micah dawson author at My Family Travels
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This Massive Minnesota Warehouse Is A 40,000-Square-Foot Goldmine Of Salvaged Treasures

You have never seen old stuff like this. Forty thousand square feet of doors, sinks, stained glass, church pews, and things you cannot even name.

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8 Minnesota Caves You Can Tour Without Any Caving Experience

You do not need a hard hat or a headlamp to explore these underground wonders. Eight Minnesota caves offer guided tours with stairs, lights, and firm footing, so you can leave...

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The Walleye Sandwich That Tastes Like Minnesota’s North Shore On A Bun

You cannot order a walleye sandwich in Minnesota without wondering if it was pulled from a lake an hour ago. At this unassuming...

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Most Americans Have Never Heard Of This Minnesota National Park

Pull over. You almost missed it. This Minnesota national park hides quietly on the prairie, ignored by most road trippers who...

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One Minnesota Warehouse Has 40,000 Square Feet Of Other People’s Amazing Taste

You’ve probably driven right past it. Tucked behind a quiet stretch of pavement, a four-story brick fortress hides something most people will never see: a 40,000-square-foot...

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The Minnesota Library Where Immigrants Learned English From Picture Books

Imagine stepping into a warm, quiet library on a freezing Minnesota morning, clutching a children's picture book in a language you barely understand. That is the brave scene that...

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This Minnesota Salvage Yard Sells History By The Pound

You step inside what once was a meat equipment warehouse, the old sign still reading "Madeville Meat Equipment" out front. But the cleavers are long gone, replaced by a world of...

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Locals Say This Minnesota Town Is Tourist-Ruined Beyond Recognition

A charming river town that locals whisper has been loved a little too hard by the visiting crowds. I walked along the main street on a sunny Saturday and the sidewalks were packed...

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The Biscuits And Gravy At This Oregon Diner Are Out-Of-This-World

A plate of biscuits and gravy arrives looking like the kind of breakfast that demands a nap afterward. I cut into the biscuit and it stayed fluffy instead of crumbling into a sad...

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Highest Rated Restaurants In Minnesota That Are Always Worth The Visit

A list of places where the food consistently delivers. I have waited in lines and made reservations and driven across town just to taste what all the fuss was about.

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10 Old-School Oregon Donut Shops That Are Better Than Anything New

The newest donut shops get all the social media attention but the old school spots have something better. I am talking about decades of perfecting a recipe and a display case full...

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This Minnesota Natural Area Has Boulders That “Sing” When You Tap Them With A Hammer

A sacred quarry where the red stone has been carved for centuries and the boulders hold a musical secret. I picked up a small hammer and tapped a rock and a clear ringing tone...

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The Oregon Town That Just Got Crowned America’s Top Remote Destination and Still Feels Like Nobody Knows About It

A tiny coastal town just won a big award for being America's top remote destination. I walked along the seawall and watched whales spout while the waves crashed against the rocks...

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Minnesota’s Fabric Treasure Trove That Brings Locals Back Again And Again

A warehouse full of color and texture where bolts of fabric stretch down aisles that seem to go on forever. I walked in and the smell of fresh cotton and the rustle of material...

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The Most Beautiful Walkable Towns In Oregon You Should Explore This Spring

Fresh spring air and blooming flowers make wandering through these places feel like stepping into a postcard that actually exists. I parked the car and left my keys in my pocket...

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Minnesota’s Adults-Only Soaking Pool With A Swim-Up Bar And Endless 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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Most People Have No Clue This Enchanting Puppet Museum Even Exists in Oregon

A museum dedicated to puppets hiding in plain sight where most people walk past without any idea of the magic inside. I stepped through the door and found myself surrounded by...

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The Small Minnesota Town That Turns Into a Massive Flea Market Every Sunday

A quiet little town transforms into a treasure hunter's paradise every single Sunday without fail. I showed up early and the fields were already filling with rows of vendors and...

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This Riverfront Restaurant In Oregon Has The Most Enchanting Sunset Views You’ll Ever See

The sun dips low over the river and the sky turns shades of pink and orange that feel almost unreal. I sat on the deck with a cold drink and watched the water reflect the colors...

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This Minnesota Supper Club Serves Prime Rib so Cheap You’ll Check The Menu Twice

A prime rib dinner so reasonably priced that I looked at the menu twice to make sure my eyes were not playing tricks. The meat arrived pink and tender and served with all the classic...

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Locals Say This Oregon Pie Shop is Better Than Anything Else and Half The Price

The locals whispered about this pie shop like it was a secret they almost did not want to share. I walked in and the smell of butter and fruit and flaky crust made my stomach growl...

