mason hale author at My Family Travels
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The Hidden New Mexico Village Locals Call Their Desert Sanctuary

Tucked between the Sangre de Cristo foothills and high desert light, Chimayó invites you to slow down and listen. You feel...

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9 Quirky Roadside Stops Across Texas Locals Love

Texas highways stretch across endless miles of varied terrain, connecting bustling cities with quiet towns and wide-open spaces.

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8 Hidden Dessert Bistros In Hawaii Worth Every Sweet Bite

Aloha, fellow sugar seekers! Imagine a tropical paradise where palm trees sway, waves whisper, and the real treasure is the delectable secret dessert spots tucked away from the...

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13 Pizza Spots in Washington That Locals Say Are the Best Around

Washington loves a good slice, and locals know exactly where to find it without any fuss. This guide rounds up the pizzerias...

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10 Low-Key Cupcake Cafés in Oregon Locals Prefer to Keep Under the Radar

Oregon hides its sweetest secrets in side streets, sunlit corners, and quiet neighborhoods, where cupcake cafés feel like personal discoveries.

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The South Carolina Stop That Visitors Often End Up Enjoying

Most people discover Walterboro by accident. It's a convenient pull-off along Interstate 95, the kind of place travelers expect to use for gas, food, and maybe a restroom break....

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9 Last-Minute Holiday Craft Markets in North Carolina Worth Planning a Road Trip For

If your gift list still looks a little unfinished, North Carolina delivers with festive markets that stay lively deep into December.

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8 Civil War Sites in Virginia Commonly Included in Historical Tours

Virginia was the heart of the Civil War, witnessing more than 120 major battles, more than any other state. From the war's...

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8 Oregon Art Towns That Feel Creative Without Trying Too Hard

Oregon has a way of nurturing creativity that feels organic and unpretentious. Across the state, small towns have become home...

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Image credits: © Capitola Village Mercantile/Google maps © Carmel-By-The-Sea/Google maps
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8 Coastal Towns in California Known for Scenic Walks and Local Shops

California's coastline stretches over 800 miles, offering travelers countless opportunities to explore charming seaside communities where ocean breezes meet vibrant downtown streets....

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9 New Jersey Landmarks Once Famous Now Faded or Reimagined

New Jersey keeps reinventing itself, and its landmarks tell the story in vivid layers. You can stand where roaring crowds...

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Image credits: © Donnelly/Google maps © Redfish Lake Lodge/Google maps
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9 Idaho Lakeside Towns With Scenic Winter Views

Winter transforms Idaho's lakeside communities into peaceful retreats where snow-dusted shorelines meet crystal-clear waters. The...

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8 Oklahoma BBQ Joints That Keep Regulars Coming Back

Oklahoma has quietly built a reputation for smoky, slow-cooked meats that rival any barbecue destination in the country. While...

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Image credits: © Banner Elk/Google Maps © Burnsville/Google Maps
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10 North Carolina Mountain Towns Drawing Growing Interest From Travelers

Tucked into western North Carolina, a cluster of mountain towns is drawing travelers off the usual tourist trail. These communities...

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8 Oregon Coastal Towns That Still Feel Like a True Escape

Oregon’s coastline stretches for more than 360 miles, and along it sit small towns that have resisted overdevelopment and kept their quiet character intact.

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Image credits: © Livingston Restaurant + Bar/Google Maps © Choteau/Google Maps
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8 Small Towns in Montana That Feel Peaceful Until Peak Season Arrives

Montana rewards quiet seekers with towns that feel like friendly porches, then transform when summer crowds chase big sky dreams.

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8 Forgotten Nevada Roadside Parks That Once Drew Massive Crowds

Nevada road trips used to pause at tiny parks stitched along two lane highways, and those quiet turnouts once buzzed with picnics, postcards, and families chasing desert shade....

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© Miller’s Smorgasbord © The Restaurant and Buffet at Oregon Dairy
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9 Pennsylvania Buffets Locals Can’t Stop Going Back To

If you love a good buffet, Pennsylvania delivers with timeless spots where locals keep returning for comfort, tradition, and easygoing service.

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Florida’s All-You-Can-Eat Vietnamese Buffet That Draws Huge Weekend Lines

Weekends in Florida have a new ritual, and it starts on Park Boulevard where a steady line curls toward a lively doorway. Quan...

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10 Oklahoma Towns Too Pricey for Locals After Tourism Exploded

Tourism has a way of reshaping places you thought you knew, and across Oklahoma the shift feels impossible to ignore. Small...

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Wyoming’s Lonely Mountain Mining Town That Time Completely Forgot

Wind slices through the high valley as the ruins of Kirwin sit quiet against the Absaroka crest, their weathered timbers holding the last warmth of the sun like coals fading in...

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The Honest Reason Arizona Locals Don’t Want More Tourists

Arizona looks stunning in every season, and that beauty keeps postcards and travel reels humming year round. Yet the people...

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Montana’s Deserted Mining Camp That Still Feels Alive at Night

Night settles fast in the mountains, and Garnet answers with a hush that feels watchful and kind, as though the town has learned to greet darkness the same way it greets visitors,...

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10 Bizarre Rules in Maryland You Won’t Believe Exist

Maryland loves a good curveball, and its rulebook proves it with quirks that spark equal parts wonder and laughter. As you...

