We made a promise before we left on Home Office Highway: No Cracker Barrel, and no Hampton Inn.
Nothing against these two fine brands. When we’re traveling in the family minivan, they’re each an oasis on the Interstate. But with our home along for the ride, hotels were unnecessary, and meals were in the fridge.
Besides, what we cook on board is healthier than the high-fat fare typically had on the road.
Our final tally: Nine meals were purchased from restaurants along the way, including one final bite at a Panera Bread in Orlando as I presented at the Disney Entrepreneur Center.
Previously, we had deli in Connecticut and New Jersey, New York pizza in New Jersey (unless take-out counts as eat-in…?), and Chinese and burgers at Carowinds park in North/South Carolina. We had BBQ and ice cream at Piggy’s in Hendersonville, N.C., “period” fare at Colonial Williamsburg, and — coming clean here — a box of Hot Nows at Krispy Kreme. But they were consumed over a couple of days.
One of the best experiences was BBQ ribs, brisket and pulled pork at The Georgia Pig off Interstate 95 just north of the Florida state line.
We had burgers and dogs, Rocky Mountain toast for breakfast, and tuna or egg salad for lunch. We stopped at Ingles grocery several times along the way to stock up (including on Watergate and ambrosia salads). In short, we lived and cooked from the road.
And we lived up to our promise of watching our diet along the road. Sadly, with all this attention to healthy eating, I came home weighing the same as when I went.