nora sinclair author at My Family Travels
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Twenty-Four Layers Of Chocolate Cake Are Just The Beginning At This New Jersey Diner

Dessert restraint never really had a chance here. A 24-layer chocolate cake would already be enough to make most diners stop...

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This New Jersey Farm Packs An Entire Fall Bucket List Into One Giant Day Out

Fall weekends disappear way too fast. You plan to pick a pumpkin, maybe grab a snack, and somehow Sunday evening arrives before...

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Burgers By The Beach Never Went Out Of Style At This New Jersey Shore Classic

Salt air has a funny way of making a burger taste like exactly the right decision. Steps from the sand, this New Jersey Shore...

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One Of New Jersey’s Most Fascinating Animal Sanctuaries Is Hidden Near The State Line

Not every animal story begins happily, but the ones here get a much softer next chapter. Near the state line, this New Jersey...

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This Century-Old New Jersey Hotel Isn’t A Hotel At All But A Beloved Neighborhood Restaurant

No room key required here. Despite the name hanging outside, nobody is checking in for the night. This quirky New Jersey landmark...

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This New Jersey Amish Restaurant Serves A Hearty Breakfast Buffet Every Saturday

Saturday morning hunger, meet your match. Once a week, this New Jersey restaurant rolls out a breakfast buffet built for people...

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This Tiny New Jersey Village Is Quietly Becoming One Of The State’s Coolest Day-Trip Spots

There are day trips that require an itinerary, and then there are places where wandering is the whole point. This tiny New...

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New Jersey Diners Have Been Coming Back To This Iconic Chinese Restaurant Since 1986

Some restaurants chase every new food trend. This one has had decades to watch those trends come and go. Since 1986, this New...

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A Wealthy Couple Built A 1,000-Acre New Jersey Estate That Later Belonged To A King

Well, this property certainly didn't have an ordinary ownership history. What began as an enormous country estate created by...

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This New Jersey Campground Sits Along One Of The State’s Most Scenic Shorelines

Waking up near the ocean beats an alarm clock by a ridiculous margin. Waves, salty air, and morning light are simply better at announcing a new day.

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This New Jersey Italian Market Is The Kind Of Place Where Lunch Turns Into A Full Grocery Haul

You came for a sandwich. Then you noticed the mozzarella. Then the prepared foods. Then something in the bakery case started...

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This New Jersey Mountain Lets You See Three States From 1,803 Feet Up

New Jersey does, in fact, have a top of the world. Okay, top of the state, but the view does a convincing job of making the distinction feel unimportant.

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This New Jersey Yarn Shop Is A Colorful Wonderland For Knitters And Crocheters

Anyone who has ever said, “I don't need more yarn,” already knows how this story ends. Rows of color have a funny way of...

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This New Jersey Amish Market Is Only Open Two Days A Week, And It’s Worth Planning Around

Friday suddenly feels a lot more delicious around here. For only two days each week, this small New Jersey market fills with...

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This New Jersey Beach Town Was Just Named One Of America’s Trendiest Fall Getaways

Summer crowds gone? Ahhh, now we’re talking. One New Jersey beach town is getting fresh attention as a fall getaway, and suddenly...

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This 10-Mile New Jersey Road Is One Of The State’s Most Infamous Drives

Ten miles should not come with this many creepy stories. Yet this lonely stretch of New Jersey pavement has accumulated enough strange legends to fill an entire campfire session.

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This Old-Time New Jersey Flea Market Still Feels Like A Country Treasure Hunt

Rusty signs, old furniture, boxes of forgotten odds and ends, and something completely inexplicable sitting three tables away. Now this is treasure hunting.

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Forget The Supermarket And Stock Up At This Old-School New Jersey Butcher Shop

The supermarket meat aisle suddenly feels a little boring after visiting a proper butcher counter. There is something wonderfully...

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You Can Dine Aboard A Paddle-Wheel Riverboat While Cruising Through New Jersey

Dinner with a water view is nice. Dinner while the entire dining room is cruising down the river? Okay, that changes things.

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New Jersey Has A Farm Bakery With More Than 20 Kinds Of Pies

Choosing pie should not require this much concentration, yet here we are. This New Jersey farm bakery says it makes more than...

