It is better off the beaten path.

[IAM Rand]

So I have already posted about my MC trip to the Tail of the Dragon. Along the way to Gatlinburg I had to stop at a small family restaurant. My wife and I found it on a previous trip several years ago on our way to Virginia. We found it by accident. We were both in need of a break and getting hungry. We saw a billboard showing it to be a good family restaurant.

It is in a small town called New Baden, IL. The restaurant is called The Good Ol' Days. Their motto is, "Food so good, you will think we stole your grandmother." I don't know about you but, neither of my grandmothers could cook worth a damn. Still loved them but, not the cooking type. When we first went to them the chicken lunches were fantastic. What was even better was the price. I don't recall what we paid back then but it wasn't much at all. At the time there were not too many people inside the restaurant.

This time when I made my purposeful detour, it was very busy. I took one of the last tables. I ordered my 3 piece chicken lunch and tea. Sorry to you southerners, UNsweet tea. The drink and tea was less than $17 with tax. Now I am not sure where you are from but in the Mile High state it would have been considerably more just for the chicken. It came with a Uuge roll and a side plus 3 large pieces of chicken.

My wife and I love going off the beaten path so to speak. These smaller towns are what America is really about. So much about how the way we should live is cooked up in the large cities across America but what makes this country truly work and survive are these smaller communities. My one regret is when I went through New Baden it was on a Sunday and the bakery down the street was closed. Last time we picked up an elephant ear and several "Cow" cookies and again, paid well under the going rate in Colorado.

My advice to younger individuals here and elsewhere, the Interstates are good for getting to and from your destination in short order but if you want a real trip, explore the towns off the beaten path. You won't regret it.

 

[Muley Gil]

Have you ridden The Back of the Dragon, Rt 16 between Marion and Tazewell, Virginia?

 

[JohnRippert]

I took a trip to Colorado by myself in the mid-90's. I stayed off all the Interstate Highways and drove the back roads the whole way. Stopped at several of the small town diners on the way. I will admit to it being Dairy Queen about half the time. I much preferred the laid back atmosphere and quality scenery to the bore you to sleep monotony of the big highways.

 

[45Smashemflat]

I always take two-lane black top and avoid chain restaurants whenever the schedule allows it. There are occasional disappointments, but they are rare. I stay on the lookout for breakfast places with lots of trucks in the lot before 7am!

 

[TXBryan]

Know exactly where New Baden is. I was raised not far away in an adjacent county. The communities in that part of the world are predominantly populated by folks of German heritage. "Homecomings" in Southeastern Illinois are a bit different than most places. Held in the summer months and lasting at least a three-day weekend they amount to municipal parties with lots of food and beverage vendors. The reason I mention it is because New Baden always had an exceptional homecoming and we never missed it. Stag Beer served in literal buckets and the best bratwurst on the planet. A bucket of beer in 1978 at the New Baden Homecoming was $1.50 - $5.00 if you needed the bucket which held about two liters.

Thanks OP for taking me back for a moment!

Bryan

 

[ladder13]

We love to stop at the small family run eateries, not the national chains.