zara wells author at My Family Travels
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This Bizarre Oregon House Is Famous For Its Wildly Crooked Floors

When I first stepped into this quirky Oregon home, my eyes dropped to the floor and I couldn't help but grin. The wooden planks twist and tilt in every direction, turning a simple...

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This Dinosaur Trail In Oregon Feels Like A Trip Back To The 1950s

Walking the dinosaur trail in Oregon felt like hopping into a time capsule from the 1950s, and I couldn’t help but smile at every detail. The road was lined with pastel markers...

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This Secluded Lakeside Campground In Oregon Is Perfect For Outdoor Enthusiasts

Last weekend I escaped to a secluded lake in Oregon and found the perfect playground for anyone who loves the outdoors. Setting up camp was easy, and the view of the glass?like...

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Tourists Ruined One Of Oregon’s Most Beautiful Blue Water Spots

When I heard locals whisper about a stunning blue-water spot tucked away in Oregon, I pictured a quiet place. The horizon melted into crystal?clear waves.

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This Charming Oregon Farm Is Famous For Its Giant Sunflower Fields

There’s something undeniably uplifting about standing amid a vast carpet of sunflowers. Each blossom stretches toward the sky like a friendly wave.

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9 Little-Known Oregon Beaches So Good We Almost Kept Them Secret

Oregon's coastline is one of the most dramatic stretches of shoreline in the entire country, and most people only know the obvious stops. Cannon Beach gets the postcards, and Seaside...

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Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day On This Festive Train Ride In Oregon This March

I love finding a reason to wear my brightest green shirt, and this year the perfect excuse showed up on the rails. I stepped onto a festively decorated train, and the moment the...

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This Magical Trail In Oregon Leads To A Brilliant Blue Pool And Stunning Waterfalls

I honestly didn't believe the photos until I saw this place with my own eyes. Walking through the lush, deep greens of the forest, I felt like I was stepping right into a fairytale.

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The Homemade Pies At This Oregon Café Have A Cult Following

Some pies are good. Some pies are great. And then there are the pies at this Oregon café - the kind that make you pause mid-bite...

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This Oregon Hike Takes You Behind Ten Breathtaking Waterfalls

If your idea of the perfect day involves fresh air, stunning views, and a touch of genuine natural wonder, then prepare to be absolutely captivated by one of Oregon's most iconic...

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This Oregon Indian Buffet Is a Locals-Only Secret

You know those places that just get it? The ones where the food is so good, and the vibe so welcoming, you almost want to keep it to yourself?

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People Drive From All Over Oregon Just To Eat At This Tiny Restaurant

You know how sometimes you hear about a place, and it just piques your curiosity? Well, I'd heard whispers about this little eatery in Oregon, a spot so special that folks journey...

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This Enchanting Oregon Shop Is Packed With Crystals, Curiosities, and Witchy Charm

Walking into Tansy and Thyme in Albany, Oregon feels like stepping through a doorway into another world entirely. The air carries the soft, earthy scent of incense, and every surface...

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This Oregon Diner Is Famous for Pancakes the Size of Your Plate

Tucked along West 6th Avenue in Eugene, Oregon, GJ's Family Restaurant is the kind of place that makes you feel at home before you even sit down. The smell of fresh coffee and...

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This Hidden Oregon Hot Spring Stays Warm Year Round and Hardly Ever Gets Crowded

Tucked into the Cascade Mountains within Mount Hood National Forest, Bagby Hot Springs offers something rare: a natural soaking experience that stays accessible and inviting throughout...

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

Some burgers are just burgers. Then there are burgers that become legends, the kind that people travel across state lines to taste for themselves.

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This Oregon Brunch Spot Is All About Giant Biscuits and House-Made Gravy

Pulling up to a converted house on a quiet Salem street, the last thing you expect is one of the best brunch experiences of your life waiting just behind the front door.

