What Pleasant Discoveries Have You Made On The Road

[G_and_D]

I am leaving for my first long trip in January, about 6 months. I expect to stay off the interstate as much as possible.

Many folks post that the RV experience enables them to Discover the wonderful parts of our country, get out of the metro areas and back to the great things they never would have discovered. It would be interesting to hear about those experiences from everyone.

Can you share a Discovery, Surprise, Experience that you never expected to see and what led you there?

[Mountain_Mama]

In 1975 DH & were newly married (1.5 yrs)& we decided to go to Yellowstone in late Sept. We had a pickup with an aluminum camper shell on it. We packed up, got some maps and went! What a fun time. One of my most memorable moment was pulling into a campground and a man asking us, "What are you kids from Texas doing here this time of year?". Come to find out he & his wife were from Dallas, not far from where we lived. They showed us how to make biscuits on a stick over the campfire. Fill with butter & jelly after cooking! Delicious..but I've never made them since...Didn't even make them with my kids...Shame on me...Must do it with DDG soon! We visited with them in their home and they showed us slides of previous trips to Alaska.

Also while in Yellowstone we took a slow/quite float trip on the Snake River. It was the most gorgeous fall day, perfect temperature and perfect blue sky. I think I fell asleep for awhile!

The other thing that I was so impressed with was Mt. Rushmore the first time I was it. The only image I'd ever seen of it was in books at school which was pictures about 2 x 3". I was just overwhelmed with the size of it and the work involved. A must see in my book.

Not to mention the many waterfalls we've seen. They are one of my favorite things!

During the Christmas/New Year holiday 2013 we took a trip to Natchez, MS which we both thoroughly enjoyed. We had seen a restaurant on Sat eve that was busy so we thought we'd check it out on Sun after church but it was closed. Another local car tried the same thing. He ask what we were looking for and he mentioned "Jugheads" in Natchez, so we decided to try it. Looking at it from the outside we never would have tried it or maybe not even noticed it, but were we glad we did!! Delicious fried catfish & shrimp with fries & slaw for me and DH had grilled, Cajun catfish (5 pieces!) roasted/steamed red potatoes, green beans and a roll. Fabulous local food!!

[Mootpoint]

The people of Carthage Missouri.

We had a flat on the 5'r for which I was going to need roadside service. No need to call GS. About 10 residents standing around with cell phones called the local shops and had me back on the road in nothing flat. It was like a Nascar pit stop for trailers. This included numerous offers of lunch and dinner to "just park it on the front lawn".
Some of the best folks we have ever met.

[Radio]

G and D wrote:
Can you share a Discovery, Surprise, Experience that you never expected to see and what led you there?

We have found countless little eateries, mostly barbecue places, that we would never have discovered without getting off the expressway and looking around.

We have discovered that I make better scrambled eggs than Sweet Wife does.

We have proven that the world turns at the same rate on its axis no matter how fast or slow we move, and so we choose to move as slow as possible when we are RVing.

We learned that the people in the next site are some of the nicest folks you have ever met, except on certain holiday weekends. Then, perhaps not.

We also learned to ask advise only from people who seemed to be having a good time.

And it always seemed to us that it was best not to plan a trip beyond the next stop, and always spend a day or two at each stop.

These may not be the discoveries, surprises or experiences that you were thinking about, but they are the ones that came to mind first, now that you asked. 🙂

[bull1]

I like small comunities that have a city campground. You never know what you will find in thes small out of the way places. We had a great stay in Louisana in one of these campgrounds. Great people and great food!

[Francesca_Knowl]

GoinThisAway wrote:
For years when my Dad saw an article on a place he might want to visit he cut it out and put it in folders organized by state. Then a couple years ago I met my folks on the road so we could go camping together. When we turned for home we debated on which route to take across Kansas. My Dad pulled out his folder and handed me the one for that state. I browsed through the articles until one caught my eye. The next day we visited the improbable Cosmosphere & Space Center in Hutchinson, KS. The museum contains quite a collection of artifacts documenting the history of space exploration. The most surprising of these was the Mercury space capsule Liberty Bell 7 that sunk into the depths of the ocean when it's hatch opened prematurely. Without Dad's old clippings we'd never have known this interesting place existed.

