marissa lockwood author at My Family Travels
Article
This Hidden Oregon Italian Buffet Serves Endless Pasta And Costs Surprisingly Little

The menu at this hidden Oregon spot works on a simple, brilliant promise: build your own pasta bowl with unlimited toppings all for one set price. You choose your pasta, pick a...

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The Minnesota Soul Food Spot Where The Oxtails Are Legendary And Cash Is King

The smell hits you before the door even fully opens and your stomach immediately knows what is coming. Minnesota does soul food right at this cozy spot where everybody seems to...

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The Hidden Italian Market In Minnesota Where The Pastries And Deli Entrees Are Worth The Drive

The smell of fresh bread and cured meats greets you at the door, and the display case is a work of art. This hidden Italian market in Minnesota is packed with pastries and deli...

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11 Small Town Oregon Buffets That Are Surprisingly Affordable

The steam tables are humming, the plates are piled high, and the prices are low. That is the simple beauty of buffets in Oregon's small towns.

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Oregon Parents Finally Found a Place Where Kids Play and They Relax

Parents, you know the drill. You take your kids somewhere fun and you spend the whole time chasing them. Your coffee goes cold. Your back hurts from bending over.

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11 Oregon Seafood Restaurants Locals Secretly Hope You Never Discover

The locals keep their lips sealed about these spots, and you can see why. They are the kinds of places where the fish was swimming that morning and the owner still greets every...

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This Classic Minnesota Train Car Diner Has Been Serving Comfort Food 24/7 Since 1939

The train car has not moved an inch since 1939, but it has been serving comfort food around the clock for over eight decades. This classic Minnesota diner is a true piece of Americana,...

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This Minnesota Store Has Been Serving Premium Homemade Ice Cream For Over 50 Years

The line stretches down the block on hot summer days, and nobody seems to mind the wait. This Minnesota store has been serving premium homemade ice cream for over fifty years.

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Stay at This Oregon Cabin Lodge for a Cozy Retreat With Stunning Views and Outdoor Pools

The Deschutes River winds through the property, and the Cascade Mountains rise in the distance. This Oregon cabin lodge offers a cozy retreat with stunning views and outdoor pools...

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12 Beautiful Towns In Oregon Where Life Is Cheaper And Way Less Stressful In 2026

In 2026, a different Oregon is calling. One where affordability and lower stress are the main attractions. A recent report...

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A New Oregon Trail Is Transforming an Old Railroad Route Into an 80-Mile Path

Gravel crunches underfoot where locomotives once thundered. An old railroad route, scarred by a devastating storm, is being reborn as an eighty-mile multi-use path. It will slice...

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This Oregon Restaurant Offers a Senior Menu With Discounted Prices for Guests Aged 55 and Older

A menu that makes sense for the wallet and the appetite. This Oregon diner offers a senior menu with discounted prices for guests aged 55 and older, proving that good food should...

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Oregon’s Secret Seafood Spot Is All About Incredible Lobster

You might not expect to find incredible seafood so far from the coast. But tucked away in a valley is a bright building that has become a pilgrimage site for lobster lovers across...

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A Tranquil Minnesota Lake Resort Surrounded by Wildlife Management Areas

The loons call across the glassy water, and the only sounds are rustling leaves and the gentle lap of waves. This Minnesota resort has been a family tradition for generations,...

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Tourists Ruined This Once-Perfect Minnesota Swimming Hole and Locals Still Aren’t Over It

The water is so clear it looks like a swimming pool, and the granite cliffs make you feel like you have discovered a secret paradise. This Minnesota spot was once a hidden treasure,...

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This Oregon Country Resort Has Been Named the State’s #1 Hotel for Four Years Running

A resort in Oregon has quietly claimed the top spot for four years running. Voted the state's number one hotel, this place sets the standard for Pacific Northwest luxury.

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11 Legendary Oregon Steakhouses Every Local Foodie Needs To Visit At Least Once

The best steakhouses in Oregon don't chase food trends. They have been perfecting the art of beef for decades. Some have been...

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We Tried an Oregon Indian Taco That Could Be the Best Bite of Your Life

We tried an Indian taco from Oregon's only Indigenous restaurant, and honestly, it might just be the best bite of your life. The pillowy house-made fry bread is topped with savory...

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This Tiny Oregon Town Is Becoming One Of The State’s Best Adult Weekend Escapes

The high desert air hits different here. Crisp, clean, and completely free of city noise. This tiny Oregon town has quietly become the ultimate playground for adults who need a...

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This Oregon Waterfront Restaurant Is a Favorite Stop for Road Trippers and Locals Alike

The salty breeze rolls in from the water, and the deck is always filled with happy faces. This spot has become a ritual for anyone passing through, a place where the food matches...

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This Minnesota Lakeside Resort Is a 3-Star All-Season Getaway

The view of Lake Darling greets you the moment you step outside, and suddenly the world feels a little more peaceful. This three-star resort offers a four-season escape with enough...

