nora sinclair author at My Family Travels
Article
At Under $13 For Lunch, This New Jersey Buffet Is An Affordable Feast With Sushi And Seafood

Who says you need to break the bank for a feast that includes both sushi and seafood? Lunch prices hover around a very reasonable...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Jersey Gourmet Market Is Packed With Imported Italian Favorites

Step inside and suddenly you are not in New Jersey anymore, you are in a food lover's fever dream. Shelves are stacked high...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Jersey Lake Is A Popular Swimming Hole Where You Can Cool Off On Hot Summer Days

When the heat becomes unbearable and your air conditioner gives up, there is only one solution. Find water. Jump in. Repeat.

Read More    6 min read

Article
The French Toast At This New Jersey Diner Is So Good You Will Want To Drive Back For More

There are mornings when you wake up craving something so specific that nothing else will do, and this was one of those mornings.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Art Store Has The Largest And Oldest Collection Of Art Supplies In The Country

Open the door and suddenly you want to paint, sketch, sculpt, and maybe even frame your grocery list. It is a creative wonderland...

Read More    7 min read

Article
You Can Swing From Rope Bridges And Zip Through The Trees At This Challenging New Jersey Course

Ready to trade your desk chair for a harness and a whole lot of adrenaline? This aerial adventure course will put your balance, strength, and courage to the test.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Jersey Institution Has Been Serving Made-From-The-Heart Cuisine Since 1988

The year was 1988, and a woman with a simple philosophy opened a small dining room with just ten tables. Cook like you mean...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Jersey Community Is Home To One Of The Oldest Weapons Arsenals In The United States

Imagine your neighbor's backyard hiding a piece of military history that predates the Civil War. That is exactly what is happening...

Read More    6 min read

Article
11 New Jersey Date Spots That Will Actually Make You Look Like You Planned Ahead

We have all been there. That moment of panic when your partner asks, "So, what is the plan?" and your mind goes completely blank.

Read More    9 min read

Article
Doo-Wop Music And Old-School Charm Make This New Jersey Diner A Quiet Local Favorite

The first thing that hits you here is the sound of Doo-Wop drifting softly from an old record player. The second thing is...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Town Was Named After A Wealthy Industrialist Who Built A Chapel On A Private Island

Imagine building your own private island chapel simply because you could. That is exactly what happened here, when a wealthy...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This German Chain Serves Some Of The Best Kebabs You’ll Find In New Jersey

Finally, a reason to visit the mall that has absolutely nothing to do with shopping. Set inside a sprawling entertainment...

Read More    7 min read

Article
Saturday Mornings Feel Fresher At This Small-Town New Jersey Farmers Market

Saturday mornings were made for this. You know the feeling, when your alarm actually means something good and the promise of fresh strawberries pulls you out of bed.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Jersey Temple Is One Of The State’s Most Beautiful Hidden Architectural Wonders

Let us talk about jaw-dropping architecture that makes you do a double take. This temple is not just a place of worship, it...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Wild New Jersey Beach Feels Like The Shore Before The Boardwalks Took Over

Forget the neon lights and the funnel cake chaos for a minute. This place is a glimpse into what the shore used to be, wonderfully wild and beautifully untouched.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Brunch Buffet Piles On Comfort Food With Serious Old-School Charm

Let me paint you a picture. It is Sunday morning, your stomach is growling, and you are craving a meal that borders on excessive.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Jersey Ghost Tour Earned A Badge Of Excellence For Its Spine-Tingling Boardwalk Stories

The boardwalk at midnight is a different creature entirely. Cheerful music fades into a distant echo, replaced by hollow footsteps on aged wood and gulls that sound almost human.

Read More    7 min read

Article
12 New Jersey Catfish Spots Serving Crispy, Golden Plates Worth Chasing Across The State

Who knew New Jersey had such a serious catfish game? We certainly did not expect this level of crispy perfection scattered across the state.

Read More    9 min read

Article
This New Jersey Lake Has Been Around For 12,000 Years, But Its Water Is Facing Algae Trouble

Imagine a body of water that has witnessed twelve thousand summers. That is ancient, right? This glacial relic has been a silent...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Historic New Jersey Building Once Served As A Library, Now It’s A Castle Of Crafts

Now this is a building with serious plot twists. It started as a grand library, a gift from a wealthy philanthropist who clearly had a soft spot for architecture.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Hiking Trail Leads To A Forgotten New Jersey Estate You Can Still Explore

Here is a hot take for you. The best castle in New Jersey does not have a gift shop or a moat. It is a two-story stone skeleton...

