Restaurants – Love, Laughter, and Luggage

Oklahoma 16 Jun 2026

Desert Hills Motel and Tally’s Good Food Cafe in Tulsa on Route 66

We are pretty fortunate to live in Joplin, just a few blocks from Route 66. Since we live in Missouri, we can also easily experience some attractions on the Route in either direction. Tulsa is a great example of a city on the Mother Road that is well within a day trip and a quick getaway for us. So one summer, when I had a medical procedure scheduled in Tulsa, Jeff and I made an overnight of it and booked a room at the Desert Hills Motel on Route 66. I won’t lie; this place often has mixed reviews, and some people question the safety of this particular area. Still, I was drawn in by the classic neon, so for one night, I thought we could give it a try. And I’m glad we did. Is this luxury lodging? No. But many old classic motels on Route 66 aren’t. Does…

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New Mexico 23 Apr 2026

Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque on Route 66

If you’re traveling the Mother Road in Albuquerque, consider stopping for a bite to eat at Frontier Restaurant. Opening in 1971, this isn’t one of those places that have been there from the beginning; it seems to have sprung up as a college student haven for those attending the University of New Mexico right across the street. However, as more people discover the nostalgic adventure of driving Route 66, the Frontier Restaurant is just as likely to serve up its New Mexican cuisine or American favorites to travelers as to locals. When planning our road trips, I’m also on the lookout for something unusual for us to experience along the highway. When I discovered I could sample some New Mexican fare while my pickier travel companions could have something familiar, I knew this was a place for us. After settling in at our home for the night at El Vado…

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Alabama 13 Mar 2026

Lulu’s Fun Food and Music in Gulf Shores

One year in August, we decided to take a last-minute road trip from Joplin, Missouri, to Gulf Shores, Alabama. We’d never been anywhere near this area before. In fact, we simply looked at the road atlas for a place we could spend some beach time within a “reasonable” driving distance. We wanted to relax before school started again, but we also wanted a place touristy enough for some fun. After some Internet searches, we’d found our destination and booked a room. Following our first day of lazy beach bliss, we looked around for a fun place for dinner. Lulu’s Fun Food and Music seemed like a great choice; it even had the word fun in the title. We hopped in the car and drove from our beachfront motel, Best Western on the Beach, on Beach Boulevard, and drove back inland across Portage Creek to Lulu’s. When you arrive at Lulu’s,…

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Maine 4 Sep 2024

Two Nights in Bar Harbor, Maine

.Bar Harbor is one of those delightful seaside villages that looks and feels just like you think it would., from fishing boats in the harbor to walkable streets selling local wares. We made our first trek into Maine during our East Coast road trip in July of 2023, and the state quickly became one of the most memorable and enjoyable stops on our 23-day journey. Would I return to Bar Harbor, or anywhere in Maine? Absolutely! Read on to see how we spent about 48 hours in this enchanting seaside town. Staying at Bar Harbor Manor When planning these epic road trips, we often start with lodging, often about a year out. At first, the KOA campground in Bar Harbor had our attention. Though we don’t currently have an RV, we often stay in the cabins in these campgrounds across the country. We were excited that it was waterfront, and…

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Canada 6 May 2024

Dinner With a View at Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls

Skylon Tower turned out to be one of my favorite experiences in Niagara Falls. My family doesn’t usually opt for pricier dining experiences, but this exception worked out great for us. It’s all about making memories together. Why Skylon Tower? As we planned our first trip to Niagara Falls, we had a lot of questions. What activities should we include in our experience of the Falls? Where should we stay? Should we opt for a place with an upper-floor view? When I learned that you could get those great views from Skylon Tower, we considered that maybe a pricey hotel room during the summer wasn’t necessary. When I discovered you could dine at the top, I was immediately excited. And one of the restaurants revolves? Let’s do this. Though we could’ve stayed at one of the hotels with a view of Niagara Falls, we decided to stay at the…

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Dallas 7 Feb 2024

Pecan Lodge: Great Texas BBQ in Dallas

Pecan Lodge is just one of those places that people recommend for barbecue in Dallas. Because I live in Southwest Missouri, when I think of barbecue, the first city that pops into mind is Kansas City. Memphis is a close second. But one can’t ignore one of the best contenders for amazing brisket and ribs, a place known for cowboys and cattle drives–Texas. Jeff and I had never experienced Texas barbecue together, so when we took a quick road trip to Dallas, we knew what we had to do. After researching and debating several great prospects, we decided to go with Pecan Lodge. Located in Dallas’s arts district of Deep Ellum, Pecan Lodge fits in well as a fun place to eat while exploring the area. If that wasn’t enough, the barbecue at Pecan Lodge is worth the trek. It’s absolutely delicious. Deep Ellum Deep Ellum is a neighborhood located…

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Missouri 21 Apr 2023

Gates Bar-B-Q: A Kansas City Classic

One spring day, my friend and I decided to make a day trip to Kansas City. Our two goals–The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and some delicious Kansas City barbecue. We set out in the morning from Joplin, Missouri, and we arrived in KC right in time for lunch. I’d never tried Gates Bar-B-Q, and my friend was game. It was on. Gates has several locations in the Kansas City metro area. I’d never seen the 18th and Vine Jazz District, so we punched the location nearest to that area into Google Maps. We walked around the historic area, vowing to return when we could really explore and visit the jazz museum. In the meantime, the murals were lovely. Street art is such a cool addition to any city. After walking around the area, we were ready to eat. After a short drive, we arrived at the Brooklyn Avenue location. History…

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New Mexico 12 Mar 2023

Chocolate Elixir and More at Kakawa Chocolate House in Santa Fe

As we researched places to visit in Santa Fe, especially places for tasty treats, one place continued to pop up on my radar–Kakawa Chocolate House. When I discovered that you could taste rich chocolatey elixirs or devour a variety of truffles, I knew Kristin and I had to go and get our chocolate on. So, after an exciting morning at Santa Fe’s Meow Wolf attraction, it was lunchtime. And what could be better for lunch than all things chocolate? About Kakawa Chocolate House Okay, maybe we didn’t exactly have lunch there. But Kakawa Chocolate House was right along our route back to our hotel room at the Guadalupe Inn, an adorable little place (it only has 12 rooms!) that was near downtown and some pretty great places to eat. So, before we headed back to downtown and Santa Fe Plaza, we needed to satisfy our need for chocolate. There are…

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Texas 26 Feb 2023

Sampling the Steak at Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo

One of the best things about driving along Route 66 is stopping at all the quirky, historic stops along the way, and Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, fits this description perfectly. Who can resist the challenge of the place–finishing a 72-ounce steak and all the fixings in one hour and getting the meal for free? Turns out, we could resist, but that didn’t stop our family from stopping for lunch on a road trip out west. And let me tell you, the smaller steaks are delicious. Even if you’re not hungry, this place is worth a stop to check out the decor and roadside fun. The Big Texan Steak Ranch and Route 66 The original location of The Big Texan Steak Ranch opened in 1960 along Route 66. When I-40 opened, the location was moved, though it’s worth noting that I-40 mostly runs along Route 66, often parallel…

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