marissa lockwood author at My Family Travels
Article
This Oregon Golf Course Was Built On an Old Gravel Mine And Now It Has The State’s Largest Lazy River Pool

An old gravel mine turned into a golf course with a lazy river winding through the middle of it all. I stood at the edge and watched colorful tubes float past while golfers teed...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Oregon Hole-In-The-Wall Spot Serves A Wagyu Burger That Will Haunt Your Dreams

A tiny unassuming building with a simple sign and a line of locals who know exactly what is waiting inside. I squeezed into a booth and the smell of seared beef and caramelized...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Secret Japanese Garden in Minnesota Is a Peaceful Two-Acre Escape You’d Never Expect to Find

A peaceful two acre garden tucked behind a college campus where koi fish glide through calm water like living jewels. I walked through the gate and the sounds of traffic faded...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Locals Have Been Eating at This Minnesota Diner for Fifty Years And Still Won’t Tell Tourists The Name

A tiny narrow diner with a counter that seats barely anyone and a line that forms before sunrise every morning. I squeezed into a stool and felt like I had stumbled into a secret...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Minnesota Toy Store That USA Today Named One Of The 10 Best In The Entire World

A toy store in a tiny Minnesota town earned a spot on a worldwide best list and the place absolutely deserves the attention. I walked through the doors and felt like a kid again...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The $10 Minnesota Breakfast That Comes With So Much Food You’ll Be Full Until Dinner

A ten dollar bill still buys a breakfast that can power you through an entire day of adventures. I sat down at a cozy booth and the waitress poured coffee before I even asked for...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Oregon Thrift Store Lets You Shop for Treasures and Adopt a Rescued Cat All in One Place

A thrift store where you can browse vintage treasures and meet your future best friend all in one visit. I walked past racks of clothes and heard a soft meow from a cozy cat condo...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Most People Skip This Lesser-Known Oregon Town And They Have No Idea What They’re Missing

A tiny town that most drivers zoom past on the highway without realizing the charm waiting just off the exit. I turned onto the main street and found a handful of cozy spots that...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Oregon Swimming Hole So Secret Even Locals Argue About Where It Actually Is

A swimming hole so well hidden that even people who live nearby cannot agree on where to find it. I followed vague directions and guessed at a few turns before finally spotting...

Read More    7 min read

Article
10 Italian Bakeries In Oregon That Feel Just Like Nonna’s Kitchen

The smell of an Italian bakery hits you like a warm hug from a beloved grandmother who has been baking all morning. I walked into a little shop and the display case held rows of...

Read More    9 min read

Article
This Tiny Oregon Town Has A Pinball Arcade Vintage Stores And One Of The Best Fish And Chips Carts On The Coast

The town is small enough that you might sneeze and miss the main intersection entirely. But that would be a shame because a whole afternoon of fun hides behind those quiet storefronts.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The 225-Acre Minnesota Farm Where Bison, Beef, And Lamb Roam Native Prairie

Bison wander past the fence like they own the place and honestly they kind of do. The farm spreads across two hundred twenty five acres of open native prairie land.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Minnesota Bakery Refuses To Sell Day-Old Donuts, They Give Them Away For Free After 8 PM

Most bakeries will sell you yesterday's donuts for half price without any shame. This one hands them out for free after eight o'clock at night.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Minnesota Village Hasn’t Changed Since 1885 And You Can Walk Through It For Free

Stepping off the gravel path feels like time travel immediately. No cars or phone signals out here at all. My eyes went straight...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Nature Inspired Destination Playground At This Minnesota Park Is A Must Visit

I heard kids screaming with joy before I even parked my car properly. The playground looks like something a giant child designed after eating too much sugar.

Read More    7 min read

Article
Pack A Picnic And Hit This Oregon Scenic Byway That Just Reopened For The Season

The road took its time melting out but now it is finally welcoming drivers again. A scenic byway with more lakes than anyone can count on their fingers easily.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Largest Independent Comic Book Store In Oregon Spans Two Floors Of Multi Room Paradise

I walked in for one comic book and left two hours later completely overwhelmed. The store spans two whole floors with rooms that twist into more surprise rooms.

