marissa lockwood author at My Family Travels
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This Oregon Restaurant Serves Latin American Comfort Food Right by the Water

There is something magical about eating good food with water lapping just a few feet away, and this place delivers on both fronts. The menu draws from Latin American traditions,...

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This Frontier Fortress In Oregon Instantly Transports You Back In Time

Step through the gates and suddenly the hum of highway traffic fades into the distance like a forgotten memory. The creak of weathered wooden floors beneath your feet tells stories...

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This 1,137-Acre Minnesota Garden Preserve Blends Stunning Scenery, Trails and Sculptures

Over one thousand acres of gardens and woodlands await you at this Minnesota preserve. The grounds feature stunning scenery, winding trails, and impressive sculptures throughout...

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10 Minnesota Rooftop Restaurants With Amazing Skyline Views

An elevator ride up, a door opening to the sky, and the whole city unfolding beneath you like a living map. That is the feeling these Minnesota rooftop restaurants deliver, where...

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This Minnesota Town Is Quietly Becoming the Data Center Capital of the World

A quiet town with farm fields and a small town feel is slowly transforming into an unlikely global powerhouse. This Minnesota community has landed a massive project from one of...

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A Minnesota Country Buffet With Endless Plates Of Some Of The Best Southern Cooking

A small building with a warm glow spilling out of the windows, and the smell of fried chicken and smoked meat drifting onto the sidewalk. That is the first sign that you have found...

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This Easy 1.7-Mile Oregon Trail Ends at a Viewing Platform Above the Rapids

A short walk in Oregon leads to a breathtaking viewpoint above roaring whitewater rapids. This easy trail is perfect for families and casual hikers of all ages.

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11 No-Frills Oregon Bakeries That Locals Swear Serve the Best Donuts in the State

A line of people stretching out the door before the sun even thinks about rising. That is the first sign that this Oregon bakery has something special behind the counter.

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This Oregon Grocery Store Keeps Prices Low and the Selection Full of Surprises

A walk through the aisles here never feels quite like a regular grocery run. Bags of snack foods in unusual flavors, dairy alternatives that actually taste good, and desserts from...

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You Can Experience Christmas Magic All Year at This Oregon Destination (Even When It’s Not December)

Twinkling lights, the scent of pine, and carols playing softly in the background, even in the middle of July. That is the scene at this Oregon destination, where Christmas magic...

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The Oregon Beach Town With So Few Residents You Will Feel Like You Discovered A Secret

A tiny beach town with no traffic lights, no fast food chains, and so few residents that you will wonder how it stayed hidden for so long. This Oregon gem sits along the coast,...

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This 9,000+ Acre Minnesota State Park Features Lakes, 25 Miles of Trails and Free Entry

Nine thousand acres of lakes, forests, and rolling hills, all with free entry. That is not a typo. This Minnesota state park...

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The Best Enchiladas In Minnesota Are Hiding Inside This Under-The-Radar Restaurant

Three enchiladas smothered in a sauce that took two days to make, served on a plate that costs less than a movie ticket. That is what awaits at this under the radar Minnesota restaurant...

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9 Overrated Minnesota Summer Towns That Have Become Way Too Overpacked And Crowded In 2026

Some summer towns in Minnesota used to feel like hidden gems, but recent years have changed that picture completely. You used to find a parking spot easily and grab a lakeside...

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These 11 Budget-Friendly Buffet Restaurants In Minnesota Are Easy On The Wallet

Your wallet deserves a break sometimes, especially when hunger hits hard. Buffet restaurants in Minnesota have figured out how to feed people well without charging a small fortune.

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This Spring-Fed Oregon Lake Has Water So Clear You Can See The Bottom And Locals Want To Keep It That Way

You can see the bottom clearly even when you are standing on a dock fifty feet above it. That is how clean this spring fed Oregon lake stays, and locals are fiercely protective...

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This Immersive Oregon Attraction Is Perfect for Friends, Families and Corporate Teams

Sixty minutes on the clock, a locked door, and a room full of clues waiting to be discovered. That is the simple but brilliant setup at this immersive Oregon attraction, where...

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This 29.6-Square-Mile Oregon Wetland Is a Critical Wildlife Rest Stop for Birds Along the Pacific Flyway

Birds see this place from the air long before humans ever notice it on a map. Almost thirty square miles of shallow water and marsh grasses spread across a high desert valley in...