Read More    6 min read

Article
These Crumbling Stairs In A Quiet New Jersey Park Are All That’s Left Of A Forgotten Amusement Park

What happens when a roaring amusement park goes quiet and nature simply takes over? In a peaceful marshland park, a grand...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Hot Chicken Spot Has Customers Driving Hours For A Bite

Some people drive across state lines for this chicken. No exaggeration. This place started as a tiny pop-up in a parking lot...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Boardwalk Spot Is A Funnel Cake Paradise With Over 20 Toppings

Boardwalk food has its fair share of legends, but this New Jersey spot takes the crown for pure sugary glory. The funnel cakes...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Bird Sanctuary In New Jersey Becomes A Photographer’s Dream Each June As Nesting Season Peaks

What if a parking lot turned out to be one of the best wildlife photography spots on the East Coast? That is exactly what happens here every June.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Tres Leches At This New Jersey Café Has Become A Dessert Destination

A traditional Latin-American cake soaked in three kinds of milk, evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream, became the inspiration for breakfast at this New Jersey cafe....

Read More    7 min read

Article
Discover The Hidden Jain Pilgrimage Site That Makes New Jersey A Spiritual Landmark

A peace so deep it feels almost strange, especially when you remember this place sits just an hour from New York City. The...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Jersey Town Is Steadily Becoming The State’s Next Hotspot

Some towns sleep through history. This one decided to wake up. A new amphitheater is rising in the arts district. Restaurants...

Read More    7 min read

Article
You’ll Find Some Of New Jersey’s Most Famous Soups At This Classic Diner

A bowl of soup should never be boring. Yet somehow so many places serve exactly that. Warm liquid with little personality....

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Jersey Temple Is Home To One Of America’s Tallest Buddha Statues

You do not expect to find a 52 foot tall golden Buddha when you are driving along a quiet New Jersey road. But there it stands,...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Massive Indoor Playground In New Jersey Lets Adults Play Like Kids Again

Grown ups spend so much time being responsible. Paying bills, answering emails, pretending we do not want to jump into a ball pit.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The No-Frills New Jersey Pizzeria With Ridiculously Good Pizza And Low Prices

Some places try too hard. This one does not even try at all. You show up, order a pie, and suddenly understand why New Jersey...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Restaurant’s Hidden Rose Garden Is The Real Summer Destination

Walk past the front and you would never know. But go through to the back. Surprise.

Read More    7 min read

Article
10 Underrated New Jersey Hiking Trails Ending In Epic Panoramic Views

You know that feeling when you reach the top and the whole world spreads out below you? No crowds, no noise, just you and a view that steals your breath.

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Oldest Intact Bar In The United States Is Hiding At This Historic New Jersey Tavern

History feels delightfully tangible when you can lean against the same wooden counter serving patrons since before the American Revolution.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Garden Shop With A Hidden Coffee Bar Was A Lifelong Dream Of A Local High School Sweetheart Couple

Some dreams take years to bloom. This one started with a high school romance and grew into a cozy corner of New Jersey where coffee steams, plants reach for the sun, and the gift...

Read More    7 min read

Article
12 Wildlife Conservation Programs In New Jersey Where You Can Volunteer Or Learn

You want to help but do not know where to start. Good news. The animals...

Read More    9 min read

Article
The Internationally Recognized Antiques Warehouse In New Jersey With 10,000-Sq-Ft Of Treasures Waiting To Be Found

Bring a truck. No, really. You will thank me later. This sprawling New Jersey warehouse stretches across 10,000 square feet...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Jersey Italian Restaurant Crafts Handmade Pasta So Authentic, You’ll Swear You’re In Rome

I have a confession. I closed my eyes while eating here, and for a blissful minute, I forgot which continent I was on. No exaggeration....

Read More    6 min read

Article
We Found The Perfect Little New Jersey Beach Bar For Laid Back Waterfront Views (Just Bring Cash)

Hearing the clink of a glass while your toes wiggle in warm sand is a specific kind of waterfront happiness. New Jersey has...

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Award-Winning New Jersey Consignment Shop Where Incredible Treasures Come With Low Prices

You know that ridiculous thrill of finding something amazing for practically nothing? Multiply it by ten. I walked into this...

