WVa to Calif along I-40

PickyPeggy and I are talking about driving from home, Eastern WV, down I-81 to I-40 and then into Calif. I could use some suggestion for places to stop at in Southern Va, near I-81 and along I-40.

Nashville is covered, we have family there. Memphis is a planned stop as we have family there too. A good place to eat in Memphis would be nice as this part of the family isn't known for it's cooking like the Nashville clan is :)

I'd like to have some places easy to get to and within a few miles of the interstate, please.

Thanks,

MikeS.

Mike,
BULLETIN- Sundancer told me yesterday that I-40 between Ashville and Knoxville is closed for a major washout/slide near the North Carolina Border. Even if it is east of the I-81 junction, the traffic pattern down there is going to be altered big-time for a long time. Check with AAA about alternate routes , etc.
Here are some places along I-40 further west to get you thinking. Others will chime in I am sure. All are within a few minutes of I-40
Craigs BBQ in DuValls Bluff, AR.
Van's Pig Stand in Shawnee, OK
More to be edited in shortly

Make sure you stop in Lexington, TN at Hays Smokehouse. It is just a few miles off I-40 midway between Nashville and Memphis. The Sundancer guarantees that you will totally enjoy the stop. Open only on week-ends. The owners are the neatest folks you will ever meet and the place is as neat as a pin.

Last time I was there, I got the combination plate which consisted of chicken, chopped and ribs. I got the sauce on the side and it was so good, I could drink it and their cole slaw is great.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

If Oklahoma City is a planned stop, then Leo's BBQ is a must. All I can say is one thing! BRISKET- That's the kind of BBQ you want in Oklahoma. You're in BEEF TERRITORY now, just like Texas. Their bbq beans are also phenominal. Although everyone raves about their strawberry banana cake, I thought it was just OK, nothing special, but it definetely went with the meal.

Here are 3 places that will get you into Oklahoma City. Have a great trip.

Wild Horse Mountain Bar-B-Q
3.5 miles South of the city (of Sallisaw) on Hwy 59
Sallisaw, Oklahoma 74955
Phone: 918-775-9960
E-mail cfine@softwareplus.net


Catfish Round-Up
I40 Exit 200
Prauge, Oklahoma 74864
Phone: 580-382-7957

Kountry Fried Chicken & Catfish
1313 N. Harrison
Shawnee, Oklahoma 74801
Phone: 405-273-7124
Closed Mondays

Great suggestions so far, keep 'em coming, please.

Al, the wash-out is aways from my route but I;ll keep an eye on it before leaving. I can always go thru I-68 & I-79 and I-??? to get to Nashville thru WV & Kentucky. We did that route 6 years ago when we moved out here. I-40 was going thru a major construction and the cousins in Nashville recommended that route.

I shall also be on 40, but in Flagstaff, Arizona. Any suggestions for dinner in Flagstaff?

Mike
Tonites Evening News on our NBC station showed I-40 opening up...one lane each direction, but at least it is open. The possible problem seems to be solved.

The alternate route from your area through Southern West Virginia and Kentucky is as follows: I-81 N to I-68 to Morgantown, I-79 south to Charleston where you hop on I-64 following through Kentucky until you reach either the Bluegrass Parkway in Lexington or follow 64 to the outskirts of Louisville. Either will take you to I- 65 south to Nashville.

Places to try along the way as far as the Northwestern border of Arkansas on I -40:

Morgantown area: Off of I-68 Pierpoint exit, follow 857 about 2 miles to the Mileground. There you will find Jersey's Subs and Pizza where they KNOW how to make the real deal in NY/NJ pizzas and submarines..even Cheesesteaks that would fool a Philadelphian The next exit west off of 68 is the Sabraton exit and is the home of Rio Grande Mexican food, which is as authentically done and tasty as south of the border. A full sampler dinner includes a shredded beef taco, tamales fresh out of the husks, Chile Rellenos, enchilada, tostada, rice and mmmmmmm refried beans in lard for 8.95. Homemade fried tortilla chips and salsa included with each meal. Further on, at I 68's ending, turn north instead of south to take a two mile detour up I-79 to exit 152 Westover/Morgantown. On that exit there are two exceptional italian places, the first being "Rose Ristorante" located in Westover in a small strip mall.(about 1/4 a mile from me, btw) Rose features homemade pasta made on the premises, braciole and many indescribable entrees, breads and desserts and the prices are soooooo right. Rose has been written up in the Pittsburgh Press, The Washington Post, The NY times and other periodicals as the premier place for italian cuisine at it's homemade finest. About another mile and a half from there, across the Monongahela River in Morgantown and in it's newly developed restaraunts n the Wharf district is Oliverio's, which it's counterpart in Clarksburg WV was written up by the Sterns. This however is a slightly more fancy place, thus pricier and features a full sit down menu, unlike the Clarksburg place.

