silas thornton author at My Family Travels
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The Virginia Spot Known As The Grand Canyon Of the South Is A Spring Photography Paradise

Forget everything you think you know about Virginia's outdoor scene, because there is a place tucked into the far southwest corner of the state that will absolutely stop you in...

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This Virginia Football Stadium Is Famous For The Most Electric 60 Seconds In College Sports

Some college football traditions are loud. Some are passionate. But there is exactly one that makes the ground shake, registers...

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This Former 1920s Department Store In Virginia Now Houses an Award-Winning Italian Eatery

Some restaurants just serve food. Others serve an experience so layered, so alive, that you leave wondering why you waited so long to visit.

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10 Delectable Virginia Beach Restaurants For Every Kind Of Traveler

Virginia Beach is one of those rare coastal cities where the food scene is just as jaw-dropping as the oceanfront views. This stretch of Virginia coastline is packed with restaurants...

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Eat Like It’s 1920 At This Iconic Historic Railcar Restaurant In Virginia

Some restaurants serve food. Others serve time travel. Tucked inside a beautifully restored historic rail depot in Staunton,...

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This Famous Virginia Bakery Serves A Perfect $2 Donut That Draws Crowds From All Over The East Coast

What makes people drive hours before sunrise just for a pastry? In Blacksburg, there's a tiny bakery that's been creating morning magic since way back when, and folks still can't...

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Explore The Ultimate Designer Bargains At Virginia’s Biggest Outlet Destination With Over 100 Name-Brand Stores

Okay, hot take: outlet malls are either a total waste of time or the greatest invention known to shoppers. Which side are you on? Because...

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The 10 Best French Bakeries In Virginia You’ll Be Obsessed With

Virginia has a serious French bakery problem, and honestly, nobody is complaining. From the charming cobblestone corners of Old Town Alexandria to the artsy neighborhoods of Richmond,...

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This Small Town Virginia Bakery Serves Up Warm Apple Cider Donuts You’ll Dream About

Picture this: crispy edges dusted with cinnamon sugar, a soft pillowy center that practically melts on your tongue, and that unmistakable apple cider tang that screams autumn in...

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Virginians Are Traveling Far And Wide To Try The Famous Homemade Apple Dumplings At This Small-Town Restaurant

Think your local spot makes the best donuts? Think again. Tucked along a scenic mountain highway, a legendary roadside stop has...

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10 No-Frills Restaurants In Virginia Serving Up Mouthwatering Smoked Barbecue Ribs

Virginia has a serious barbecue problem, and honestly, nobody wants it fixed. Across the state, smoky, fall-off-the-bone ribs are served from roadside shacks, retro luncheonettes,...

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This Historic Village In Virginia Is Like Living In A Real-Life Time Capsule

Think your town moves slow? Try visiting a place where the pace hasn't changed since your great-grandparents were kids. Tucked...

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This Mountain Town In Virginia Is The “Crooked Road” Secret Every True Music Lover Needs To Visit

Think you know Virginia's best-kept secrets? Think again. Tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains, a tiny town with fewer than 500...

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Travel Through This Virginia District Where Luxury Brands Meet Historic Charm

Can Northern Virginia really give you both cutting-edge retail therapy and a time-traveling stroll through colonial America all in one trip? Absolutely.

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This Historic Town In Virginia Is So Realistic, It’s Basically A Real-Life Time Machine

Think you know what stepping back in time feels like? Fincastle might just prove you wrong. Tucked into the rolling hills of...

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This Scenic Virginia Trail Unlocks The Secrets Of A Forgotten 18th-Century Ghost Village

Think your neighborhood has history? Try wandering through a place where George Washington himself once dreamed of building an empire.

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The Cheeseburgers At This No-Frills Diner In Virginia Are Being Called The Best Burger In America

Think your favorite burger joint serves the best patty in town? You might want to reconsider. Tucked away in Charlottesville,...

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This Slow-Paced Town In Virginia Is So Peaceful, You’ll Think Time Actually Stopped

Think small towns are all the same? Think again. Tucked into the Alleghany Highlands, Covington might just be the place that...

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This Roadside Stop Serves Legendary Fried Chicken In Virginia Using A Secret Family Recipe

Can a convenience store truly serve the best fried chicken in Virginia? Locals swear by it, tourists rave about it, and food critics can't stop talking about it.

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This Virginia Seafood Spot Lets You Feast On Freshest Catch Right Off The Boat

Think you've tasted fresh seafood before? Wait until you pull up a chair at a place where fishing boats unload their catch just steps from your table.

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People Drive From All Over Virginia For The Mouth-Watering Reuben Sandwich At This Family-Run Deli

Some folks swear the best Reuben in Virginia isn't hiding in Richmond or lounging in Norfolk. Nope, it's chilling at a family-run deli on Virginia Beach Boulevard, and people are...

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These 11 Virginia Chocolate Shops Offer the Sweetest Treats For Your Valentine

Looking for a way to truly make your Valentine swoon this year? Skip the usual grocery store chocolates and treat your sweetheart to something unforgettable at one of Virginia’s...

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This Virginia Amish-Style Country Store Is Secretly Home To The State’s Best Homemade Comfort Food

Picture this: a place where you can feed a friendly goat, grab a sandwich that tastes like your grandma made it, and walk out with a jar of jam so good you'll want to eat it with...

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This Amish Buffet In Virginia Serves Comfort Food The Old-Fashioned Way

Tucked away in Harrisonburg sits a gem that's rewriting the rulebook on what comfort food can be. Wood Grill Buffet isn't your average all-you-can-eat spot where quantity trumps...

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This Virginia Garden Reveals Wealth, Pain And Power In One Place

Some places whisper their secrets through manicured lawns and grand facades, but Morven Park shouts them from every corner of its sprawling estate. Tucked into Leesburg's countryside...

