My Family Travels | Latest Articles
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This Texas Hidden Flea Market Features 500+ Vendors and Endless Food Options

Bussey’s Flea Market is one of those places where you tell yourself you are just stopping by, then realize hours have passed. Sitting right off Interstate 35 in Schertz, it feels...

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Oregon Is Home to a Massive WWII Blimp Hangar Museum Worth Visiting

I still remember the first time I saw Hangar B rising from the Oregon coast like some colossal wooden giant. My jaw dropped. This...

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This Unassuming Oklahoma Mexican Cafe Is the Kind of Place Locals Don’t Explain, They Just Send You

Some restaurants announce themselves with neon signs and billboards. Others let their reputation do the talking. Pecina's Mexican...

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This Old Railway In New Jersey Lets You Discover The Shoreline One Pedal At A Time

If you've ever dreamed of exploring Cape May from a completely different angle, Revolution Rail Co. offers an adventure that's equal parts workout, history lesson, and nature tour....

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This Little-Known Indiana Museum Is a Must-See for Superhero Fans

I’ve always loved superheroes, but visiting the Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum in Indiana, located at 1915 Cassopolis Street, Elkhart, IN 46514, completely exceeded my expectations....

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This Haunted Virginia Sanatorium Still Draws Chills From Its Troubled Past

Think your town has ghost stories? St. Albans, Virginia holds secrets that make most haunted tales look like bedtime stories. Tucked...

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This Underrated Texas Museum Let’s You Explore Human Body

I did not expect to have this much fun learning about the human body, but that is exactly what happened at The Health Museum in Houston. This is not a place where you read plaques...

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Oregon’s Giant Fabric Wonderland That Crafters Can’t Stop Talking About

I've been exploring fabric stores across Oregon for years, and nothing prepared me for the sheer magic of Mill End Store in Milwaukie. This place isn't just a shop; it's a 50,000-square-foot...

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An Off-the-Radar Oklahoma Diner Serving a Chicken-Fried Steak Locals Can’t Stop Talking About

What if the best chicken-fried steak in Oklahoma isn't at some famous spot on Route 66, but sitting right there on South 4th Street in Chickasha? Locals will tell you Mama Carol's...

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New Jersey’s BBQ Haven Where Smoke Signals Mean Dinner

I've traveled up and down the Jersey Shore more times than I can count, and I've learned that the best meals often come with a side of smoke signals.

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This Indiana Town Has a Sweet Spot That People Travel Hours to Taste

I have driven past Corydon more times than I can count, always wondering what the fuss was about. Then one Saturday afternoon, I finally stopped in this charming southern Indiana...

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This Little Diner In Virginia Has Turned All-Day Breakfast Into A Local Tradition

What makes a breakfast spot worth driving across town for, even when it's tucked into a shopping center next to a Dollar Tree? Some would argue it's the fancy decor or trendy menu...

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Texas Small Town You’ll Wish You Visited Sooner

Alpine caught me off guard in the best way. Sitting out in the high desert of West Texas, it feels like a mountain town that somehow slipped through the cracks while everyone was...

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9 Unassuming Oregon Towns With Big Stories Locals Love to Share

Oregon is full of surprises, and some of its best stories are tucked away in towns most people drive right past. I've spent years exploring this state, and I can tell you that...

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This Unassuming Oklahoma Diner Serves the Kind of Breakfast Locals Won’t Trade for Anything

Some folks say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Others claim it's just another excuse to eat carbs before noon. But...

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This Unassuming New Jersey Eatery Brings Offshore Catch Straight To Your Plate

Point Pleasant Beach holds a seafood secret that locals have been keeping to themselves for years. Atlantic Offshore Fishery at 212 Channel Dr isn't your typical fancy waterfront...

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This Historic Mansion In Virginia Sparks Arguments About The Confederacy

What happens when one of America's most celebrated founding fathers built a stunning estate on the backs of enslaved people? Monticello sits atop a Virginia hill, a testament to...

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This Texas Town Changed So Much Locals Barely Recognize It

Rockport has always been one of those places that felt easy to love. Before 2017, it had that laid-back coastal rhythm where the days blurred together in the best way.

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This Cozy Oregon Restaurant Serves Black Cod You’ll Never Forget

I'll never forget the first time I tasted black cod at Local Ocean Seafoods in Newport, Oregon. The velvety, buttery texture melted on my tongue like nothing I'd experienced before,...

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This Oklahoma Ghost Town Is Still Shooting Off Wild West Legends

Some folks think ghost towns are nothing but dusty ruins and forgotten dreams, but Ingalls, Oklahoma tells a different story. Sitting nine miles east of Stillwater in Payne County,...

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Top 9 Culturally Diverse Neighborhoods To Visit In New Jersey

New Jersey may live in the shadow of New York City, but don’t mistake it for second best. This compact state pulses with cultural energy that can rival any metropolis on the...

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This Indiana Café’s Breakfast Bowls Have Locals Coming Back Every Morning

Morning routines in Indianapolis just got a whole lot better. The Garden Table on Massachusetts Avenue has been serving up breakfast bowls that have turned casual diners into devoted...

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9 Hidden Missouri Spots Locals Think Are Worth Exploring

Missouri has more up its sleeve than most people realize. Sure, everyone knows about the big names, St. Louis, Kansas City,...

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This Virginia Restaurant Teaches Visitors About Southern History And Black Heritage

Think you've seen every way a restaurant can tell a story? Think again. Tucked away in South Boston, Virginia, there's a spot...