Back on I79 south takes you to first,Fairmont.....the town where the pepperoni roll was born. The place of it's creation , Colessenano's still stands and has also been reviewed by the Sterns as well as several other Fairmont locales. The downtown Fairmont exit is the exit to take to access these.

Continuing south is Clarksburg and the aforementioned Oliverios as well as several other Sterns reviewed establishments. Between Clarksburg and Charleston is mostly rural and dotted with mainly fast food, unless you get well off the I 79 path. Charleston has also been heavily reviewed by the Sterns as in Blossom Dairy, Joey's Ribs etc.

I'm not up on Huntington's offerings anymore, so I'll skip on into rural Kentucky along I 64 and Ruth Hunt's candies in Mt Sterling....A must stop for delicious bourbon balls and the home of the "Official Candy of the Kentucky Derby" Another great candy place is on the Versailles Road exit of Frankfort (if you take 64 all the way to Louisville route) called Rebecca-Ruth's...again awesome liquor flavored candies and sweets. As far as the rest of KY......The Mayor and others can do better on recommendations than I with places like Claudia Sanders , etc.

Around the Memphis area , I've always opted to get BBQ. The places I have tried are Interstate BBQ,Cozy Corner(bbq cornish game hens)Rendezvous, Neely's....all were delicious and reasonable.

Across the Mississippi and into Arkansas along I 40 the first stop that comes to mind is the "Sawmill" in Forrest City.It was once a Cracker Barrel and still holds the ambience of a Cracker Barrel but features a very wonderful buffet(which I'm not usually all that fond of buffetts)including some of the best cornbread and greens I have tasted and again very reasonable. Further on up in Russelville is the Roadfood famous "Whattaburger" and it deserves it's reputation. On up I 40 in the town of Altus is some awfully good eatin' as well as a plethora of great wineries. Alligator Rays and Fat Tuesdays have some fine Cajun inspired food, some of the best I've had outside Louisiana. They also have Kelts which has good sandwiches and pub food as well as the Weinkeller at Wiedeker's Winery, which features German and Swiss food in a ratskellar atmosphere. Also the Post Familie Winery features a very nice store with locally made cheeses, crackers and goodies. Mount Bethel and Aux Chateaux Wineries are also must stops. All have very nice wine tasting tours and the wine is excellent. Altus, by the way is a very small...VERY small town and all it's wonderful features in this quaint place are wining and dining related.

Up I 40 from Altus is the town of Ozark. The Rivertowne BBQ there is the BEST bbq , bar none I have had anywhere. Catfish Cabin had a great all you can eat place. Model Cafe had good home style cooking and a very neat art deco interior. There is one place, off the second Ozark exit who's name escapes me, but it was located right by a Phillips 66 gas station, which had wonderful burgers and fries, as well as fried chicken.( I spent 6 weeks in this area of Arkansas in August and September of 2001 and man did I gain weight)

Continuing up I 40 is the town of Alma. Following Rt 71 northout of Alma to Mountainburg is the Ozark Smokehouse that features meats from the premises in wonderful sandwhiches etc. Also near there is a Catfish buffet......which also the name escapes me....and it was on the right hand side of the road on RT 71 .about 5 miles out of Alma....which had the best seafood buffet, hushpuppies, coleslaw and french fries I've had. It's the only one there so shouldn't be hard to find.

Van Buren and FT Smith both had so many places, too numerous to name. but I particularly remember C and C's Catfish in Van Buren and Catfish Cove and Catfish Hole II as being very good places.

