tobias gray author at My Family Travels
Article
This Quirky Texas Town Feels Like A Movie Set With More Charm Than You’d Expect

Lockhart sits about thirty miles south of Austin, tucked into the rolling hills of Caldwell County, and I had no idea what I was walking into the first time I visited.

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Under-The-Radar Vintage Store In Texas Is A Maze Of Vintage Finds And Rare Gems

Walking through the red front door of Lula B's Design District feels like stepping into someone's incredibly cool attic, except this attic sprawls across thousands of square feet...

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Bread Pudding At This Restaurant In Texas Is So Good, It Draws People From Miles Away

I'll admit, when I first heard people raving about bread pudding at a barbecue joint, I was a little skeptical. Dessert at a smokehouse?

Read More    6 min read

Article
Texas Attractions Visitors Can’t Resist but Locals Think They’re Waste of Money

Every state has those places where tourists flock in droves while locals shake their heads and take the long way around. Texas might be bigger than most, but that just means we...

Read More    9 min read

Article
Texas Flea Markets Where Locals Hunt for the Best Deals

I've always believed that the best way to understand a place is through its markets, and Texas flea markets deliver that experience in spades. Sprawling acres of vendors, the hum...

Read More    6 min read

Article
Texas Places You Visit Once and End Up Returning Every Year

There's something about Texas that gets under your skin after just one visit. Maybe it's the wide-open spaces, the friendly locals, or the way each corner of the state offers something...

Read More    10 min read

Article
A Peaceful Texas Town That Comes Alive in the Spring

Chappell Hill is one of those places that made me slow down without even realizing it. I drove in and immediately felt the pace change, with quieter roads, old buildings that look...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Otherworldly Texas Landscape Belongs on Your 2026 Trip List

The West Texas highway gives no warning for what comes next, which is why the sight of towering white sand dunes near Monahans feels so unexpected. Rising straight out of the scrubland,...

Read More    8 min read

Article
10 Quiet Texas Towns That Prove You Can Retire Well for Under $2,000 a Month

I started noticing something interesting during my last drive through the Hill Country. Between the highway billboards and busy tourist stops, there were these smaller towns that...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Small Texas Town Has Big Charm and Many Hidden Gems

I almost drove right past Fayetteville the first time I headed through Fayette County, thinking it was just another quiet dot on the map between Houston and Austin.

Read More    8 min read

Article
Texas Locals Say You Haven’t Lived Until You Tried This Pie

I thought I liked pie before I went to Emporium Pies. Turns out, I was just eating placeholders. This is the kind of place...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Texas Place Serves Brisket That’s Dangerously Easy to Crave

I did not expect Arlington to be where one of my favorite barbecue stops would live, but Hurtado Barbecue changed my mind fast. Sitting near downtown, this place smells like mesquite...

Read More    6 min read

Article
This Dog-Friendly Texas Spot Is Basically a Café and a Park Combined Perfect For February Visit

I wasn't sure what to expect when I first heard about a place where you could grab a bite while your dog ran free in an off-leash park. The idea sounded almost too good to be true,...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Texas Wildlife Refuge Is a Great Place to Visit in February and See Animals Up Close

February is when the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge truly comes alive, with migratory birds settling in for the winter and resident wildlife moving more freely through the cooler...

Read More    8 min read

Article
9 Mouth-Watering Texas Taco Spots Locals Keep Quiet About

Texas loves to show off its taco scene, but the best tacos I have ever eaten were never at the places blowing up online. They were in quiet neighborhoods, at spots where everyone...

Read More    9 min read

Article
12 Texas Nature Spots That Feel Like Another Planet

I used to think Texas was all dusty roads and wide-open plains, and then I actually started exploring it. The deeper I went, the more it felt like I had stepped onto a completely...

Read More    10 min read

Article
Texas Secret Cafés Tourists Rarely Find but Everyone Talks About

Texas stretches wide and wild, filled with bustling cities, endless highways, and roadside stops that could easily be missed if you blink too long.

