I-95 Christmas Eve/Day-What's there to eat?
Nov 10th, 2011, 07:06 AM
#22
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Well, gee, Spiro, sorry to bother you so much. they have pimento cheese, and egg salad usually at gas stations. It is only a suggestion to remind of another possibility.
Cheese, hard boiled eggs, vegetables, etc. I am sure that they were able to "get the idea" to fill it with what would please their palate.
And to the OP, sorry a cooler "doesn't work". Maybe in the face of real need, it might. The frozen cooler thingies helps so it doesn't get all wet from ice bags.
Cheese actually doesn't even need a cooler for a day or two.
Cheese, hard boiled eggs, vegetables, etc. I am sure that they were able to "get the idea" to fill it with what would please their palate.
And to the OP, sorry a cooler "doesn't work". Maybe in the face of real need, it might. The frozen cooler thingies helps so it doesn't get all wet from ice bags.
Cheese actually doesn't even need a cooler for a day or two.
Nov 10th, 2011, 07:22 AM
#23
I toss in one of those frozen tubes of corn in a day cooler to keep things cool. It won't keep things frozen, but works great to keep most things cool for a day or two - and doesn't make a mess. I have the thingies you freeze to put in cooler, but for some bizarre reason I like the corn tube better.
Nov 10th, 2011, 08:02 AM
#24
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Good idea. I am frequently really surprised at how cold those things keep a cooler. Much better than ice, for sure. When I go west I sometimes get some dry ice for the trip but to really keep things frozen solid.
Nov 10th, 2011, 08:24 AM
#25
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We use a large cooler with ice and soda (you could even add some salt, if you liked), and food items on top, in plastic bags. Keeps pretty well, if not necessarily conducive to an exciting diet. It is very, very difficult to get my DH to stop on 95, so we need to bring food.
Nov 10th, 2011, 08:38 AM
#26
I honestly HATE those damn stryofoam coolers and their annoying squeaks in the car. Years ago, we bought an insulated tote that became our "carry on" bag for most trips. It held the stuff we wanted for the plane ride and then when we got to where we were going, we filled it up with muchies and drinks. We'd rotate in water/sodas/juice as needed to cool for the next stop. Anyway, it worked great. I hate boxy coolers taking up room in the car.
They were something like this -
http://www.keepyourcooler.com/cooler-bags-totes.html
LOVE them. I'd fill a Trader Joe's bag with munchies, toss in their hummus, fruit and some sandwiches in the cooler and take off. If you find a place that's open to eat, great. If not, you'll have what you need in the car with you.
Oh heck. Who am I kidding? We'd stop at a Waffle House too and I'd have a BLT, lightly toasted with scattered hash browns at least ONCE on the trip. Breakfast, lunch, dinner...it doesn't matter. It's what I order. Hot chocolate for dessert. Shoot me
They were something like this -
http://www.keepyourcooler.com/cooler-bags-totes.html
LOVE them. I'd fill a Trader Joe's bag with munchies, toss in their hummus, fruit and some sandwiches in the cooler and take off. If you find a place that's open to eat, great. If not, you'll have what you need in the car with you.
Oh heck. Who am I kidding? We'd stop at a Waffle House too and I'd have a BLT, lightly toasted with scattered hash browns at least ONCE on the trip. Breakfast, lunch, dinner...it doesn't matter. It's what I order. Hot chocolate for dessert. Shoot me
Dec 13th, 2011, 08:47 AM
#31
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My family will be following you down I-95 from Philadelphia to Hilton Head SC but we are leaving very early Christmas Day. We also were wondering about food but actually more important for us are bathrooms. We have two young children. We were thinking hotels might be the only place to "go". But the Waffle house sound like another alternative.