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This Hidden Oregon Slot Canyon Is One of the State’s Most Magical Places

Tucked between towering moss-covered basalt walls along the Historic Columbia River Highway, Oneonta Gorge feels less like a hiking destination and more like stepping into a living...

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This Oregon Railroad Bridge Hike Feels Like Walking Through History

Walking across the Isaac Lee Patterson Bridge in Gold Beach feels like stepping onto a film set where history plays the leading role. This isn't just another concrete span over...

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Oregon Locals Plan Their Day Just to Eat at This Legendary All-You-Can-Eat Spot

Rainy days in Oregon practically demand something warm, comforting, and deeply satisfying. When the skies turn gray and the drizzle won’t quit, locals start thinking about steaming...

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This Oregon Restaurant Transforms Afternoon Tea Into an Alice in Wonderland–Style Experience

Stepping inside felt like tumbling into a storybook where Victorian elegance collided with steampunk gears and every corner whispered secrets waiting to be discovered. This isn't...

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9 Oregon Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurants Locals Claim Are Better Than Fancy Places

Oregon locals know something that many tourists miss. The best meals in the state often come from the smallest kitchens, where family recipes and honest cooking matter more than...

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This Hidden Oregon Sushi Spot Is a Local Favorite for Good Reason

A rainy Tuesday pushed me off my usual dinner routine and straight into Miyamoto, and nothing about my sushi standards has been the same since. From the outside, this little spot...

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9 Lesser Known Oregon Places That Are Still Under the Radar

Oregon has so many incredible places that tourists flock to every year, but I've discovered some spots that most people drive right past without even knowing they exist. I've spent...

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This Oregon Jet Boat Adventure Reveals Scenery Most People Never Get to See

Gold Beach sits along Oregon's southern coastline where the Rogue River meets the Pacific, and most visitors never see beyond the highway viewpoints.

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Oregon Locals Keep Showing Up to These Places for One Reason

Oregon holds a special kind of magic that keeps locals coming back to the same cherished places year after year, and it's not about following tourist brochures or chasing viral...

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This 2.8-Mile Trail Might Be One of the Most Unique Hiking Experiences in Oregon

Walking on metal grates suspended over a rushing river feels like a scene straight out of an adventure movie. Your footsteps clang against steel, the sound of whitewater roars...

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This Historic Restaurant in Oregon Will Take You Back to the 1800s

Gold Rush history comes alive every time you walk through the doors of the Jacksonville Inn Restaurant in Jacksonville, Oregon. This 1861 building has weathered fires, rebuilds,...

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Oregon’s Best-Kept Mac and Cheese Secret Lies in the Woods

Finding extraordinary comfort food in the mountains often means stumbling upon places that locals guard fiercely. Skyway Bar...

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This Tiny Oregon Town Is a Lesser-Known February Paradise for Adventure Seekers

Joseph, Oregon sits at the edge of something spectacular. This tiny mountain town, home to just over a thousand residents, transforms into a winter wonderland every February when...

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Hike This Oregon Path and You Might Spot Majestic Elk in the Wild

A photographer friend would not stop talking about this trail. Dramatic cliffs. Wild coastal light. Roosevelt elk wandering through open meadows like they pay property taxes.

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Even If You’re Not in Portland, This Oregon Food Spot Will Blow Your Mind

Albany might not be on your radar when you think about Oregon's food scene, but that's about to change. Tucked into a historic building downtown sits a restaurant that's been quietly...

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This Haunted Gold Dredge Is Full of Ghostly Legends Locals Can’t Explain

I stood on the weathered deck of the Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge, and a chill ran down my spine that had nothing to do with the Oregon mountain air. This massive floating factory...

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This Secret Oregon Underground Tour Takes You Back to the Old West

Walk down 31 SW Emigrant Ave in Pendleton, and you might pass right by one of the most captivating historical experiences in the Pacific Northwest.

