Daniel Mercer

Fewer than 500 residents, a high school that doubles as an actual fossil dig site, and a downtown…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 9

The smell of fresh-baked pie drifting out the door and onto the street is all the invitation anyone…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 9

Handmade tamales that taste like they came straight from a family kitchen in Mexico, served out of a…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 9

Somewhere past the mountain passes and rushing rivers of Colorado, a small road sign points toward a town…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 8

Waterfalls, mountain roads, and trails that make you stop and just stare. Virginia is hiding more natural beauty…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 8

Louisville and Lexington get all the attention, and honestly, they have earned it. But Kentucky has a whole…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 8

Thirty-five thousand square feet of vintage treasures, over 200 vendors, and a selection that changes so fast no…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 7

The smell of fresh-baked pie reaches the street before the bakery even comes into view. That is all…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 7

Inside one of Tennessee’s most beloved national parks, there is a 25-foot waterfall that does something no other…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 6

Burgers have been flipping at this Kansas drive-in since 1948 and the loyal crowd showing up decade after…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 6

A lake view out the window and honest, generous food on the plate. This Indiana buffet has been…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 6

Salty air, ocean sounds, and endless plates of fresh hot seasoned crab waiting at the end of the…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 5

Big meals have a way of making a trip more memorable. Pennsylvania knows that better than most, especially…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 5

A day of sightseeing works up an appetite fast. That is good news in New Hampshire, where great…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 5

Indiana takes all-you-can-eat seriously and the variety across this state proves it without any argument. From cozy Amish…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 4

Get there early. This Tennessee BBQ spot sells out fast and the people who arrive late already know…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 4

A buffet worth planning a road trip around is not something that comes along every day. This Minnesota…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 4

Good road trips need a little treasure hunting. Not the kind with maps and clues, but the kind…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 3

Forget counting miles for a minute. The only number that matters here is how many crawfish make it…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 3

Follow the crab cake chatter. It starts with one happy customer, then another, then a whole trail of…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 3

Most people drive right past it on the way to Yellowstone. That is their loss and a very…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 2

Salt air has a way of slowing everything down. This tiny South Carolina village makes that slower pace…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 2

A waterfront meal always sounds like a good idea. This Connecticut seafood stop has been making that decision…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 2

Fresh mountain air can change the mood fast. These small Colorado towns prove a great getaway does not…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 1

Seafood tastes better with ocean air and a long coastal drive. That is exactly why this Massachusetts stop…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 1

Fresh roasted coffee smells different when it comes straight from the source. That is what makes this little…

By Daniel Mercer · Jun 1

Crunchy onion rings can turn a simple road trip stop into the best part of the whole drive.…

By Daniel Mercer · May 31

Coastal trips should not feel like a race for parking or a battle with prices. A better Oregon…

By Daniel Mercer · May 31

Salty Pacific air, a waterfront view, and a paper basket of the freshest halibut fish and chips imaginable.…

By Daniel Mercer · May 30

Alligators gliding through dark swamp water. Freight trains thundering past on one of the busiest rail corridors in…

By Daniel Mercer · May 30

A white farmhouse, a quiet road, and the smell of something sweet in the oven can change the…

By Daniel Mercer · May 30

Free hot springs bubbling up along a sparkling river. Trout practically jumping onto the line. A main street…

By Daniel Mercer · May 29

Rugged peaks. Glassy alpine lakes. Forests that smell like pure wilderness from the very first step. Idaho has…

By Daniel Mercer · May 29

Fresh pancakes and the smell of a proper breakfast hit before the door even opens. That is the…

By Daniel Mercer · May 29

The brisket changes the afternoon plans. That is just what happens at this West Texas smokehouse. Somewhere along…

By Daniel Mercer · May 28

Water so clear the bottom is visible in waist-deep pools. A 35-foot waterfall waiting at the end of…

By Daniel Mercer · May 28

The legs start questioning the decision about halfway up. Then the trail rounds a corner and steaming pools…

By Daniel Mercer · May 28

Come hungry for the kind of meal that does not play around. In Pennsylvania, a classic smorgasbord means…

By Daniel Mercer · May 27

Crab night is not supposed to be polite. In Virginia, it is a hands-busy, napkin-grabbing, stay-for-one-more-round kind of…

By Daniel Mercer · May 27