My Family Travels | Latest Articles
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These Desert Road Trips In California Lead To Forgotten Film Sets

If you have a free day and a good playlist, I have a string of desert drives in California that feel like slipping behind the screen and poking around the edges of old movies....

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The Beef Brisket At This Unassuming Restaurant In New Jersey Is A Small-Batch Masterpiece Worth A Road Trip

You know how some meals feel like they were made just for you? That’s the vibe at this unassuming New Jersey spot. The brisket...

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This Indiana Caribbean Fusion Spot Is the Lakeside Escape You Didn’t Know You Needed

I never expected to find a taste of the Caribbean right here in northwest Indiana, but this grille in Hobart completely changed my thinking. Tucked along Main Street with the lake...

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This Virginia Destination Pairs Asparagus Picking With Mountain-Slide Fun

Forget the typical weekend routine. There is a working farm in Virginia that somehow manages to combine fresh asparagus harvests with four massive mountain slides, zip-lines, hiking...

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The Texas Swap Meet Where You Can Find Everything From Vintage Treasures To Unexpected Deals

You never really know what you are walking into here, and that is the whole appeal. Rows of vendors stretch out with everything...

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9 Scenic Bike Paths in Oregon That Are Perfect for Your Next Ride

Oregon doesn’t really do boring bike rides. I hit the first scenic path and immediately realize every turn comes with a view worth slowing down for.

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The Pierogi Bucket In Ohio City Gives A Classic Dish A Modern Twist

Buckets in hand, people move down West 25th like they are in on a shared joke. That is exactly the vibe here, where the idea clicks instantly and nobody feels the need to explain...

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This New Jersey Pizza Haven Is Known For Its Organic Ingredients And Dedicated Gluten-Free Menu Options

New Jersey’s pizza scene has plenty of stars, but this cozy haven shines with a healthier twist. Organic ingredients pile...

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10 Unique Virginia Museums That Aren’t Just Art And History

Virginia has a way of surprising you. Sure, the state is packed with battlefields and colonial landmarks, but tucked between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay are...

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A Texas Cave Where You Can Crawl, Climb, And See Glowing Blue Water

There is something genuinely surreal about stepping underground and realizing the world beneath your feet is more alive than you ever imagined. The caverns stretch deep below the...

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This Easy Oregon Stop Brings You Face-to-Face With River Otters, Old West History, and Desert Wildlife

This Oregon stop doesn’t make you choose between nature and history - it throws both at you right away. I walk in and suddenly I’m face-to-face with river otters, completely...

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A Trip to This Oklahoma Farm Feels Like a Wholesome Countryside Escape with Train Rides, Barnyard Animals, and U-Pick Fun

It sneaks up on you how quickly everything else fades away. One minute you are thinking about your schedule, your phone, all the usual noise, and the next you are just… here.

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These Are The Places Where California Makes Stargazing Unforgettable

Ever looked up at the night sky and thought, “I wish I could see this better”? California is one of the best places to make that happen, especially when a September supermoon...

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This Restaurant In New Jersey Has A Chinese Buffet That’s Absolutely Worth The Drive

There are road trips you plan for weeks, and then there are the ones where someone says "trust me" and you just go. Honestly,...

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10 Wisconsin Small-Town Main Streets Perfect For A Spring Wander

Spring has a way of making a small-town main street feel like the best kind of simple plan, especially after a long Wisconsin winter. This is the season when old storefronts, local...

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This Massive 84-Foot Tall Indiana Barn Was Built by Amish Craftsmen and Is Hiding 3 Floors of Secret Treasures

I have driven past a lot of barns in Indiana, but nothing quite prepared me for the moment I first saw this massive structure rising up along a country road. At 84 feet tall, with...

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This Virginia Bar Is A Tribute To Intergalactic Heavy Metal

Walk into Richmond’s nightlife scene and this spot rewrites the rules instantly. Nothing about it feels ordinary. Walls splashed...

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9 Wisconsin Small-Town Eateries Where Everyone Knows The Menu

We keep talking about a lazy Wisconsin loop, and honestly, I just want places where nobody needs to ask what is good. I want...

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Texas Locals Say These 10 Tex-Mex Spots Are the Best in the Entire State

There is something about Tex-Mex food that makes every road trip through Texas feel like a real adventure. The flavors are bold, the portions are generous, and the stories behind...

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The Utah Lake That Fell To Alarming Levels And Is Now Raising Fresh Concerns

It is one thing to hear that a lake is shrinking, and another to see the change become impossible to ignore. That is exactly what gives this Utah lake such a heavy story right...

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This Oregon Seafood Buffet Features A Massive Spread And All The Crab Legs You Can Eat

This Oregon seafood buffet doesn’t believe in holding back. I walk in and the first thing I see is a massive spread that already feels like a challenge.

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Seven Buffet Rows, Sushi, and Hot Entrees Wok This Way at This Oklahoma Flavor Wonderland

You walk in and instantly get why people keep coming back. This Oklahoma spot has that kind of pull, the kind that quietly hooks you before you even grab a plate.There is a fountain...

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These Charming Maine Cafes Prove Small Town Mornings Still Matter

Let’s make a slow morning road loop through Maine and actually enjoy it. You know the feeling when a small town wakes up and you can hear chairs scoot on old floors and see neighbors...

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The Family-Owned New Jersey Landmark Crafting Homemade Ice Cream And Chocolates Since 1981

New Jersey has plenty of landmarks, but few smell this good. This place has been whipping up homemade ice cream and chocolates...

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Utah’s Tulip Festival That Draws Crowds Every Spring

What is it about a tulip festival that makes people happily show up in crowds just to walk around and stare at flowers for hours? Utah has one that makes the answer pretty obvious.

