My Family Travels | Latest Articles
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This Rare 200-Year-Old Bridge In Virginia Is One Of The Few Still Standing In America

Picture a bridge so old it remembers when horses ruled the roads, yet it still stands proud and sturdy over a crystal-clear creek in the heart of Virginia. Humpback Covered Bridge...

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These 10 Unassuming Texas Restaurants Serves Some of the Freshest Seafood in the State

Texas gets all the credit for barbecue and Tex-Mex, but the coastline is where some of my most memorable meals have happened. With more than 350 miles along the Gulf, there is...

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This Oregon Tavern Still Serves Burgers the Old-School Way and It Shows

I walked into Helvetia Tavern on a rainy afternoon and instantly felt like I’d time traveled. This old-school gem in Hillsboro, Oregon has been flipping burgers since 1933, and...

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This Oklahoma Ramen Spot Feels Like You Accidentally Wandered Into a Secret Room in Spirited Away

I walked in expecting another quick strip mall meal and instead felt like I had wandered straight into a scene from Spirited Away. One step through the door and East Tulsa disappeared.

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This Petite BYOB Spot In New Jersey Packs Big Flavor Into Small Plates

I’ll let you in on a little secret. At 215 Centennial Ave in Cranford sits a spot that proves size isn’t everything, flavor is. 100 Steps Kitchen + Raw Bar may be cozy, yet...

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This Indiana Cliffside Walk Feels Like a Different Planet With Views That Will Leave You Speechless

Descending into the canyon at McCormick’s Creek State Park, located at 250 McCormick Creek Park Rd, Spencer, IN 47460, feels like stepping through an invisible doorway into a...

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This Early American Virginia Tavern Has A Long History Of Welcoming Travelers

Picture this: sitting in the same dining room where founding fathers once debated the future of America, savoring fried chicken that's been perfected over centuries. Sounds like...

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This Texas Thrift Store Can Transform Your Closet For Just $25

Walking into Eco Thrift Willowbrook feels dangerous in the best way, like I should not be allowed inside with a credit card and free time. Sitting in the Willowbrook area of Houston,...

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This Oregon Coffee Spot Let You Sip and Snuggle With Cats

I just found the most purrfect way to spend an afternoon in Springfield, Oregon, and I’m honestly still smiling about it. The Eugene Springfield Cat Lounge blends two things...

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This Oklahoma’s Lip-Smacking Unassuming Fish and Chips Spot Reels People In From Miles Away

I'll admit it. I did not expect to find fish and chips in Oklahoma that made me stop mid-bite and rethink everything I thought I knew about pub food.

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The New Jersey Park That Tourists Ruined Still Leaves Locals Holding A Grudge

Have you ever tried enjoying cherry blossoms while dodging selfie sticks? That’s the reality at Branch Brook Park in Newark,...

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10 Texas Towns That Almost Nobody Visits But Everyone Talks About

Texas is full of places everyone seems to know about, even though hardly anyone has actually been there. I have heard these...

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8 Oregon All-You-Can-Eat Restaurants Where You’ll Meat Your Match

I’ve always believed the best meals are the ones where you stop pretending you’re “just going to have a little.” And in Oregon, that mindset is basically encouraged. Across...

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This Chicken-Focused Fast-Food Chain Built a Cult Following by Doing One Thing Only

Tucked along South Yale Avenue in Tulsa, Oklahoma, sits a fast-food spot that has turned simplicity into a regional phenomenon. Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers doesn't try to be...

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This Authentic Mexican Restaurant In New Jersey Serves Enchiladas That Hit Different

So here’s the deal: tucked inside the Castle Ridge Plaza on Route 10 in East Hanover, right in the same busy shopping center as the Home Depot, I stumbled into a place where...

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Locals Can’t Stop Talking About the Croissants at This Delightful Indiana Bakery

I remember the first time I walked past Leviathan Bakehouse on College Avenue. The smell of butter and fresh bread stopped me in my tracks.

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10 Little Traditions In New York Towns That Everyone Recognizes

You know how certain towns have little rituals that feel like home the second you notice them? New York is full of those moments,...

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This Virginia Neighborhood Restaurant Is A Local Favorite For Soul Food Classics

What if I told you that the most talked about dessert destination in Virginia isn't serving soul food at all, but something far sweeter? Locals can't stop raving about this pink...

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This Tiny Texas Town Runs on Ghost Stories Locals Won’t Tell

Jefferson feels like the kind of town that never quite lets go of its past. Hidden into the piney woods of Northeast Texas, it is small, quiet, and heavy with history that seems...

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These 10 Virginia Scenic Pull-Offs Are Perfect For Road Trip Photos

Can we all agree that scrolling through someone's road trip photos is way more fun when they actually look good? Nobody wants to see another blurry shot taken through a bug-splattered...

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This Hidden Oregon Trail Takes You on a Walk That’s Basically a Forest Float

I didn’t plan on hiking Drift Creek Falls Trail 1378, but Oregon has a funny way of pulling you into places you didn’t know you needed. Near Otis, Oregon, I wandered into a...

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Taste The Best Butter Burgers At 11 Wisconsin Hotspots

We all want a road trip that feels easy, right? No overplanning, just stopping where the grills sizzle and the buns come out...

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This Is Why Locals in Oklahoma Treat Tornadoes Like Local Knowledge, Not Emergencies

Oklahoma sits in the heart of Tornado Alley, where dark clouds and rotating funnel storms arrive as predictably as spring rains. For people who grow up in this part of the country,...

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This Cozy Café In New Jersey Serves Coffee With A Side Of Cats

Imagine sipping a warm cup of coffee while a fluffy feline curls up beside you, purring away all your worries. Welcome to Calico...

