Road trip stop recommendations

October 24, 2008 2:20 PM

We're taking a road trip next week, and looking for any suggestions of places to check out or good places to eat along the way.

our approximate route

We don't have a ton of time since we only have a week to do this. We'd love to hear about interesting places to stop and check out along the route. We'd also love to know of any really good places to eat as well.

posted by disaster77 to travel & transportation (8 comments total)

It's helpful to say (in text one the front page) where you're going.
Boston to Winnipeg and back, a loop around the Great Lakes.
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:37 PM on October 24, 2008 [2 favorites]

When you cross over the PA border from Ohio, you'll be a little south of Sharon PA, which is the location of the first Quaker Steak and Lube, which is arguably has the best wings in the area. The original location is rumored to be an old auto garage, and each room has a theme - Harley room, Corvette room, etc... with things like a Corvette hanging from the ceiling. It's a casual, wings and beer kind of place, but I don't even like wings and I like it there.
posted by librarianamy at 2:53 PM on October 24, 2008

Just as a small note, unless you particularly wanted to go to Niagara falls, if you go east around the lake from Toronto, you can go through the thousand islands area, rather than the ugly bit around Hamilton and through to the Buffalo area. It is slightly longer, but invariably ends up being faster through traffic volume and construction. It is a much more relaxed route, the area is gorgeous, but does rather screw any Niagara plans...

At an average of 530 miles a day, are you going to have time to do anything other than drive, really? Unless you particularly need to get to Winnipeg, then either a longer trip in terms of time, or a less ambitious route may be worth considering as you may end up easily having to do 8-10 hours driving every day, which will soon get tedious as only eating as you go becomes anything other than a drag, timewise. Having to cover such a distance in a day will mean it is impossible to miss peak time on the roads somewhere unless you plan a series of non stop driving days (18 hours or so) which suck.

The trip is doable in that time, but if the intention is to 'see things along the way', then you have either too much distance or not enough time, IMHO.
posted by Brockles at 2:57 PM on October 24, 2008 [1 favorite]

Just to note, we're seasoned road trippers. We've driven across the US in 3.5 days more than once and done a few 1000 mile days. We're looking for fun places to eat since we have to stop and eat anyhow. Then any not-to-miss sights we can fit in easily, with a long day of driving.

(sorry, I was in a rush and didn't post the trip info in the question)
posted by disaster77 at 3:09 PM on October 24, 2008

Just to note, we're seasoned road trippers.

Ah, ok. I was just trying to make sure you knew what you were getting in to. It seems you do. Good job. There are people that assume you can easily do 750-1000 miles a day, which is only sometimes true, and rather than spoil your trip, I thought I'd pipe up.

I'd still say go north of Lake Ontario than the crap around Hamilton/St Catherines, though.
posted by Brockles at 3:19 PM on October 24, 2008

I lived in Madison for five years, and still get back once a year or so. When I go back, my favorite place to get food is New Orleans Take-Out. It really is a take-out place, though. There is a shelf (calling it a "counter" would be too generous) along one wall and the front window, and a few stools, so you can eat there if you really want to, but few do. (At least at the Fordem Ave. location. The Monroe St. location is relatively new, and I haven't been there.)

The drive between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie is beautiful, but sparsely populated. You won't find much along that stretch. Although Winnie the Pooh was from White River, Ontario. There's a statue and a small museum there. (I don't know if I'd call it a "can't-miss" attraction though. More of a "if you need to stop and stretch your legs anyway" attraction.)

The Bavarian Inn Motel and Restaurant in Bruce Mines, Ontario, along the north shore of Lake Huron, has good German food.

Since librarianamy mentioned wings, I'll add that Buffalo has the Anchor Bar, where Buffalo wings were invented.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 3:26 PM on October 24, 2008

You'll be passing within 8 miles of my house, west of Cleveland. If you grew up watching MASH, you might stop in Toledo at Tony Packo's. Closer to home (mine), great mexican food can be had in a bad neigborhood of Lorain, at Licha's. In Cleveland there are too many possibilities to cover, but the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse and the West Side Market come to mind.
posted by jon1270 at 5:39 PM on October 24, 2008

-Another vote for Anchor Bar, Buffalo, NY. If you feel like stopping in Rochester area instead, MeMail me for way too many recommendations.

-If you go into downtown Toronto, I recommend the Village Idiot Pub for their Idiot Fries and beer and hospitality.
posted by knile at 6:20 PM on October 24, 2008