sebastian reed author at My Family Travels
Article
The Haunted Riverbank Restaurant In Alabama That Still Smells Like Smoke

Gaines Ridge Dinner Club, nestled just outside Camden near the Alabama River, offers a dining experience like no other. This antebellum mansion, built in 1827, combines the allure...

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10 Hole-in-the-Wall Breakfast Bars In Oklahoma That Will Surprise You

Oklahoma is full of small, easy-to-miss breakfast spots with big flavor and loyal local followings. These are the places travelers often drive right past without realizing the...

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10 Under-The-Radar Places In South Dakota That Are Surprisingly Photogenic

If you’re traveling through South Dakota, don’t stop at the typical photo ops. From dramatic cliffs and serene lakes to historic architecture and striking public art, the state...

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The Haunted Mountain Hotel In Colorado Where Guests Hear Footsteps In Empty Halls

Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, The Stanley Hotel is as famed for its opulent architecture as it is for its ghostly inhabitants. Known as the muse behind Stephen King’s...

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The Secret New York Coffee Bars Locals Keep For Snowy Afternoons

If you’re traveling to New York on a snowy afternoon, the city’s slushy streets and biting wind make a cozy coffee bar the ultimate refuge. Locals know that the best spots...

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The Abandoned Church Hotel In Kentucky Where Hymns Still Play

If you're traveling through Kentucky and love discovering places that blur the line between history and modern comfort, there's one stay you won't want to miss: a 175-year-old...

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The “Forgettable” Oregon Town That Invented The Corn Dog

If you’re traveling along the Oregon coast, don’t overlook the small town of Rockaway Beach. While it may seem "forgettable" at first glance, this quiet coastal community holds...

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A “Dull” South Carolina Town That Hides The Oldest Bridge In The State

If you’re traveling through upstate South Carolina, the small town of Landrum might seem quiet - or even “dull” - at first glance. But hidden in its peaceful surroundings...

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8 Hidden Maryland Resorts Locals Whisper About

Lean in, friend, because Maryland hides its best retreats behind winding creeks, piney ridgelines, and locals who pretend they don’t know what you’re asking about. I’ve road-tripped...

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The Quietest City In Oregon Is Exactly Where You Should Go To Unplug

If you’re traveling and craving a break from noise, crowds, and the constant hum of modern life, Portland, Oregon may be your perfect getaway. Named the quietest major city in...

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Why Everyone’s Heading To This Michigan Town For A Nostalgic Winter Getaway

If you’re traveling through Michigan in the winter, Manistee is the place to experience a nostalgic getaway. With its Victorian architecture, horse-drawn carriage rides, and...

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The Town Everyone Calls Boring Just Opened The Most Unique Art Hotel In Texas

If you’re traveling through the wide-open emptiness of West Texas, you might pass through Marfa and wonder what all the fuss is about. A handful of quiet streets, a horizon that...

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This Tennessee Buffet Feels Like A Church Dinner That Never Ends

Travelers flock to Nashville for music, but they leave talking about Monell’s - where comfort food, stories, and strangers mix like a never-ending church supper. Platters parade...

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10 Warmest Southern Comfort Restaurants In Louisiana For Chilly Days

Chilly Louisiana days call for bowls of gumbo that steam your glasses and dining rooms that feel like a hug. This Confleko guide spotlights 10 cozy, locally loved restaurants from...

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Locals Call This Colorado BBQ Spot “The Buffet That Time Forgot”

Rolling toward the Rockies, you don’t expect to stumble into a time machine that smells like hickory smoke - yet that’s exactly what happens at Nordy’s BBQ & Grill in...

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Tourists Can’t Find This Oregon Diner That Never Stops Serving Pancakes

Medford, Oregon hums with orchard mornings, mountain horizons, and small-town pride that prefers word of mouth over billboards. Tucked along a quiet stretch, Debby’s Diner is...

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The Lost Montana Theme Park That Reopens Every Full Moon

They say that when the full moon rises over Butte, Montana, the sound of laughter drifts through the trees - faint echoes from a place that burned down half a century ago. Under...