Read More    7 min read

Article
We Tracked Down The Best Cinnamon Roll In New Jersey And It Comes Drenched In A Sweet Cream Cheese Glaze

Let us settle this debate right now. The best cinnamon roll in New Jersey is not hiding in some fancy bakery. It is sitting...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The New Jersey House Where A Founding Father Lived Is Now An Incredible Museum

History books love names and dates. Real life loves the rooms where decisions actually happened. This New Jersey house once belonged...

Read More    7 min read

Article
New Jersey’s Only Western Theme Park Has Stagecoach Holdups, Gold Panning, And An Actual Saloon

A slice of the 1880s frontier has been hiding in the New Jersey woods since 1957, complete with daily stagecoach holdups and a saloon that serves cold drinks.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Abandoned Lightship In New Jersey Is A Forgotten Piece Of America’s Nautical Heritage

Let me tell you about a time I almost drove past something truly special. Resting quietly in this corner of New Jersey sits...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Bioluminescent Beach In New Jersey Lights Up The Shore With Sparkling Blue Waves

Imagine walking along the shore at night and seeing the waves glow electric blue with every gentle crash. That is not a movie...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The 200-Year-Old Yellow Farmhouse In New Jersey Where Amish Barnwood Becomes Heirloom Furniture

Finding furniture with actual history is getting harder. Most big box stuff comes from a factory overseas and falls apart when you move it.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The 1912 New Jersey Mansion That Once Sat Neglected Is Now A Country Estate With A Moroccan-Inspired Spa

Imagine peeling back layers of dust and neglect to find mosaic tiles and a steam room underneath. That is exactly what happened...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Beach Comes With A Free Public Library Right On The Sand

I have a confession. I love beaches, but I get bored after the third hour of just lying there. So when I found a stretch of...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The New Jersey Diner That Became The State’s First Farm-To-Table Diner By Sourcing From Local Farms

New Jersey knows diners. We have hundreds of them. But most are not exactly fresh. The eggs sit in coolers. Vegetables come...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This New Jersey Café Is Perfect For Food Lovers Who Enjoy Watching Planes Come And Go

Airports aren’t usually where you linger for lunch, but this New Jersey café flips the script. Food lovers get their fix...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Fabric Wonderland In New Jersey Serves Crafters With Bolts, Trims, And Endless Inspiration

Rows of fabric stretch in every direction. Bolts of every color line the walls from floor to ceiling. Trims, ribbons, and zippers...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Cozy New Jersey Diner Serves Breakfast All Day In A Warm, Old School Setting

Let me tell you about a place in New Jersey that understands life's most important rule. Breakfast should never end. This diner...

Read More    7 min read

Article
World’s Tallest Double-Loop Waterslide And Mountaintop Zip Tour Await At This New Jersey Resort

You do not need to leave New Jersey to find world-record thrills. At the resort in Vernon, the legendary Zero G waterslide...

Read More    6 min read

Article
New Jersey’s 25-Foot Hadrosaurus Was The First Nearly Complete Dinosaur Skeleton Found Anywhere In The World

Lawyer by day, dinosaur hunter by surprise. That is how a New Jersey man stumbled into history in 1858 and changed science forever.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Beloved New Jersey Seafood Spot Serves Fresh Catch Straight From The Market

You walk in and the fishing boats are literally parked out back. Not a decoration. Not a vibe. Just a very clear promise that...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This New Jersey Off-Road Park Transformed From A Sand Mine Into 167 Acres Of Motocross And ATV Adventure

New Jersey took a sand mine and turned it into something loud, dusty, and absolutely glorious. This off road park is not what you expect from the Garden State.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The West Virginia Neighborhood Bar Where You Sign Your Napkin And Leave It On The Wall Forever

You will hear the creaky screen door first. Then the bell above it jingles your arrival. And if the regulars are in a good...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Slow-Paced Town In West Virginia Offers A Peaceful Escape From Stress

Breathe in. Breathe out. You made it. This slow paced West Virginia town does not rush anything.

Read More    6 min read

Article
The Gigantic Thrift Store In West Virginia Where Treasure Hunting Could Last All Weekend

A thrift store so massive you might want to pack a snack and a game plan. This West Virginia gem spans 25,000 square feet...

Read More    7 min read