Dec 14th, 2011, 05:21 PM
#33
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Yes ... I"m not sure why everyone is so concerned. The interstate service areas will all be open. They all have some kind of food service, gas, and restrooms. On a major interstate highway, this really isn't a big deal. Now I"m not going to say that these places are good, but they will be open. It's extremely unlikely that much of anything will be open off I-95, and it seems to me like a waste of time to try to find something. But there could be exceptions such as Chinese buffet restaurants.
Dec 14th, 2011, 06:41 PM
#34
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You may not be allowed to use a hotel bathroom if you are not a guest.
In VA, NC, and SC "interstate service areas" don't have gas and the food options will be in a vending machine. I highly recommend gassing up when you see an open station.
In VA, NC, and SC "interstate service areas" don't have gas and the food options will be in a vending machine. I highly recommend gassing up when you see an open station.
Dec 15th, 2011, 03:12 AM
#35
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Sorry, Doug, but this is one of the very rare cases where you are wrong. ;-)
Rest areas in NC and Florida are closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The southernmost rest area in Virginia is closed Christmas and New Year's, though the ones farther north are open. There is some evidence that Georgia rest areas are closed after 5 on Christmas Eve until the 26th and all day New Year's, but I can't find any info on SC.
Rest areas in NC and Florida are closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The southernmost rest area in Virginia is closed Christmas and New Year's, though the ones farther north are open. There is some evidence that Georgia rest areas are closed after 5 on Christmas Eve until the 26th and all day New Year's, but I can't find any info on SC.
Dec 15th, 2011, 03:25 AM
#36
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I think that along I95 that the large truck stops will be open--could be wrong, but the one we often stop at in Darlington/Florence just looks too geared to real truckers to be closed any time. I think it is a Pilot stop. You might google for where they are--or other truck stop brands. That one is on Route 52 (might be exit 164?).
Dec 15th, 2011, 05:20 AM
#38
"..."interstate service areas" don't have gas and the food options will be in a vending machine"
I think he was envisioning the "interstate service areas" that exist in the NE and Florida. We don't have the equivalent in the SE.
Keep the gas topped off, keep snacks in the car in case you really get hungry, and try the suggestions listed earlier. The "interstate service areas" aren't going to be solutions for you here. Truck stops? Yes.
Pilot gas stations are nice as well.
http://www.pilotflyingj.com/?_ASP.default_aspx
I think he was envisioning the "interstate service areas" that exist in the NE and Florida. We don't have the equivalent in the SE.
Keep the gas topped off, keep snacks in the car in case you really get hungry, and try the suggestions listed earlier. The "interstate service areas" aren't going to be solutions for you here. Truck stops? Yes.
Pilot gas stations are nice as well.
http://www.pilotflyingj.com/?_ASP.default_aspx
Dec 15th, 2011, 07:32 AM
#39
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OK .. then I stand corrected. Look for truck stops. I've never been on an insterstate highway that didn't have gas stations that were open, either in a service area in the middle or immediately off the road. But someone mentioned hotels, and that's worth looking at.
Hotels and Motels that have restaurants usually offer some kind of food service on major holidays, even at Christmas. Service is usually restricted and minimal, but there is usually something open. But so many of the new hotels are the limited-service variety like Hilton Garden Inn and Courtyard, which have pantries or machines. Most independent restaurants in the south and midwest (particularly brands like Cracker Barrel) are usually closed.
Some convenience stores and gas stations are usually open, and I suspect that the ones immediately off interstates are the best candidates even in smaller cities; some of those in the southeast do have limited food items available (maybe microwave burritos or the like).
Hotels and Motels that have restaurants usually offer some kind of food service on major holidays, even at Christmas. Service is usually restricted and minimal, but there is usually something open. But so many of the new hotels are the limited-service variety like Hilton Garden Inn and Courtyard, which have pantries or machines. Most independent restaurants in the south and midwest (particularly brands like Cracker Barrel) are usually closed.
Some convenience stores and gas stations are usually open, and I suspect that the ones immediately off interstates are the best candidates even in smaller cities; some of those in the southeast do have limited food items available (maybe microwave burritos or the like).