Here's the websites for many of these places:


Morgantown:

http://www.tourmorgantown.com/pages/dining.html: features Rose, Jersey's Rio Grande and several other fine places
http://www.ruthhuntcandy.com/
http://www.rebeccaruth.com/
http://www.arkansas.com/attractions/attr_detail/id/21258/r/Delta/city/Forrest%20City/t/d(The Sawmill)

http://www.arkansas.com/attractions/attr_detail/id/90649/r/River%20Valley/city/Russellville/t/d(whattaburger)

Ozark/Altus/Alma/VanBuren /Fort Smith Area:

http://www.arkansas.com/things-to-do/wineries-micro-breweries/

http://www.wiederkehrwines.com/

http://www.ozarkfamily.com/


http://www.rivertownebbq.com/slop.htm

http://www.cheflarrys.com/

http://www.arkansas.com/things-to-do/dining/detail.asp?id=24622&r=&city=Altus




Hope this gives you a good start

Red, a great post full of wonderful information. But you did miss 1 thing. It is I-81 N to I-70 W then onto I-68. Boy am I picky or what?

Thanks for all the great info!

MikeS.

Actually my way would be to take State Route 9 over to 522 N through Berkeley Springs into Hancock and onto I 68, or 9 clear over into Paw Paw where it turns into Maryland State Rt 51 and brings you into downtown Cumberland and I 68. Heads you in the correct direction, nice scenery including the national park influenced C&O canal Park, which stretches all along some nice spots and railroad history clear into the terminus in Cumberland. Also, you avoid going many miles out of your just to do an all interstate route. Although both alternates are predominately two lane highway.....still shaves about an hour off of the trip(without the tempting stops, that is)

quote:

Originally posted by redtressed

Actually my way would be to take State Route 9 over to 522 N through Berkeley Springs into Hancock and onto I 68, or 9 clear over into Paw Paw where it turns into Maryland State Rt 51 and brings you into downtown Cumberland and I 68. Heads you in the correct direction, nice scenery including the national park influenced C&O canal Park, which stretches all along some nice spots and railroad history clear into the terminus in Cumberland. Also, you avoid going many miles out of your just to do an all interstate route. Although both alternates are predominately two lane highway.....still shaves about an hour off of the trip(without the tempting stops, that is) Martinsburg to Morgantown is only about 2 hours 15 minutes this way as opposed to more than three, via interstate.

OOPS.....Why did I quote myself..........I should NOT answer posts before my first cuppa tea in the morning

I can't help you on the food--the only part of I-40 I travel regularly is through the Mojave and there isn't anywhere to stop--but I would urge you to gas up in Kingman westbound because the it's going to be a lot cheaper than anywhere in CA (probably in part because there really isn't anyplace to get gas between Needles and Barstow, a long boring ride).

AHHH Come ON BT,
Take old route 66 from Needles. Chase and Pace BNSF trains for 75 miles on the old Santa Fe Mainline. See the beautiful Amboy Cafe and Police Car parked in front. Population 8. If you happen to swing thru on a Monday morning you can watch the BNSF drop off several tank cars of domestic water for the towns use.
Further down the road check out Ludlow. It has been for sale twice in the past ten years...the whole town... No takers. Great place to shoot Rail Photos.
Further west is Newberry Springs Home of the remains of Camp Cady the old army post that guarded the junction of the Salt Lake and Mojave Trails. There are several fruit and nut orchards here, with Pistashios and Apricots being available real cheap in season.
West of Barstow are Hinckley and Boron. Hinckley is best known as the site of the case that Julia Roberts made famous in "ERIN BROCKOVICH (sp?) Then stop off in BORON, home of a major mining operation for that vital chemical. Try some Mexican food at Domingo's Restaurant and Cantina. Domingo himself was a CAL. Lotto winner some years back and is quite an interesting character to talk to during dinner. Then hop over to watch a shuttle landing (when they get them flying again) at Edwards AFB. The Desert Rocks !!

quote:

Originally posted by Al-The Mayor-Bowen

AHHH Come ON BT,
The Desert Rocks !!

All I can say, Mayor, is you are easily amused and that's probably a good thing. I, on the other hand, prefer to make tracks for the greener terrain that begins just east of Tehachapi. I will admit that there are probably one or more interesting places to eat in the town of Mojave (it looks like the kind of place there would be) and we've already discussed what's available in Barstow. But frankly, after all that hot, dry brownness, I just never feel like stopping till I hit (literally) green pastures.

Red, I've been up rte 9 too many times and fought the crazy locals driving the twisty windy road and the deer. I'll take interstate any time, thanks.

BT, I usually stop at the FlyimgJ in Kingman for gas, especially East bound before the big pull up the mountain. I also stop in Barstow because it is near the In n Out.

Mr. mayor, you can keep the desert! All I like to do is drive through it.
MikeS.