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The Minnesota Ice Cream Shop Inside A 1900s Fire Station With 100 Years Of Family History

An old fire station from the 1900s now serves scoops of ice cream instead of fighting fires. I walked through the doors and saw the original brick walls and high ceilings that...

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This Oregon Restaurant Serves Upscale European and American Comfort Food Alongside Its Famous Desserts

A place where dinner feels fancy but also like a warm hug from someone who really knows how to cook. I sat down and the menu offered everything from rich pastas to perfectly roasted...

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The Minnesota Museum Where You Can Ride A Vintage 1920s Trolley To A Recreated Mining Ghost Town

A vintage trolley from the 1920s rattles along tracks that lead straight into a different century. I climbed aboard and the wooden seats creaked like they remembered every passenger...

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This Peaceful Oregon Coast Park Might Be the Best-Kept Secret

A trail through the trees opens up to sand dunes that seem to go on forever. I followed a path that felt like it belonged only to me that particular morning.

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A Minnesota Cemetery Plants 50 000 Tulips Every Year And It Is Absolutely Worth Seeing

Fifty thousand tulips in a cemetery sounds like a strange idea at first. But then you see them and everything makes perfect sense all at once.

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This 26.4-Mile Oregon Trail Passes Two Hot Springs And A Swimming Hole So Blue It Looks Photoshopped

26 miles of pure Oregon trail magic waiting for boots and a sense of adventure. The path follows a river that changes color every few miles like it cannot pick a favorite.

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With Two Locations In Minnesota This Western Style Restaurant Is A Local Favorite

The walls are covered with old saddles and dusty cowboy boots everywhere inside. A giant longhorn skull stares down at every table like a silent dinner guest.

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The Ground In Oregon Cracked Open Two Miles Long And 70 Feet Deep And You Can Actually Walk Through The Whole Thing

The earth literally split open and created a two mile long crack here. I stood at the edge and could not see the bottom right away.

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The Minnesota Bowling Alley That Turns Into A Burlesque Theater After 10 PM

I bowled a strike at eight o'clock and watched tassels spin at ten. The same lanes that held my rental shoes hosted a burlesque performer later.

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The Wonderfully Weird Museum In Oregon You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

The sign outside features a giant furry monster eating an ice cream cone. I knew this place would be wonderfully weird before I even walked inside.

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Hikers Cannot Get Enough Of This Tiny Charming Cafe In A Minnesota Bluff Town

Hikers come down from the bluffs with muddy boots and huge appetites today. This tiny cafe sits right where the trail spits you out finally.

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Your First Visit To This Magical Oregon Botanical Garden Is Something You Will Never Forget

My first step onto the stone bridge felt like entering a secret world. The garden sits on a hillside tucked away from busy streets completely.

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People Travel From Across Minnesota Just For The Stuffed Shrimp At This Old School Supper Club

Pulling into the parking lot felt like arriving at a family reunion. The neon sign flickered and I immediately felt right at home. Dark...

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This Scenic Oregon Coast Stop Offers Stunning Coastal Views Without the Long Hike

This Oregon coast stop doesn’t ask you to earn the view - it gives it to you almost right away. I step out of the car and the coastline is already doing the heavy lifting.

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10 Massive Flea Markets in Minnesota Where $30 Goes a Lot Further Than You’d Expect

Rows of tables, packed booths, and that unmistakable buzz of people hunting for a deal. Minnesota’s flea markets turn a simple $30 into a surprisingly powerful shopping budget.

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This Beautiful Rock Garden In Minnesota Is One Of The State’s Best Hidden Treasures

One man built this entire garden by himself. His name was Albert and he had a vision. He collected rocks from all over the...

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The Oregon Trail That Leads To A 300-Year-Old Spruce Hiding Above A Coastal Town

A tree that was already old when your great great grandparents were born. That is the kind of math that makes your brain hurt. This...

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This Minnesota Ghost Lake Was Meant to Be a Water Paradise, Now It’s One of the Strangest Sights You’ll Ever See

Someone had a dream once. A big, expensive, water park kind of dream. They dug. They planned and imagined families splashing...

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Locals Say This Oregon Italian Spot Serves a Lasagna So Good It’s Truly Life-Changing

"Life-changing" is a ridiculous phrase for a plate of pasta. Usually. Then you try this lasagna and suddenly the phrase makes embarrassing sense. Layers that do not fall apart...

