owen lark author at My Family Travels
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10 Texas Cities With The Highest Crime Rates You Should Know About

Nobody likes to think about crime when planning a move or a visit. But knowing where the numbers are highest is just smart. These...

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A Rustic Cafe Where Burgers, And Big Texas-Style Portions Steal The Show

A burger should not require a loan. This rustic cafe agrees. The decor is simple, the service is friendly, and the plates arrive...

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These Dreamy Day Trips In Texas Include Historic Towns, Scenic Roads, And Hidden Cafes

A full weekend away sounds nice until the reality of packing bags and finding pet sitters sets in. That is where day trips save the day.

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Fresh Seafood And Huge Platters Make This Texas Coastal Spot Worth Coming Back For

A coastal spot that has been feeding hungry locals for over 40 years knows a thing or two about seafood. This Texas institution keeps the plates huge and the atmosphere laid back.

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Most People Drive Right Past This Texas BBQ Joint That Has Been Smoking Meat Since 1973

A cinder block building with a faded sign does not usually scream award winning barbecue. But this Texas joint has been smoking meat since 1973, so they must be doing something...

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This Texas Fabric Shop Also Offers Classes, Open Crafting Space, Machine Rentals, And Custom Embroidery

Most fabric shops just sell fabric and hope for the best. This Texas spot does way more than that. The space feels more like...

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This 4.5-Mile Texas Bike Path Combines Lakeside Views With Scenic Countryside

A flat path with lake views and zero hills sounds like a myth in Texas. But this 4.5 mile trail delivers exactly that. The...

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This Unassuming Steakhouse In Texas Will Serve You The Most Unforgettable Prime Rib Of Your Life

A prime rib that doesn't need a steak knife? Sounds like a myth. But at The Barn Door in Odessa, that myth becomes a reality....

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This Texas German Restaurant Is Known For Schnitzel And Cozy Dining Rooms

Some restaurants try too hard to look old. Fake distressed wood, pretend antiques from a catalog, you know the drill. This...

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A Hidden Texas Garden Filled With Sculptures And Native Plants Feels Like A Secret Escape

Some places in Texas do not try to impress you from the road. This garden hides behind trees and quiet streets, with no big sign screaming for attention.

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This Texas Rescue Center Is Giving Sea Turtles a Second Chance at Life in the Wild

You expect to see sick turtles in a rehab center, but you do not expect to see them floating in kiddie pools with little life jackets on. That is how they recover from getting...

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Texas’ 11 Best Hidden Gems Every Foodie Must Try

You open your food app and see the same ten places over and over. The real good stuff never shows up there. These hidden gems...

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Why This Texas Diner Is The King Of The Highway Breakfast Game

Before the sun even thinks about showing up, the parking lot already has a row of trucks. That is how you know this place means business.

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This Outdoor Texas Museum Leads You Through the Lives of Cowboys and Native Americans

You walk outside and suddenly you are standing where real cattle drives once kicked up dust. This is not an indoor exhibit with glass cases, it is a whole outdoor museum that puts...

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Taste 150 Years of Texas History At This Beloved Small-Town Bakery

You walk in and the glass cases are stuffed with pastries that look like they came from an old black and white photo. The smell of cinnamon and sugar hits you before you even pick...

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12 Towns Texans Escape To When They Need Peace and Quiet

The big cities get all the noise, the traffic, and the endless construction. Sometimes you just need to disappear. These 12...

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Texas Hill Country’s Best Historic Landmarks, Secret Swimming Holes, and Legendary BBQ Spots

You think you know this part of Texas, rolling hills and oak trees. But hidden between the famous spots are places most tourists never see.

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These Famous Texas Crab Cakes Turn A Simple Meal Into A Road Trip

You do not plan a road trip around a crab cake. And yet, here you are. People drive hours just to sit down at this no fuss...

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This Old-Fashioned Texas Cafeteria Serves Up The Finest Home-Cooked Meals You’ll Ever Have

You grab a tray and slide it along the rails, just like people have been doing here for decades. The steam table holds trays of food that look exactly like something your grandmother...

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This Tiny But Mighty State Park In Texas Is Too Stunning To Keep Quiet About

Bigger is not always better, and this park proves it. It is small compared to the famous ones, but every inch punches above its weight.