That is one of the best planning ideas I have EVER heard of! At least for those of us that still read hardcopy newspapers/magazines etc.

Thanks for sharing!

[GoinThisAway]

For years when my Dad saw an article on a place he might want to visit he cut it out and put it in folders organized by state. Then a couple years ago I met my folks on the road so we could go camping together. When we turned for home we debated on which route to take across Kansas. My Dad pulled out his folder and handed me the one for that state. I browsed through the articles until one caught my eye. The next day we visited the improbable Cosmosphere & Space Center in Hutchinson, KS. The museum contains quite a collection of artifacts documenting the history of space exploration. The most surprising of these was the Mercury space capsule Liberty Bell 7 that sunk into the depths of the ocean when it's hatch opened prematurely. Without Dad's old clippings we'd never have known this interesting place existed.

[Oaklevel]

Sites & findings are nice but nothing compared to the great people you meet along the way....... staying in a Motel you rarely meet anyone staying there, but in a camp ground you meet many great people some which you may stay in contact with for many years.....................

[Parrothead_Mike]

About 10 years ago, over a 4th of July weekend where we didn't plan ahead for camping, we discovered a neat little bluegrass festival in the central part of Michigan. We had just purchased our current 5th wheel and didn't make reservations for the busy holiday because we didn't know if we'd have it in time and were in between RVs. I found a flyer about this bluegrass festival near Baldwin, MI that offered camping. I told my wife about it and we decided to give it a try. It was a small festival, but the camp ground was well shaded on a hot weekend and the music was excellent. After that we told friends about it and they also came for the next couple of years until the campground owners decided to discontinue it due to old age. That was a real find.

[Francesca_Knowl]

2324delk wrote:
Highway 127 North of Jamestown Tennessee. Where my Mom, Dad, and Mother In Law were from.

Stopped in Forbus at the little store there to get some fudge and a bologna sandwich.

Came back out on the porch to find my two young grandsons scared to death of something, asked them what was the matter, they just pointed at a man sitting in a rocker on the porch. He was scary looking, old, and had lost an eye to blindness, it was all gray and scarred up.

I told them he didn't look to scary to me lets go sit and eat by him. Went and asked him if the seats were taken, he almost begged us to sit down.

Turns out he bought the land my dad sold years before, the land had a cave on it and he told us to stop by any time and go caving.

As we were leaving the Grandkids were bragging about how cool that strange man was.

Things like that are the reason we travel the back roads, you never know what you might learn or be able to teach, just by taking your time.

Great story! What a lesson your Grandkids learned that day...

I'm really surprised at how few of the "Pleasant discoveries" posted so far have been about encounters with people. Not that places aren't an adventure, too- but it's the often surprising folks I've met that stick in my mind the clearest.

[2324delk]

Highway 127 North of Jamestown Tennessee. Where my Mom, Dad, and Mother In Law were from.

Stopped in Forbus at the little store there to get some fudge and a bologna sandwich.

Came back out on the porch to find my two young grandsons scared to death of something, asked them what was the matter, they just pointed at a man sitting in a rocker on the porch. He was scary looking, old, and had lost an eye to blindness, it was all gray and scarred up.

I told them he didn't look to scary to me lets go sit and eat by him. Went and asked him if the seats were taken, he almost begged us to sit down.

Turns out he bought the land my dad sold years before, the land had a cave on it and he told us to stop by any time and go caving.

As we were leaving the Grandkids were bragging about how cool that strange man was.

Things like that are the reason we travel the back roads, you never know what you might learn or be able to teach, just by taking your time.

