more could you possibly ask for from a night out? The...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Sprawling Flea Market In West Virginia Where You Can Find Unique Treasures Around Every Corner

There is a certain thrill that comes with not knowing what you are going to find, and this sprawling treasure hunt delivers that rush in spades.

Read More    7 min read

Article
You Can Find Award-Winning Burritos At This Top-Rated Mexican Spot In West Virginia

Some burritos are just wrapped-up leftovers. Others are packed with so much flavor and creativity they practically earn trophies.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This West Virginia Lake Hides An Underwater Ghost Town Beneath Its Clear Blue Water

Imagine paddling across crystal clear water, gazing down at the submerged remnants of a forgotten community. It sounds like...

Read More    7 min read

Article
12 West Virginia Farms Where You Can Pick Your Own Fruit And Veggies This Summer

Get your baskets ready, because summer in West Virginia is calling your name. Nothing beats the taste of a strawberry still...

Read More    10 min read

Article
13 West Virginia Restaurants Offering July Fourth Dinner Across The Mountain State

Fireworks, flag-waving, and mountain views. What could be better? This curated list of West Virginia restaurants combines all...

Read More    9 min read

Article
This West Virginia County Was The Nation’s Leading Coal Producer In 1960

Can you imagine being the absolute king of coal production? That was this county back in 1960, sitting proudly at the top...

Read More    7 min read

Article
You Can Find Some Of West Virginia’s Best Fresh-Sliced Sandwiches At This Tiny Deli Market

Let us be honest. A great sandwich can turn a mediocre day into a spectacular one. This little market understands that truth...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This West Virginia Quilt Shop Hides A Whole World Of Fabric, Thread, And Crafting Treasures

Step through the door, and suddenly the outside world just melts away. A hush falls, replaced by the soft rustle of cotton and the gentle hum of sewing machines.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Best Fish Sandwiches Have Been Served At This Historic West Virginia Market For Over A Century

There is a holy war over who makes the best fish sandwich in West Virginia, and this place has been winning it for a hundred years.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This West Virginia Antique Store Is A Treasure Trove For Vintage Lovers

Some places call themselves antique stores. This one is more like a joyful maze of forgotten treasures. Spread across two floors...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This West Virginia Monument Turns Silence Into The Loudest Tribute Of All

Some monuments shout, but this one chooses to speak in whispers and reflections. It is a two-story oval structure composed...

Read More    7 min read

Article
11 Birdwatching Destinations In West Virginia For Year-Round Sightings Of 170+ Breeding Species

Binoculars optional, but you are going to want them anyway. West Virginia is home to over 170 breeding bird species, which is basically a birder's dream come true.

Read More    9 min read

Article
This Classic West Virginia Drive-In Has Been Serving Legendary Fried Chicken Since 1945

You know a place is legendary when it has been doing the same thing since 1945 and nobody is complaining. This classic drive-in...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This West Virginia Wilderness Feels Like The Canadian Arctic But Still Hides WWII Shells In Its Bogs

Standing on this high-altitude plateau feels like a glitch in the matrix. You are in West Virginia, but the landscape screams...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This West Virginia Country Store Makes Every Day Feel Like Christmas With Its Year-Round Holiday Room

Some people wait all year for December. Others just drive to this one room in West Virginia. A whole corner of a country store...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Adena People Built This 62-Foot West Virginia Mound 2,000 Years Ago With Nothing But Bare Hands

Sixty two feet high. Two thousand years old. Zero heavy machinery. This massive earthen cone rises from the flat valley floor...

Read More    6 min read

Article
10 West Virginia Campgrounds Where You Can Pitch Your Tent Right Beside The Water

There is something special about falling asleep to the sound of moving water. Not a distant river you have to hike toward. Right...

Read More    9 min read

Article
The Most Photographed West Virginia Waterfalls Have Easy Access And Stunning Views

Some waterfalls make you work for it. Hiking for hours. Sweating through your shirt. Questioning your life choices.

Read More    6 min read

Article
11 Hidden Seafood Gems Across West Virginia You’ll Be Glad You Found

Eleven places where the best seafood hides far from any ocean. Yes, you read that correctly. West Virginia does not touch the...

Read More    9 min read

Article
This West Virginia Farm Turns Summer Days Into Magical Sunflower Adventures

You turn a corner and bam. Fifteen acres of sunshine standing at attention. This farm plants so many sunflowers that bees throw...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Abandoned West Virginia Hotel Is Too Dangerous To Keep And Too Expensive To Tear Down So It Just Sits And Rots

Some buildings have a story that refuses to end, even when the owners give up. This one sits on a hill in West Virginia, crumbling...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This West Virginia Church Restaurant Serves Home Cooking Worth The Winding Roads

The GPS says you have arrived, but all you see are winding roads and endless West Virginia woods. Then a charming white church...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    9 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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....

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    9 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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.

Read More    6 min read

Article
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...

Read More    8 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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?

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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.

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    6 min read

Article
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.

Read More    8 min read

Article
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,...

Read More    7 min read

Article
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...

Read More    7 min read

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