sadie clarke author at My Family Travels
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8 Oklahoma Eateries Still Serving Crispy, Old-School Fried Okra

Is there anything more Oklahoma than crispy fried okra served at a steakhouse that's been around longer than your grandparents' marriage?

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This Quiet Oklahoma Village Feels Suspended in Time, and Tourists Haven’t Changed It

Locals in Oklahoma know there's a lakeside town tucked into the Ozark foothills where the pace hasn't changed in decades, but do tourists realize what they're missing or is the...

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This 54-Mile Oklahoma Drive Is One of the Most Overlooked Scenic Adventures Around

Oklahoma locals know their state holds hidden treasures that most travelers speed right past, and this 54-mile mountain drive might just be the most underrated of them all.

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This Oklahoma Bridge Is Wrapped in Dark Stories Locals Don’t Like to Talk About

Somewhere along the fringes of Oklahoma City, where old Route 66 whispers tales of glory days and forgotten journeys, stands a bridge that locals pass with lowered voices and sidelong...

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This Unassuming Spot in El Reno Marks a Tragedy Oklahoma Will Never Forget

Out on a quiet dirt road near El Reno, Oklahoma, surrounded by wide open fields and endless sky, sits a memorial that storm chasers from around the world come to visit. It marks...

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The Ribeye at This Remote Oklahoma Steakhouse Makes the Trip Feel Necessary

Tucked away in the heart of rural Oklahoma, Amber is the kind of small town that feels frozen in time, where the pace slows down and the air carries the scent of smoked meat for...

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This Family-Run Oklahoma Buffet Has Quietly Outlasted Every Trend

Moore, Oklahoma sits just south of Oklahoma City, where sprawling plains meet suburban neighborhoods and unexpected culinary treasures hide in plain sight. This part of the state...

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This Hidden Oklahoma Backroad Hides Bizarre Landmarks and Local Stories

Western Oklahoma stretches wide and windswept between Clinton and Elk City, where a legendary ribbon of asphalt cuts through the prairie with stories etched into every mile.

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This Oklahoma BBQ Spot Is Known More by Word of Mouth Than Ads

Wellston sits along the historic Route 66 corridor in Oklahoma, where the landscape rolls gently between prairie and farmland, and the air carries a scent that travelers follow...

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This Hidden Canyon System in Oklahoma Should Be on Every Travel List but Somehow Isn’t

Tucked into the forested hills of southeastern Oklahoma near Wilburton, the Coon Creek Canyon System at Robbers Cave State Park remains one of the region's most underappreciated...

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This Unassuming Oklahoma Soul Food Kitchen Leaves Newcomers Seriously Impressed

Tucked away on a quiet stretch of North 74th East Avenue in Tulsa, Oklahoma, sits a restaurant that carries the weight of history and the warmth of home cooking in equal measure.

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An Oklahoma Travel Stop Residents Wish Would Stay Off the Radar

Tucked along the historic Mother Road in western Oklahoma, Lucille's Roadhouse stands as more than just a place to refuel and grab a bite.

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This Oklahoma Town Feels Frozen in a Better, Slower Time

Pawhuska sits in the rolling hills of northern Oklahoma, where time seems to move at a different pace. The streets here tell...

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Why Tulsa Locals Skip These Big Restaurants for Hole-in-the-Wall Favorites

Tulsa sits where the plains meet the Arkansas River, and the neighborhoods carry an easy rhythm that rewards slow wandering. You...

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Why Tulsa Locals Shut Their Doors When Tourists Flood Historic Neighborhoods

Tulsa rests along the Arkansas River in northeastern Oklahoma, where oil wealth and prairie heritage have shaped a city known for art deco towers, wide boulevards, and historic...

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These Things Travelers Appreciate, and Question, About Visiting Oregon

Oregon sweeps you from wave-lashed headlands to quiet deserts in a single day, and that range is exactly what makes a trip here unforgettable.

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These New York Towns Are Adjusting to Growing Visitor Numbers

New York is seeing intimate towns become headline destinations, and the shift is reshaping daily life block by block. You...

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7 Tennessee Small-Town Buffets That Bring the Feeling of Sunday Supper

Sunday supper in Tennessee means unhurried conversation, warm rooms, and plates that feel like home. Small towns across the...

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Oklahoma Weekend Road Trip: Discover Hidden Trails and Local Eats

Oklahoma holds more surprises than most travelers realize, especially when you venture beyond the interstates and into the backroads where adventure waits around every bend.

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8 Pennsylvania Tourist Attractions That Draw Crowds Year-Round

Pennsylvania holds a special place in American history and culture, drawing millions of visitors who come to experience its remarkable landmarks and attractions.

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German Chocolate Cake at This Oklahoma BBQ Spot Is Popular With Diners

Oklahoma City holds a special place in the hearts of barbecue lovers, and George's Happy Hog Bar-B-Q has been serving up smoky, slow-cooked favorites for years.

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7 Taco Spots Across Ohio Worth Noting

Ohio keeps surprising you, especially when great tacos roll up on quiet corners and parking lots you almost miss. This list...

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8 California All-You-Can-Eat Restaurants Popular With Families

Traveling through California with kids and grandparents in tow can make dinner plans feel complicated, yet the right all you can eat spot turns logistics into fun.

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California Hosts the Great Dickens Fair as a Holiday Event

Step into a living storybook where California winter skies meet the glow of Victorian London streets. The Great Dickens Fair...

