The New Intimacy

Local verses National Food Chains when traveling.

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Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
We are in a nice little southern city for the night (were here last night too) after running a GREAT marathon. Our first.

We wanted to try LOCAL dining places....but cannot find any!!!! Everywhere within walking distance (too busy with about 100,000 visitors here tonight) to take a cab or even THINK about getting our rental car out of the garage....SO we wanted to WALK to a local eating spot. However, we find an OUTBACK STEAK HOUSE, a RUTH CHRIS, a FIVE GUYS BURGERS....etc. Everything is NATIONAL CHAIN.

We realize whenever we travel, we end up near NATIONAL CHAINS there too.

SO....anyone just happy to EAT when you are traveling, or do you go out of your way to find the "local dining fare"????
11/05/2011
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Contributor: dv8 dv8
I look for good local dining. If I can't find an excellent gourmet/regional restaurant, I should be able to find something interesting from Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.
11/05/2011
Contributor: TameTemptress TameTemptress
I usually stick to what I know.
11/05/2011
Contributor: potstickers potstickers
I go for local food. I don't see the point of eating the same thing you could eat at home.
11/05/2011
Contributor: AndroAngel AndroAngel
It depends where I'm traveling. If it's outside the country, I'm definitely going for local faire, if it's in the states, I'll see what's around, and if I find somewhere that looks good I'll eat there, if not, national chains it is.
11/05/2011
Contributor: Ghost Ghost
We usually only go to restaurants that are rated online as "vegetarian friendly". We have to plan ahead to see if there are places we can eat nearby where we want to stay, but we've found some really awesome places this way!
11/06/2011
Contributor: Shellz31 Shellz31
Usually I'll stick to the chains cause local food places can often be rather expensive!
11/06/2011
Contributor: WetJenn WetJenn
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
We are in a nice little southern city for the night (were here last night too) after running a GREAT marathon. Our first.

We wanted to try LOCAL dining places....but cannot find any!!!! Everywhere within walking distance (too busy with about ... more
I like going to the fast food places and seeing how they are different in different towns. DOrky I know but I like it. lol.
11/06/2011
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
We are in a nice little southern city for the night (were here last night too) after running a GREAT marathon. Our first.

We wanted to try LOCAL dining places....but cannot find any!!!! Everywhere within walking distance (too busy with about ... more
Definitely local dining places for me. If you ask your hotel concierge, I'm sure they'll gladly point out a few places to you. Or like dv8, google "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" before heading out.
11/06/2011
Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
A bit of both, depending on where we are. I usually road-trip with my Dad (who has years more experience) and he knows lots of little nowhere places that have great food and fun local color. Since my Dad tends to be 'meat and potatoes' on the road, they're usually mom and pop diners with home cooking and comfort food. Although he always insists on having breakfast at the Waffle House when on the road.

When I do get to visit Master in England, I am diving into the local foods and favored styles of England ... so that will mean lots of regional (he lives in Somerset), continental (French, etc), and plain British comfort foods. Can't wait!
11/06/2011
Contributor: Annemarie Annemarie
My dad and I try to stick to local places, though we don't travel much together. When he's on the road (he's a truck driver), he also tries to stick to local places, but that's not very possible most of the time.

That said, where we live, the local food scene is dying, and most things now are chains. What's the point of going somewhere if you're just going to eat the same thing? Just stay home.
11/06/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Hubby and I were just conversing about this last night. I dread it when he's like "hey you wanna go out to dinner?", I always want to say no but it's such a special treat these days that I end up caving and then we go to a chain and it's the worst meal of the week. I can do it better, faster and cheaper at home and get it exactly the way I want it!
11/06/2011
Contributor: married with children married with children
I always try to eat local food, at least to try it when out of town. The national chains are a good fall back dinner if you cant find something that sounds good.
11/07/2011
Contributor: Love Perpetua Love Perpetua
I try to eat local food as much as possible, I love yelp for finding good places!
11/08/2011
Contributor: mpfm mpfm
We are at about 75% eat where you know and 25% local when traveling. At home it's more 50/50.
11/10/2011