Read More    8 min read

Article
Family Run Mexican Restaurants in Texas That Locals Trust Completely

Texas has always been a crossroads where cultures blend, traditions simmer, and flavors speak louder than words. Family-run Mexican restaurants across the state have perfected...

Read More    9 min read

Article
The Way Locals in Texas Actually Feel About Travelers

Texas stretches across the American South like a world unto itself, where vast deserts meet rolling hills and sprawling cities rise from open plains. When travelers roll into the...

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Texas Town Quietly Became a Weekend Refuge for People Escaping Cities

Wimberley, Texas sits tucked into the rolling Hill Country west of Austin, where cypress-lined creeks wind through limestone bluffs and old ranches give way to art galleries and...

Read More    7 min read

Article
10 Texas Places Where the Portions Shock First Time Visitors

Texas doesn't do anything halfway, and that goes double for food. First-time visitors quickly learn that ordering a meal here means signing up for a plate that could feed a small...

Read More    10 min read

Article
10 Texas Restaurants People Say Feel the Most “Texas” Without Trying

Texas doesn't need to brag about being Texas. It just is. From the rolling hills of the Hill Country to the dusty plains of...

Read More    9 min read

Article
Texas Towns With Unsolved Mysteries Locals Talk About

Texas holds secrets that refuse to fade, mysteries whispered about in diners, bars, and front porches across the Lone Star State. From ghost lights dancing in the desert to phantom...

Read More    10 min read

Article
Texas Places Locals Won’t Visit Anymore Because of Crowds

Texas stretches across landscapes so diverse they feel like different countries. From the limestone hills of the Hill Country to the humid Gulf Coast, and from the sprawling urban...

Read More    10 min read

Article
Texas Cities People Love Visiting but Wouldn’t Never Live In

Texas stretches across nearly 270,000 square miles, offering everything from Gulf Coast beaches to Hill Country vineyards, historic ghost towns to lively entertainment districts....

Read More    10 min read

Article
This Texas Tex-Mex Spot Locals Say Outsiders Always Misjudge

Tucked along Navigation Boulevard in Houston's East End sits a restaurant that sparks debate among food lovers from near and far.

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Texas City Has a Nightlife Scene That Starts After Midnight

Austin, Texas pulses with an energy that defies the typical clock. While most cities wind down as midnight approaches, this vibrant capital comes alive in ways that surprise even...

Read More    7 min read

Article
This Texas Hotel Refuses to Modernize (and That’s the Whole Point)

Standing tall at 200 E 3rd St in Big Spring, Texas, Hotel Settles is a living time capsule that opened its doors in 1930 and refuses to bow to modern trends.

Read More    8 min read

Article
These Texas Places Locals Love but Say Social Media Is Ruining

Texas stretches across prairies, deserts, hill country, and coastline, offering a stunning variety of landscapes that have captivated travelers for generations.

Read More    10 min read

Article
This Texas County Feels Like a Local-Only Escape

Nestled in the rugged heart of North Central Texas, Palo Pinto County stretches across rolling hills, limestone bluffs, and sparkling lakes that feel untouched by time.

Read More    7 min read

Article
The Texas Restaurant That Quietly Became a Local Legend

Tucked away in the heart of San Antonio's historic Market Square, Mi Tierra Café y Panadería has been serving up authentic Mexican flavors and warm hospitality since 1941.

Read More    10 min read

Article
Unexpected Places in Texas Where the Food Completely Steals the Show

Texas is a state where culinary surprises wait around every corner, tucked away in the most unlikely of spots. From converted...

Read More    6 min read

Article
These Are the Texas Small-Town Festivals Locals Fear Going Viral

Texas is a land of wide-open spaces, proud traditions, and communities that treasure their unique cultural celebrations. Scattered...

Read More    8 min read

Article
The Texas Dessert Bars Locals Love Far From the Spotlight

Texas holds more than barbecue and Tex-Mex in its culinary treasure chest. Scattered across cities and small towns, a collection...

