Just in Case You Need a Place to Stop Along the Way...This Week's Fast Five is Stops!

 

Here we go!  Just in case you're on a road trip and need a really good stop.

1.    Buc-Ees!  A humble spot along the way in south central USA.  There's a lot of these in Texas, and everything's bigger in Texas, right?  Well, Buc-Ees is the world's largest convenience stores, and they have everything.  They also hold the world record for the largest car wash.  

In a Buc-Ees you can find thousands of things.  There are food counters, clothing, groceries, and really everything you'd find in a department store, plus all the other things you might find in a mall.  It's all at what really is a giant gas station and truck stop--but it's not a truck stop.  Really?  Why yes.  No tractor trailors, 18 wheelers, or rigs here.  It's for cars and people on road trips

Don't forget to buy your one of a kind souvenirs.  This is a tourist stop for sure.

Buc-Ees can be found in several locations across Alabama, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Colorado, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Georgia, Florida, and of course, Texas.

https://buc-ees.com/

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/business/real-estate/2017/10/12/buc-ee-s-bringing-texas-size-convenience-store-northeast-florida/15776376007/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g30809-d18921845-Reviews-Buc_ee_s-Robertsdale_Alabama.html

https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/01/travel/bucees-gas-station-convenience-popularity-cec/index.html

https://www.lawrestaurant.com/buc-ees-hours-and-menu/

2.    Iowa 80 Truck Stop, Walcott, Iowa.  This is the world's biggest truck stop, not convenience store, and has everything you can possibly imagine!  I-80 is, in my opinion, one of the most annoying roads in America.  But it's probably the most used trucking route in the country.  What Buc-Ees does for tourists, Iowa 80 does for them and truckers too.  They have all kinds of food, shopping, supplies for the road, and so on and so on.  What they also have is facilities for people on the road.  You can rest, shower, revive with massages, and even see a doctor at this amazing facility.  Bottom line, if you live most of the time on the road, this stop is a must see.

There's several chain fast food places here to grab a quick bite.  It's operated associated with Travel Centers of America or TA.  They are open all the time, so whenever you're around you can stop by.  If you have time, you can watch a movie at the theaters, or even check out the truck museum on site.

For a one and done stop it's great.  For a visit, it's great too.  This, being the world's largest truck stop, has become quite the tourist attraction, and all on I-80 in Iowa.

Here's the main question.  Is it a chain or a one and done?  By golly, it's becoming a chain.

https://iowa80truckstop.com/

https://iowa80truckstop.com/eat/

https://www.iowa80group.com/our-locations/

https://olioiniowa.com/blog/worlds-largest-truckstop/

https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/truck-week/inside-look-at-iowa-80-the-worlds-largest-truckstop/

3.    Welcome to the jungle!  Jungle Jim's International Market, Eastgate, Cincinnati, Ohio.  Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have unlimited choices of thousands upon thousands of products at the grocery store?  Apparently, you weren't the only one.

Jungle Jim's is an icon in the area, and is expanding with other locations, with activities, tastings, food festivals, events, and on and on.  Oh, yeah; the food.  There are almost unlimited butter varieties, cigars, wine and liquor, and everything you can imagine finding at a grocery store from all over the world and in endless variety.  Produce is where it started and it's turned into an institution.

Cincinnati is a great town to visit in the first place, so this is like a cherry on top.  But, if you ever find yourself in Cincinnati, it's a must see and a must do.

https://junglejims.com/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60993-d7289644-Reviews-Jungle_Jim_s_International_Market-Cincinnati_Ohio.html

https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/215412997/jungle-jims-international-market-eastgate/

https://discoverclermont.com/things-to-do/attractions/jungle-jims-international-market/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7EUsrFuaAA

4.    Wall Drug Store, Wall, South Dakota.  This is a great place with a great story.  Early on in the 1930's, the Wall Drug Store was born.  The owners needed a gimmick to get people to stop by the tiny town and shop.  

What started as an ad campaign to offer free ice water, became in institution.  They put signs and billboards along Route 16 and then also Route 14 and so on.  The signs became famous and so did the store.  The signs can be seen today more than 20 miles from town.

Wall Drug has become a huge location.  They have all the tourist stuff.  They have a restaurant, entertainment and arcades for the kids, lots of shopping and even a giant bunny with antlers.  You can spend hours in Wall Drug and have a great time.

If you happen to be in South Dakota to check out the Badlands, stop on by and have a great side stop.

https://www.walldrug.com/

https://www.walldrug.com/plan-your-visit#:~:text=Today%2C%20Wall%20Drug%20is%20still,break%20for%20the%20entire%20family.

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2216

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbuPB07MK8M

https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/wall/shopping/gifts-souvenirs/wall-drug-store-inc

5.   The King of them all, South of the Border, Hamer, South Carolina.  This place has everything for the traveler.  You can even camp and stay at the motor inn.  They have a convention center, theme park, truck stop and all kinds of activities.  It's a world famous roadside attraction.

In 1949, is when it started.  It's been expanding ever since.  One of the most remarkable things is that after it started, I-95 was installed and went right by it.  Part luck, part determination and a lot of hard work has made it what it is today.

There's everything you could possibly need here including mini golf and all kinds of family entertainment.  Not far from Myrtle Beach, this is a Mexican themed stop, referred to as an oasis and the gateway to the south.

With a theme park for the kids and an observation tower to go along with the restaurants, shopping and of course gas; there's something for everyone.  I never would have believed that there would be a roadside stop that people visit for part of their vacation, but it's one of the most popular stops along the East Coast.

https://www.sobpedro.com/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g54204-d1523447-Reviews-South_of_the_Border-Dillon_South_Carolina.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqytCw8JN1s

https://www.expedia.com/Hotel-Search?regionId=3000456123&locale=en_US&siteid=1&semcid=US.UB.GOOGLE.DT-c-EN.HOTEL&semdtl=a111798315240.b1147477608102.g1aud-2192524231654%3Akwd-1634907098.e1c.m1Cj0KCQjws560BhCuARIsAHMqE0FPBcGCi8vfZYguZABPX8hzYJ3phj-Oa0CA-cVae5ddhFFF0auZXbQaAgj8EALw_wcB.r1.c1.j19003419.k1.d1663263440505.h1b.i1.l1.n1.o1.p1.q1.s1.t1.x1.f1.u1.v1.w1&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjws560BhCuARIsAHMqE0FPBcGCi8vfZYguZABPX8hzYJ3phj-Oa0CA-cVae5ddhFFF0auZXbQaAgj8EALw_wcB&startDate=2024-07-19&endDate=2024-07-20&destination=South%20of%20the%20Border%2C%20Hamer%2C%20South%20Carolina%2C%20United%20States%20of%20America&theme=&userIntent=&useRewards=true&sort=RECOMMENDED

https://museumonmainstreet.org/content/south-border-south-carolina

So there you have it.  I love to stop at great stops along the way.  Road trips are the type of vacation you never forget.  I spent many times on the road with my family over the years and enjoyed every minute.  What amazing stops like these do for us is remind us that sometimes, it's more about the journey than the destination.

So, if you find yourself out enjoying our country, you might want to plan a little side trip to some of these locations.  You'll find them unforgettable.  So, get ready to make memories, pack some bags, fill up the tank, and enjoy!