Driving from Chicago to Atlanta

hey LTH --

For Thanksgiving this year, my SO and I will be driving from Chicago to Atlanta to introduce him to my family. To soften that blow, I'd love to find some fun, great, delicious food on the way and since we'll be taking our time and enjoying the back roads whenever possible, we're totally willing to alter our route for a really great piece of pie. Or donut. Or BBQ. Or...you get the picture.

So -- any suggestions or must-dos? We have a particular interest in apple fritters and hushpuppies, so if anything like that is on your wavelength -- send it my way. We're also open to places of interest that don't feature food so if you want to suggest something of that nature..please do.

I think we will definitely go through Nashville --so anything in that area is definitely doable.

Thanks for your help!!

Shannon

I have no recommendations for food (though Nashville has a couple spots I've read about*, and Rotier's is a good hole in the wall bar near Vanderbilt with decent burgers), but driving to college near Atlanta a decade we stopped and stayed in a lovely state park in Kentucky, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park (known for it's moonbow near a full moon). That said, that was in August; I'm not sure what's open there in November. The park is not terribly far from I-75, if you go that route (as opposed to taking I-65 so you can go through Nashville).

*I remember reading about a very good meat n three there, but can't remember the name right now.

Definitely read the many Nashville threads. Understand hot chicken and Arnold's. I've done that drive a few times recently. Other than distillery tours, and physical beauty, the stretch of KY you'll hit is unexceptional. Nasville's where it's at.

I've made that drive on a number of occasions when I attended college in Atlanta, but those were the early days of the web and there wasn't as much info available about interesting dining options and time was usually of the essence so stops were usually limited to highway exit Stake & Shakes, Waffle House, etc.

If he's never been to Waffle House, that might be an interesting option... especially if you're on the road late at night. In Nashville, Jack's BBQ is worth a stop. And on the way out of Chicago, perhaps a stop for apple fritters at Old Fashion Donuts near Pullman on the South Side.

Gus's Hot Chicken in Memphis and Waffle House in multiple locations.

Thanks for the replies, folks! We'll definitely be hitting up Arnold's in Nashville and probably one of the places that does hot fried chicken. The state park sounds lovely -- maybe a picnic on the road would be great. I have read the Nashville threads -- so all of that is definitely being considered.

As to Old Fashioned Donuts' fritters -- we hit those the last time he was in town. I have to say -- I liked the fritter but it just didn't hit the apple quotient for me. I LOVED a blueberry donut I got there though. Delish! We're still on the prowl to find the ultimate apple fritter!

Keep your responses coming -- I'm getting excited and it's still a month away!

Shannon

earthlydesire wrote:Thanks for the replies, folks! We'll definitely be hitting up Arnold's in Nashville and probably one of the places that does hot fried chicken. The state park sounds lovely -- maybe a picnic on the road would be great. I have read the Nashville threads -- so all of that is definitely being considered.

As to Old Fashioned Donuts' fritters -- we hit those the last time he was in town. I have to say -- I liked the fritter but it just didn't hit the apple quotient for me. I LOVED a blueberry donut I got there though. Delish! We're still on the prowl to find the ultimate apple fritter!

Keep your responses coming -- I'm getting excited and it's still a month away!

Shannon

Not really practical if you're going through Nashville, as it's further east near I-75. It's a bit far off of the interstate, probably about 30-40 minutes or so.