ROAD TRIP TO CONN

Hello everyone, I so look forward to coming home from work everynight and reading about all the great places you all have eaten!  Now maybe you all can help me out.  My family and I are heading out from Jacksonville,Fl  to Ledyard, Conn to see his family this summer.  I am looking for any good can't miss places along the way.  We will be stopping in Washington, D.C. for a few days to see the sites along the way.  Thank You in advance to everyone.  We will pretty much be traveling I-95 I am sure.  Marie

  I am sure that you can get great recommendations from his relatives in Ledyard about Lobster places nearby.  I can give you some advice about I-95, though.  Do not even think about driving on it on a Friday afternoon going North bound.  Everybody and his brother is leaving the New York area, especially in the summer.  There are threads here about hot dogs along I-95.  Norwalk, exit 14 comes to mind as well as Fairfield, Black rock turnpike exit.  Get off, get back on, and get to Ledyard. :)

I guess that sounds cynical, and maybe others just love the traffic,  but locals don't.  We all know back roads to keep us off I-95.  You might try the pizza in New Haven, but by the time you get to New Haven, you might as well push through to Ledyard.  

Just my 2 cents worth. 

use the SEARCH.
please bring me back  the following; 
 5 whole sausage grinders from Franklin Ave. Giant Grinders in Hartford.
2 dozen hot dogs with everything from Capital Lunch in New Britain.
2 dozen hot dogs with mustard & relish from Blackies in Chesire.
10 large orders of steak tips, smothered from 99 in Newington.
5 large extra cheese pizzas from Pizza Pal in New Britain.
20 lbs. of whole belly fried clams from Johnny Ads in Old Saybrook.
10- 12oz. top sirloins with sauted mushrooms from Chucks Steak House in Rocky Hill.
that ought to do it for now.
Thanks, SK

That's not very helpful bob...
Alright...depending on your route and how long you're taking and whether or not you want to take small detours....here are a few suggestions:

Lady & Sons
102 W Congress St, Savannah, GA
(912) 233-2600‎
ladyandsons.net

Bowens Island Restuarant
1870 Bowens Island Rd
Charleston, SC 29412

Hominy Grill
207 Rutledge Ave Charleston, SC 29403-5822
(843) 937-0930
hominygrill.com

Sweatman's
1313 Gemini Dr
Holly Hill, SC 29059
(803) 492-7543


Doumar's
1919 Monticello Ave, Norfolk, VA
(757) 627-4163‎
doumars.com

Virginia Diner
408 County Dr
Wakefield, VA 23888
(757) 899-3106
vadinerrestaurant.com‎

Skylight Inn
1501 Lee St
Ayden, NC 28513
(252) 746-4113

Blue Moon Cafe
1621 Aliceanna St, Baltimore, MD
(410) 522-3940‎

Ben's Chili Bowl
1213 U St NW, Washington, DC
(202) 667-0909‎
benschilibowl.com

G & A Restaurant
3802 Eastern Ave
Baltimore, MD 21224
(410) 276-9422
gandarestaurant.com‎

Tony Luke's
39 E Oregon Ave
Philadelphia, PA‎
(215) 551-5725

Famous 4th Street Deli
700 S 4th St
Philadelphia, PA 19147-3102
(215) 922-3274
famous4thstreetdelicatessen.com‎

Mastoris
144 U.S. 130, Bordentown, NJ
(609) 298-4650‎
mastoris.com

Harold's Deli
3050 Woodbridge Ave
Edison, NJ 08837-3460
(732) 661-9100
haroldsfamousdeli.com‎

Jimmy Buff's
60 Washington St, West Orange, NJ
(973) 325-9897‎
jimmybuff.com

Rutt's Hut
417 River Rd
Clifton, NJ 07014-1520
(973) 779-8615

White Mana
358 River St
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 342-0914

Super Duper Weenie
306 Black Rock Tpke
Fairfield, CT 06825-5509
(203) 334-3647
superduperweenie.com

Frank Pepe's
157 Wooster St
New Haven, CT 06511-5709
(203) 865-5762
pepespizzeria.com

Louis' Lunch
263 Crown St
New Haven, CT 06511-6611
(203) 562-5507
louislunch.com

Ted's Famous
1046 Broad St
Meriden, CT 06450-3446
(203) 237-6660

Shady Glen
840 E. Middle Tpke.
Manchester, CT 06040
(860) 649-4245

Buttonwood Farm (might be closed for Winter)
471 Shetucket Turnpike
Griswold, CT 06351

E T R, most of the places you recomended aren't near 95 either.

thank you all for your suggestions, I never can decide if I enjoy seeing family on vacation or trying new places to eat better.
we were just in Savannah last weekend and the line for L&S's was down the block, my husband said there was no way he was standing in a line like that for food
An FYI for theBrunswick area, on a suggestions from a co-worker we stopped in Brunswick at the Old style country buffet-for a buffet it was outstanding.  The veggies were great and I am not a big veggie person, lima beans, green beans, sweet corn, and home-made mashed potaotes!!  they were great, desserts were standard buffet fare though.  Marie

The Washington Post once wrote a nice guide.  It is 10+ years old, so do some fact- checking before heading out:

FL to DC:
http://www.washingtonpost...tures/i95/i95intro.htm
DC to ME:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/travel/features/i95/north/survivalguide.htm

Whatever you do, don't pass up Parker's BBQ in Wilson, NC for incredible Eastern Carolina Pork BBQ and Fried Chicken.  About 6 minutes off I-95, but you will make up that time on how fast the service is.  An excellent meal, fast service, and very inexpensive.  I have been stopping there for the past 30 years going to and from Myrtle Beach for vacation.

there is a frank pepe in fairfield right off I95

pmrkr2


there is a frank pepe in fairfield right off I95

 
If you can't hold out until Fairfield, the one in Yonkers, NY just opened (http://www.pepespizzeria.com/buzz.php )
 
Also in Westchester County (just north of NYC), Walter's Hot Dogs is a short jump from I-95. ( http://www.waltershotdogs.com/ )

The Mystic area, just down the road from Ledyard, has a number of places worth checking out -- Kitchen Little for breakfast, Sea Swirl for fried clams, Abbott's (in Noank) for clear clam chowder and hot lobster roll. While I was there a few weeks ago, I also went to BJ Clyde's in North Stonington for cider and a great array of fruit butters. And, yes, absolutely, stop in New Haven for the pizza on Wooster St.

The great thing about Connecticut is that it's small enough that a short drive can take you to some great place that has just what you want.

dakmartin, you had me intrigiued and I was looking for "BJ Clyde's" in North Stonington ...found out it's B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill - www.bfclydescidermill.com
Address: 129 N Stonington Road, Old Mystic, CT 06355
Phone: (860) 536-3354

I think I'm going to have to make a stop there.

The very good Summerton Diner in South Carolina is just a minute or two off of I-95.
 
http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Reviews/1793/summerton-diner
 
But if it was a Friday or a Saturday, I would definitely detour to Sweatman's BBQ, also in SC. 

Flanders Fish Market (restaurant)

http://www.roadfood.com/R...fish-market-restaurant
Shack, right on the same street as Flanders Fish Market.

http://www.roadfood.com/R.../Reviews/650/the-shack
Both are just off Interstate-95. An easy-off, easy-on.
 
And someone already mentioned Johnny Ad's in Old Saybrook, and Kitchen Little and Sea Swirl in Mystic. (Although, considering how small Kitchen Little is, I'd opt for the Shack. Great breakfasts there.)

Thansk to everyone for the wonderful tips, I don't know how much time we will be able to visit family with all the food I want to try!!  LOL