My Family Travels | Latest Articles
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This Massive Buffet In Oregon Is Actually Worth The Long Road Trip

I’ve always loved a good road trip, especially when it ends with a plate piled high. Last summer I drove over a hundred miles just to try a legendary buffet in Oregon, and every...

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The 9 Best Steak Houses In Oklahoma That Locals Swear By In 2026

Oklahoma and steak go together like a cowboy and his boots. This state has a deep, proud history of cattle ranching, and that heritage shows up on every plate across the region.

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The Extraordinary New Jersey Sanctuary Where Every Rescued Soul Is Given A Second Chance At A Peaceful Life

Rescued animals often carry stories of hardship, but here they’re met with open fields and gentle care. At this New Jersey...

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This Authentic Indiana German Landmark Is Worth the Drive Even if You’re Not in Jasper

I'll be honest, I never expected to find something this genuinely special tucked into a small Indiana city. Schnitzelbank Restaurant is the kind of place that makes you slow down,...

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A Shadowy Pier In Virginia That Even The Bravest Locals Avoid After Midnight

Some places earn their reputation in daylight, but this one earns it after dark. Tucked along the Potomac River in Virginia, a certain pier has become the stuff of local legend,...

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This Quiet Texas Lake Has Suddenly Become The Center Of Heated Debate

Peaceful lakes in Texas are usually known for fishing, boating, and quiet afternoons on the water. Recently, however, this normally calm lake has found itself at the center of...

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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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This Oklahoma Restaurant’s Secret Avocado Salsa Has People Losing Their Minds

Every once in a while a dish sticks in your mind long after the meal is over, and a creamy, vibrant avocado salsa that suddenly appears at the table is exactly that kind of moment....

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The New Jersey Beach Where Driftwood Creates Natural Sculptures

Driftwood has a way of turning beaches into art galleries, doesn’t it? Along this New Jersey shoreline, the pieces twist...

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This Indiana Gas Station-Style Deli Is the Hidden Gem Locals Claim Is Better Than Fancy Sandwich Shops

I never thought a small convenience store would change how I think about sandwiches forever, but here we are. NY Gourmet Deli has quietly become one of the most talked-about food...

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Crowds Of Tourists Have Overwhelmed These 10 Virginia Beach Towns

Virginia is having a serious moment, and honestly, the coast can barely keep up. From the wild ponies of Chincoteague to the sun-soaked boardwalk of Virginia Beach, the state's...

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8 Drive-In Restaurants In Texas That Bring Back The Old-School Experience

There is something timeless about pulling into a drive-in restaurant and watching your meal arrive right at the car. These classic spots across Texas keep that old-school experience...

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Top 9 Chinese Restaurants In Oregon That Never Disappoint

Oregon might be famous for its craft food scene and farm-to-table culture, but the Chinese restaurant scene here is seriously worth talking about. From Portland's busy neighborhoods...

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This Modern Oklahoma Bakery Uses A 36-Hour Sourdough Process For Its Signature Pizza Squares

Forget everything you thought you knew about bakeries. There is a spot in Oklahoma City where the smell hits you before you even open the door, where the bread is alive in the...

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The New Jersey Pancake Stop That Keeps Crowds Coming Back

There’s something about pancakes in New Jersey that feels like a tradition, isn’t there? The kind of stack that comes out fluffy, golden, and just begging for a drizzle of...

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This 110-Foot Indiana Fire Tower Offers a 360-Degree View Above the Treetops

There is something genuinely thrilling about climbing above the forest canopy and seeing the world spread out in every direction. I grew up in Indiana, and I will admit that finding...

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This Virginia Fairytale-Like Fun Park Has Become A Haunting Forest Relic

Somewhere in Virginia, a medieval dream was born, flourished briefly, and then quietly surrendered to the forest. What started as an elaborate fairytale kingdom, complete with...

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The Stunning State Park In Texas That Remains Largely Undiscovered

Not every beautiful place in Texas is crowded with visitors. Some remain quiet and largely undiscovered, offering peaceful landscapes and wide open views for those willing to explore...

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This Oregon Eatery Sells Cinnamon Rolls So Big They Almost Don’t Fit In The Box

I was craving something comforting on a rainy Oregon afternoon, so I popped into a local spot known for its over-the-top pastries. Their cinnamon rolls were massive - so big they...

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Oklahomans Travel Miles For The Crispy Hash Browns At This Cozy Restaurant

I love finding the kind of diner people will drive an hour for without complaining. The kind of place that turns something simple like hash browns into the reason for a full road...

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This New Jersey Boardwalk Path Through Rare Wetlands Is A Local Favorite For Good Reason

You know how New Jersey always seems to surprise you with places you didn’t expect? This boardwalk path through rare wetlands...

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This Indiana Hill Overlook Serves Views of Rolling Valleys Straight Out of a Dream

I'll be honest, I was not expecting to stop in my tracks the first time I laid eyes on the view from this overlook. It earns every bit of its dramatic name.

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The Virginia Amish-Style Market Locals Guard As Their Best-Kept Comfort Food Secret

Okay, let me ask you something: do you actually know the best comfort food spot in all of Virginia, or are you still driving past it every Friday without stopping? Locals around...

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The Smoked Sausage At This No-Fuss Restaurant Is Worth Seeking Out In Texas

Some restaurants build their reputation around one standout item. This no-fuss Texas smokehouse has done exactly that with smoked sausage that people go out of their way to find.

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This Hidden Volcano Hike In Oregon Is The Dormant Wonder Your Feed Is Missing

I’ve been hunting for that perfect trail that feels like a secret between friends, and I finally found it on a quiet volcanic ridge in Oregon. The path winds through moss?draped...