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This New Jersey Coffee Shop Has A Stunning Manhattan Skyline View

Coffee tastes pretty good on its own. Give it a Manhattan skyline backdrop and suddenly your morning cup is showing off. This...

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This New Jersey Breakfast Stop Looks Ordinary Until The Pancakes Arrive

The pancakes have officially outgrown the breakfast plate. New Jersey is diner country, so it takes a pretty impressive stack to make people stop mid-conversation and stare.

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11 Hobby Stores In New Jersey Where You Could Easily Lose An Entire Afternoon

A quick hobby-store stop is one of the easiest lies you can tell yourself. You came for one tiny thing, and suddenly you’re...

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12 New Jersey Places That Feel Completely Different Once Fall Arrives

There's a morning every September when the air suddenly has an edge to it, and I swear the whole day feels different. Sweater...

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This Charming New Jersey Diner Serves Up Comfort Food Near A Gorgeous Lake

There is something wonderfully satisfying about finding a good diner when you are hungry and nowhere near ready for a fancy meal.

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New Jersey Has A Small Museum Inside One Of Its Oldest Surviving Farmhouses

The museum building could practically be one of its own exhibits. Inside this small New Jersey museum, regional history fills...

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This New Jersey Farm Sells Pasture-Raised Meat Straight From Its Own Fields

Knowing where dinner came from can feel surprisingly complicated. Here, the answer is refreshingly straightforward. This New...

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You’d Never Guess What’s Cooking Inside This New Jersey Gas Station

A gas station is usually where you grab fuel, a drink, and maybe a quick snack. Not exactly where you expect a serious taco craving to be answered.

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What Was Once Farmland Is Now One Of New Jersey’s Most Unusual Wildlife Escapes

A farm became a wildlife haven? Well, that’s quite the plot twist. What was once working farmland has taken on a completely...

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Oreo Bagels And Birthday Cake Cream Cheese Turn Breakfast Into Dessert At This New Jersey Shop

Who decided bagels had to be sensible? Certainly not the people behind this wildly fun New Jersey breakfast shop. Here, the...

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Diamondback Terrapins Steal The Show At This Fascinating New Jersey Wetlands Center

A turtle crossing the road might not seem like a big deal. But at this New Jersey wetlands center, saving those turtles is a full-time mission.

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This Isolated New Jersey Diner Has Pancakes So Incredible They Are A Local Legend

There are mornings when cereal will do. This is not one of those mornings. Somewhere...

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Down A Quiet New Jersey Road Is An Orchard With More Than 100 Years Of History

Listen, I have been to a lot of farms, but this one feels different. A New Jersey orchard where the apple trees have been...

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Few Markets Feel As Old-School As This Nearly Century-Old New Jersey Butcher Shop

You know a place is the real deal when it has been around for nearly a century and still feels like it belongs to another time. This...

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Few Hikers Talk About This Rugged New Jersey Forest Near The State Line

Most hikers stick to the well-known trails. They miss this place entirely. A 2,000-acre forest in New Jersey that is accessible...

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Wander Through 42 Acres Of Art At This Surreal New Jersey Sculpture Garden

A giant head made of flowers. A sculpture caught mid-dance. Something that might be a bird or might be a spaceship. That is...

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New Jersey’s Last Drive-In Theater Still Shows Double Features Under The Stars

Movie night gets a lot more interesting when your seat has a steering wheel. At this old-school New Jersey drive-in, cars still...

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11 New Jersey Country Markets Where You Can Fill A Bag With Homemade Goodies

There is something dangerously optimistic about walking into a country market with “just one thing” in mind. Five minutes...

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A 900-Degree Brick Oven Is The Secret Weapon At This New Jersey Italian Restaurant

A brick oven that cranks up to nine hundred degrees is the kind of weapon that makes you cancel your dinner plans. That is...

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This Charming New Jersey Restaurant Hides A Curated Market Full Of Local Finds

I came for the food and accidentally adopted a candle, three jars of jam, and a vintage wooden spoon. That is how this New Jersey spot gets you.

