Waco, Texas: The Dr. Pepper Museum, Jasper's BBQ, Whataburger, and Willie Nelson...

A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to have a job that sent me to parts of the country I might not have visited otherwise.  Waco, Texas, is one of those places.

Before I write anything else, I have to add that I can't find the thumb drive with my pictures, so hopefully those will be added tonight.

Anyways, I had the good fortune to spend a significant amount of time in Waco.  I'd fly into the Dallas / Ft. Worth airport, pick up my rental car, and take 35W straight down.  Driving in Dallas always makes me nervous (and this is coming from a guy who lived in D.C. for 7 years).  Traffic is non-stop, and it seems like it's always rush hour.  1 p.m. - it's rush hour.  2:30 a.m. - still rush hour.  And there's always a semi, teetering over the lane divider, right next to you...

But then, you find 35 (E or W, it doesn't matter.  The roads eventually intersect, and get you to Waco), and it's a different world.  It's what you'd imagine driving through Texas to be - a big, open highway, flat, green plains, and a big, open sky to match.  There is nothing quite like the open sky in Texas.  The sun is shining, and it's a beautiful drive.  It's about a two hour drive to Waco.  Time to put on some Willie Nelson or Johnny Cash, and enjoy the ride...

Speaking of Willie Nelson, one of my favorite places to stop and eat was in Carl's Corner, called Willie's Place.  This was a truck stop / restaurant partially owned by Willie Nelson.  It was a big, clean restaurant with friendly waitresses, Willie Nelson memorabilia on the wall, and his music was playing.  The food was Texas-friendly (BBQ, fried, etc.), served in Texas-sized portions.  I can personally vouch for the very good chicken-fried steak, sweet tea, and one of the best peach cobblers around.  Rumor has it Willie himself would stop in from time to time.  I'm not sure if it's true, but it looks like it's no longer in business.  If this is the case, I'm sorry to see it go.

Then, you're in Waco.  Home to Baylor University, this is a quaint, little college town with a 1900's feel to it...

It's also the birthplace of (in my opinion) the greatest soda ever made:  Dr. Pepper.  The original Dr. Pepper factory has since been converted into a museum. 

It's a nice afternoon visit that tells you the history of Dr. Pepper (and other sodas).  As you walk through the exhibits, you might learn an interesting thing or two.  I'm ashamed to admit that I never knew the distinct flavor is a combination of 23 different fruit flavors.

I really enjoyed the replica of the original Dr. Pepper Soda Shoppe at the end.  The beverage is mixed by hand in front of you, as it would have been back in the day.  I thought it tasted significantly better than the canned version, but maybe I was caught up in the moment...

Based on recommendations, I've tried several barbeque places in Waco.  The one that stood out was called Jasper's Bar-B-Que.  It's been around since 1915, so they must be doing something right.  Basically a white shack, this place is fairly bare bones - tables with rolls of paper towels for napkins, and food served on paper plates.

But, when it comes to barbeque, I let the food, not the décor, do the talking.  What made this unique for me was that meat is served by the pound.  With choices of beef, sausage, bologna, chicken and ribs, you can order a combination that adds up to a pound.  I tried sausage, bologna (my first time trying bbq'd bologna) and ribs.  Meals are served with a few slices of white bread, two sides ( I tried potato salad and baked beans), and a salad of onions and pickles.

Texas BBQ is a little more mesquite and peppered than I would like, and the sauce is thinner than I prefer.  Again, I like the sweeter Memphis style; but I do recommend Jasper's.  Of the meats I had, the bologna was (surprisingly) my favorite, and the ribs hit the spot.  The sausage was a little spicier than I expected, so I don't think I'd order it again.  The sides were decent, but the meats definitely stood out.  The portions were very generous, and the prices reasonable.

Moving along, regional chains aren't as common as they used to be, but the few that are left are a welcomed break from McDonald's and Burger King.  On the West Coast, we have the infamous In-N-Out Burger, The Midwest and New England have White Castle, my hometown has Swenson's, and the South has Whataburger.  The East Coast used to have a lock on Five Guys, but the company has expanded nationwide, so I'll say they've got Roy Rogers...

Anyways, the reason I mention those regional places is this:  It's all about what you grew up with.  Whatever chain you associate with growing up - that is, most likely, the best burger (pizza, ice cream, whatever) you can think of - kind of like how nothing beats your mom's cooking.  Unfortunately, those memories don't always translate to new, older customers. 

When I heard the fanaticism for Whataburger from the locals, (which I'd seen in Florida and Texas, but never stopped to try), I couldn't wait to take a bite... 

I had the double meat Whataburger with cheese, fries and a coke.  The burger was...good, but not the mind-blowing experience I'd hoped for.  I'd describe it as a significantly better version of the Whopper, with bigger, better quality meat patties, and fresher toppings.  The fries didn't do it for me (too salty).  I understand Whataburger is known for their proprietary ketchup, and was surprised that no ketchup dispenser exists - only the packets they give you (similar to sauce packets for McNuggets).  It tasted like Heinz to me, so I wasn't too impressed with that, either.