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This Oklahoma Scenic Hike Leads To A Pristine Highland Lake Through Pine Forest Beauty

There are hikes you forget about a week later, and then there are the ones that stick to your memory like pine sap on your boots. This is one of the latter.

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The New Jersey Escape Where Dining Feels Like A Scenic Retreat

Somewhere between "I need a break" and "where did this place even come from," I stumbled upon this charming restaurant, and honestly, nothing prepared me for how good it would...

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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 Lively Texas Restaurant Pairs Southern Comfort Food With Live Blues

A good meal and great music can turn an ordinary night out into something memorable. This lively Texas restaurant brings the two together by serving classic Southern comfort food...

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The Small-Town Restaurant In Oregon With $28 Steaks That Locals Swear Are the Best In The State

I’ve always believed good food doesn’t need a big-city address, and my recent trip to a tiny Oregon town proved it. I walked into a modest diner and was greeted by the smell...

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This Laid-Back Oklahoma Restaurant Is A Full-On Latin Flavor Fiesta

You’re walking around downtown Oklahoma City, one of those afternoons where you’re hungry but not sure for what, when a bright little spot suddenly catches your eye and makes...

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This Huge North Carolina Antique Mall Feels Like A Road Trip Stop With No Off Switch

Some places do not have an entrance so much as a trapdoor for your afternoon. This huge North Carolina antique mall feels like a road trip stop with no off switch, because the...

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The New Jersey Cemetery Known For Its Eerie Angel Statue

New Jersey has a cemetery that feels more like a scene from a gothic novel than a quiet resting place. The paths are lined with old stones that seem to whisper stories if you linger...

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This Indiana Swap Meet Only Opens for a Rare Hunt of Farm Animals, Hunting Gear, and Hidden Relics

There is something genuinely exciting about pulling off a rural Indiana county road and discovering a sprawling outdoor market that feels like it belongs to a different era.

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This Virginia Bakery Is A French Castle Escape Straight Out Of A Fairytale

Picture stepping through a door in Northern Virginia and landing somewhere that feels like a storybook brought to life. Tucked inside a Chantilly shopping plaza is a cafe so enchanting,...

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This South Carolina Seafood Buffet Keeps The Calabash Favorites And Crab Legs Coming All Night

The butter cup is basically your compass for the night here. This South Carolina seafood buffet keeps the Calabash favorites and the crab legs coming all night, so the meal turns...

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The Texas Cave With Cathedral-Like Chambers Deep Underground

Beneath the surface of Texas lies a hidden world that feels almost impossible to imagine from above ground. This remarkable cave opens into massive chambers where towering rock...

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This Magical Old-Growth Hike In Oregon Feels Like Walking Through A Storybook Forest

There’s something magical about walking among trees that have stood for centuries, and Oregon gave me that exact feeling on my recent adventure. I followed a narrow trail that...

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This Stunning Oklahoma Botanical Garden Is The Ultimate Stress-Free Weekend Escape

Let me be honest with you: I did not expect a botanical garden in Oklahoma to stop me in my tracks. But here I was, standing at the edge of a lotus pool, watching dragonflies skim...

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The Chili Cheese Dogs At This Low-Key Tennessee Stand Taste Like A Small-Town Legend

You know a chili cheese dog is serious when people talk about it like a landmark. This low-key Tennessee stand has that small-town legend energy, because the dogs come out hot,...

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The Tranquil New Jersey Point Where Freshwater Ponds And Coastal Dunes Rule The Landscape

New Jersey has a stretch of coast that feels alive with energy. The dunes roll like soft waves of sand, inviting you to climb, wander, and take in the view.

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This Massive Indiana Sinkhole is So Large It Has Its Own Secret Ecosystem and Cave Entrances

I had no idea a place like this existed in Indiana until a friend mentioned it almost offhandedly, like it was no big deal. Tucked into the hills of southern Indiana is a massive...

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10 Virginia Restaurants Locals Secretly Gatekeep From Tourists

Virginia has a serious culinary secret problem, and locals want to keep it that way. Tucked between colonial history, rolling Blue Ridge foothills, and sun-drenched coastlines,...

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The Pastrami, Egg, And Cheese At This Pennsylvania Sandwich Spot Was Named Best Breakfast In America

Some breakfast sandwiches are good, but some get crowned and suddenly everyone wants proof. At this Pennsylvania sandwich spot, the pastrami, egg, and cheese was named Best Breakfast...

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Incredible Small-Town Texas Restaurants Worth The Drive For Serious Food Lovers

Great food has a way of turning a simple drive into a worthwhile adventure. Scattered across small towns in Texas are restaurants that locals proudly recommend and visitors quickly...

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People Drive For Hours Just To Eat The Giant Pancakes At This Oregon Breakfast Spot

There’s something magical about a breakfast spot that becomes a destination, and in Oregon I found exactly that. I’d heard whispers about a pancake so huge it practically earned...

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The Haunted Hotel Stay In Oklahoma That Will Keep You Awake All Night

Imagine you check into a stunning historic hotel, sink into a cloud-soft bed, and just as you drift off to sleep, something knocks on your door. Nobody is there.

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The Wisconsin Garden Center Where Coffee, Lunch, And Plant Shopping Blur Together Fast

Your plant run turns into lunch the second you smell coffee near the greenhouse. This Wisconsin garden center makes coffee, lunch, and plant shopping blur together fast, because...

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New Jersey Locals Drive Miles For Apple Fritters That Are Crispy, Sweet, And Totally Worth It

There are two kinds of people in New Jersey: those who have been to this bakery, and those who are seriously missing out. I...

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These Eerie Ruins Once Adorned a New York Skyscraper Before Being Dumped in an Indiana Park

I never expected to find pieces of a New York City skyscraper hidden in a park, quietly standing among the trees on the north side of Indianapolis. But there they are; weathered,...

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