Being on the road traveling to and from basketball tournaments can be an awful grind. Hour after hour on the road. You are going to get hungry. You are going to want a treat. The road has many food options, but what are your favorites? Here are mine.
1. Popeye’s Chicken
A few years ago, I started hearing rumors saying that the best chicken sandwich in the world was being made at Popeye’s Chicken. I did not have any of these restaurants close to my home, so I had never tried them. Then, my daughter, Grace, had a scrimmage in Madison, Wisconsin. As we were driving home, we stopped at Popeye’s. I got a spicy chicken sandwich with no pickles. It was fantastic. Since then, our family has gone out of the way to find a Popeye’s Chicken on a long road trip.
2. Penn Station
Penn Station submarine sandwich restaurants have no locations in the state of Wisconsin. We seek them out as a restaurant when we are on the road. Sure, the subs are killer, but the fries are something special. A definite taste treat. My go-to sub is the Classic Grilled Italian. Give this place a chance the next time you get near one.
3. Taco Bell
Pulling into Taco Bell gives your family a quick change from the standard burger fair. They are a convenient choice when traveling late at night after your basketball team just played the 5 pm game, and you have a six-hour drive back home. When you have a full car, it is easy to order 20 soft tacos to feed the entire car without having to take individual orders. We also enjoyed ordering the restaurant’s Box Deal. It offers a good variety of items at a good price.
4. Culver’s
We stop at Culver’s quite often for a couple of reasons. First, Grandma Judy always seems to have 2 fo 1 coupons somewhere in her purse for double butter burgers. The biggest reason, however, is custard. There is nothing like topping your burger and fries with a hot fudge sundae, an ice cream cone with the flavor of the day, or a concrete mixer. The restaurant is always a crowd-pleaser.
5. McDonald’s
I know. I know. Many would argue that the food is not the best but admit it, we all stop there on the road. They are located everywhere, and the food comes fast and cheap. I remember driving through the night from a tournament in Des Moines and stopping at a Mcdonald’s at 2 am. We ordered two 20-packs of chicken nuggets. It’s probably not the best health option, but it hits the spot on the right night. Also, we love the 2-for $3 menu, where you can mix and match cheeseburgers and McChicken sandwiches. It is a good amount of food for the price.
Conclusion
Alright, everybody, where did I get it wrong? Please let me know at youthbasketballparent@gmail.com. Also, if you enjoy this blog, please go to www.youthbasketballparent.com and subscribe to be notified of new posts and special events.