Read More    7 min read

Article
Oregon’s Most Underrated Hot Springs Has Warm Pools, A Riverside Setting, And Zero Entrance Fee

Zero dollars to soak in hot water next to a wild river. I kept waiting for someone to show up and ask for money honestly. The...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Oregon’s Oldest Hot Springs Were Used By Native Americans For 10,000 Years

Ten thousand years of people soaking in these same hot waters. Let that number sink in for a moment honestly. Native Americans...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Caramel Rolls At This Minnesota Bakery Are So Legendary You Will Want To Move In Next Door

You have had cinnamon rolls before. You have been fine. Life moved forward. Then this bakery enters the chat. The caramel roll...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Biggest Mall In America Is Located In Minnesota And It Even Has A Rollercoaster Inside

You think you know malls. You do not know this one. This mall ate other malls for breakfast and asked for seconds. It is so...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Walleye Sandwich At This Small Town Minnesota Eatery Starts Arguments All Over The State

Ordering this sandwich in a crowded room might start a fight. That is how passionate people get about it. Minnesota has a small...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This 3-Mile Trail Might Be One of the Most Unique Hiking Experiences in Minnesota

You have done the lake hikes and the river walks. This one is completely different. The trail takes you through a forest that...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Historic Stone Church in Oregon Dates Back to 1846

A historic stone church in Oregon quietly stands as if it’s been waiting for visitors since 1846. I walk up and instantly feel like I’ve stepped into a different century, where...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Secret Waterfall In Minnesota That Most People Drive Past

Most people zoom right past this waterfall without ever knowing it exists. The parking lot is small and easy to miss completely. A...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Oregon Narnia Trail That Turns A Short Walk Into A Storybook Adventure Under Ancient Redwoods

You do not need a wardrobe to find Narnia. You just need a short trail and a little bit of imagination. The walk is barely a...

Read More    7 min read

Article
An All You Can Eat Sushi Spot In The Middle Of Oregon’s High Desert Should Not Be This Good

Sushi belongs near the ocean. Everyone knows that. So what is fresh fish doing in the middle of a high desert? The math does not add up.

Read More    6 min read

Article
Spring Is The Only Season You Can Book This Oregon Lodge Without Breaking The Bank

Spring is all about rain, mud, and the lingering guilt of unfulfilled New Year’s resolutions. But here’s the good news: that same gloomy weather scares off the peak season...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Walking Through This Oregon Barn Is Like Stealing A Peek Into 10,000 Square Feet Of History

You step inside and the smell of old wood and forgotten stories hits you immediately. Oregon has a barn that feels less like a building and more like a time machine with a leaky...

Read More    7 min read

Article
For Two Weeks Each Spring, Minnesota’s North Shore Waterfalls Become Absolutely Unstoppable

Winter finally loosens its grip and the real show begins. Minnesota's north shore transforms for about two weeks each spring into something primal and loud.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The All-Day Breakfast at This Cozy Minnesota Cafe Will Spoil You for Every Other Diner

Breakfast lovers, prepare to have your standards ruined forever. The good news is that breakfast lasts all day here. The better...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This “Museum of Natural History That Never Was” Is Hiding in Someone’s Garage in Oregon

It sits inside someone's garage, which is your first clue that this is not a typical museum. Oregon has a strange little collection that bills itself as a natural history museum...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Quirky Oregon Tea Spot Feels Like a British Escape Right by the River

A bright red telephone booth stands next to a river, and somehow it makes perfect sense. Oregon has a way of making the unexpected feel completely natural.

Read More    7 min read

Article
10 Oregon Day Trips That Feel Completely Different From Typical Tourist Stops

Tourist brochures always send you to the same crowded spots. You know the ones. Long lines, overpriced parking, and photo bombers...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Oregon Coast Museum Houses the Original Cannon That Inspired the Town’s Name

A whole town named after a single cannon. That sounds made up, but it is completely true. This small museum holds the very cannon...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Oregon Park Where Beavers Work And Owls Watch

You do not need to go far to feel like you left the city behind. This park sits right in the middle of everything, yet it feels completely wild.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Historic Oregon Hot Springs Resort Is Back Open With 30 Pools and a Desert Oasis Vibe

A historic Oregon hot springs resort reopens like a desert mirage you can actually walk into. Thirty pools are scattered across the property, each with its own temperature, mood,...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Oregon’s Underground History and Its Forgotten Chinatown Tunnels

Beneath the streets of Oregon, a hidden world quietly waits - one filled with stories most people walk right over without ever realizing it. Oregon’s underground history takes...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Besides Towering Ice Cream Cones, This Iconic Oregon Drive-In Serves Some Of The Best Burgers Around

Let’s be honest, a towering ice cream cone is basically a food groups cheat code. You hold it up, admire the swirl, and immediately regret not ordering two.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Unique Oregon Shop Blends Vintage, Thrift, and New Finds Into One Unforgettable Stop

A quirky Oregon shop throws the rulebook out the window and mixes vintage, thrift, and brand-new finds all under one roof. It’s part treasure hunt, part time travel, and part...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Secret Buddhist Forest Where Giant Golden Statues Rise Above The Pines

A quiet forest suddenly levels up the moment giant golden statues start rising between the trees. Yes, actual towering figures, glowing through the pines like they don’t belong...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Oregon Night Market Is A Sensory Explosion Of Southeast Asian Street Food

Lights, music, sizzling grills - this Oregon night market hits you all at once and doesn’t let up. It’s a full-on sensory rush, packed with Southeast Asian street food that...

