owen carlisle author at My Family Travels
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This Italian Favorite In New Jersey Delivers Old-School Comfort With Pasta Plates, Sweet Finishes, And Friendly Service

Seventy plus years of red sauce and four generations of family ownership. That is how you know this Jersey Shore Italian spot is the real deal.

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The Most Beautiful Walkable Towns In New Jersey You Should Explore This Spring

Let us be honest. You have driven past the "Welcome to" signs a hundred times without ever hitting the brakes. That is a mistake...

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This Funky New Jersey Seafood Spot Dishes Out Seafood That Is Worth The Drive

You walk in and the ocean greets you before the host does. Not in a cheesy, anchor wallpaper way. In a we just shucked your...

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This New Jersey Soul Food Spot Serves A Weekend Brunch Buffet With Fried Chicken And Rotating Seafood Specials

Sunday morning in Atlantic City. Forget the slot machines and the boardwalk crowds for a minute. I want to talk about something...

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This Antique Store In New Jersey Brings Together History, Art, And Handmade Treasures

This New Jersey shop might make you forget what century you're in. The owner runs it with genuine warmth, turning a simple...

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This Art Deco New Jersey Stadium Was Built During The Great Depression And Is Now A National Historic Landmark

Feel that breeze off the New Jersey cliff. This Art Deco giant rose during the Great Depression, when jobs were scarce but...

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This Jewelry Store In New Jersey Has Been Crafting Custom Pieces For Generations

Some family heirlooms arrive by accident. This New Jersey family business builds them on purpose, one custom piece at a time. We're...

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This Lazy River Float Through West Virginia History Is The Ultimate Warm Weather Getaway

Here is the summer plan you have been dreaming about. Grab a tube, find a buddy, and let the gentle currents of the Shenandoah River do all the hard work.

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The Best Shakshuka In New Jersey Is Hiding Inside This Kosher Cafe

Don't let the simple kosher cafe vibe fool you. Inside this unassuming New Jersey spot, a truly excellent shakshuka is waiting. Eggs...

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The West Virginia Narnia Trail That Turns A Simple Family Hike Into A Magical Experience

No wardrobe required. This West Virginia trail feels exactly like stepping into Narnia. Beartown State Park takes a simple...

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13 Easygoing New Jersey Walks That Feel Like A Mini Adventure

Think hiking in New Jersey means sweating up a mountain? Hard pass. These easygoing walks sneak in suspension bridges, secret...

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This Award-Winning Alpaca Farm In West Virginia Is A Fluffy Dream Come True

Is there a more wholesome afternoon than hanging out with award winning alpacas in West Virginia? This farm lets you get up...

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This New Jersey Cemetery With 900 Numbered Graves Is The State’s Most Heartbreaking Paranormal Site

Some places give you the creeps for all the right reasons, and this New Jersey cemetery is a perfect example. It holds 900...

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This Old-Fashioned Diner In West Virginia Serves Biscuits And Gravy You’ll Never Forget

This West Virginia diner serves biscuits and gravy so good you will dream about them later. Formica counters, coffee that...

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This New Jersey Food Court Serves Some Of The Best Traditional Ramen You Will Find Outside Of Japan

The aroma hits you first. Rich pork broth, garlic, and something deeply savory that makes your stomach growl on command. The...

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The Haunting New Jersey Beach Where A Century-Old Shipwreck Still Stands

Walk along a New Jersey beach and instead of seashells, you stumble on a century?old shipwreck jutting from the waves. It’s...

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10 Kosher Restaurants In New Jersey That Locals And Tourists Both Love

Finding a great kosher meal in New Jersey shouldn't feel like a treasure hunt. But here's the secret: locals already know...

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The Country Fried Steak At This West Virginia Diner Could Win Over Any Crowd

Some diners serve food. This West Virginia diner serves a country fried steak that could convert even the pickiest eater at your table.

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Step Into A Fairytale Trail Of Woodland Paths, Ponds, And Streams In New Jersey This May

May in New Jersey means the fairies are officially losing their minds. This garden throws together woodland paths, trickling...

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10-European Influenced New Jersey Towns That Transport You Overseas

Craving a Tuscan hill town or a Bavarian village but your wallet says "staycation"? These New Jersey spots have you covered.

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A New Jersey Lavender Farm So Dreamy You’ll Think You’re In Rural France

Close your eyes. Smell that? Honeyed blooms and sun-warmed earth. Not the Turnpike.

