One Of The Benefits Of Staying Off The Interstate Highways & Traveling Through Small Towns

The Middlesex Diner in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania. (click to enlarge)

I've mentioned many times in the past that when I travel I like to have no specific agenda, time line nor hard and fast return date.  Also, as much as I can, I stay off the interstate highways, take secondary roads, drive through small towns and eat at locally owned places.  You can travel like this once you are retired.  I’m grateful I’ve made it to my retirement years so I can travel like this.

An example of one of the benefits of this travel philosophy is eating breakfast at small, locally owned and operated diners or restaurants.  In this case, the Middlesex Diner in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania.  I believe before 2006 it was called the West Middlesex Diner.  It evidently, closed and reopened with the new name.  In any case, it has been around for decades, largely unchanged.

The front of the breakfast menu.  I don't know if you can read it clearly but, for example,
2 eggs, bacon or sausage and toast is $5.75.  Where can you get a great breakfast for
these prices anywhere else but a small, locally owned restaurant? (click to enlarge)

I've eaten there many times in the past as it is not too far from my hometown.  The food is always good, the portions are not too big (and we know that has become a problem all across the country) nor too small.  The prices are more than reasonable.  Reasonable isn't the correct word.  I think ‘unbelievably inexpensive’ better describes the prices.  I've included a photo of the front of the breakfast menu for you to peruse the prices.

Best of all, the women and men who work there are friendly, efficient, attentive and are focused on customer service.  Who likes a place, even if it has good food, that has lousy customer service?  Not me.

On my last cross-country road trip, my two buddies and I stopped at the diner for breakfast at the Middlesex Diner—twice.  Needless to say, it was excellent as usual.  Did I mentioned the prices?  They amazed me!

This was my not so healthy breakfast.  Hey!  I was on vacation!  I get to indulge a little while on
vacation.  This cost $6.99.  (click to enlarge)

Just for context, I found that when driving from Virginia to California, then north to Washington, then east to Michigan and then SE back to Virginia, that a typical breakfast as illustrated here costs about $14-17 US.  Of course, you then have to add tax and a tip to that cost which raises the cost for breakfast to $20 or more.  I found the cost of food is dependent upon the state, proximity to a large city and whether or not the restaurant is small and privately owned or larger and/or corporately owned.  The closer one is to a large population base and the lager the restaurant as well if it is a franchise or corporately owned, the higher the price of breakfast.  So my little $7.00 breakfast sounds even better! :-)

The next time you decide to take a road trip, think about the benefits of eating away from the interstate highway exits and in smaller towns.  You may be surprised.  Pro Tip:  If you are a photographer, talk to the people you meet in these places.  Chances are they will be able to tell you about local photographic opportunities that otherwise you would have missed.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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