Would I recommend it?  Well, it's definitely a few notches above the standard places, so yes.  Given the choice between McDonald's and Whataburger, Whataburger wins, hands down.  Change McDonald's to Five Guys, and I'd choose Five Guys...

Keep in mind that I would consider Swenson's (from my hometown) to be one of the Top 5 burgers in the country (Forbes magazine considered it the "Best in America" in 1999 - just saying...).  After spouting heaps of praise on it, I brought some friends from out of state to try it.  Their review:  "meh".  Like I said, it's all about what you grew up with...

We've got plenty more places to see, things to do, and places to eat!  Stick around...

St. Augustine, FL: The Fountain of Youth, Ripley's Believe it or Not, Castillo de San Marcos and the Columbia Restaurant...

When you grow up in Ohio, you take your vacations in Florida.  I think it's a law.  At least, looking back, that's how it seemed.  That's where we (my family) - and everybody I knew - went for any vacation lasting longer than 5 days.  We usually drove.  On a side note, I'll never forget my first flight ever, to Orlando, Florida in 1991...

Anyways, being the child of a history teacher, our family usually found places with some history / Americana mixed in for good measure.  One of those cities was Saint Augustine, Florida.

St. Augustine has the honor of being the oldest continuous European settlement in the U.S.   It was discovered by the Spanish in 1513.  If you know your legends, Ponce de Leon was looking for the Fountain of Youth (and gold) when he stumbled here.  The Spanish influence can be seen everywhere, and it's definitely a unique place.  It's located on the east coast of Florida, not far from Jacksonville, off the A1A, never too crowded with tourists, very walkable, and surrounded by plenty of beaches.

The Fountain of Youth Park is a nice afternoon stop that has a 1960's feel to it.  I don't think anything has been updated since the park was built, but there's plenty to do.  My favorite is the planetarium, showing how explorers navigated the seas using the stars.  Make no mistake, this is not a high-tech presentation, but it was interesting enough to hold my attention.

There are also plenty of mannequins showing the not-so-friendly relations between the Spanish and the Native Americans, and re-creations of the original settlement.  Then, finally, you hit the jackpot:

This is it.  The big one.  And, yes, you can drink from it!  But there's one problem - it is disgusting.  Disgusting in a way that makes you choke and gag.  The water is warm, and smells like rotten eggs.  Fountain of Youth?  More like Fountain of Sulfur. If this is the secret to eternal youth, I'll take my chances on the afterlife.  If you're curious and want to try it yourself, you can always order some from the gift shop...

The Spanish influence can be seen everywhere, but especially in the gigantic Castillo de San Marcos, an old fort built in 1672.  The history of this fort involves the Spanish, British, Native Americans, and the Confederacy. and it was used up until 1900.  It's now part of the National Park Service.  I'll let you read about it, but I've never seen anything else like this in the continental U.S.:

Here's a top-down view for a better perspective.  This place is huge, and very well preserved.  Note the people walking around...

Another great example of the Spanish influence is the also amazingly, well-preserved "old town". It's only a few blocks from the fort.  Walking through the city gate, you find yourself on St. George Street.  Closed to traffic, you'll find the street and some shops are made of an incredibly durable, ground-up coral, unique to Spanish architecture of that era:

It's touristy, but it works well.  The "old town" area covers quite a few blocks, and is full with souvenir shops, locally-made clothing stores, antique shops, and restaurants.  Lots of restaurants. 

Speaking of which, since you're in Florida, why not try some Cuban food?  I'd definitely recommend The Columbia.  It's a very popular place in Old Town.  There's usually a short wait, but the staff is good at turning tables over quickly.  The inside is nicely decorated - very classy, and open - exactly what you'd expect.

I ordered a 1/2 Cuban sandwich / salad combo.  The sandwich was a combination of ham, salami, pork, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickle grilled on fresh-baked thin, buttery bread.  The salad was their famous "1905 salad", which is made up *at your table* of a bizarre combination of items; yet somehow, they all work very well together.  The half sandwich was enormous, and filled me up for the rest of the day, and it only set me back about $10.  This picture is from Trip Advisor (not mine), but shows you basically what I got:

Last but not least, why not visit something Bizarre?  How about the original Ripley's Believe it or Not?  Museum...

Set in a beautiful mansion where Ripley himself was a guest, this is the first of the brand's several museums.  This is also where the opening to the circa 2000 television series was filmed.  There are plenty of discount coupons available around the city, so don't pay full price. 

I've been to a few of these around the country, and I've definitely noticed some of the same displays, but, overall, this one is my favorite.  It seems to have the largest amount of Ripley's personal items, and that caught my attention.  I could be wrong about that, though. 

Also, there are a few displays out front that you can't see in this picture, but they're very interesting.  I'll let you explore to lean more...

Honestly, there's too much to discuss in one blog, so maybe one day I'll follow up with more.  St. Augustine is a great vacation destination, with something for everyone.  Please share any suggestions / feedback. 

Thanks for reading!

