Neon Eateries Serve Up Good Grub To RVers

RVers are sometimes forced to eat at chain restaurants because the surrounding area lacks alternatives. Chain restaurants have the advantage of ultimate consistency because the mongo double cheese tastes the same in Brooklyn as it does in Seattle. The downfall of chain restaurants is they are boring and lack character. I much prefer the neon eateries and cafes scattered around the country. I’ve had poor meals in some of these antique restaurants, but I’ve had far more good than bad. In these places you are entering a family atmosphere and a piece of Americana. Many of the folks are “regulars” and can be quite colorful. Conversation is robust and so is the coffee. You could grab a paper before you go in, but you’ll probably find one ready to read at the counter. Brownies Cafe in Yuma, Arizona is just such a place. Here the owner for 30 years, Bobby Brooks poses with his waitress crew. You can’t get meatloaf or liver and onions at McFranchise. In fact, you can’t even get a ceramic coffee cup or real silverware. Brownies serves up great meals at a reasonable price and the waitresses serve up a healthy dose of playful sarcasm too. The menus are sealed in plastic and the food is as close to home cookin’ as you’ll get. These old fashioned restaurants are part of our living history and great places to take the whole family. So in your travels around the country be sure to take in the ambiance of a few of these neon eateries, you’ll be glad you did. Out searching for the ultimate milkshake - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Real RVers Are Explorers And That Means Dining Local!

Just because you have a map of the United States with the states all colored in and pasted to the side of your RV doesn’t make you're a complete RVer in my opinion. A huge part of the fun of RVing around this great country is the experience of the local culture. Sure you can eat at the national chain restaurants, but you will miss out on the rich fair the local folks enjoy. Take a chance, climb out of your comfort zone and dine local!

I think Camping World should come out with a U.S. map with a culinary dish from each state and you can’t fill in the state until you’ve actually sampled the local grub. The places where you are going to find some really good eats are roadside stands. Texas is full of these places with smoldering BBQ’s just oozing with mouth watering aroma. Some of the best BBQ you’ll ever eat comes out of places like this. And Maine lobster rolls soaked in butter from a roadside stand mmm.......mmm I'm drooling!For all you Family Motor Coach Association members who may still be roaming around Georgia or anywhere in the South, I highly recommend you stop at a roadside stand and try some of these boiled peanuts. Smitty’s Produce Stand is just such a place. Smitty has been selling boiled peanuts every weekend in Columbus, Georgia for 22 years. Don’t worry, in most states, these vendors have to have a business license and are routinely inspected by the health department. He also sells great produce and is located on the Eastbound on-ramp of 80 and Moon road in Columbus, Georgia. Not to worry, there is plenty of parking for your big rig RV.

Today I purchased $1 worth of the Cajun flavor boiled peanuts. This plate full of warm peanuts went from this: To this - in less than six minutes, and I ate them all myself. Wow! They were not spicy hot as I thought they would be, but very flavorful and gone in no time! Many restaurants in the South serve these as appetizers, but if you’re not careful, you’ll make a meal out of them and not want your supper when they bring it. I also purchased some fresh vegetables and homemade pecan brittle.This pecan brittle cost $1 and is, no kidding, the best pecan brittle I’ve ever eaten. You can be sure I'll be a repeat customer!