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Texas Seafood Buffet People Say It’s Worth Even a Long Drive

UMI Sushi & Seafood Buffet in Houston came onto my radar because people would not stop talking about it. Friends mentioned it casually, road trippers planned detours for it,...

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9 Coastal California Drives Locals Never Get Tired Of

You know how some roads make you instantly loosen your shoulders and forget the clock? That is exactly what the California...

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8 Unassuming All-You-Can-Eat Restaurants in Oregon That Quietly Win People Over

I stumbled upon some of the most unassuming all-you-can-eat restaurants in Oregon, and honestly, they changed my entire perspective on buffet dining. You know that feeling when...

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This All-You-Can-Eat Oklahoma Diner Turns Self-Control Into a Suggestion

Some people say self-control is a virtue. Golden Palace in Oklahoma City says it's more like a loose guideline. This sprawling...

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This Restored New Jersey Landmark From The 1920s Is Pure Architectural Magic

Have you ever wished you could step straight into another era without leaving New Jersey? I know I have - and walking into Loew’s Jersey Theatre in Jersey City felt exactly like...

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9 Easy Atlanta, Georgia, Road Trips When You Need Out But Not Far

Sometimes you just need fresh air without burning a whole weekend on the highway. You want somewhere close, easy, and low...

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This Indiana Bakery Serves Pastries That Keep Dessert Lovers Coming Back Daily

Every dessert lover in Indianapolis knows about The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers, but not everyone understands why it has such a devoted following. Located at 6515 Carrollton...

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This Virginia Neighborhood Is A Cultural Mix Tourists Can’t Ignore

Think cobblestone streets are just for Europe? Think again. Tucked along the Potomac River, Alexandria Old Town in Virginia serves...

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Locals Say This Texas Town Is Tourist-Ruined Beyond Recognition

Gruene still looks like the kind of place you expect to stumble upon in a postcard. Weathered buildings, the Guadalupe River nearby, live music floating through the air.

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Two-Park California Road Trip Between Yosemite And Sequoia

You ready to stitch Yosemite and Sequoia into one easy, soul-filling California loop? We will keep it relaxed, hit the big...

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This Historic Oregon Mansion Is Said to Be Haunted and Visitors Still Report Strange Experiences

I never thought I'd be ghost hunting in a mansion, but here I am at Pittock Mansion in Portland, Oregon, and let me tell you, the stories are wild. Built in 1914 by newspaper tycoon...

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This Hidden Oklahoma Ranch Lets You Get Nose-to-Trunk With Gentle Giants

Think you've seen everything Oklahoma has to offer? Think again. Hidden near Hugo, there's a sanctuary where retired circus elephants...

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The New Jersey Shoreline Hotspot Tourists Ruined By Too Much Love

Cape May, New Jersey, sits at the very tip of the state's southern peninsula, a place where Victorian elegance meets sandy beaches and salty ocean breezes.

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This Indiana Spot Is Serving Fish Tacos That Have Crowds Coming from All Over

Fish tacos rarely live up to the hype, but the ones at La Margarita in Indianapolis manage to get something right that many places miss. They arrive hot, crisp, and intact, with...

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The Pennsylvania Riverfront Café That Turns Rain Into A Reason To Stay

Let’s point the car toward the Delaware River and let the weather call the shots. If the clouds roll in, even better, because...

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This Virginia Historic Landmark Sparks Opinions About Tradition

Can a single house hold the weight of an entire nation's turning point? Some say Appomattox Court House is hallowed ground where America found peace, while others argue it represents...

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These 9 Virginia Festivals Highlight Cultural Tensions And Community Spirit

Virginia pulses with a vibrant mix of history, heritage, and modern voices that clash and unite at the same time. Throughout the state, festivals serve as meeting grounds where...

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This Texas Sinkhole Has an Unsettling Silence You Can’t Explain

The first time I stood near the Devil’s Sinkhole in the Texas Hill Country, the quiet stopped me in my tracks. Not peaceful quiet, but the kind that feels heavy, like the land...

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Why This Haunted Colorado Diner Is Best On Dark Cloud Days

You know how some places just come alive when the sky turns heavy and gray? That is Moonlight Diner & Bar out on Tower...

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This Magical Waterfall in Oregon Remains a Well-Kept Secret

I still remember the first time I stumbled upon Toketee Falls in Oregon, tucked away in the Umpqua National Forest like a secret waiting to be discovered. The drive alone felt...

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Oklahoma’s Comfort-Food Map of Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes Is Peak Cozy

Some people believe meatloaf is outdated, that it belongs in a bygone era of TV dinners and suburban sameness. But drive through Oklahoma and you will find a different story entirely,...

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This New Jersey Flower Farm Is A Golden Escape You’ll Never Forget

In the rolling hills of Bernardsville, New Jersey, I found a place that feels more like a painting than a farm. Peony’s...

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This Indiana Meadow Blooms Like Magic Every Spring, and Locals Can’t Get Enough

Every spring, something extraordinary happens at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis. The meadows burst into color, trails come alive with wildflowers, and locals flock to...

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8 Off-the-Radar State Parks in Texas You’ve Probably Never Heard Of but Should Visit

Texas is huge, and for a long time I thought I had a pretty good handle on its outdoor scene. Turns out I was barely touching it. Everyone...

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Chicken Fried Steaks Locals Argue Are the Best in Texas

Texas does not mess around when it comes to comfort food, and chicken fried steak has always felt personal to me. I grew up hearing arguments about who does it best, who makes...

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South Dakota Winter Weekend Route Through Hill City Custer And Beyond

You up for a winter run through the Black Hills with me? I’m thinking quiet roads, frosty pines, and small towns that feel...

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