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Historic Ruins in Maryland Worth a Spot on Your Bucket List

There is something satisfying about standing in front of old broken walls that have been there longer than your grandparents. You do not need a history degree to enjoy it.

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This Hidden Maryland Bakery Serves European Comfort Food and Fresh Pastries

You walk past the door once and blink because you almost missed it again. That is the whole point. Inside, the air smells like...

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Texas’ Adults-Only Waterpark With A Swim-Up Bar And Endless Relaxation

Kids splashing, screaming, and cutting in line, that is the usual waterpark experience. This place has none of that. It is...

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Texas Train Ride That Winds Through the Hill Country With Views of the South San Gabriel River

You could drive through the hill country like everyone else, windows down, radio up. Or you could let a vintage train do the work while you just stare out the window.

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11 Texas Food Stops Perfect For Road Trips This May

Road trips are great, but road trips with a food mission are even better. May is the perfect month to hit the highways, windows down, appetite up.

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This Texas Amish Furniture Store Also Sells a Good Selection of Bulk Food Items and Homemade Candy

You walk in for a handcrafted dining table and walk out with a bag of homemade candy and five pounds of bulk pasta. That is the unexpected magic of this place.

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The Castle at This Texas Park Has Stone Stairs That Lead to a Surprise Lake View

You do not expect to find a castle in a Texas park, but here it is. The stone stairs wind upward, worn smooth by years of footsteps and curiosity.

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The Fried Catfish at This Texas Soul Food Spot Is Fried to Perfection With a Golden Crust

You know how some fried catfish comes out pale, greasy, or just sad? This place does the opposite. The crust is golden and...

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The All-You-Can-Eat Crab Deal in Maryland That Comes With a Warning

An all-you-can-eat crab deal sounds like a dream until you read the fine print that says "warning." Yes, a warning. Not about the spice or the butter, but about what happens when...

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10 Places in Maryland Locals Hope Tourists Never Discover

You know that feeling when you find a perfect little spot and suddenly want to swear everyone to secrecy? Locals have mastered that energy here.

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11 Texas Restaurants You Absolutely Must-Try In Your Lifetime

You only get one lifetime, so you might as well eat well while you are here. These 11 restaurants across Texas are not just good, they are the kind of places you tell your friends...

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Find Lost Treasures At This Texas Store Selling Airport Confiscated Items

Ever wonder what happens to all those pocketknives, water bottles, and weird souvenirs that get left behind at airport security? They end up here.

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The Highest Highway Bridge In Texas Stands Over 300 Feet Tall And Delivers Jaw-Dropping Canyon Views

You do not realize how high 300 feet really is until you are standing on a bridge looking down. This one holds the title for the highest highway bridge in the state, and it earns...

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Locals Say This Texas Italian Spot Serves a Lasagna So Good It’s Truly Life-Changing

You have had good lasagna before, the kind that makes you nod and say "that's pretty good." This is not that. Locals are throwing around phrases like "life-changing," which sounds...

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The Longest Stone Arch Bridge in Texas Spans the Brazos River With 18 Arches Built From Local Limestone

You have seen concrete bridges, steel bridges, maybe a few wooden ones. But a bridge built from 18 stone arches carved out of local limestone?

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Texas Seafood Buffets That Are Actually Worth the Price Tag

You have been to seafood buffets where the shrimp tastes like rubber and the crab legs look suspicious. Those are not worth your time or your money.

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This Secret State Park Is Perfect For Camping, Fishing, And Treasure Hunting

This state park is the hidden gem that other hidden gems wish they were. The camping spots feel private and peaceful, exactly what you need after a long week.

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San Antonio, Texas Thinks It Owns Breakfast Tacos But This Hole-In-The-Wall Says Otherwise

Some people think a certain big city owns the morning breakfast game. But there is a little spot hidden in a strip mall that is playing a completely different game.

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This South Texas Steakhouse Has Been Serving Ribeyes Since 1960 And North Texas Still Can’t Catch Up

Some steakhouses come and go, but this one has been around since 1960 for a reason. The ribeyes here have had decades to get perfected, and it shows.

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This Texas Cathedral Stuns With Spanish Colonial Architecture And Towering Details

You do not have to be religious to appreciate a building that looks like it took centuries to dream up. This cathedral stops you the second you walk through the doors.