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The Legendary Utah Mining Town That Vanished, But Lives On Through Its Mountain’s Open-Pit Legacy

The road narrows as the Oquirrh Mountains gather around you, and the light changes to a coppery glow that feels unmistakably Utah.

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9 Small Winter Villages in Arizona That Feel Surreal in Cold Desert Mornings

Cold dawn in the desert feels like a secret, and Arizona reveals it best in its small winter villages where breath turns to fog and sandstone glows.

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The 9 Must-Stop Buffets to Hit While Exploring Montana’s Big Sky Country

Road trips in Montana come with a special kind of hunger, the kind that hits somewhere between mountain passes and big sky horizons.

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Pennsylvania Draws Huge Crowds to Bethlehem’s Christmas City in a Must-See Holiday Experience

You can feel the season building the moment you step onto the stone streets of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where history and holiday spirit blend naturally.

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The California Coastal Enclave Locals Keep Low-Key for Its Seaside Art Tradition

You arrive on a quiet bend of the California coast and feel the pace change before you even reach the village lanes. Light...

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The Frostiest Backroad Route in North Carolina That Still Feels Old-Fashioned

You can feel winter sooner on the high ridges of North Carolina, where frost sketches the edges of fences and the sky seems closer than the next town.

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The Maine Harbor Town With a Holiday Fair Locals Treat Like Their Quiet Tradition

Camden, Maine draws you in with a harbor that looks peaceful in winter and feels even calmer in person. You notice the mountain...

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6 New Jersey Pizza Spots That Are Overhyped and 4 Hidden Gems Locals Love

You came to New Jersey for great pizza, and the Garden State delivers when you know where to look. Some big names draw long...

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10 Peaceful Michigan Villages Worth Slowing Down For

Michigan invites you to ease off the gas and savor places where quiet streets, friendly waves, and timeless scenery set the pace.

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8 Abandoned New York Amusement Parks That Time Completely Forgot

New York hides forgotten amusement parks behind forests, shorelines, and concrete, and each one holds echoes you can almost hear if you pause long enough.

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The Ohio Holiday Village Locals Keep as Their Old-Fashioned Secret

You hear whispers about a holiday village in Ohio that still glows by candlelight, and then you find Zoar, where winter slows time in the best way.

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New Jersey Has a Coastal Town That Changes Personality When It Snows

Winter in Cape May, New Jersey, changes the mood so completely that you might wonder if you stepped into a different town entirely.

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Why Locals in This New Jersey Pine Barrens Village Refuse to Use GPS

You arrive in the Pine Barrens thinking your phone will do the heavy lifting, then the blue dot drifts into nothing and the pines swallow the signal.

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A Wisconsin Village Under 100 That Becomes a Cozy Winter Getaway

Winter in Wisconsin rewards those who favor quiet beauty over crowded slopes. Stockholm, Wisconsin sits on the Mississippi...

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Lake-Effect Snow Alert: Travel Across Ohio and Pennsylvania Could Be Hit With a Foot of Snow

Winter travel across Ohio and Pennsylvania can turn on a dime, and this setup is the kind that does it fast. Lake Erie is...

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Why Locals in This Washington Lake Village Avoid Sharing Its Name

Tucked into the far end of Lake Chelan, Stehekin feels like a secret carved into Washington’s mountains. You reach it without...

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10 Hole-in-the-Wall Sunrise Diners in Nevada That Road-Trippers Love

Sunrise comes early on Nevada highways, and the best days start where the coffee is hot and the lights are already on. This...

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8 Hidden Iowa Barbecue Joints Locals Recommend

Ever wonder where the best Iowa barbecue is hiding? You're in for a treat. Forget the tourist traps and chain restaurants; I'm talking about the secret spots only the locals know....

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The Hidden Passages Beneath Boston, Massachusetts That Few Ever See

Boston's North End holds mysteries beneath its cobblestone streets that have fascinated locals for centuries. Whispers of secret underground passages used by colonial smugglers...

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10 Hole-in-the-Wall Cajun Seafood Spots in Texas Worth the Drive

Texas might be famous for barbecue and Tex-Mex, but hidden across the state are incredible Cajun seafood joints that bring Louisiana flavor right to your plate.

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The Lost Nevada Funfair That Shines Beneath the Desert Moon

Nestled in the Mojave Desert, just 20 miles west of Las Vegas, lies Bonnie Springs Old Nevada. This historic site once served as a vibrant Old West attraction, offering visitors...

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The Haunted Inn Kitchen in Oregon Where Guests Smell Baking at Midnight

Nestled in the picturesque landscape of southern Oregon, the Wolf Creek Inn is a captivating blend of history, mystery, and hospitality.

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The 10 Strange Laws in North Carolina That Nobody Understands

North Carolina is home to beautiful mountains, stunning beaches, and a legal code that sometimes leaves residents scratching their heads.

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8 Fast Casual Dining Gems in Florida That Are Instagram-Worthy

Florida is packed with amazing places to eat that look as good as they taste. From colorful cafes to sleek modern kitchens, the Sunshine State has restaurants that make your camera...

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The Desert Motel in Utah That Keeps Its Lights On for Ghosts

Utah’s desert night feels bigger than the sky itself, and that is where the Apache Motel in Moab keeps a quiet vigil. Its...

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9 Hidden Hole-in-the-Wall Morning Houses in New Mexico You’ll Love

New Mexico wakes up quietly, then surprises you. Beyond the famous spots, small morning houses glow with chile steam, warm...

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