Family Road Trip Nostalgia

Family road trips.... We all survived atleast one or two growing up, and I'm certain we also all have certain restaurants, states, songs, car models, and even food that remind us of our childhood vacation exploits.

I remember the absolute excitement we felt as kids when my parents decided to purchase what we would later nickname "Big Blue". Big Blue was our conversion van equipped with a fold out queen size bed, 2 swivel captains chairs, 2 sky lights, and a removable card table / drink holder. My parents were so ahead of the times with the cigarette lighter powered VHS tape player they hooked up to our mounted TV with CABLE in the back of our sightseeing-mobile. We were seriously livin' large, rollin' along the interstate in style!

My parents were committed to showing us all of America, museum by museum, landmark by landmark.... I am so appreciative of the time and money they spent on us bratty kids as they practically dragged us (sometimes kicking and screaming) to these amazingly historical and beautiful locations. I wish I was more appreciative at the time! (p.s. I love you mom and dad! Thank you! I'm even thankful for our Corn Palace stop in rural South Dakota!!)

The southern states in America hold particularly vivid memories for me, especially when it comes to food. Here, comfort food is king! We would stop at Shoney's or Cracker Barrel, and were suddenly allowed to indulge in a buffet of unhealthy, sugary, fatty foods we were never allowed to eat at home! Food at home for us meant cucumber, cream cheese and sprout sandwiches on wheat bread, fat free cheese, and 3/4 Cheerios 1/4 Fruit Loops for breakfast (again, thank you mom!). Healthy, yes, but as a child, we wanted Cheetos, brownies, mac and cheese!

Whenever we were in the South, we would look forward to a fun vacation, all while drooling in anticipation of the junk food that would inevitably end up on our meal-time plates!

Last weekend after returning from a work trip to Oregon (where I had plenty of kale, raw mushrooms, spinach, and fish), I joined some friends for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. As I walked through the door, I had an immediate rush of childhood nostalgia. The toys, $.05 candy, bacon, eggs, waffles!!! I enjoyed every minute of it. One of our friends ordered THESE for breakfast.
Wow.... Apple Pancakes. Praise the Lawwwwd! I tried to negotiate with my psyche and convince myself to revert to my childhood just this once. I wanted to order everything! Apple pancakes, grits, hash browns, and an egg for good measure.

My inner nutritionist voice won.

I had oatmeal.

Sounds boring, but it really wasn't! You can't go wrong with oatmeal, pecans, and delicious Vermont syrup. I guess I wasn't all that grown up, seeing that I played with the wooden peg board game all through breakfast!

What are some of your favorite childhood nostalgia memories?