micah dawson author at My Family Travels
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Locals Say This Once-Peaceful Oregon Golf Resort Is Now Packed With Summer Tourists

The locals remember when this stretch of coast felt like their own private slice of heaven, with quiet fairways and empty shorelines stretching for miles. Those days feel like...

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This Minnesota All-You-Can-Eat Buffet’s Dessert Bar Is the Real Star of the Show

Most people come for the endless entrees, but the regulars know exactly where to head first. The dessert bar at this Minnesota buffet is the kind of sweet paradise that turns a...

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This Oregon Buffet Is Known for a Dessert Bar So Good It Steals the Show

Most buffets are about quantity, but this one proves that quality can steal the spotlight too. The dessert bar is the real showstopper here, drawing people back for one more plate...

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This Minnesota Historic Site Is Home to the State’s Oldest Structures

Some structures have witnessed history from the very beginning, and these limestone walls have seen it all unfold. They are the oldest in the state, built when the fur trade still...

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Oregon’s Mexican Restaurant Where Flavor Lovers Commit to the Full Experience

The moment that salsa hits your tongue, you understand exactly why people keep coming back to this place. This spot does not just serve Mexican food, it delivers a full sensory...

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Since 1928, This Minnesota Tavern Has Been Serving Its Famous Juicy Lucy

Some burgers are good, and then there is the one that has people arguing for nearly a century about who made it first. This tavern has been serving its version since 1928, long...

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13 Free-Admission Spots In Oregon Where You Can Spend Summer Days

You can have a spectacular summer without spending a single dollar on admission, and Oregon proves that every single day. The state is packed with incredible places that welcome...

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11 Overrated Minnesota Lake 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 grass the size of a picnic blanket. The main streets are packed with bumper to bumper traffic,...

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This Oregon Grave Holds a Name No One Remembers and a Story No One Can Tell

A simple wooden marker, a pile of stones, and a name that time has completely swallowed. This quiet spot holds the remains of a woman who never made it to the end of the Oregon...

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This Minnesota Restaurant Serves New American Steak and Seafood in an Airy Nautical Setting With Lake Views

The lake stretches out before you, glittering and calm, while you settle into a seat with a perfect view. This restaurant pairs stunning waterfront scenery with a menu that feels...

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This Massive Oregon Music Store Is Filled With Over 250,000 Vintage Records and CDs

Imagine walking into a building and realizing you could spend days just browsing, and that is exactly what happens here. Over a quarter million vinyl records and CDs fill every...

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12 Minnesota Museums That Are Completely Free To The General Public Every Day

Who says culture has to come with a hefty price tag? Not here, and not at these wonderful places. The doors are wide open every...

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This Mile-Wide Oregon Crater Was Blasted Out 16,000 Years Ago, Now It’s a Stargazer’s Dream Campsite

The name does not exactly sound glamorous, but trust me, this place is anything but ordinary. A mile wide and hundreds of feet deep, it was carved out by a violent volcanic steam...

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This Retro Italian Deli In Minnesota Is Worth The Drive From Anywhere

The smell of cured meats and aged cheese hits you before the door even swings shut, and suddenly you are starving. Vintage posters cover the walls, checkered tablecloths cover...

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This Cozy Oregon Restaurant is Famous Worldwide for Its Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

Some pancakes are just pancakes, you know, a stack of carbs with some syrup slapped on top. But then there are the ones that people actually book flights for, and that is exactly...

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This Scandinavian-Style Minnesota Lodge Offers Panoramic Waterfront Views and Family-Friendly Comfort

Some places just have a way of wrapping you up in comfort the second you arrive, and this one does it without even trying. The moment you step inside, those massive wooden beams...

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This Oregon Bar Serves One of the State’s Best Burgers (You Can Eat It While Playing Pool)

The smell of sizzling beef hits you the second you push through the door, and suddenly your dinner plans become very clear. There is something about a dimly lit room with clinking...

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This Minnesota Pioneer Village Is Free To Explore And Most People Have Never Heard Of It

A set of stairs leads down from the busy street into a basement space. Red walls and quirky art demand a second look. This Minnesota spot is known around the world for its lemon...

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This Former Oregon Psychiatric Hospital Is Now Known As One Of The Most Haunted Places In The Commonwealth

A historic hospital built in the 1880s stands in Oregon. It was designed to heal with light and fresh air. Today, it is known...

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11 Under-the-Radar Minnesota Buffets Serving Homemade Comfort Food That Tastes Just Like Grandma’s Kitchen

The smell of butter and biscuits hits you the moment you walk through the door, and suddenly you are a kid again waiting for Sunday dinner at your grandmother's table. That is...

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Oregon’s Oldest Greenhouse and the West Coast’s Only Derby Track Are Hiding in This Park

Two unexpected treasures sit quietly on the same stretch of green in an Oregon park. The state's oldest greenhouse, built in the 1800s, still stands with its original glass walls...

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This Minnesota Attraction Is Free and Still Feels Like a Private Getaway

A quiet path lined with blooming roses, the sound of a fountain in the distance, and almost no one else around. That is the scene at this Minnesota garden, where the entrance costs...

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10 Oregon Rooftop Bars With Amazing Skyline Views

An elevator ride up, a door opening to the sky, and suddenly the whole city spreads out before you like a living map. That is the feeling at these Oregon rooftop bars, where the...

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This Minnesota Amish Restaurant Serves Some Of The Best Homemade Country Cooking Around

You drive past rolling farmland and the occasional horse and buggy, then pull into a parking lot full of cars with license plates from three different states. That is how you know...

