When I was a kid, my dad took my sister and I to all of the lower 48 states over two summers. We rented a Winnebago, followed a AAA map, visited over a dozen national parks and “experienced” dozens of roadside attractions. I remember most of it fondly, but I always got a special kick out of the random tourist traps on the interstate. South of the Border, Wall Drug, Casa de Fruita and all the “biggest balls of twine” were landmarks to me. Even then I knew these glorified rest stops were a bit hokey, but they were (and still are) great fun. And that was enough for me. Not everything needs to be gourmet, original, artisanal, organic and rarefied. Whimsical still counts for something, too. And if you are driving 6+ hours a day, whimsical means a lot. Continue reading