We're gearing up for a few trips in the next month or so. After surviving a road trip to Indiana last fall for Thanksgiving, we're going to give adventures on the open road another shot. This time we'll head from New Jersey to Jacksonville, FL . Some of my Southern kinfolk couldn't make it north for the wedding and I'd like Sweets to meet them. I'll really make any excuse to go have some of my Grandmomma Carlie's home cooking.
I'm familiar with Jacksonville. I even have a favorite restaurant there, Clark's Fish Camp. It's a casual and quirky local place. A great place to get my bearings the night I arrive AND sample some awesome hush puppies.
I haven't done a driving trip to Florida since I would tag along with my grandparents when I was in grade school. I'm sure there are some amazing things to discover on the way from here to there. Do any of you have some suggestions?
It looks like I-95 is the most direct route. Let me know if there's a place worth stopping within an hour or so of the highway. We've got about ten days to drive down and back. That should leave room for a few stops on the way down and back. We'll spend a few days in the Jacksonville area visiting family. I'm hoping to squeeze in a ghost tour of St. Augustine with my uncle and aunt.
Some initial thoughts on places to stop are the Shenandoah National Park for leaf peeping, Savannah, GA for some southern charm, Jamestown for some history. I need your help with the rest.
Obviously, no road trip is complete without discovering new and wonderful regional foods. To prepare, I've been reading the Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook. I'm determined to stop and sample some boiled peanuts on this trip. Last time I was in Jacksonville, I saw an old man selling them by the side of the road and asked about them. My step-mother chuckled and didn't stop. This time I'm not going to miss them. Even if I end up not liking them, I want to try them.
So if you can point us in the direction of excellent barbecue, a gorgeous old movie house or whatever else you think we'd enjoy, please leave a comment or send me an email.
Sounds like a great trip! Clark's Fish Camp and St. Augustine Ghost tour? You picked two great ones. At the 95 interchange to the World Golf Village is a new place called "Shellfish Grill" near the Comfort Suites. Best Crabcake I've had in a while but you have to ask for it. (not on the regular menu!) Have fun and travel well.
Posted by: John Stavely | Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 02:30 PM
hmmm. i have some experience with I-95. if you'll be in st. augustine, the columbia is a lovely spanish restaurant (fla. chain) with the BEST bread pudding ever; made with cuban bread, it's more like french toast. another place to check is the boards on chow (http://www.chow.com/). you can search for I-95. enjoy your trip!
Posted by: rebecca | Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 01:50 PM
You eat shoes?!
Or are Hush Puppies something else there?
Posted by: The Shopping Sherpa | Friday, October 12, 2007 at 12:53 AM