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In This Oregon Town, You Can Build Sandcastles by Day and Swing Over the Sand by Sunset

A bucket and a shovel in the morning, then a wooden swing soaring over the sand as the sun goes down. That is the kind of day this Oregon beach town offers, and it works perfectly...

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This Minnesota Town Keeps Property Taxes Low And Residents Are Staying Put Because of It

Some towns talk about being affordable, but this Minnesota community actually delivers on that promise. Property taxes stay low here, and residents have noticed the difference...

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This Historical Oregon Gem Preserves the Pacific Northwest’s 18th-Century Maritime Heritage

Highway 101 winds along the Oregon coast with stunning ocean views at every turn, but one unassuming building holds something even more valuable than the scenery. A piece of 18th...

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Summer Brings 2,500+ Blooms to This Oregon Park, but the Water Features and Trails Shine All Year

Summer paints this Oregon park with more than 2,500 rhododendron blooms, an explosion of pink, purple, and white. But the real magic of this place lasts all year long, thanks to...

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The Minnesota Amusement Park That Lets You Walk In For Free And Only Pay For The Rides You Actually Want

No ticket booth holding your wallet hostage and no expensive wristband required just to breathe the air inside. This Minnesota amusement park lets you walk in for free and only...

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This 150-Year-Old Minnesota Factory Turns Raw Wool Into Heirloom Blankets Right In Front Of You

Raw wool comes in one end and a beautiful heirloom blanket comes out the other, all inside a factory that has been running for 150 years. This Minnesota mill lets you watch the...

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This Oregon Bistro Blends Pacific Northwest Flavors With Italian-Mediterranean Soul

Pacific Northwest meets the Mediterranean in a small Oregon bistro where the menu refuses to pick a side. You can start with local oysters and follow with handmade pasta, then...

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This Quiet Minnesota Lake Has Suddenly Become The Center Of Heated Debate

A peaceful lake with walking paths and families fishing off a small dock used to be the whole story, but not anymore. This quiet Minnesota lake has suddenly turned into the center...

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Oregon’s ‘Living Room’ Is This 40,000-Square-Foot Plaza in the Center of the City

Forty thousand square feet of bricks, benches, and human energy right in the middle of the city. Locals call it Oregon's living room and the name fits perfectly.

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This Minnesota Restaurant Offers A Hearty 16 oz Prime Rib Dinner With Sides For An Unbelievable Value

A sixteen ounce prime rib dinner with sides for an unbelievable value sounds like a menu from twenty years ago. This Minnesota restaurant proves that deals like that still exist...

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A Family-Owned Oregon Spot Serving Homestyle American Cooking All Day Long

Some restaurants feel like walking into a relative's kitchen where the coffee is always on and someone asks if you have eaten yet. This family owned Oregon spot serves homestyle...

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Over 1.1 Million Acres of Pristine Water Trails and 2,000 Backcountry Campsites Await in Northeastern Minnesota

Over one million acres of water trails and more than two thousand backcountry campsites sound like a dream, but this Minnesota wilderness area is very real. You leave your car...

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This Incredible Boardwalk Hike Remains Oregon’s Best-Kept Secret For Nature Enthusiasts

Some secrets stay hidden for a reason, this Oregon boardwalk hike is exactly that kind of secret. You will not find it on most tourist maps or crowded social media feeds.

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The Best Legendary Cheeseburger In Minnesota Is Found Inside This Tiny Hole-In-The-Wall Drive-In

Tiny buildings sometimes hide the biggest flavors. This Minnesota hole in the wall drive in proves that rule with every single cheeseburger they flip.

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The Gigantic Flea Market In Oregon Where $30 Loads Your Trunk With Treasures

Thirty dollars does not buy much these days. A couple of drinks at a bar, one average t-shirt, maybe half a tank of gas. But...

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

Tourist traps have a certain look. Overpriced walleye, soggy tater tots, and a hostess who seems exhausted before you even sit down.

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Towering 100-Foot Pale Clay Cliffs That Resemble Ancient Roman Ruins and Guided Pioneers Across the Oregon Trail

Driving up to these towering pale cliffs feels like stumbling onto a movie set. They rise nearly one hundred feet high with deep grooves and soft curves that resemble ancient Roman...

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This Laid-Back Minnesota Spot Serves Seafood That Locals Swear Is Unmatched

Seafood in a landlocked state usually comes with a warning label. Expect frozen, expect overpriced, and expect to be disappointed.

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Sink Your Teeth Into the Juiciest Steaks at a Beloved Family Spot on the Oregon Coast

You expect great seafood on the coast because that just makes sense. But a steak that makes you close your eyes and chew slowly? That...

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

Factory tours have a reputation problem. Most people hear those words and imagine fluorescent lighting, safety videos from the 1990s, and the faint smell of industrial cleaner.

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This Oregon Town Is The Last Affordable Paradise With Homes Under $190,000

I have officially stopped believing that affordable homeownership is a myth. You know the one. The myth that says only people...

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Minnesota Flea Market Where Your 30$ Feels Like 100

Inflation has made thirty dollars feel like nothing. A tank of gas. A few sandwiches. Maybe a movie ticket if you skip snacks.

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This Oregon Museum Has 2,000 Puppets From 38 Countries And You Can Make Your Own In A Workshop

You have never seen a museum quite like this. Two thousand puppets from 38 countries fill every corner, from shadow figures and marionettes to hand puppets and folk art treasures.

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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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