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How Denver Is Balancing Locals And The Nomads Who Never Leave

Denver isn’t just a mountain getaway - it’s a city navigating a delicate balance between long-time locals and the new wave of nomads who never leave. If you’re thinking of...

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What Texans Secretly Think About Tourists At Their BBQ Joints

You’re shoulder-to-shoulder in a slow-moving line, oak smoke drifting like a promise while a pit hand cracks the door to a thundering smoker. A local behind you gives a friendly...

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10 Nebraska Small Towns That Became Instagram Backdrops

If you’re traveling through Nebraska, don’t be fooled by the flat plains - hidden among the small towns are vibrant streets, quirky landmarks, and scenic landscapes that have...

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The Haunted Virginia Mansion That’s Now An Empty Boutique Hotel

If you’re traveling through Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley and you take a detour into Staunton, you might find a hotel that feels too quiet - the kind of quiet that seems to...

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10 Maryland Bay Towns Tourists Made Impossible To Enjoy

If you love picturesque bay towns, here’s what you need to know before visiting Maryland’s most famous summer destinations - because the locals aren’t always thrilled about...

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New York’s Escape Game Favorite With Thousands Of Five-Star Reviews

NYC is packed with icons, but some of its most thrilling adventures happen behind a locked door and a ticking clock. If you crave cinematic storytelling, clever puzzles, and a...

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Arizona’s Haunted Hotel Where Room Service Isn’t The Only Thing That Knocks At Night

Check into Flagstaff’s Hotel Monte Vista and you’ll find more than creaky floors and neon charm along Route 66 - you’ll find stories that knock back. This historic landmark...

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10 Florida Beach Villages Locals Say Are Unlivable In Summer

Florida’s beaches are dazzling, but summer crowds can turn paradise into a patience test. Locals say traffic, parking, and noise explode as temperatures rise and visitor numbers...

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The Forgotten Florida Motel Where Lights Flicker Though Power’s Been Cut For Years

Hidden in Florida’s landscape is a Star Motel that seems to defy logic - lights flicker in rooms long without power, leaving visitors wondering what’s real and what’s legend....

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The Tiny Maine Harbor Town That Turns Into a Real-Life Holiday Movie Each Year

Picture a harbor wrapped in twinkling lights, where the briny Atlantic breeze mingles with pine boughs and hot cocoa. Each December, Kennebunkport, Maine, transforms into a cinematic...

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The All-You-Can-Eat BBQ Feast In Arkansas That Locals Keep Off Google Maps

Tucked away in Benton, Arkansas, there's a barbecue buffet that doesn't show up on every tourist's radar, but locals wouldn't have it any other way. Wood Grill Buffet serves up...

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Locals In Oregon Warn Travelers About A Road That Feels Different Every Time

Oregon travelers, beware: some roads in the state don't just take you from point A to point B - they change the way you experience them every time. The legendary Barlow Road, the...

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The Fish Sandwiches At This Florida Pier Café Are The State’s Best-Kept Secret

If you're cruising along Florida's Gulf Coast in search of the perfect beach bite, locals will tell you there's only one place to stop: Frenchy's Saltwater Café in Clearwater....

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10 Hidden Fast Casual Spots In New York That Locals Protect

Every traveler knows about Katz's Deli and Shake Shack - but true New Yorkers have their own list, a secret map of fast-casual gems hidden behind unmarked doors and neon lights....

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The Creamy Chowder At This Connecticut Inn Is What Fall Road Trips Are Made Of

Fall road trips through Connecticut offer stunning foliage, charming coastal towns, and unforgettable seafood stops. Among these treasures stands The Griswold Inn in Essex, a historic...

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Florida’s Cozy Italian Bistro Beloved As The Most Romantic Spot

If you're in Miami Beach and looking for a romantic Italian dining experience, Il Pastaiolo should be at the top of your list. This cozy bistro has won the hearts of couples, foodies,...