San Diego, California - Hodad's and Hungry Lu's

For my first post, I thought I'd talk about a few places local to me.  I live in Ocean Beach, a funky hippie neighborhood right by the ocean (and beach) in San Diego.  If you're interested in getting here, just take 8 West all the way to end, and you'll come out at Sunset Cliffs Boulevard.  The main street is Newport, and it offers lots of shops, and restaurants, and people-watching that could easily keep you entertained all afternoon.  You might think you've traveled back in time to 1973, and, in a way, you have.  There's a very long pier where you don't need a permit to fish.  It offers spectacular views of sunsets almost every evening...

Okay, let's talk food: one of the better known places here is Hodad's.  Known for their burgers, plan to wait in line, especially if you come on a weekend. 

 

The décor is pure "surfer dude / stoner", with license plates covering the walls, and surfboards for tables.  If you're lucky, you can eat in the vintage VW Bus.  Prices are very reasonable, staff is friendly, and the portions are big.  

 

A "regular" burger is 1/3 lb.  It comes with ketchup, mustard, mayo, and lots of fresh pickle, tomatoes, onion and lettuce.  If I had to compare taste of the burger to something, I'd say it's a bigger, fatter version of In-N-Out (if you're not in the mood for a big burger, order a mini - it's the size of your typical fast food burger).  One of their specialties is the Guido burger, topped with pastrami, pickles, grilled onions, and brown mustard.  I like it.  The double bacon cheeseburger could easily kill two men and a boy...

 

The fries are thick wedges, covered in a seasoning.  They remind me of the wedges served at KFC, and honestly, I'm not a big fan.  However, if you like fat, greasy, breaded onion rings (like me!), this is the place!  You can try fries and onion rings by ordering "Frings".  A half-order is plenty for two (or three) people to share... 

 

But the real hidden gems here are the milkshakes.  All the usual suspects are available: Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry.  We're talking huge, overflowing milkshakes, served in the mixing tin, with a scoop (yes, a scoop!) of ice cream on the edge of the tin!  This is where good milkshakes go when they die.  Here's a little secret - if you ask your server all nice-like, you can get any combination of the three flavors.  I'm a Neapolitan kinda guy, myself...

So, for a great burger and milkshake (and contact high), check out Hodad's in Ocean Beach. 

Now, onto Hungry Lu's

Being from the Midwest, growing up in a predominantly Italian neighborhood, and spending a few years on the East Coast, I've grown up with an appreciation for a good sub sandwich.  Ham, turkey, and provolone on a french roll - with some mayo, onion, and lettuce?  Yes, please!  Or, maybe a classic Italian sub?  Requesting permission to come aboard, Captain!

Except...this is California.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love it out here.  Good weather, nice people, etc., etc.  But, finding a good sub sandwich is as easy as finding a winning Powerball ticket.  When I first moved here, I asked a neighbor where the best sub sandwich was.  His answer:  Subway.  Let me repeat that:  Sub. Way (ugh).  Just the name makes me shudder.  That doesn't even count as a sub shop.  It's more of a chemical factory.  I haven't eaten at a Subway (ugh) in years.  I gave up on it because, no matter what you order, every sandwich tastes the same.  Is this a meatball or a cold-cut combo?  Who knows?  Maybe neither...

Then, I found Hungry Lu's on Voltaire Street, not far from Lucy's Tavern.  This is a family-owned sub shop and bakery, with a great offering of Italian pastries and cookies. 

Sandwiches range from $5.00 to $6.50, and are the real deal. Fresh meats and cheeses are stuffed in a freshly-baked roll.  The club (ham and turkey and bacon) and meatball subs are my favorites so far.  Here's my mom enjoying one of their sandwiches; and mom wouldn't lie:

They also serve mini pizza's for $5.00.  I'm such a fan of the sandwiches, I haven't had the courage to try a pizza, but they look great.  Actually, I'm lying.  My girlfriend ordered an "O.B. Special" - ham and pineapple, with a spicy relish on top of the pizza sauce, with a side of ranch for dipping.  After one bite, I considered eating her meal and mine, but decided that would be a selfish decision.  Seriously though, I would definitely order it.

So, back to the cookies and pastries.  Let's say you hate sub sandwiches (meaning you're an un-American commie jerk).  No problem.  Come here and try the cookies.  Especially the handmade cannoli, and the half-dipped-in-chocolate-butter cookie thing.  They will figuratively change your life. 

The owner is a very friendly guy.  He'll often give you a cookie (or two) for free while you're waiting for your sandwich. You know what my favorite kind of cookie is?  A free cookie...

Anyways, that's it for my first blog.  Thanks for reading, and leave a comment! 

More to follow soon...

Welcome to Roadtrips and Restaurants!

Hi!  I'm Michael - just your average 34 year-old guy who enjoys traveling and trying new places to eat on the weekends.  I grew up in the Midwest (near Cleveland, Ohio), spent 7 years living in the Washington, D.C. area, and, as of 2 1/2 years ago, relocated to beautiful, sunny San Diego, California. 

Although I spend my week working at a desk, during the weekend, I travel to find fun, interesting sites, and unique, hole-in-the-wall places to eat.  If all goes as planned, the blog will be a combination of places I've visited - including photos, things I've done, and some of the places I've eaten.  I'm looking forward to your comments and feedback!  Thanks for reading...