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This Viral Indiana Hotspot Features “Build-Your-Own” Ramen Bowls With Over 30 Toppings

If you have ever stood in front of a ramen menu feeling completely overwhelmed, this spot is about to change that experience entirely. Right in the heart of the city, it has built...

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This Virginia Historic Site Hosted The Most Famous Speech In America

Step inside this modest church and the past feels suddenly immediate. This is where a gathering of uneasy colonists heard words that would echo far beyond the room itself.

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This Is Why Santa Monica Pier, California, Still Works Every Single Time

You know how some places make the whole day easier the minute you arrive? That is Santa Monica Pier, California, for me every single time, and I think it will be for you too.

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This Secret Swimming Hole Is By Far Better Than Jacob’s Well

You know those places that people hype up so much they almost stop feeling special? This is the opposite of that. No massive...

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This Minnesota Underground Tour Reveals A Hidden Side Of The State’s Longest Cave

What if one of Minnesota’s most fascinating hidden experiences starts by taking you deeper into the state’s longest cave? This underground tour taps into that exact kind of...

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This Oregon Coast Stop Lets You Visit Four Incredible Natural Wonders in One Place

This Oregon coast stop doesn’t give you one highlight - it stacks four natural wonders into a single visit. I arrive expecting a simple viewpoint and immediately realize I’ll...

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This Oklahoma French Bistro Serves Over 20 Fresh-Baked Pastries Daily, And It Feels Like a Hidden Street in Paris

You step inside and everything else fades for a second. This Oklahoma City spot on North May Avenue has that kind of effect, the kind that makes you pause without even realizing...

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These Roadside Restaurants Make Wisconsin Road Trips Better

Pulling off the highway in Wisconsin should feel easy, friendly, and a little nostalgic. You want a spot that shows some heart, lets you stretch, and sends you back on the road...

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12 New Jersey Towns Losing Residents Due To Record-High Property Taxes And The Rising Cost Of Suburban Living

Nobody warns you that moving to New Jersey might feel like signing up for a financial obstacle course with a beautiful skyline view.

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Michigan Lake Towns Where Summer Crowds Can Change The Experience

What happens when a quiet Michigan lake town suddenly has everybody chasing the exact same summer escape? That is when the whole experience can start to feel very different.

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This Indiana Amish General Store Features a Custom Sandwich Bar and Homemade Fried Pies for a True Local Lunch

I have a soft spot for places that feel genuinely rooted in a community, and this family-owned discount grocery is exactly that kind of place.

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The Lost West Virginia Carnival That Time Left Behind

Picture us cruising the back roads of West Virginia, windows cracked, talking about places that feel paused mid sentence. There is one spot I keep circling back to because it sits...

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This Virginia Pier Offers The Perfect Atlantic Sunrise

Along the Virginia Beach coastline, there’s a stretch of shore that instantly commands attention. Far from the crowded boardwalk, this quieter corner of the Atlantic delivers...

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12 New York Main Streets Worth Wandering This Spring

Spring has a way of making a good main street feel even harder to resist. In New York, that can mean flower boxes starting to pop, sidewalk tables filling up again, and the kind...

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A Texas Mexican Restaurant Famous For Puffy Tacos And Local History

You do not casually order something called a “puffy taco” without being at least a little curious. Then it shows up, light,...

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This Iconic Oregon Biker Hangout Is Known For A Wild Desert Vibe And A Loyal Crowd

This iconic Oregon biker hangout doesn’t try to impress anyone - it just exists exactly how it wants to. I roll in and the desert vibe hits immediately, dry, open, and unapologetically...

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California National Parks Feeling The Strain From Sightseeing Tourists

You know that feeling when the road trip vibe shifts from open highway to a slow crawl behind brake lights? That is what California’s big parks are starting to feel like when...

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This Indie Bookshop Turns Pages into Community Roots with Shelves That Speak Louder Than Words

Some bookstores sell books. This one does something far bigger. Sitting in the heart of northeast Oklahoma City, this independent...

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The Nevada Lake That Fell To Alarming Levels And Is Now Raising Fresh Concerns

It is one thing to hear that a lake is shrinking, and another to stand near it and realize just how much has changed. That is what makes this Nevada lake so hard to ignore right...

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Outrageously Delicious Cinnamon Rolls Await At This Modest New Jersey Bakery

There are mornings when your nose knows before your brain does, and this was absolutely one of them. The second I stepped...

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This Bizarre Indiana Clown-Themed Diner Is Famous for its Magic Burger and 1960s Vibe

There are diners, and then there is this small-town spot. I have driven past a lot of places in Indiana, but nothing quite prepares you for walking into a restaurant where clown...

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These Are The Things Tourists Commonly Misunderstand About The Amish In Ohio

I get why people get mixed signals out there, but a lot of what we assume comes from looking too fast. Stick with me and I’ll point to real places, real roads, and the kind of...

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This Breathtaking Virginia Trail Leads To The Most Photographed Spot On The Entire Appalachian Trail

High above the Roanoke Valley, a rugged outcrop has claimed its place as one of the most recognizable sights along the entire Appalachian Trail. Plenty of Virginia views impress,...

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Washington’s U-Pick Tulip Farm That Draws Crowds Every Spring

Spring in Washington already knows how to show off, but it gets even harder to ignore when an entire tulip farm starts lighting up the landscape with color. That is exactly why...

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This Texas Place Feels More Like Europe Than The Lone Star State You Know

There is a corner of San Antonio where the cobblestones feel like they belong in a Spanish village, the buildings whisper centuries of stories, and the air carries the faint scent...

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