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8 Best Late-Night Eats in Houston That Stay Packed Till Sunrise

Houston refuses to power down when the moon is high, and the best bites often arrive after most cities have called it a night. The...

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7 Small-Town Oregon Restaurants Known for Seasonal, Farm-to-Table Dishes

Oregon's smaller communities hold some of the most authentic farm-to-table dining experiences in the Pacific Northwest. These...

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What Visiting Oklahoma Teaches Tourists About Traveling Cheaply

If you think great trips require pricey tickets and fancy resorts, Oklahoma will change your mind fast. The state rewards...

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12 Michigan Lakes Well Suited for Family Day Trips

Michigan invites family adventures with gentle beaches, clear water, and easy day trip logistics that keep everyone smiling. You...

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7 Scenic Drives Through Texas Hill Country

Driving through the Texas Hill Country never fails to surprise me. Each route reveals its own blend of rolling hills, winding...

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8 Quirky Landmarks Across Washington State

Washington State is known for its mountains, forests, and coastlines, but scattered among its natural landmarks are monuments that lean more toward the unusual.

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8 Last-Minute Christmas Gift Stops in Texas Locals Won’t Tell Tourists About

You still have gifts to find, and Texas delivers if you know where to look. Skip the crowded headliners and follow the quiet...

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9 Small Towns in Iowa to Explore at a Relaxed Pace

Iowa holds a special kind of magic in its quiet corners, where small towns sit tucked between rolling farmland and gentle rivers.

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7 Indiana County Fairs Locals Circle on the Calendar Every Year

Indiana summers feel different when a county fair is in full swing, and that is exactly why locals circle these weeks on the calendar without hesitation.

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7 Florida Small Towns With Historic Districts and Waterfront Access

Florida offers more than theme parks and crowded beaches. Tucked along coastlines, rivers, and bays are small towns where...

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10 Mississippi Small Towns Grappling With Rising Tourist Crowds

Mississippi keeps turning heads, and small towns are feeling the rush in real time. Travelers chase river views, coastal breezes,...

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Image credits: © Valdez/Google maps © Fairbanks/Google maps
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10 Alaska Towns That Offer Peaceful Winter Getaways

Winter in Alaska transforms the landscape into a quiet wonderland where small towns become havens of tranquility. Far from...

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Why This “Blink-and-You’ll-Miss-It” Corner of Vermont Deserves a Second Look

You might think Woodstock, Vermont is a pretty postcard you can tick off in a minute, but give it a breath and the town opens up in surprising ways.

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Image credits: © Matthiessen State Park/Google Maps © Shawnee National Forest/Google Maps
Article
10 Illinois Parks Locals Escape To When City Life Gets Loud

Chicago’s skyline shines, but Illinois offers plenty of green escapes when city life gets loud. Across the state, parks...

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This Tiny Vermont Mountain Town Turned Into a Winter Wonderland Hotspot

Tucked beneath the towering presence of Mount Mansfield, Stowe has quietly transformed from a modest northern Vermont settlement into one of the most celebrated winter destinations...

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Image credits: © Fort Fisher State Recreation Area/Google Maps © Yadkin Valley Wine Country/Google Maps
Article
9 North Carolina Winter Drives Locals Take When Everything Finally Goes Quiet

When winter hushes the hills and the coast exhales its last warm breath, North Carolina unveils roads that feel built for quiet.

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9 Idaho Villages and Towns Locals Avoid During Festival Weekends

Festival weekends in Idaho can flip quiet corners into full throttle scenes, and locals know exactly when to steer clear and let visitors take the reins.

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8 North Dakota Grocery Stores Known for Their Outstanding Meat Departments

North Dakota rewards meat lovers with grocery stores that treat butchery like a craft, and this guide shows you exactly where to go.

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7 Coastal Style Seafood Spots in Colorado You’ll Forget You’re Nowhere Near the Ocean

You might expect seafood joints to hug ocean shores, yet Colorado flips the script with serious coastal style. Across the...

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9 Vermont Small Towns Overrun by Tourists Losing Their Old-World Charm

Vermont is on every leaf-peeper’s wish list, and lately the smallest towns feel the surge most. Cobblestone corners that...

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This Cozy Oklahoma Spot Serves Cinnamon Rolls the Size of Your Steering Wheel

On Route 66 in Claremore, a low brick building glows with the kind of welcome that does not need a sign to explain it. Morning...

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The Surprising Reason Tourists Flock to North Dakota for Fresh-Cut Meat

You might not expect a meat pilgrimage in North Dakota, yet travelers pack coolers and reroute trips for cuts they can trust. The...

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Tennessee Turns Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Christmas Into a Must-See Holiday Universe

Step inside the glass atriums and Nashville’s winter turns into pure theater, glittering with lights reflected on winding canals and tropical leaves that never shiver.

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The Dullest Coastal Town in Maine That Feels Like a Private Escape

Fog slips off the Bay of Fundy and tucks into the coves of Lubec, leaving the clapboard houses and quiet wharves looking like a watercolor that has not quite dried.

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Texas Transforms San Antonio River Walk Lights Into a Stunning Spectacle Drawing Massive Crowds

Arriving at the San Antonio River Walk after sunset feels like stepping into a living ribbon of light that curls beneath stone bridges and quiet cypress boughs.

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9 Winter Holiday Villages in Georgia That Surprise Visitors Every Year

Georgia in winter does quiet magic that sneaks up on you, swapping humid summers for crisp skies, glittering squares, and pine scented air.

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