1. I was actually going to go totake a/the shortcut when I came back home. 1. I was actually going to take a/the shortcut when I came back home.

Or "go to a/the shortcut", but "go to" sounds a bit strange here because the shortcut isn't your actual destination.

1. I was actually going to go toake a shortcut when I came back home., 1. I was actually going to go take a shortcut when I came back home,

1. I was actually going to go totake a shortcut when I came back home. 1. I was actually going to take a shortcut when I came back home.

When you use a shortcut, you say "take a shortcut".

1. I was actually going to go totake a shortcut when I came back home. 1. I was actually going to take a shortcut when I came back home.

It's more natural to say "take a shortcut" rather than "go to a shortcut" in English.

But I couldn't go because ofthere was heavy traffic bydue to snow. But I couldn't because there was heavy traffic due to snow.

"because of heavy traffic" is fine, but here I think it sounds a bit weird to use it along with the explanation about snow.

Bbut I couldn't go because ofthere was heavy traffic bydue to snow. but I couldn't go because there was heavy traffic due to snow

But I couldn't go because of heavy traffic caused by snow. But I couldn't because of heavy traffic caused by snow.

Using "go" makes it seem like you couldn't take the trip at all, but you couldn't use the shortcut.

But I couldn't go because of heavy traffic bydue to the snow. But I couldn't go because of heavy traffic due to the snow.

So I ended up gotaking tohe highway even though it took more time to come. So I ended up taking the highway even though it took more time to come.

Sso I ended up gotaking tohe highway even though it took more time to come. so I ended up taking the highway even though it took more time.

So I ended up going to highway even though it took more time to come. So I ended up going to highway even though it took more time.

No reason to use "to come" here.

So I ended up gotaking tohe highway even though it took more time to come. So I ended up taking the highway even though it took more time to come.

You could use "taking the highway" or "going by highway" here.

2. I was actually going to eat less than usual when I went to my father-in-law's house., 2. I was actually going to eat less than usual when I went to my father-in-law's house,

Bbut I was tostill so hungry, afterwards that but I was still so hungry afterwards that

so eventually I ate more food when I came backreturned home. so I ate more when I returned home.

"Returned" sounds more natural.

so eventually I ateI ended up eating even more food when I came back home. I ended up eating even more food when I came back home.

so eventuallySo I ate more food when I came back home. So I ate more food when I came back home.

You don't need to use "eventually" here.

3. I was actually going to go to the movies with my family, 3. I was actually going to go to the movies with my family

3. I was actually going to go to the movies with my family, 3. I was actually going to go to the movies with my family,

Going to the movies is plural, even if you're only seeing one movie.

and we were going to have somhave lunch together. afterwards, and have lunch together afterwards,

But one of my kids had an upset stomatch, But one of my kids had an upset stomach,

But one of my kids had an upset stomatch, But one of my kids had an upset stomach,

Bbut one of my kids had/developed an upset stomatch,. but one of my kids had/developed an upset stomach.

But one of my kids had an upset stomatch, But one of my kids had an upset stomach,

so hHe went to the restroom andto relieve himself but he ended up goneeding to go to a hospital so we weren't able to go to the movies. He went to the restroom to relieve himself but he ended up needing to go to a hospital so we weren't able to go to the movies.

Practicing 'to be actually going to' Practicing 'to be actually going to'

I think this sounds much better.

Practicing 'be actually"to be going to'" Practicing "to be going to"

We typically use double quotation marks in instances like this, though single ones would still work.