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A New Jersey Italian Restaurant Serving Sunday Gravy With Homemade Meatballs Since 1974

For five decades, this New Jersey kitchen has been doing Sunday the right way with gravy that simmers all day and meatballs that taste like a hug from a nonna who does not take...

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This Unassuming New Jersey Pizzeria Has Outlasted Every Competitor Since The 1940s

Some pizzerias come and go, but this unassuming New Jersey spot has been quietly outlasting every competitor since 1946. The...

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This New Jersey European-Style Market Feels Like A Walk Through Imported Flavors And Old-World Finds

You know that feeling when a grocery store makes you forget you are in a New Jersey strip mall? The aisles are packed with...

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This New Jersey Indoor Playground Has World Class Mini Golf, Luxury Bowling, And A Full Restaurant Under One Roof

Somewhere in New Jersey, a place exists where you can putt through a Swiss Alps scene, watch your ball drop into a shark's mouth, and then roll a strike under glowing lane lights....

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This New Jersey Beach Shop Serves Tarot Readings With A Side Of Handmade Soaps And A Resident Cat

You walk into a Jersey Shore shop for soap and leave with a tarot reading from a family of Italian witches. Three generations...

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12 ADA Accessible Hiking Trails In New Jersey From The Shore To The Highlands

Whoever said hiking was only for people who own trekking poles and trail mix has clearly never explored New Jersey properly. Some...

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This 6-Mile New Jersey Hike Takes You Across A Suspension Bridge And Into Historic Cranberry Bogs

You know that feeling when a trail throws a suspension bridge at you completely out of nowhere? That is exactly what happens...

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12 Hot Dog Restaurants In New Jersey That Deserve A Detour

Let's be real: New Jersey takes its hot dogs so seriously that we've invented entire cooking methods just for them, like deep-frying until the casing literally rips open in the...

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This Cute Little Zoo In New Jersey Might Be The Best Budget-Friendly Family Day Trip

Looking for a family day trip that won’t eat up your wallet? This charming zoo delivers big smiles on a small budget.

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This Old-School New Jersey Deli Has Been Serving Magic Between Bread Slices Since 1946

You know a sandwich is legendary when people have been driving across New Jersey for nearly 80 years just to get one. This...

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This New Jersey Restaurant Makes You Walk Through The Kitchen To Get To Your Table

You know that moment when a restaurant says, "Come on in through the back," and you think they're joking? This one isn't.

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New Jersey’s Busiest Waterfront Scoop Shop Is The Ultimate Destination For Late-Night Cravings And Massive Sundaes

Look, I'm not saying I've planned entire evenings around a single scoop of ice cream, but I'm also not saying I haven't. This...

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This Secluded Lakeside Sanctuary Pairs World-Class French Cuisine With Stunning New Jersey Mountain Views

Ever had a meal so good you start questioning whether you should move in next door? That’s exactly the vibe here, except...

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The New Jersey Bagel Shop Famous For Serving 30-Pound Sandwiches And Viral Breakfast Creations

New Jersey isn’t shy about its food, but this bagel shop takes “go big or go home” to a whole new level. We’re talking...

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The Ancient New Jersey Boulder Forest Locals Adore For Its Jaw-Dropping Rock Formations

You ever stumble into a forest and think, “Wow, Mother Nature really flexed here”? That’s exactly the vibe when you...

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This Sprawling New Jersey Park Has 15 Miles Of Trails Winding Through Rare Natural Beauty

My boots were barely tied when I realized I had seriously underestimated what was waiting at the end of that narrow, winding road.

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The New Jersey Cheesecake Spot Locals Love Because It Always Delivers

Here’s something sweetly predictable in unpredictable New Jersey: cheesecake that never lets you down. This place has become...

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The Under-The-Radar New Jersey Park Hiding A Beautifully Restored 19th-Century Mill

New Jersey has a way of surprising you, and this surprise comes wrapped in history and charm. In a quiet park, you’ll stumble...

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This Historic New Jersey Stone Tavern Turns Out A Pork Chop So Good Locals Refuse To Share

New Jersey has plenty of historic spots, but this stone tavern is the kind that makes you rethink dinner plans entirely. The...