Read More    6 min read

Article
11 Highest Rated Farm-to-Table Restaurants In All Of Oregon

Fresh doesn’t get fresher than this - Oregon’s top farm-to-table restaurants turn local ingredients into full-blown flavor experiences. Menus change, seasons shift, and somehow...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Massive Oregon Bookstore Is the Largest in the World

A bookstore so massive it feels less like a shop and more like its own small literary city has quietly taken over a corner of Oregon. You walk in expecting shelves… and suddenly...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Oregon Spot Serves 100% Gluten-Free Fair Food Made Fresh From Scratch

A colorful Oregon spot takes fair food and flips the script completely, serving everything 100% gluten-free without losing any of the fun. I walked in expecting compromises, but...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Iconic Oregon Drive-In Serves Some of the Tallest Ice Cream Cones Around

This iconic Oregon drive-in doesn’t just serve ice cream - it builds gravity-defying towers of it. One look at these cones and you start wondering if dessert has officially lost...

Read More    6 min read

Article
One of Oregon’s Largest Parks Is Perfect for Exploring Day or Night

A massive stretch of Oregon wilderness opens up in front of you, and suddenly “just a quick visit” doesn’t feel realistic anymore. This park isn’t just big - it shifts...

Read More    7 min read

Article
One of America’s Most Peaceful Train Rides Can Be Found Hidden in Oregon

A quiet stretch of Oregon reveals something most people wouldn’t expect - a train ride that feels less like transportation and more like a moving meditation. The rhythm of the...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Strange Oregon Phenomenon Is Seriously Mind-Blowing

Something strange is happening in Oregon, and the more you hear about it, the harder it is to believe it’s real. People...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This 615-Acre Oregon Wildlife Park Lets You Explore Without Ever Leaving Your Car

615 acres of wild Oregon stretch out in front of you, and the best part is - you never even have to leave your car. It feels a little surreal at first, like nature decided to turn...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Best Cheeseburger In Oregon Is Served Inside This Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurant

I’ll be honest - I didn’t expect to find the best cheeseburger in Oregon tucked away inside what looks like a total hole-in-the-wall. But the moment I took that first bite,...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Wonderfully Weird Tiki Bar May Be Oregon’s Most Underrated Hidden Gem

A tiki bar like this doesn’t try to be subtle. I walk in and it instantly feels like Oregon just took a hard turn into something wonderfully weird.

Read More    6 min read

Article
9 Scenic Bike Paths in Oregon That Are Perfect for Your Next Ride

Oregon doesn’t really do boring bike rides. I hit the first scenic path and immediately realize every turn comes with a view worth slowing down for.

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Clifftop Oregon Restaurant Combines Historic Elegance With Panoramic River and Waterfall Views

This clifftop Oregon restaurant doesn’t just serve dinner - it serves a full-blown view. I step inside and immediately feel like the river and waterfall are part of the dining...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Only Oregon Farm Where You Can Shop The Nation’s Top-Rated Market Every Saturday

This Oregon farm doesn’t feel like a typical stop - it feels like a weekly event everyone already knows about. I arrive on Saturday and immediately understand why people plan...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Iconic Oregon Diner Features a Full-Size Cadillac and a Nostalgic Retro Atmosphere

An iconic Oregon diner like this doesn’t just serve food - it serves a full blast of nostalgia. I walk in and the first thing I see is a full-size Cadillac sitting inside like...

Read More    6 min read

Article
8 Horror-Themed Bars in Oregon That Feel Like a Year-Round Nightmare Experience

Oregon has bars that don’t just serve drinks - they set a whole mood. I step into the first horror-themed spot and instantly feel like I’ve walked onto a movie set that never...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Central Oregon Hot Air Balloon Experience Offers Sunrise Flights Above Stunning Mountain and Desert Views

Central Oregon takes adventure to a whole new altitude with sunrise hot air balloon flights over mountains and desert landscapes. I lift off just as the world is still waking up.

Read More    7 min read

Article
9 Oregon Hidden Gems Serving “Weekend-Only” Country Breakfasts Worth the Drive

Oregon has a delicious little secret: some of the best country breakfasts only show up on weekends. I hit the road early and quickly realized these hidden gems don’t play around...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Quiet Oregon Museum Preserves the Epic, Millennia-Spanning Story of America’s First People

This Oregon museum is like a time capsule on turbo mode - and yes, it’s mesmerizing. I stepped inside and suddenly I was face-to-face with artifacts that survived thousands of...

Read More    7 min read