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This Hidden Minnesota Buffet Only Happens Once a Week, and Locals Plan Their Week Around It

You circle the date on the calendar, set a reminder, and start planning your appetite days in advance. This hidden Minnesota buffet only happens once a week, and locals treat it...

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11 Oregon Restaurants So Unusual They Belong On Your Bucket List

Dinner in Oregon can be a full-blown adventure, not just a quick meal. Forget the usual routine, because the state is packed with places where the experience is as memorable as...

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This 4-Acre Oregon Farm Is Famous for Its Friendly Herd of Mediterranean Miniature Donkeys

Some farms have cows, others have sheep, but this one has a herd of miniature Mediterranean donkeys that will steal your heart faster than you can say "carrot." The friendly four-acre...

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This Oregon Museum and Curiosity Shop Is an Immersive Dive Into All Things Macabre

The door creaks open and suddenly you are standing in a Victorian fever dream filled with bones, bottles, and beautifully preserved oddities. This place is not your average museum,...

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These 11 Haunted Houses in Oregon Are Real Paranormal Hotspots

Fog rolls in thick from the Pacific, and old buildings creak with stories that don't quite end when the lights go out. Oregon has a way of holding onto its past, and some say that...

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Cannon Beach Gets All the Attention, But This Oregon Town Might Be Even Better

The famous neighbor gets all the postcards and the crowds, but this quieter spot offers something the tourists miss. It sits just south of the chaos, with wide open beaches and...

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This Minnesota Fine Dining Spot Has Been Earning National Recognition for Over 25 Years

Some restaurants simply feed you, but this one has been quietly setting the bar for over a quarter of a century. Tucked inside a historic building, the space feels warm and unpretentious,...

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This Minnesota Store Is a Treasure Trove of Vintage Finds and Oddities

You step through the door and immediately realize this is not your average antique shop. The shelves are crowded with curiosities, taxidermy, vintage medical tools, old photographs,...

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The Mexican Buffet in Minnesota Is Where True Flavor Lovers Go All In

Endless plates, bold spices, and a dining room filled with happy chatter and clinking glasses. That is the scene at this Minnesota buffet, where flavor lovers come to indulge without...

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9 Oregon Summer Bike Tours That Offer Stunning Views and Unforgettable Rides

The best way to see Oregon in the summer might just be from the saddle of a bike, with the wind on your face and the whole state as your playground. Forget the car windows, because...

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This Oregon Spot Is for Those Nights When You Want Something a Little Secret and a Lot Special

Some places are meant to be shared, and others are meant to be kept close, whispered about only among those who know. This is one of those spots, tucked away in a quiet corner...

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This Oregon Store Is Where You Go to Find Hidden Treasures

The sign above the door is weathered and modest, giving no clue to the wonders waiting inside. This place is a sanctuary for treasure hunters, packed with relics and oddities from...

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This 6.3-Mile Oregon Trail Blends Old-Growth Spruce and Ocean Views With a Powerful Lesson in Indigenous History

The forest opens up to reveal the vast Pacific, and suddenly you understand why this land has always been sacred. This 6.3 mile trail winds through towering spruce that have stood...

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9 Unforgettable Scenic Road Trips Across Oregon

Some journeys are about the destination, but in Oregon, the road itself steals the show. The state unfolds like a living postcard, with each turn revealing something more breathtaking...

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11 Minnesota Restaurants You Absolutely Must Try in Your Lifetime

Some meals nourish you, and others become the stories you tell for years after the plates are cleared. This state is packed with dining experiences that go far beyond simple nourishment...

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This Minnesota Depot Was Built in 1895 Using the Same Plans as the One Destroyed in a Historic Fire

Old train depots usually have stories, but this one carries a particularly powerful and haunting tale. Built in 1895, it stands as a testament to survival after a catastrophic...

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An 11-Acre Minnesota Sculpture Garden With a Conservatory, Arbor, and Over 40 Works by Modern Artists

A giant blue chicken, a spoon with a cherry, and forty other mind bending sculptures spread across eleven sprawling acres. This garden is quirky, beautiful, and completely free...

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The Minnesota Town That Just Got Crowned America’s Top Remote Destination

Cell signal fades here, and your shoulders finally drop without you even noticing. Your biggest decision becomes which sparkling lake to paddle across first.

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This Oregon Restaurant Serves Refined Southern Specialties Like Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Offers Weekend Brunch

That first crack of the crust, the steam escaping, and the tender, juicy meat waiting underneath. That is what you get when a kitchen truly respects Southern tradition and takes...

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11 Overrated Oregon Beach Towns That Have Become Way Too Overpacked And Crowded In Summer

You finally find parking after circling for an eternity, only to fight for a patch of sand the size of a beach towel. The main streets are packed with bumper to bumper traffic,...

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9 Budget-Friendly Oregon Road Trip Destinations That Feel Like a Million Bucks

You do not need a fat wallet to feel like you have won the travel lottery out here. Oregon is full of stunning spots that deliver maximum beauty for minimum cash.

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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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