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8 Indiana Bakeries That Will Totally Change How You Think About Pastries

I have eaten my way through more bakeries in Indiana than I care to admit, and I can tell you with complete certainty that our state is hiding some of the most incredible pastry...

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10 Quiet New England Towns Where Seniors Find Serenity

Looking for a getaway that’s calm, easy, and actually enjoyable? New England has plenty of small towns that fit the bill,...

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This Virginia Aviation Museum Has One Of The Most Impressive Aircraft Collections

Think all museums are just dusty displays behind velvet ropes? Think again. Tucked away in Virginia Beach sits a place where...

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10 Texas Places to Visit in 2026 Before Everyone Else Does

Texas is massive, and for a long time I realized I was seeing the same parts over and over again. Austin, Houston, San Antonio. Great...

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A Breathtaking Cliffside Garden Wonderland in Oregon Worth Visiting

I still remember the exact second Shore Acres State Park stole my heart. One step onto those dramatic sandstone cliffs near Coos Bay and boom, the Pacific is raging below me while...

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10 Nevada Spa Retreats That Keep Seniors Coming Back

What’s the secret to a Nevada road trip that doesn’t wear you out? It’s simple: plan it around the places that let your...

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Oklahoma’s Secret German Sausage and Sides Map Locals Follow Without Saying a Word

What if the best German sausage in Oklahoma is not where tourists think to look? Locals have been following an invisible map for years, one built on whispered recommendations and...

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11 New Jersey Soul Food Joints Locals Hope Stay Off The Map

You ever notice how Jersey folks get real quiet when you ask about their favorite soul food spots? That’s because they’d...

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Whispers Of The Past Haunt This Arizona Hot Springs Motel

We all know that feeling when a place seems calm on the surface but carries something deeper underneath, right? That’s exactly...

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This Indiana Garden Is Bursting With Color That Makes Every Visit Picture-Perfect

I still remember the first time I wandered through the gardens at Newfields on a warm spring morning. The colors hit me all at once, like stepping into a living painting where...

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10 Virginia Drive-In Theaters And Retro Movie Spots Worth Experiencing

Think watching movies has to mean overpriced popcorn and sticky stadium seats? Virginia proves otherwise with its collection of nostalgic drive-ins and vintage theaters that transport...

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The Humble Indiana Restaurant Serving Pies That People Can’t Stop Talking About

Fremont might not be the first place you think of when planning a food adventure, but this small Indiana town hides something special. Clay's Family Restaurant sits right on Old...

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8 Indiana Family-Friendly Adventures You Haven’t Tried Yet

Indiana might not be the first state that comes to mind when planning a family vacation. But it holds some truly surprising experiences.

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These Indiana Steaks Are So Perfect, Living Nearby Suddenly Sounds Like a Great Idea

You know that feeling when you bite into a perfectly cooked steak and suddenly understand what all the fuss is about? That is exactly what happens at Mountain Jacks Steakhouse...

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This No-Frills Indiana Spot Has People Coming Back Again and Again for Its Fish Sandwich

Flatwater in Broad Ripple isn't trying to be fancy, and that's exactly why people love it. This waterfront spot on the canal has been serving up straightforward American food with...

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A Texas Café Where You Can Drink Coffee Surrounded by Rescue Cats

I walked into El Gato Coffeehouse thinking I was just grabbing a drink and somehow ended up sitting on the floor while a kitten tried to crawl into my hoodie. Tucked into a colorful...

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This Nearly Empty Indiana Lake Beach Feels Like Your Own Private Paradise

You probably drive past it without a second thought, but Lake Monroe's Fairfax State Recreation Area might be the best kept secret in southern Indiana. While everyone packs into...

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This Charming Town In Indiana Is So Affordable, You Can Live On Social Security Alone

Muncie might not be the first name that pops up when you think about moving to Indiana, but maybe it should be. This East Central Indiana city, just 50 miles northeast of Indianapolis,...

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This Gorgeous Oregon Coast Town Proves You Don’t Need a Fortune to Retire Happy

I've spent years chasing coastal sunsets and retirement dreams, and let me tell you something real: Coos Bay, Oregon just might be the best-kept secret on the Pacific coast. Nestled...

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A Haunted Louisiana Hotel Where Shadows Linger In Every Passage

What would you do if the place you checked into felt more alive at night than during the day? Louisiana has plenty of historic...

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This Oklahoma Village Brings Pioneer Life Off the Page and Into Reality

Think pioneer life is just dusty textbooks and boring history lessons? Think again. Har-Ber Village Museum in Grove, Oklahoma,...

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The New Jersey Happy Hour House Locals Call Their Escape From The Daily Rush

You’ve just crawled through another chaotic Jersey day: the traffic, the noise, the grind that never seems to quit. Then...

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10 Under The Radar Hawaii Breakfast Bistros Only Insiders Know

Want to taste Hawaii the way locals do? I'll let you in on places that are perfect for that. Instead of chasing touristy spots,...

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This Indiana River Is Luring Locals for Scenic Paddle Adventures All Year Round

I never thought a river running through the heart of Indianapolis would become one of my favorite escape spots. The White River winds its way through central Indiana with a quiet...

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Weekend Minnesota Winter Roads To Old Family Diners

You free this weekend and are we finally doing that slow Minnesota loop to those old family diners? I say we lean into the...

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11 Virginia Restaurants Where African American Cooking Takes Center Stage

Virginia's food scene tells stories that go way beyond what's on the plate. African American chefs and restaurateurs across the Commonwealth are serving up heritage, history, and...

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