[EgorKC]

mdamerell wrote:
As a trucker I lived on the road long before I ever hooked up the RV. I learned its the trip not the destination that is the adventure. While I had to load and unload to get paid it was the getting there that made life enjoyable. The "US-roads" (ie: US-54, US-24, US-30) allowed you to see and experience the country and the food was a reflection of it's people. Skip the fast food and look for an old neon sign that says "FOOD" or "EAT". The country is huge and when you're sitting on a piece of two lane in the middle of nowhere you have a better understanding of just how small we really are.

With a very few exceptions above I-95, I've ridden every "I-road" from start to finish. Life is not found there. Life is found on the "skinny roads".

Water towers are unique as the towns they serve. Wyland painted whales on building around the US in the 1980's can you find the remaining ones. There are small treasures hide all over the country waiting to be found.

Have fun 🙂

Best description I have ever read on the whole reason/good for traveling the road. This country still has a lot of pockets of genuine, honest and real people to see/visit. Thank you for reminding us.
Greg.

[Jim_Shoe]

gbopp wrote:
I like to travel the side roads when possible, it's more interesting and enjoyable.

Check Road Side America, maybe you'll find something interesting along your route.

If you get to the Cincinnati OH area, check out Jungle Jim's International Market.

Enjoy your travels.

I highly recommend Jungle Jim's. His Eastgate store is a mile east of I-275E at exit 63. Part of Eastgate Shopping Center. As they say, "You can't miss it." There's a huge sign telling you exactly where to turn.
Its as big as a city block. They sell everything. Tongue hanging out for fresh buffalo steak? They have it. How about fresh trout? They have a large vertical tank where you can pick the one you want and they'll fillet it for you on the spot. Like hot sauce? They have a room full. Must be 100 different brands. Also separate rooms for imported German, Irish, English, Spanish, etc. foods.
I'd say pack a lunch, but you can eat yourself silly on samples.

[mdamerell]

As a trucker I lived on the road long before I ever hooked up the RV. I learned its the trip not the destination that is the adventure. While I had to load and unload to get paid it was the getting there that made life enjoyable. The "US-roads" (ie: US-54, US-24, US-30) allowed you to see and experience the country and the food was a reflection of it's people. Skip the fast food and look for an old neon sign that says "FOOD" or "EAT". The country is huge and when you're sitting on a piece of two lane in the middle of nowhere you have a better understanding of just how small we really are.

With a very few exceptions above I-95, I've ridden every "I-road" from start to finish. Life is not found there. Life is found on the "skinny roads".

Water towers are unique as the towns they serve. Wyland painted whales on building around the US in the 1980's can you find the remaining ones. There are small treasures hide all over the country waiting to be found.

Have fun 🙂

[trailertraveler]

G and D wrote:
I am leaving for my first long trip in January, about 6 months. I expect to stay off the interstate as much as possible.

Many folks post that the RV experience enables them to Discover the wonderful parts of our country, get out of the metro areas and back to the great things they never would have discovered. It would be interesting to hear about those experiences from everyone.

Can you share a Discovery, Surprise, Experience that you never expected to see and what led you there?

We enjoy travelling on the US and state Highways. We have traveled large sections of US-2,17,20,26,36,40,50,54,56,60,64,70,189,191 and others. We travel about 200-250 miles at a time. I use Roadside America and a number of other websites to search for places of interest. I always check the brochure rack at campgrounds and visitor centers and ask staff and fellow campers what there is to see and do in the area.

Just a few of the off the Interstate attractions we have found interesting are the Ellinwood Underground City, Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire NM, Inscription Rock and Hell's Backbone. There are many many smaller National Parks, Monuments, and Historic Sites as well as state park and historic sites that are rarely disappointing.

We also really enjoy the local festivals. Even small remote communities like Rahma, Pinos Altos and San Lorenzo, NM have them. We also enjoy food festivals like the Enchilada Festival in Las Cruces, NM; the Crawfish Festival in Woodbine, GA; and the Seafood Festival in Grants, FL. There are Oktoberfest celebrations in small communities across the country.

So many places to see and things to do in so little time.