mason hale author at My Family Travels
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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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The Haunted Desert Resort in Utah Where Clocks Melt on the Walls

Utah hides places where heat and history bend what you think you see, and this remote lodge in Monument Valley is one of them. Locals...

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8 Hole-in-the-Wall Seafood Canteens in Utah That’ll Surprise You

Utah is landlocked, yet its seafood scene thrives in the most unassuming corners. Tiny canteens hide in strip malls and side...

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8 Hole-in-the-Wall Breakfast Diners in Missouri That Locals Adore

Missouri mornings are best discovered one booth at a time, in places where the coffee is hot and the regulars know your name. Across...

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The Louisiana Village Locals Say a Voodoo Curse Dragged Into the Swamp

Curiosity carries you down the bayou, but the whispers of Manchac Swamp pull you in. Travelers still talk about a village...

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9 Hole-in-the-Wall Brunch Kitchens in Washington That Locals Love

Washington State hides its best brunches behind modest doors, and locals know exactly where to find them. Tucked into quiet...

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The 9 Hidden Colorado Cafés That Locals Swear Are Magical in Winter

Colorado winter settles quietly over mountain towns and city blocks, and the best cafés become warm little worlds. Locals...

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The Small Ohio Village Everyone Stops For Without Even Knowing Why

Travelers cruising through Ohio often find their plans interrupted in the best way by a ridge top village that seems to call from the horizon.

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8 Hole-in-the-Wall Fish Fry Spots in Illinois Locals Say Blow the Big Chains Away

Illinois hides its best fish fries behind unflashy doors and hand-painted signs. Travelers who crave character as much as...

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8 Iowa Pizza Barns Locals Call Too Good To Share

Who knew Iowa had such a treasure trove of pizza barns? These hidden gems are beloved by locals and offer more than just delicious pies.

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The “Most Forgettable” Ohio City Where Locals Eat Like Kings

Travelers racing across Ohio often glide past Lancaster without a second thought, which is exactly why it keeps surprising people.

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The Desert Waterpark in Nevada Where the Heat Hums Through the Air

Set on South Fort Apache Road in Las Vegas, Cowabunga Canyon (formerly Wet‘n’Wild) becomes a surreal stage when the desert heat starts to sing.

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The Hidden Kansas BBQ Buffet So Good Locals Lie About Its Hours

Locals in Salina keep a playful secret, and it starts at 2525 Market Place. Hog Wild Pit Bar-B-Q is the dependable smoke stop...

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This All-You-Can-Eat Steak Buffet in Wyoming Is a Historic Feast Worth Finding

Sheridan Ave in Cody, Wyoming wears its history proudly, yet some of its best stories hide in plain sight. Locals whisper...

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The Louisiana All-You-Can-Eat Fish Buffet That’s Worth Every Mile

Road trips through Louisiana come with a promise of flavor, and few stops deliver like a true all-you-can-eat fish buffet. If...

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The Montana Town Whose Scenic River Once Hid a Horror, and Still Captivates the Brave

The Yellowstone River slides past Glendive with a calm that looks unbreakable, a ribbon of light against the open Montana sky. Yet...

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10 Most Boring Villages in New Jersey That Somehow Feel Like Nowhere and Everywhere

New Jersey hides its hush in places that barely whisper their names, and that is exactly why they pull you in. These villages...

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The Hidden Steakhouse in Wyoming Where Every Night Is an Endless Dinner

Wyoming roads have a way of hiding their best secrets in plain sight, and this one rewards anyone who slows down. The Hidden...

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The Haunted Lighthouse in Wisconsin Where Doors Open on Their Own

On Rock Island in Door County, Wisconsin, an old beacon still watches the channel and, some say, watches back. At Pottawatomie...

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