owen carlisle author at My Family Travels
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This Almost-Hidden New Jersey Spring Sits Just Steps From A Scenic Bayshore Trail

The water has been bubbling here since before anyone kept track of time. You have probably walked past springs before. A trickle....

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This New Jersey Park Is The Perfect Spot For A Picnic With A Front-Row Seat To Manhattan

Some parks have trees and benches. This one has a front-row seat to one of the most famous skylines on earth. You have probably...

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This New Jersey 9/11 Memorial Draws An Estimated 5 Million Visitors Every Year

Five million visitors a year. That is not a number. That is a testament. This...

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This Dog-Friendly New Jersey Bookstore Has A Children’s Annex And Hosts Storytime Events

A bookstore where dogs are not just allowed, they are practically part of the staff. Wagging tails, happy kids, and shelves...

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This New Jersey Farm Has A Year-Round Petting Zoo, A Goat Bridge, And Its Own Bunny Village

Forget the concrete jungle, this place is a fluffy paradise with a serious attitude problem. You have goats traversing a tiny...

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This New Jersey Cemetery Was Designed To Be Both A Resting Place And An Artistic Sanctuary

A cemetery is not usually the first place that comes to mind when you think of art. But this one breaks every expectation. It...

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This New Jersey Italian Restaurant Has A Secret Sopranos Connection You Would Never Guess

Sometimes the best stories are the ones hiding in plain sight. This place? It was the secret set for Vesuvio's, Artie Bucco's...

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This New Jersey Sushi Restaurant Serves Rolls On A Toy Train That Actually Toots Its Horn

A sushi train that actually toots its horn as it chugs past your table. That is exactly what you get at this delightfully quirky spot in New Jersey.

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This New Jersey Festival Is The Oldest Continuously Running Italian-American Festival In The United States

What started in the late 1800s with a small group of grateful immigrants praying in a farmhouse has become the oldest continuous Italian-American festival in the United States....

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This New Jersey Festival Is Home To A Major League Eating Pork Roll Championship

There is a sacred food in New Jersey that inspires fierce loyalty, passionate arguments, and now, a full-blown eating championship.

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This New Jersey Zombie Mall Feels More Like An Abandoned Museum Than A Shopping Center

The first thing you notice is the quiet. The kind of silence that echoes off empty storefronts and makes footsteps sound louder than they should.

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This New Jersey Complex Is Home To The World’s Largest Indoor Multilevel Go-Kart Track

Buckle up for a place where the only rule is to go faster. This is not your average family fun center, it is the home of the...

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You Can Make Real Pottery From Start To Finish At This Hands-On New Jersey Studio

There is nothing quite like the feeling of taking a wobbly lump of mud and turning it into something worth showing off. This New Jersey studio hands you the clay and says, "Go...

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This New Jersey Museum Has The Largest Collection Of Shipwreck Artifacts In The State

Look, we all know museums can be a bit... stuffy. But this New Jersey spot? It proudly celebrates the glorious mess that happens...

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This New Jersey Pizza Spot Has Locals Raving About Its Perfectly Crisp Crust

That first bite is a symphony of crunch, and suddenly you understand why the line snakes out the door. This unassuming corner...

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You Can Milk A Cow And Grind Corn At This 1890s Living History Farm In New Jersey

Confession time. Most history museums make you want to nap standing up. This New Jersey farm is the glorious exception that...

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Experience New Jersey’s Summer Fair That Blends Farming, Fun, And Festivity

There is something wonderfully wholesome about a fair that still remembers its agricultural roots. This one rolls out the...

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Locals Say This Once-Peaceful New Jersey Shore Spot Is Now Packed With Summer Tourists

There is a certain nostalgia that hangs in the salt air around here. Locals will lean in and whisper about the good old days, when this stretch of the New Jersey coast was their...

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This New Jersey Shrine Feels Like A Quiet Pilgrimage Without Leaving The State

Some places do not shout for attention. They simply wait, quietly, for those who need them. This is one of those spots.

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This New Jersey Bakery Started With Bread But Became Famous For Donuts That Sell Out In Minutes

It is funny how a place can find its true calling in the most unexpected way. This beloved New Jersey bakery began with a...