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This New Jersey Butcher Shop Is So Clean And Fresh Locals Won’t Buy Meat At The Supermarket Anymore

Fresh meat. Spotless counters. A family-run shop where the owner greets you by name and steers you toward the perfect cut....

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This Historic New Jersey Restaurant Is Said To Be Haunted By Three Resident Ghosts

What is better than a good meal? A good ghost story to go with it. That is exactly what you get at this historic New Jersey spot....

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People Drive Across New Jersey For The Homemade Kielbasa At This Old-School Butcher Shop

Some smells stop you in your tracks before you even reach the front door, and that is exactly what happened on a quiet weekday morning in New Jersey.

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This Sprawling New Jersey Park Is A Go-To Spot For Kayaking On The Creek And Outdoor Concerts

Over 800 acres of green space, a creek that begs for a paddle, and a summer concert series that makes the whole place hum. That...

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You Can Hunt For Vintage Treasures At This Historic Textile Mill Turned Artisan Market

A historic textile mill from 1908 now houses local artists, vintage treasures, and the kind of finds that make you cancel your afternoon plans.

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New Jersey Shoppers Are Finally Finding A Grocery Store That Makes Grocery Savings Possible

Finally, a New Jersey grocery store where your wallet gets a break. This local spot on Main Street has been quietly winning over shoppers with a surprising mix of friendly service...

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Fall Shopping Feels Extra Special At This Charming New Jersey Farm Market

Fall shopping gets a serious upgrade when pumpkins, fresh produce, seasonal treats, and country-market charm all land in one place.

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This Massive New Jersey Greenhouse Is Bursting With Hundreds Of Plants Year-Round

Plants everywhere, and we mean everywhere. This New Jersey greenhouse is bursting with greenery from floor to ceiling, and you will not know where to look first.

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Put This New Jersey Nature Escape On Your List For A Slower Kind Of Day Trip

Some places feel like they belong to another time. A quiet driveway off a suburban street in New Jersey, and suddenly you are in a hidden woodland sanctuary.

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There’s A Reason This New Jersey Chinese Restaurant Has Lasted For More Than 40 Years

Forty years and they still cannot get a table without a wait. That is the kind of problem this New Jersey Chinese restaurant has.

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This New Jersey Restaurant Makes Turkish Flatbreads So Good They’re Worth A Special Trip

I ordered one flatbread. Then another. Then another. That is how it goes...

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This New Jersey Deli Has A Secret Menu Item Called The Italian Stallion That Locals Swear By

There's a little sandwich counter in northern New Jersey that I keep hearing about from people who normally guard their favorite lunch spots like state secrets.

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This New Jersey Italian Market Makes Sandwiches So Massive You Might Need Two Hands

A sandwich this big might require both hands, a game plan, and a moment of silence before you even take a bite. Here, the...

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This New Jersey Ice Cream Parlor Serves Generous Scoops At Prices That Feel Like A Steal

You walk up, order a scoop, and then do a double take when they hand you the cone. Because wow. That is this place. The portions...

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This Italian Market Is Basically A Little Slice Of Italy Hidden In New Jersey

Fresh pasta this good should be illegal. But here we are, standing in a New Jersey market that feels like a little slice of Italy. The...

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There’s A Funky Retro Town In New Jersey That’s Ideal For Walking, And You Need To Visit

Some towns were just made for wandering. Tree-lined streets. People strolling between boutiques and cafés. The whole place...

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12 Jersey Shore Beach Towns Worth Visiting After The Summer Crowds Go Home

The first time I showed up at the coast in October, I honestly thought I had made a scheduling mistake. Parking spots everywhere,...

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This New Jersey Plaza Has A Massive Asian Market That Keeps Locals Coming Back

A shopping plaza that has a supermarket, a food court, a bakery, and an Asian gift shop all in one spot. That is the kind...

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Walk In For Groceries And Stay For A Full Filipino Meal At This New Jersey Spot

The grocery aisles are full of pantry staples, and then you turn the corner. That is when it hits you. The smell of garlic,...

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You Can Get Fresh Seafood And Stunning Views At This No-Frills New Jersey Waterfront Spot

Order at the window. Grab a picnic table. Watch the boats drift by. That is the rhythm at this no-frills New Jersey waterfront...

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