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People In Minnesota Are So Nice That Locals Joke It Is Just Passive Aggression Wearing Mittens

There is a whole state where sorry is a greeting, not an apology. People will wave you into traffic and then complain about you later in the garage.

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You Need A Key To Walk This Oregon Boardwalk And That Is Exactly Why It Is Perfect

A locked gate usually means keep out. But sometimes it means keep everyone else out. That is a huge difference. Most trails are crowded, loud, and full of Bluetooth speakers.

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Follow This One Minnesota Trail Through Pines And You Will Swear You Heard A Lion Roar

The pines grow so thick that sunlight filters down in thin green ribbons. Minnesota has a trail where the woods play games with your ears.

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This Fascinating Minnesota Train Ride Is Perfect for an Unforgettable Day Trip

The whistle blows and you are suddenly a kid again, pressing your face against the window. That feeling never gets old. Minnesota...

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10 Highest Rated Steakhouses in All of Minnesota

A good steak does not need a crown or a velvet rope. It just needs heat, salt, and someone who cares. Minnesota has no shortage...

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This 1800s Minnesota Village Is Frozen in Time and Free to Explore Year-Round

Horses pull wagons down dirt roads while costumed interpreters churn butter like it is 1870. And you can just walk right in without paying a dime.

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This Laid-Back Minnesota Restaurant Is Known for What Might Be the State’s Best Walleye Sandwich

The restaurant sits right on the water, which makes sense because the star of the menu swims nearby. Minnesota has a laid back spot where the walleye sandwich has achieved near...

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This Minnesota State Park Has 13 Miles of Hidden Caves Beneath Its Farmland

Farmland stretches for miles on top, but a whole different world hides underneath. Minnesota has a secret beneath the cornfields and quiet roads.

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All-In-One Minnesota Waterpark Resort Where Massive Slides And Indoor Waves Meet Stress-Free Family Dining

Checking into a hotel and never leaving is the dream, right? This place makes that dream a reality. Minnesota families have figured...

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The Minnesota Narnia Trail That Turns a Simple Family Hike Into a Magical Experience

A simple family hike should not feel like a chore. This one feels like stepping through a wardrobe. The path twists gently through...

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This Oregon Suspension Bridge Hangs High Above the Forest With Stunning Waterfall Views

An Oregon suspension bridge hangs high above the forest, swaying just enough to remind you where you are. Below, the trees stretch out like a green sea.

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The Best Borscht In The Pacific Northwest Is Served In This Unassuming Oregon Diner

A humble Oregon diner is quietly serving up something you’d never expect to find in the Pacific Northwest - borscht that people swear by as the best in the region. It arrives...

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This Cozy Oregon Diner Serves Chicken Fried Steak That’s Hard to Beat

A cozy Oregon diner greets you with that classic comfort-food energy the moment you walk in. Warm booths, clinking plates, and the smell of something frying that immediately gets...

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This Minnesota Pizza Hut Is One Of The Last Remaining With Its Original Hut-Shaped Roof

You almost drive right past it because it looks like a toy. That little roof is impossible to miss once you actually see it. It...

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This Spooky Oregon Road Trip Is the Creepiest Adventure You’ll Ever Experience

I thought I knew Oregon's cozy side - until I traded my coffee shop visits for fog-choked backroads and forests that seem to hold their breath as I drive by. Suddenly, I'm passing...

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The Prime Rib at This Classic Minnesota Supper Club Is Seriously Out of This World

A classic Minnesota supper club sets the scene the moment you walk in - dim lighting, soft chatter, and that slow, timeless rhythm of a place that knows exactly what it is.

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An Exotic Journey to the Somali Horn of Africa in Minnesota

A surprising slice of the Horn of Africa comes alive in Minnesota, where culture, food, and community blend into something vibrant and deeply rooted. This isn’t just a themed...

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This Spooky Oregon Coastal Trail Takes You to the Ruins of a Forgotten Town

A fog-heavy stretch of Oregon coastline sets the tone long before you reach the trail, and everything only gets more unsettling as you move forward. This coastal path doesn’t...

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This Compact Oregon Museum Offers a Unique Blend of Local History and Scenic Waterfall Views

A compact Oregon museum doesn’t usually sound like the kind of place that takes your breath away - but this one quietly does exactly that. Inside, local history unfolds in a...

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A Crystal-Clear Hot Springs Sits in the Middle of Oregon Like a Hidden Oasis Most People Drive Right Past

A crystal-clear pool of hot water sits quietly in the middle of Oregon, almost like nature decided to hide its best secret in plain sight. Most people drive right past it without...

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