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You’ll Never Guess Which Oregon Town Locals Call “Heaven on Earth”

I still remember the first time I rounded the bend on Highway 101 and caught sight of Cannon Beach. The Pacific stretched endlessly before me, and rising from the surf stood Haystack...

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This Little Oregon Lodge Makes Pie That Turns Into a Destination

I stumbled upon Beckie's Café during a road trip to Crater Lake, and instantly knew I had discovered something special. Tucked into the forest near Prospect, Oregon, this charming...

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This Oregon’s Ultimate Mac and Cheese Joint Lets You Create Comfort Food Perfection

I wandered into MAC'D in Portland one random night, and it completely blew my mind. This isn’t your grandma’s baked casserole or some overpriced fancy version you can barely...

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This Oregon Hike Takes You Deep Into a Magical Lava Tube Wonderland

Exploring caves in Oregon has become a bit of an obsession, but nothing has stopped me in my tracks quite like Boyd Cave. Hidden in the Deschutes National Forest just outside Bend,...

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This Oregon Restaurant Is Perfect for a Valentine’s Day You’ll Actually Remember

Chasing unforgettable meals across Oregon has taken me to a lot of tables, but Le Pigeon in Portland feels like it exists in a league of its own. Tucked into the Buckman neighborhood...

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These Oregon Restaurants Run Out Of Food Almost Every Day in February (For All The Good Reasons)

In Oregon, February turns the dining scene into a full-on race against the clock. While most restaurants quietly wait for customers during the slow winter months, a select few...

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Unlimited Plates, Zero Regrets at This Oregon All-You-Can-Eat BBQ Favorite

The smell of sizzling meat hit before the door even closed behind me, and suddenly dinner felt less like a meal and more like a night out. K-pop thumped through the room, grills...

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This Oregon Furniture Store Makes Handcrafted Amish Pieces Worth Every Penny

Stepping into Amish Traditions in Beaverton, the first thing that hits you is the smell of real wood - the kind of solid hardwood scent you just don’t get in big box stores....

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This Hidden Boardwalk in Oregon Lets You Wander Among Towering Giants

A rainy morning drive down the Oregon Coast led me to the Rockaway Big Tree Boardwalk Trail, and it completely changed my idea of accessible outdoor adventures. This 1.2-mile boardwalk...

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This Oregon Train Serves Gourmet Meals as You Cruise Through Breathtaking Canyons

I hopped aboard the Santiam Excursion Trains in Lebanon, Oregon, and immediately knew this wasn’t your average train ride. Imagine gliding through the stunning Santiam Canyon...

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This Oregon Coast Seafood Stop Is Smoking in the Best Possible Way

I stumbled onto South Beach Fish Market on a foggy Oregon morning, and the moment I caught a whiff of hickory smoke drifting across Highway 101, I slammed on the brakes.

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Oregon’s Charming Beach Town Perfect for Budget-Friendly Escapes

I fell hard for Manzanita the first time I kicked off my shoes and walked that endless stretch of sand. This tiny Oregon coastal town has everything I crave: ocean air, mountain...

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8 Oregon Places Tourists Ruined and Locals Still Aren’t Over It

Oregon has always been a treasure trove of natural wonders, from rugged coastlines to ancient geological formations that tell stories millions of years old. Locals have cherished...

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6 Oregon All-You-Can-Eat Restaurants That Are Basically a Food Lover’s Dream

Oregon has become a paradise for anyone who loves eating until their heart and stomach are completely satisfied. From the bustling streets of Portland to the scenic coastal towns,...

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10 Unassuming Oregon Restaurants That Don’t Look Like Much Until You Taste Them

I have spent years exploring every corner of Oregon, and I can tell you that some of the best meals I have ever had came from places that looked like they might serve mediocre...

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Oregonians Will Drive Miles for the Pancakes at This Retro 1950s Diner

I stepped into the Blue Moon Diner at 20167 SW Tualatin Valley Hwy in Beaverton, Oregon, and felt like I had slipped straight into 1955. The chrome gleamed in the morning sun,...

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