silas thornton author at My Family Travels
Article
This Virginia Park Aligns With The Cosmos For Only 60 Seconds A Year

At a glance, it looks like an ordinary pocket park in Arlington, but once a year it transforms into something astonishingly precise. For exactly sixty seconds on August 1 at 9:32...

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8 Virginia’s Secret River Crossings That Locals Want To Keep Hidden

Virginia is hiding something wild, and locals are not exactly rushing to share it. Tucked behind dense forest canopies, winding mountain trails, and sleepy country roads, the state's...

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10 Virginia Beachfront Restaurants So Popular Locals Won’t Even Visit On Weekends

Virginia Beach has a serious problem, and locals are not shy about it. The beachfront dining scene here is so outrageously good that on any given Saturday or Sunday, you practically...

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The Highest Lake In Virginia Is Transforming Into Your Favorite Springtime Lounge

Perched high in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, there is a place that makes you forget your phone exists and remember why fresh air was invented. Locals swear by it, first-timers...

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Southwest Virginia’s Best-Kept Secret Is This 850-Foot Limestone Tunnel Tucked In The Mountains

Somewhere deep in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, nature pulled off something so jaw-dropping that a famous statesman once called it the Eighth Wonder of the World. A massive...

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This Virginia Saddlery Is A Massive Wonderland For Riders And Horse Lovers Alike

Not every store feels like a simple place to shop. Some pull you into their own world, filled with details that make you pause, look closer, and reach for everything in sight.

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This Upscale Virginia Italian Destination Is Serving Up Recipes Too Good To Ignore

One meal here is enough to shift expectations of what Italian dining in the DMV can look like. This upscale spot has built a reputation for turning first visits into repeat reservations...

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These 10 Massive Indoor Flea Markets In Virginia Are A Dream For Bargain Seekers

Virginia might not be the first place that comes to mind for treasure hunting, but it has quietly built one of the strongest flea market scenes on the East Coast. Across the state,...

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This Virginia Kitchen Delivers The Bold And Authentic Taste Of Lebanon

Not every place announces itself, but this one earns your attention immediately. Hidden in a Merrifield strip mall, this family-run kitchen is turning out Lebanese food that feels...

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This Virginia Hidden Gem Offers Vibrant Central Asian Flavors And Hand-Pulled Noodles

Virginia’s food scene does not always get the attention it deserves, but every so often, a place comes along that completely shifts your expectations. Hidden in Northern Virginia...

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This Hidden Mountain Reservoir In Virginia Has Some Of The Clearest Blue Water You’ve Ever Seen

Virginia is full of beautiful landscapes, but every so often a place stands out in a way that feels almost unreal. Deep in the Alleghany Highlands, a reservoir glows with a shade...

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The Elegant Virginia Parlor Car Where You Can Journey And Sightsee In First-Class Style

Step aboard a beautifully restored parlor car and let the rhythm of the rails carry you through Virginia’s most scenic stretches, all while you relax in first?class comfort....

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This Peaceful Virginia Museum Preserves the 500-Year-Old Story Of Southwest Virginia’s First People

Hot take: the most underrated history lesson in all of Virginia isn't in a textbook or a big-city museum. It's tucked into a quiet valley in Bland County, where the mountains hum...

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The Elaborate Virginia Shrine Dedicated To All World Religions Features A Massive Temple

In the rolling hills of Buckingham County, Virginia, an unexpected sight rises into view and instantly captures attention. A temple shaped like a blooming lotus flower stands at...

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This Massive Virginia Naval Base Is The Largest Of Its Kind In The World

Some places earn their reputation through sheer scale, and few do it quite like this legendary military installation sitting right on the Virginia coast. This base has been shaping...

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10 Mouthwatering Seafood Restaurants In Virginia Serving The Best Crab Dip You’ve Ever Tasted

Virginia has a serious love affair with crab dip, and honestly, I'm completely here for it. From the breezy shores of Virginia Beach to the buzzing streets of Richmond and the...

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This Quiet Virginia Lake Is A Mountain Sanctuary That Feels A Million Miles Away

Most people scroll past Virginia's Alleghany Highlands without a second glance, and honestly, that's a mistake worth talking about. Deep in the mountains, there's a lake so pristine,...

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This Scenic Virginia Venue Lets You Celebrate On A Terrace Right Above The Cascades

Some places just stop you in your tracks. Tucked into the rolling Virginia countryside, there is a venue so breathtakingly gorgeous that it almost feels fictional.

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This Warm Virginia Buffet Serves Old-Fashioned Home-Cooked Meals Just Like Grandma Used To

Some places just stop you in your tracks the moment you walk through the door. There is a spot in Portsmouth, Virginia, that has people lining up outside before it even opens,...

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We Stumbled Upon The Most Zesty And Traditional Gyros Hidden Right Here In Virginia

Virginia has no shortage of great places to eat, but every once in a while, you stumble onto something that stops you mid-bite and makes you rethink everything you thought you...

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This Hidden Kayak Park In Virginia Is A Paddler’s Paradise

If you’re looking for a quiet slice of water that feels like it’s been waiting just for you, you’ve got to check out this tucked?away kayak haven in Virginia. Imagine gliding...

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This Virginia Underground Tour Takes You Deep Into A Real 1880s Coal Mine

What if the ground beneath your feet held over a century of grit, sweat, and American industrial history? Somewhere in the rugged mountains of Virginia, a real working coal mine...

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10 Gatekept Virginia Diners You’d Never Find Without A Map

Virginia has a serious secret-keeping problem, and honestly, I am here for it. Tucked behind country roads, squeezed between old pharmacies, and hiding inside buildings that look...

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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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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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