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Kakawa Chocolate House Santa Fe
In New Mexico

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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Big Texan Steak Ranch Amarillo
In Texas

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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Hattie B's Hot Chicken in Nashville
In Tennesse

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken: Can You Handle the Heat?

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken has become a Nashville staple over the years. If you’re looking to sample one of Nashville’s famous foods, Hattie B’s Hot Chicken is a perfect choice. When we hop in the car for a road trip, one of the things we always look forward to is sampling some of the local cuisine of our destination. Okay, maybe it’s something I look forward to; my picky travel companions are not always so sure. Still, when one of the local dishes is chicken, maybe I can get them on board. Hattie B’s Hot Chicken: The Restaurant We took a quick two-night getaway to Nashville last summer for my birthday. For us, it’s about a seven-hour drive, so it’s completely doable as a short trip. As we researched Nashville, we knew we needed to try one of the city’s hot chicken places. After some deliberation, we chose to try…

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El Tovar at night
In Arizona

Experiencing Grand Canyon Village at Night

When we visit national parks, we often stay on-site in a national park lodge if it makes sense for that visit.  For our first visit to the Grand Canyon, we knew we wanted to check out the Grand Canyon Village, so why not stay the night there? Located at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in the northwest corner of Arizona, Grand Canyon Village features lodging, shopping, and dining options right along the canyon. There are several benefits to staying right on property at a national park lodge; one of our favorites is to see park features at different times of the day. We hoped that during our Grand Canyon visit that we could see the light changes at sunset and sunrise. Another benefit is that often the day visitors thin out as dusk approaches and you may get to experience the park with fewer people. And often, national…

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Chicken Annie's and Chicken Mary's
In Kansas

Chicken Annie’s and Chicken Mary’s: Side-By-Side Fried Chicken Restaurants in Southeast Kansas

About a year ago, I stumbled upon the book The Chicken Sisters by KJ Dell’Antonia as I looked for novels for my summer reading. It was part of Reese’s Book Club, so I gave the blurb on Amazon a click. The more I read, the more I knew I had to read this book. The setting of the book, two fried chicken restaurants in Merinac, Kansas, caught my eye. You see, we live about 45 minutes from two fried chicken restaurants, Chicken Annie’s and Chicken Mary’s, that sit right next door to each other near a small town in Southeast Kansas named Frontenac. So there it was. A book that obviously referenced a place that I’d known all my life. I was in! The book is a light, fun type of read, perfect for summertime. I enjoyed the story, but something else happened. Suddenly, I wanted to revisit these friend chicken…

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Fantasmic! Dining Package Malificent Dessert
In Disneyland

Why You Should Do the Fantasmic! Dining Package at Disneyland

The Fantasmic! Dining Package can save you some time by allowing you to explore the park rather than stake out a spot to view Fantasmic!. As we planned our first Disneyland trip, we knew we wanted to see this nighttime show. Though we’d seen the Walt Disney World version several times, Disneyland’s Fantasmic happens right in the middle of the park on Rivers of America rather than in a separate outdoor theatre. We knew we didn’t want to miss this, and we knew we didn’t want to spend time staking out a viewing spot early if we didn’t have to. The solution? Booking a Fantasmic! Dining Package. Disney Dining Packages and Dessert Parties When we go to Walt Disney World or Disneyland, we like to find ways to minimize waits for some of the special experiences Disney offers. Sometimes we book a dessert party in order to get special viewing…

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Polebridge Mercantile Bear Claw
In Montana

Polebridge Mercantile: Sampling Bear Claws in Glacier National Park

When we started planning the Glacier National Park portion of our road trip, I kept reading about this little place called Polebridge Mercantile that sold delicious huckleberry bear claws that were made right on-site, along with bread, rolls, and other pastries. I read social media posts, articles, and reviews. Mentions of Polebridge Mercantile popped up everywhere, and people were raving. What made this place so great? I was curious enough to investigate. Getting to Polebridge Mercantile During the previous day, we made the trek along Going-to-the-Sun road from the east side of the park. To read about that adventure, click here. After our gorgeous drive, we checked in at the KOA in West Glacier for the night.  The next morning, we were ready to explore the west side of Glacier National Park. But first, we set out to sample some huckleberry bear claws. The map says the drive was about…

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Arthur Bryant's Barbecue Ribs
In Missouri

Arthur Bryant’s: Classic ‘Cue in Kansas City

If you’re heading to Kansas City and hoping to sample some delicious KC barbecue, you should definitely give Arthur Bryant’s a try. You won’t be sorry. Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue is one of those legendary places to sample Kansas City’s most famous food. It’s not fancy, but don’t let that detour you. Arthur Bryant’s is one of the most well-known names in KC barbecue for a reason–the barbecue is to die for. Arthur Bryant’s: The History It seems Arthur Bryant’s gets it start with a man named Henry Perry, a man often referred to as Kansas City’s “father of Kansas City-style barbecue.”  In the early 1900s, Perry sold smoked meats to people who worked in the Garment District. Later, he moved to 18th and Vine, an area of Kansas City known as the historic Jazz District. This section of KC was sometimes described as a city within a city because the…

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Estes Park, Colorado
In Colorado

How to Spend Two Days in Estes Park, Colorado

Colorado is such a beautiful state, and Estes Park and the surrounding area has some of the most gorgeous scenery you’ll find anywhere. The last major destination of our 2020 road trip ended with a couple of days in this adorable town to check out Rocky Mountain National Park. We fell in love with the area, and we hope to make it back one day soon. If you haven’t been to this area, I certainly hope it’s on your list. Estes Park is right outside the Beaver Meadows entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. This entrance is on the east side of the park and grants access to Trail Ridge Road, the main scenic thoroughfare from one side of the park to other. This road also takes you past the Alpine Visitor Center, the visitor center at the highest elevation of any visitor center in the United States. We also…

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