Bassetts Station

Bassetts Station, CA

Bassetts Station, CA

100 Gold Lake Road
Sierra City, CA

Once a stagecoach stop, Bassetts Station is still a much-appreciated rest stop for travelers navigating US Hwy 49’s windy, tree-lined turns. Serving both campers, fishermen, and hikers in summer and snowmobilers in winter, Bassett’s sits conveniently at the junction between several prime locations for outdoor recreation, and provides all the conveniences of home: gas (both unleaded and diesel), a well-stocked store, a cafe, firewood, even sandwiches and ice cream. There’s a motel as well (although we stayed just a mile or so further down Gold Lake Road at Salmon Creek Campground, which we loved. If you need nothing else, stand on Bassett’s wooden porch and take in the breathtaking view of the Sierra Buttes and surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.

If you have time (or are headed further down 49 anyway), make another stop in the town of Downieville. From the Sierra County Visitor’s Guide: “Visit the historic gallows outside of the courthouse, the see Sierra County’s collection of gold nuggets in the lobby. Walk through the historic county seat, wander the shops on Main Street, laze at “The Forks” of the North Yuba and Downie rivers, and grab a copy of California’s oldest weekly newspaper.”

Also worth visiting, the Downieville Museum is open through the summer months and on many weekends through the spring and fall. Learn all about the gold rush which once made this tiny community a boom town. Located in a stone building on Main Street.

Date last visited: July 2009

Distance off the interstate: Bassett’s is directly at the junction of 49 and Gold Lake Road. Downieville is another approximate 20 miles.

Bathrooms: Yes.

Food Services: Grab a burger at Bassett’s and eat it outside in the alpine air.

Website: None.

Directions: From Sacramento: Take I-80 E to Exit 188A toward Truckee. Turn left at Donner Pass Rd. At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto CA-89/State Route 89. Continue to follow CA-89, then turn left at CA-49/CA-89/W Main St. Continue to follow CA-49. Destination will be on the right.

From Reno, Nevada: Take the ramp onto I-80 W, entering California. Take exit 188 for CA-267/CA-89 toward Lake Tahoe, then turn right at CA-89/State Route 89 (signs for Truckee/CA-89/Loyalton). At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit and stay on CA-89/State Route 89. Continue to follow CA-89 to CA-49.
View Larger Map

La Tarasca Restaurant

La Tarasca in Centralia, WA

1001 W. Main
Centralia, WA

All the other reviews out there are right: La Tarasca has excellent Mexican food¦perhaps the best, and certainly the most authentic, I’ve ever tasted. Due to its close proximity to The Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound, this restaurant has been heavily reviewed (just do a Google search), but all those words really do bear repeating. From the street, the place is nothing to look at, but don’t let that dissuade you. Inside, it’s colorful and cheery. We were served by the restaurant’s owner herself, who was happy to help us decide which of her native southern Mexican specialties we’d most enjoy. When our four-year-old couldn’t decide on his drink order, she told him she’d whip him up something special’ and came back with a delicious rice milk and cinnamon concoction. The restaurant does has a children’s menu, but she allowed mine to customize it to their tastes (my ten-year-old substituted beans for meat in his taco, for instance, and my seven-year-old opted for a tamale hot out of the oven instead of any of the kid offerings). My husband ordered carnitas (the house specialty), and ended up sharing his plate with all the kids, who all loved it (which is rare, as they’re primarily vegetarians). I ordered the chile relleno, and can say it’s the best I’ve ever had.

Date last visited: June 2009

Distance off the interstate: About two minutes.

Bathrooms: Yes.

Website: None. There is a phone number however: 360-736-7756. It’s advisable to call to check hours, which can vary. At the time of this posting, it’s open until 9 pm, and is closed every Tuesday.

Directions: From I-5, take Exit 82 (Harrison Ave). After Yew Street, Harrison turns into Main. The restaurant is located on the left.
View Larger Map

Sweet Tomatoes

Buffet at Sweet Tomatoes

Buffet at Sweet Tomatoes

6600 SW Cardinal Lane
Tigard, OR

I once forced my children to sit tight in the car an extra 70 miles past our pre-determined dinner-stopping-point in order to push on to Sweet Tomatoes. And even considering the whining, loud singing, and general disgruntlement, it was worth it. For those who aren’t familiar with this restaurant chain (which is brought to us by the same fine folks as Soup Plantation), imagine food that’s fast, but nothing like fast food. Or, if you will, a Hometown Buffet that’s actually good (sorry, I’m not a fan of the latter). Sweet Tomatoes is a buffet filled with fresh, whole foods: every type of salad you can imagine, six to eight homemade soups, pasta, bread to die for, drinks, and dessert. If you’re a newbie, don’t make the same mistake we made our first time: be sure to grab the compartmentalized child trays for your kids (they’re molded to keep foods from running into each other¦ewww), and if your kids want to skip all the specialty salads offered at the beginning of the buffet, don’t panic¦there’s tons more kid-friendly options (including a Kids Only station) further in the back.

Try to avoid this Tigard location on weekend nights (but that’s probably true for all of them).
…read more»

The Varsity Restaurant

180px-thevarsitysign_atlanta-ga

61 North Ave NW
Atlanta, GA

Make sure you’re hungry for a meal while cruising through Atlanta on I-75, because you’re going to want to stop at The Varsity. According to a member of Disboards.com’s Transportation board, it’s a must: To say they serve burgers and chili dogs is unfair. It’s indescribable.

You’ll find burgers, hot dogs, and chili at The Varsity, but according to most reviews, it’s the hand-cut fries, onion rings, and fried pies that are to die for. What? I never said it was healthy! It’s also the world’s largest drive-in. You know you’ve got to see that!…read more»