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The Mennonite Market In Oregon That Draws Crowds For Its Homemade Sandwiches

You ever bite into a sandwich so good that you forget to chew? That is what happens here. People drive for hours, skip lunch...

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The Oregon Southern-Style Buffet That Locals Call The Greatest All-You-Can-Eat Destination In The State

Southern style cooking and all you can eat buffets usually mean one thing. A sad line of dried out trays under heat lamps. This...

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Locals Say This Once Peaceful Minnesota Lake Town Is Now Ruined By Tourists

There is something sad about watching a beautiful place lose its soul to popularity. This Minnesota lake town used to be the definition of peaceful.

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A Minnesota General Store Frozen in Time Since the Day Its Owner Walked Away in 1910 and Never Returned

Imagine walking into a general store and finding everything exactly as it was left more than one hundred years ago. The owner walked away one day in 1910 and never came back.

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These 10 Secret Swimming Holes In Minnesota Are Summer Perfection

Summer in Minnesota means one thing. Finding water cold enough to wake you up but clear enough to see your toes on the bottom. These...

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10 Minnesota Towns Losing Residents Due To Record-High Property Taxes

Moving away from a place you love is never an easy decision. But when property taxes keep climbing year after year, some families feel like they have no choice left.

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Oregon Has a Ghost Town That Once Claimed To be the Geographic Center of All 50 United States

A ghost town that once claimed to be the geographic center of all fifty states sounds like a joke. But this Oregon place actually made that bold statement back when it was still...

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11 Oregon Swimming Spots With Crystal-Clear Water Perfect For Summer 2026

Crystal clear water and summer go together like lemonade and a hot afternoon. You want to see every rock on the bottom before you jump in.

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10 Authentic Oregon Restaurants That Aren’t Tourist Traps And Locals Actually Love

Tourist traps have a certain look. Overpriced menus, mediocre food, and a line of people holding cameras instead of forks. Oregon...

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Locals Say This Once Peaceful Oregon Lake Town Is Now Ruined By Tourists

There is something heartbreaking about watching a beautiful place lose its soul to success. This Oregon lake town used to be the definition of peaceful.

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9 Oregon Factory Tours That Make for a Surprisingly Fun Day Trip

Let me tell you something strange because I used to think factory tours sounded like a punishment designed specifically for boring adults. You know the classic image with hard...

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$30 At These Minnesota Markets Gets You A Full Cart And A Confused Spouse

You hand over a twenty and a ten and wait for the total. Surely you misheard. But the cashier repeats the number, and your spouse...

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One Boardwalk In Minnesota Feels More Like A Fairy Tale Than A Family Walk

You step onto the path and the world changes. The trees lean toward each other overhead, their branches weaving together into a tunnel of green and gold.

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The Most Expensive Restaurants in Minnesota and Which Locals Actually Recommend

Fancy restaurants with big price tags can be hit or miss but the locals know which ones actually deliver. I asked around and made a list of the splurge worthy spots that Minnesota...

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10 Minnesota Spring Bucket List Experiences You Can’t Find Anywhere Else

Spring in Minnesota arrives with a burst of energy that feels like the whole state waking up from a long cozy nap. I made a list of experiences that you simply cannot find anywhere...

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Minnesota’s Soaking Pool With A Swim-Up Bar And Nothing But Pure Relaxation

Warm water wraps around tired shoulders while a gentle current carries you toward a floating bar in the middle of the pool. I ordered a drink without climbing out and the bartender...

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This Legendary Fried Chicken Restaurant Draws Hungry Customers From All Over Minnesota

The smell of fried chicken drifts out the door and suddenly your dinner plans have changed completely. I walked into a small deli where the counter was already filling up with...

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The Hidden Minnesota Path Where Kids Still Believe In Magic After One Visit

Have you ever ducked under a low branch to find a tiny wooden door built just for small hands? That quiet discovery awaits along a hidden trail north of St. Paul, where kids still...

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The James Beard Award Winning Oregon Restaurant Hidden Inside Another Restaurant With Only 33 Seats

A door tucked inside another restaurant leads to a tiny dining room with only thirty three seats. I almost walked past the entrance because it looks like a broom closet or an emergency...

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9 Oregon Spring Adventures You Need To Book Before Everyone Else Finds Out

Spring in Oregon arrives with waterfalls swelling and wildflowers blooming and trails waking up from their winter rest. I started making a list of places to visit before the summer...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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...

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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