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These 10 Virginia Historic Parks Make Visitors Think Harder Than Expected

You think you know what a park visit looks like? Blankets on grass, maybe a picnic basket, perhaps a lazy afternoon stroll? Virginia's...

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Zipline Through Virginia’s Forests Is A Must-Do Spring Adventure

Tucked into the Shenandoah Valley near McGaheysville, Massanutten Resort transforms every season into an adventure playground where adrenaline junkies and relaxation seekers collide...

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Meet Rare Species Up Close This Spring At Virginia’s Wildlife Sanctuary

Buckle up for one of the wildest rides you'll ever take without leaving your car. Virginia Safari Park in Natural Bridge transforms an ordinary weekend into an extraordinary adventure...

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This Virginia Mountain City Connects Outdoor Adventure And Culture

Tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains, Blacksburg transforms a college town into something unexpectedly electric. Virginia Tech might anchor this community, but the real magic happens...

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This Virginia Train Ride Offers Some Of The Most Breathtaking Scenery In The State

Picture yourself rolling through mountain valleys, sipping complimentary drinks while watching autumn leaves dance past vintage train windows. That's exactly what awaits at Virginia...

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This Virginia BBQ Joint Proves Small Menus Can Deliver Big Flavor

I used to fall for the biggest-menu-wins idea until I pulled up to County Smoak on Timberlake Road in Lynchburg and realized I had it backwards. This place keeps it simple on purpose,...

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This Hidden Museum In Virginia Teach Lessons Tourists Often Miss

Think you know Virginia history? Then tell me this: where did one of the longest and most brutal sieges of the Civil War unfold, changing the course of American history forever?

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This Charming Virginia Town Is A Hidden Gem For Affordable Living

Tired of spending half your paycheck on rent in overcrowded cities that offer nothing but traffic jams and overpriced coffee? Lynchburg, Virginia might just be the answer you didn't...

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The Massive Secondhand Shop In Virginia Where A $30 Budget Feels Endless

Think thrift shopping means settling for worn-out jeans and outdated styles? Think again. Uptown Cheapskate in Virginia Beach...

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This Hidden Virginia Seafood Restaurant Serves She Crab Soup Locals Swear By

Think your neighborhood spot serves the best she crab soup in Virginia? Locals in Chesapeake might argue otherwise, and they've got receipts to prove it.

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This Virginia Park Preserves The History Of An Ancient Island Village Underwater

What if you could stand where an ancient civilization once thrived, now resting peacefully beneath the rippling surface of a massive lake? Occoneechee State Park in Clarksville,...

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11 Virginia Restaurants That Show The North-South Food Battle

Virginia sits right in the middle of a delicious debate. Straddling the Mason-Dixon Line, the state serves up a fascinating mix of Northern sophistication and Southern comfort,...

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9 Spots In Virginia That Show Both The North And South Sides Of The State

Virginia straddles a unique cultural crossroads where Northern hustle meets Southern charm in perfect harmony. From bustling urban centers to sleepy river towns, the state showcases...

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This Virginia Restaurant Serves The Chili Dogs That Locals Have Been Buzzing About For Ages

Tucked away in the heart of Northern Virginia sits a legendary spot where the chili dogs have been making taste buds sing since the early sixties. Vienna Inn isn't just another...

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10 Virginia Restaurants That Look Ordinary Until The Food Arrives

Virginia might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of jaw-dropping cuisine, but that's exactly what makes its culinary scene so exciting. Tucked away in strip...

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Visit 8 Forgotten Mines And Quarries In Virginia That Are Surprisingly Picturesque

Virginia holds secrets beneath its rolling hills and lush forests, remnants of an industrial past that shaped the state's history. Abandoned mines and quarries dot the landscape,...

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This Charming Mountain Town In Virginia Is Ideal For A Peaceful Day Away

Tucked into the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Crozet is one of those rare Virginia gems where time seems to slow down just enough for you to catch your breath. This little...

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Locals Swear By This Virginia Smokehouse For Its Bold BBQ And Friendly Vibes

Picture this: you're cruising through Norfolk, Virginia, stomach rumbling, dreaming of smoky, tender meats that fall apart at the touch of a fork. Lucky for you, Redwood Smoke...

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This Virginia Indoor Flea Market Feels Like A Playground For Treasure Hunters

Picture this: over a hundred thousand square feet of treasure hunting paradise tucked away in the heart of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Factory Antique Mall in Verona is not your...

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These 10 Virginia Coffee Shops Are Where Locals Start Their Mornings

Morning rituals in Virginia are serious business, and coffee is the unshakable centerpiece. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay, locals have their go-to spots where...

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Locals Say The French Onion Soup At This Virginia Restaurant Is Worth The Drive

Tucked away in Great Falls, Virginia, sits a restaurant that has earned a devoted following for one particular dish. L'Auberge Chez François serves French onion soup so remarkable...

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Locals Say These 11 Virginia Town Squares Still Feel Like Community

Virginia's historic town squares have always served as the heartbeat of local communities, places where neighbors gather, traditions thrive, and memories are made. These public...

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A Small Town In Virginia Locals Love For Artisan Shops And Quiet Streets

Tucked away on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Onancock feels like stepping into a simpler time where artisan creativity meets coastal charm. This waterfront gem has quietly earned a...

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A Mountain Outlook In Virginia Locals Say Offers The Most Iconic Appalachian Views

Perched high in the Virginia mountains, McAfee Knob stands as one of the most photographed spots along the entire Appalachian Trail.

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10 Day Trips In Virginia That Locals Recommend To Visitors

Virginia offers an incredible variety of experiences within a short drive from almost anywhere in the state. From misty mountain...

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