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Why This Historic New Jersey Coast Community Is Ranked Among New Jersey’s Best Places To Retire

What if your morning commute involved a gentle ocean breeze and the distant cry of seagulls instead of honking horns? That...

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This New Jersey Nature Preserve Sits Where A Seaside Town Once Disappeared

Some places leave you speechless, not because of what stands there, but because of what no longer does. This nature preserve...

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This Beloved Saturday Market Is One Of New Jersey’s Best Farmers Markets

Saturday mornings were practically invented for this. The kind of morning where the coffee is hot, the air is crisp, and the...

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This Hidden New Jersey Arcade Lets You Play Unlimited Retro Games For One Flat Price

Pay once and suddenly every single machine is yours for the taking. No pockets full of quarters. No begging for change. Just...

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New Jersey’s Oldest Building Has Been Standing For Over 300 Years And Most People Drive Right Past It

A brick house from 1719 still stands not far from a river in New Jersey's capital, and most people zoom right past it without a second glance.

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This New Jersey Mansion Was Modeled After A 1,000-Year-Old English Castle

Traveling back a thousand years in time does not require a passport. It just requires a trip to this magnificent structure...

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New Jersey’s Massive Asian Supermarket Is A Hidden Food Wonderland

So there is this spot in New Jersey that food lovers keep whispering about like it is some sort of delicious secret. And honestly,...

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This Small New Jersey Town Keeps Polish Traditions Alive Through Food And Culture

Forget everything you think you know about suburban New Jersey. This tiny borough operates on a different frequency entirely,...

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11 Culture Shocks Europeans Experience In New Jersey During The World Cup

European football fans may arrive expecting skyscrapers, stadium noise, and maybe one heroic slice of pizza before kickoff, but New Jersey has a few cheerful surprises waiting...

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The Remote Tower Rising Above New Jersey’s Wilderness With Jaw-Dropping Views

A 60-foot steel giant perched on the highest point of the ridge, this tower has been scanning the horizon for over a century. It...

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This Amish Bakery In New Jersey Is A Sweet Haven Of Tradition And Flavor

Some places smell so good you forget where you parked the car. This is one of them. A simple building in New Jersey where Amish...

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The New Jersey Farm Where Peach Season Starts Early July And Runs All Summer Long

July first hits and suddenly the air smells sweeter. That is peach season kicking off at this family owned farm, and the party...

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This New Jersey Italian Market Serves A Sinatra Sub So Good Customers Have Been Coming Back For Years

You do not just eat this sandwich. You experience it. The Sinatra sub has achieved legendary status around here, and people...

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You Can Ride Horses Through A 2,142-Acre Forest Preserve In The Heart Of New Jersey

Who says you need a car to explore the great outdoors? Saddle up instead. This massive forest preserve spreads across two thousand...

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This New Jersey Farm Turns Summer Nights Into Magical Evenings Of Music And Food

Summer nights were made for this. A farm that transforms into a glowing wonderland of live music and incredible food the second the sun goes down.

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This Giant New Jersey Sunflower Maze Is A Bright Summer Detour Worth The Wait

Petals pointing east, stems stretching tall, and a sea of yellow grinning back at the sun. That is the sight waiting for anyone...

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This New Jersey Antique Shop Packs So Much Vintage Treasure You Will Lose Track Of Time Completely

Time has a funny way of disappearing inside this New Jersey antique shop. You step through the door and suddenly the afternoon is gone.

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This Unassuming New Jersey Deli Hidden Behind A Bowling Alley Serves Authentic Polish Food While Vinyl Records Spin

You would never guess what is back there. Walk past the bowling alley, push open a plain door, and suddenly you are somewhere...

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This German Bakery In New Jersey Still Uses Bavarian Recipes Passed Down For Generations

Some recipes are too good to stay in one country. These ones crossed the ocean in a suitcase and landed right here. The flour...

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This 18,000-Square-Foot Tudor Mansion In New Jersey Is A Perfect Example Of Gilded Age Country Living

A grand fireplace crackling in a library with ceilings that go on forever. Stained glass windows throwing colors across stone floors.

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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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