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10 Texas Drive-In Movie Theaters That Deliver More Than A Nostalgic Experience

Drive-in movie theaters are not just for grandparents to talk about anymore. These places have figured out how to stay relevant while keeping that classic outdoor charm.

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This Hidden Texas Steakhouse Serves Some Of The Best Cuts Around

You know how some of the best steakhouses are the ones you almost drive right past? This place is exactly that. It hides off...

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A Texas Tex-Mex Restaurant Where Puffy Tacos And Family Recipes Stand Out

You have had crunchy tacos and you have had soft tacos. But puffy tacos? That is a whole different situation. This Tex-Mex...

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11 Texas Hidden Parks That Don’t Get The Attention They Deserve

Everyone knows the big famous parks where you fight for parking and elbow room on the trails. But some of the best spots are the ones most people just drive right past.

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This Small Texas Town Is Quietly Known For Its Bakery Stops, Historic Charm, And Unexpected Road Trip Appeal

There is a specific kind of magic found in a place that refused to get the memo about the twenty-first century. While the rest of the world is busy tearing down history to build...

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This Tiny Grocery Store Serves Up Some Of The Best Sandwiches In Texas

Layers of high-quality Italian meats and briny olive salad are the stars of the show, resulting in sandwiches that genuinely make you reconsider everything you thought you knew...

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Texas Dessert Spots That Totally Live Up To The Hype

Some of the most legendary Texas traditions involve a soft and pillowy kolache or a slice of pie that people will drive hours to find.

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The Texas Market Known For Local Produce, Specialty Groceries, And Fresh Prepared Foods All In One Stop

There are standard grocery stores and then there are 40,000-square-foot culinary landmarks that make you forget you ever had a shopping list in the first place.

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15 Texas Seafood Places That Stand Up To Texas BBQ Favorites

In a state where brisket and ribs are often treated like the undisputed kings of the food scene, it is easy to overlook the crowd drawing energy of a perfectly seasoned catch....

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The Texas Park Where Scenic Falls And A Suspension Bridge Create A Perfect Day Trip

You really do not need a boarding pass or a cramped middle seat to feel like you have successfully escaped the daily grind because sometimes all it takes is a nearly two mile loop...

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Texas Campgrounds Where You Can Camp Steps From The Water

Camping changes completely when the water is right there, not a hike away, not a drive, just a few steps from your tent. You...

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A Small-Town Texas Cafe Known For Hearty Southern Plates And Friendly Service

There’s a certain kind of cafe where you can tell right away people didn’t just show up once, they keep coming back. The...

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This Quiet Texas Town Offers Small-Town Charm And Stories That Stay With You

This is the kind of town where you don’t rush through, even if you thought you would. The streets are quiet, the buildings...

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This Might Be The Best Brisket We’ve Found While Exploring Texas Backroads

Backroads barbecue always feels like a gamble until it suddenly isn’t. You pull up not knowing if it’s going to be decent...

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This Texas Equestrian Store Is Packed With Saddles, Tack, And Western Riding Gear

Walking in here feels like stepping into a place that takes horses very seriously, in the best way. Leather everywhere, rows...

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We Found the Most Legendary Tex-Mex in the Texas Hill Country

I would not trust anyone who claims they found the best Tex-Mex without at least a little skepticism, but this is the kind of place that makes you reconsider pretty fast.

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This Texas Shack Serves Some of the Most Legendary Roadside Catfish You Will Ever Find

You can usually tell how good a place is by how little it tries to look impressive from the outside. Inside, it is loud, a...

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This Charming Texas Flea Market Inside A Chicken Coop Is Packed With Unexpected Treasures

I have seen a lot of flea markets, but this one starts with a chicken coop, which already tells you it is not going to be boring.

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This Texas Seafood Buffet Is So Good Locals Don’t Like Talking About It

The kind of place people hesitate to recommend too loudly. The buffet stays loaded, seafood, sushi, fried favorites, and more...

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This Unforgettable Texas Pirate Cruise Is A Swashbuckling Adventure On The Water

Not every boat ride comes with a storyline, and this one leans all the way into it. The moment you step on board, the whole experience...

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