owen carlisle author at My Family Travels
Article
This New Jersey Diner May Hold The State’s Best Chili Dog In A Soft Bun

Some debates are pointless. Like arguing about the best pizza in New York or the best bagel in Montreal. But the best chili...

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12 Unforgettable Experiences To Add To Your New Jersey Bucket List This Summer

Summer whispers a dare. Are you brave enough to answer? Twelve moments waiting to become your favorite stories.

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This Senior-Friendly New Jersey Nature Trail Offers Benches, Shade, And Wildlife Views

Let’s be real: not every great walk needs to be a workout competition. Some of us just want a gentle stroll, a place to sit, and maybe a turtle sighting.

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That Legendary Crispy Deep-Fried Chicken You’ve Been Searching For Is Served Right Here In New Jersey

You know that sound? The one where you bite into something and the crunch echoes across the table. That is the sound of happiness....

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This Is One Of New Jersey’s Most Beautiful Gardens, And Hardly Anyone Knows It Exists

Let's be honest, you have driven past countless unassuming park entrances in New Jersey without a second glance. This one...

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This New Jersey Italian Restaurant Is A Popular Stop For Wood-Fired Pizza And Huge Portions

This New Jersey Italian restaurant has built a loyal following on two simple promises: exceptional wood fired pizza and portions that demand a second visit.

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This Enchanting Princeton Tea Room Is An English-Inspired Escape With Royal Rose Garden Tea

Some places just nail the art of slowing you down. This Princeton spot is one of them. Right in the middle of a walkable New...

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This Picturesque Canal Path In New Jersey Feels Like Walking Through A Living Painting

Some places make you want to put down your phone and just stare. This canal path in New Jersey is one of them. The water sits...

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This New Jersey Arts Venue Features Indoor Galleries And A Sculpture Garden Wrapped Around A Municipal Pool Complex

Police cars, recycling trucks, and abstract sculptures all share the same Clifton parking lot. That is your first clue that...

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This New Jersey Bakery Makes Handmade Donuts That Refuse to Leave Your Memory

Some places understand that a donut should not be a sad, soggy afterthought. This Oakhurst bakery gets it right. Walk in and...

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This New Jersey Restaurant Offers A 16 oz Prime Rib Dinner With Sides For Just $30 Every Monday

I have paid way more for way less at steakhouses that charge extra for breathing. That is why this Monday special feels like...

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The New Jersey Spanish Restaurant Where The Portions Are So Generous You Will Be Eating Leftovers For Days

Raise your hand if you love leaving a restaurant with tomorrow's lunch already sorted. That is exactly what happens here.

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One Small Donut Shop In New Jersey Prepares Donuts That Look More Like Dessert Sculptures Than Breakfast Pastries

I stared at a donut for a full thirty seconds before I dared to bite it. That never happens. Usually I inhale these things...

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The Elegant New Jersey Cafe Where The Rose Latte Is Almost Too Beautiful To Drink

There are pretty drinks, and then there is the kind of latte that makes you apologize before taking a sip. A delicate rose...

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This Sprawling New Jersey Boardwalk Arcade Lets You Play Hundreds Of Vintage Pinball Machines All Day

This sprawling New Jersey boardwalk arcade is a paradise for pinball lovers. I like to joke that it’s the only place where...

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This Cajun Restaurant In New Jersey Serves Gumbo That Actually Tastes Like The Real Thing

You know that moment when a spoonful of gumbo makes your eyes go wide and you just stop talking? That happens here. This unassuming...

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The New Jersey Fish Fry That Has Kept Its Catfish Perfect For Years And Locals Say It Never Changed

Let me tell you about a place that understands loyalty. Not the loyalty card kind, the kind where people drive past fifteen...

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The New Jersey Farm Where You Pick Organic, Non-GMO Blueberries For $2.50 Per Pint

There is a spot tucked deep in the Pine Barrens where the blueberry bushes have been feeding families for over a hundred years. You...

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This New Jersey Sub Shop Is One Of The Last Few Remaining Of A Chain That Once Had Over 2,000 Locations Nationwide

Remember when every strip mall had that one cheerful neon sign promising a better sandwich? Those days are mostly gone, but...

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12 Most Beautiful Churches In New Jersey With Stunning Architecture And Historic Significance

You do not need a passport to find soaring Gothic spires, glowing stained glass windows, and stone carvings that belong in a European cathedral.

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13 Cool Art Spots Across New Jersey That Celebrate Creativity And Culture

You’ve done the mall. You’ve done the taco truck. Now feed your brain. Across New Jersey, hiding in old factories and...

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This Historic New Jersey Property Was Added To The National Register In 1979 And Now Operates As A Farm Stand And Antique Shop

You do not need a time machine to step into New Jersey's past. This historic property earned its spot on the National Register of Historic Places back in 1979.

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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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