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Road Trippers Swear The Crab Rolls At This Maryland Beach Bar Are Unmatched

Maryland is famous for its incredible seafood, and if you're cruising through the state, there's one spot you absolutely cannot miss. Cantler's Riverside Inn in Annapolis has earned...

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Why North Carolina’s Docks Have Become A Seafood Lover’s Road Trip Dream

North Carolina's coastal docks are calling to anyone who loves fresh seafood and real waterfront experiences. From Calabash to Sneads Ferry, these working docks offer something...

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Missouri’s All-You-Can-Eat Pasta Buffet Locals Call “Endless Heaven”

Springfield, Missouri might not be the first place you think of for Italian food, but locals know a delicious secret. The Hill Italian Restaurant serves up an all-you-can-eat pasta...

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What Travelers In Oregon Learned The Hard Way About “Scenic Routes”

Oregon's scenic routes promise breathtaking vistas of mountains, forests, and rugged coastlines that make every mile feel like a postcard. But many travelers discover too late...

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The Hidden Cost Of Tourism Locals In Louisiana Are Finally Speaking About

Louisiana has always been magnetic. The brass bands echoing through narrow streets, the smell of gumbo simmering on stovetops, the parades that turn entire neighborhoods into celebrations...

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Tourists Reveal The Culture Shock They Felt Visiting South Carolina

South Carolina is a place where old-world charm meets coastal beauty, where historic cobblestone streets wind past grand plantations, and where marshes stretch endlessly under...

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This Hidden Maryland Crab Shack Is What Seafood Dreams Are Made Of

Maryland seafood lovers know that the best crab houses aren't always the fanciest ones. Sometimes, the most memorable meals come from unassuming spots where locals have been gathering...

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The Mysterious California Theme Park Left To Decay In Silence

Imagine walking through a place where laughter once echoed, deer roamed freely, and families gathered to experience a slice of Japan in Southern California. The Japanese Village...

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8 Boring Cities In Mississippi That Somehow Keep Making Headlines

Mississippi is full of small towns that might seem quiet on the surface, but they're anything but forgettable. From blues legends to Civil War battles, quirky festivals to college...

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10 Reasons Locals In Maine Are Fighting Back Against Over-Tourism

Maine's rugged coastlines, charming fishing villages, and pristine forests have made it a beloved destination for travelers seeking natural beauty and small-town charm. However,...

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The Real Reason Louisiana Locals Don’t Visit The City During Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras in New Orleans is one of the most famous celebrations in America, drawing millions of visitors every year. However, if you ask Louisiana locals about their plans during...

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How Tourists In Pennsylvania Keep Getting Arrested For Trespassing Cemeteries

Pennsylvania is home to some of the most beautiful and historic cemeteries in America, drawing curious travelers and history buffs from all over. However, many visitors don't realize...

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10 Oklahoma Old-School Diners Travelers Can’t Miss

If you're planning a road trip through Oklahoma, don't just follow Route 66 - taste it. From onion burgers sizzling on griddles in El Reno to fried chicken and biscuits served...

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This Tiny Georgia Diner Serves Grits So Creamy, They’re Almost Addictive

If you're planning a trip to Atlanta, Georgia, one culinary stop is non-negotiable: The Flying Biscuit Café. From its creamy, dreamy grits to oversized biscuits, this tiny neighborhood...

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9 Michigan Vegan Bakeries That Should Be on Your Radar This Year

If you're traveling through Michigan this year, don't miss the chance to indulge in some of the state's best vegan baked goods. From artisanal cupcakes to hot, fresh donuts, these...

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10 Illinois’ Lost Parks Tourists Once Loved

If you're traveling through Illinois and think you've seen all its landmarks, think again. Scattered across the state once stood some of America's most beloved amusement parks...

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9 Ways Minnesota’s Nature Has Been Overrun By Tourists

If you're planning to explore Minnesota's lakes, forests, and state parks, there's something you should know before you pack your hiking boots. The same natural beauty that draws...

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