Read More    8 min read

Article
These Arizona Towns People Call Boring Until They End Up There

Arizona's landscape stretches far beyond the Grand Canyon and sprawling desert vistas most people imagine. Scattered across...

Read More    9 min read

Article
This All-You-Can-Eat BBQ Buffet in Oklahoma Is One Locals Quietly Hope Stays Low-Profile

Hidden along South Memorial Drive in Tulsa, Oklahoma, sits a culinary treasure that has quietly captured the hearts of locals who know good food when they taste it.

Read More    7 min read

Article
Why Travelers Keep Coming Back to This Oregon Brunch Spot

Tucked inside a stylish downtown Portland hotel at 750 SW Alder Street, Bistro Alder has become a must-visit destination for travelers exploring Oregon's vibrant food scene.

Read More    8 min read

Article
How This Colorado Ghost Town Feels Almost Alive

St. Elmo sits high in the Sawatch Range of Colorado, a ghost town that refuses to fade completely into memory. Founded in 1880...

Read More    10 min read

Article
These Quick Road Trips in Arizona Make Easy Getaways Within Three Hours of Phoenix

Phoenix sits at the heart of Arizona like a compass pointing toward adventure in every direction. Within just a three-hour...

Read More    8 min read

Article
These Hole-in-the-Wall Omelette Houses in Wyoming Locals Love and Travelers Seek Out

Wyoming might be famous for its wide open spaces and dramatic mountain ranges, but tucked into its small towns are breakfast spots that serve up some of the best omelettes you'll...

Read More    8 min read

Article
All-You-Can-Eat Restaurants Across North Carolina That Stay Busy for a Reason

North Carolina has earned a reputation for hospitality, and nowhere is that more evident than in its thriving all-you-can-eat dining scene.

Read More    10 min read

Article
All-You-Can-Eat Restaurants in Pennsylvania Locals Trust Without Hesitation

Pennsylvania has earned its reputation as a destination where food traditions run deep and generous hospitality is a way of life.

Read More    8 min read

Article
11 Oregon Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants Locals Return to Regularly

Oregon's culinary landscape stretches far beyond the trendy farm-to-table spots and bustling downtown eateries that fill travel guides.

Read More    10 min read

Article
8 California Day Trips That Fit Comfortably Into a Weekend

California stretches from misty northern forests to sun-drenched southern beaches, creating a landscape so varied that weekend explorers never run out of places to discover.

Read More    8 min read

Article
9 Lesser-Known Mountain Towns in Colorado Locals Treasure

Colorado's rugged peaks and alpine valleys hide more than just famous ski resorts and crowded tourist destinations. Tucked...

Read More    9 min read

Article
A Quiet New York Village That Feels Worlds Away From the City

Tucked along the eastern banks of the Hudson River in Putnam County, Cold Spring is a charming village that offers an escape from Manhattan's relentless pace without requiring...

Read More    11 min read

Article
Why This New Mexico Town Feels So Different From Anywhere Else

Tucked away in the high desert of southern New Mexico lies a town with one of the most unusual names in America: Truth or Consequences.

Read More    8 min read

Article
Why Everyone Has the Same Reaction to This Random Bridge in Washington

Nestled between Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island in the Pacific Northwest, Deception Pass Bridge stands as one of Washington State's most photographed and visited landmarks.

Read More    8 min read

Article
This Tennessee Town Makes Solo Travelers Feel Unexpectedly Safe

Nestled in the rolling hills of East Tennessee, Jonesborough stands as the state's oldest town, a place where history whispers from every brick-lined street and welcoming smiles...

Read More    8 min read

Article
8 Maine Inland Villages Tourists Skip While Racing to the Coast

Most travelers racing through Maine head straight for the rugged coastline, eager to taste fresh lobster rolls and snap photos of iconic lighthouses.

Read More    8 min read