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The Over-The-Top New Jersey Breakfast Destination Where Locals Brave The Lines For Insane Pancake Towers

Imagine rolling up to a New Jersey breakfast spot where the line outside looks more like a concert crowd than hungry locals. Inside,...

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The Best Breakfast Sandwich In New Jersey Is Served Inside This Unassuming Shop

There are mornings when you wake up craving something so specific, so deeply satisfying, that nothing else will do. My brain...

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The Untouched New Jersey Mountain Village That Feels Worlds Away From The City

Ever wondered if there’s a place in New Jersey that feels like it politely declined the chaos of city life? This New Jersey...

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10 Unmissable New Jersey Restaurants With Seafood Straight From The Shore

New Jersey’s shoreline isn’t just about sandy beaches; it’s a treasure trove of seafood delights. From casual clam shacks...

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The 500-Acre New Jersey Farmstead Crafting Award-Winning Raw Milk Cheese From Its Own Regenerative Pastures

Did you know? There’s a farmstead here in New Jersey rewriting the cheese playbook. I’ll admit, I came for the cows but...

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This Charming Fishing Village In New Jersey Is A Nautical Paradise

Somewhere along the Jersey Shore, between the salt air and the sound of seagulls arguing over a fish basket, exists a place so unexpectedly charming it almost feels made up.

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The Most Meticulous New Jersey Antique Store Where Movie Set Designers Find Their Magic

Walk into this New Jersey antique haven and you’ll instantly feel the weight of history in the air. Every corner is packed...

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The Incredible New Jersey Museum Where A Signer Of The Declaration Once Lived

What if a New Jersey mansion could tell you how liberty tasted at breakfast? This museum once sheltered a signer of the Declaration,...

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The Loaded Potato Omelette At This New Jersey Diner Is So Good, It’ll Ruin Every Other Breakfast For You

There are mornings when you walk into a diner expecting something ordinary, and then your plate arrives and your entire understanding of breakfast shifts.

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This New Jersey Pond Walk Surrounds You With Calm Waters And Serene Silence

Ever find yourself craving peace but end up stuck in New Jersey traffic instead? Imagine trading honking horns for calm waters...

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11 Cities In New Jersey Where You Can Enjoy Retirement On $2,000 A Month

Retiring comfortably does not always mean moving to a sunbelt state or draining your savings account. New Jersey, despite...

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10 Mesmerizing New Jersey Crystal Shops For Collectors, Seekers, And Dreamers Alike

Crystal shops in New Jersey have a way of pulling you in before you even realize it. The shelves sparkle, the air feels charged,...

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The Last True Italian Market In New Jersey Where The Founder Still Punches The Dough At 85

There are places you stumble into expecting a quick sandwich, and then there are places that completely rearrange your understanding of what food can feel like.

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New Jersey’s Ultimate All-You-Can-Eat Rib Feast That Keeps Hungry Travelers Coming Back

New Jersey doesn’t exactly whisper when it comes to barbecue; it shouts, and you can smell it before you even pull into the parking lot.

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This 130-Acre New Jersey Sanctuary Lets You Explore A Hidden Forest Of 3,500 Rare Plant Species For Free

Imagine wandering into New Jersey and finding a 130-acre sanctuary that feels like nature’s best-kept secret. Instead of crowds, you’re met with quiet trails and a forest alive...

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10 Lavender Farms Across North And South Jersey That Deserve A Visit This Summer

Somewhere between my third deep breath of purple-scented air and accidentally stepping into a bee's personal space, I realized lavender farms are basically therapy you can walk...

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This New Jersey Equestrian Store Is A Massive 18,000-Square-Foot Wonderland For Riders And Horse Lovers Alike

What’s the wildest shopping trip you’ve ever had in New Jersey? I’ll admit, this one takes the crown. The first time...

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This Massive Indoor Adventure Park In New Jersey Is A Maze Of Endless Fun

New Jersey has more than its fair share of surprises, and one of them is a massive indoor adventure park that feels like stepping into pure chaos and joy.

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This New Jersey Bar Is Located Inside A Genuine 18th-Century Stagecoach Stop

There are some places you stumble into thinking you already know what to expect, and then the building itself stops you cold. Walking...

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A New Jersey Resale Shop Where Locals Score Designer Pieces

My idea of a perfect afternoon used to involve a coffee and absolutely zero ambition, but then someone pointed me toward a certain consignment shop on a charming street in New...

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