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Thanks. As mentioned elsewhere, I did not know that aspect of "roadside restaurants". It makes sense as a "pit stop" kind of thing with families, and seems to f
by anyfoo 4y ago
Thanks. As mentioned elsewhere, I did not know that aspect of "roadside restaurants". It makes sense as a "pit stop" kind of thing with families, and seems to fill a similar role to the big gas station+restaurant combinations you find along the Autobahn for example.
Another aspect is that if in Europe you've been driving for 8 hours, you may well have crossed a country border (or multiple), and everything is very different anyway. McDonald's again being your best bet if you want anything really predictable in that case (and you can even order without speaking the language usually).
- kube-system 4y agoThe road-trip culture in the US has spawned all kinds of interesting business models that make little sense out of context. My favorite example is Breezewood Pennsylvania: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breezewood,_Pennsylvania https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breezewood,_Pennsylvania It's a "town" that almost nobody lives in. It exists solely because of a poorly-conceived connection between two major highways. Millions of people stop to get gasoline, food, use the restroom, or stop at a hotel there just because they have to stop anyway at two stop lights. There's no reason the highways couldn't be directly connected today, but local lawmakers would never allow this because it would destroy their only economic purpose.
- kstrauser 4y agoIf you've never been to Little America, you haven't lived. https://wyoming.littleamerica.com https://wyoming.littleamerica.com
- syntheticnature 4y agoThat said, as someone who passes through Breezewood regularly due to living relatively close by, it's been looking increasingly decrepit, well before COVID. A number of the businesses shown in the photo on Wikipedia are shuttered. I expect it's because smartphone apps make it easier to check if there's a restaurant of interest at a more logical stopping point.
- kube-system 4y agoThat, and now, the PA turnpike is the most expensive toll road in the world.
- syntheticnature 4y agoIs it? As someone who noticed how tolls soared since the inception of the private-public partnership in lieu of Pennsylvania running it, I'm not surprised given the repeated toll increases... just hoped it wasn't the worst.
- kube-system 4y agoIt's currently $100.20 to drive OH to NJ across the turnpike without EZ-Pass. As I understand, the state government basically passed a law requiring the turnpike to pay the state government tons of money and now they're sucked dry for cash, and that's why the rates are skyrocketing.
- dccoolgai 4y agoBreezewood has fascinated me for decades. I have such fond memories of the "half hour of freedom and fast food" on road trips as a kid. It's like a living reminder to just stop for no reason some times and enjoy the plainest things. One day before I die I'm going to spend a whole day there just because.
- listenallyall 4y ago> make little sense out of context Breezewood is a spot, as you said, where two major highways intersect. As such, millions of drivers pass right through there each year. Building a few gas stations and quick-stop restaurants makes perfect sense. Nobody "lives" at the Eiffel Tower, or at Hartsfield-Jackson, or Wembley Stadium, but restaurants there sell a whole lot of food.
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- kube-system 4y agoThe amount of stuff built in Breezewood is disproportionate compared to a typical highway exit because it is one of the few pieces of uncontrolled highway in the interstate system. Similarly populated areas with a normal highway interchange don’t look anything like Breezewood. Much like your examples, these things are typically built proportionally to the surrounding population.
- mechanical_bear 4y agoYou can drive for 8 hours in a single state in the US.