It is better off the beaten path.

[mtgianni]

Some of the saddest words I have ever heard are "we took the interstate the whole way".

 

[Walkin Horse]

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

I have done it both on a motorcycle and a 40 ft horse trailer. The bike was much better.

 

[rockquarry]

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.

Some southerners have good taste and don't drink that foul concoction called sweet tea. Sweet tea is probably good if you don't like the taste of tea, sort of like ranch dressing is good if you don't care for the many and varied flavors of a good salad.

 

[TX-Dennis]

Some southerners have good taste and don't drink that foul concoction called sweet tea. Sweet tea is probably good if you don't like the taste of tea, sort of like ranch dressing is good if you don't care for the many and varied flavors of a good salad.

Sweet tea is foul. Plain tea, strong, no flavors, no fruit juice, no sugar. Anything else is a mistake.

Oh, by the way, Ranch dressing is foul, too.

 

[rockquarry]

Sweet tea is foul. Plain tea, strong, no flavors, no fruit juice, no sugar. Anything else is a mistake.

Oh, by the way, Ranch dressing is foul, too.

You have flawless good taste in food and drink.

 

[Rustyt1953]

My entire extended family are devout sweet tea drinkers.

I'm sure glad we don't have to seek approval to partake.

 

[ladder13]

We have stopped at a local spot here a few times while traveling on I95 in SC. Got a weird look first time when I spoke but by the end we were like family.

Eats and Sweets

Eats and Sweets

Experience the Best Food in Ridgeland, SC and the Low Country

eatsandsweets.food

 

[ladder13]

Sweet tea is foul. Plain tea, strong, no flavors, no fruit juice, no sugar. Anything else is a mistake.

Oh, by the way, Ranch dressing is foul, too.

I tried the overbearing sugar once as a new resident of NC. I prefer unsweetened, less calories and the health effects of sugar are well known.

Ranch dressing I like, balsamic my favorite.

 

[ladder13]

Our recipe for finding decent "Mom and Pop" restaurants when we're traveling:
Find the county seat and then the courthouse. There is usually a decent restaurant within a block of the courthouse.

Those lawyers, judges and other publicans like to gather up and eat lunch together!

My mother grew up in Italian Harlem.

Rao’s restaurant has a looooooooong wait to get in, except if you are a celebrity, politician, judge or gangster. All mixing together, sometimes at the same table.

A History of Gangsters and GoodFellas at Rao's Italian Restaurant

Rao's Frank Pellegrino Sr. remembers when Warner Brothers came calling to shoot a little picture called GoodFellas.

www.bonappetit.com

 

[TX-Dennis]

I tried the overbearing sugar once as a new resident of NC. I prefer unsweetened, less calories and the health effects of sugar are well known.

Ranch dressing I like, balsamic my favorite.

I do enjoy a nice balsamic vinaigrette.

 

[Faulkner]

I've ridden all over the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, North Carolina, over into West Virginia and it's some awesome motorcycle riding. But Arkansas Hwy 123 in the Arkansas Ozarks is every bit as good. Every time I see a "Crooked and Steep" sign I know it's going to be a good ride.

Plus, there are some great down home eating establishments which is good because there are no chain or fast food places for several counties around.