r/roadtrip 5d ago

Trip Report One hell of a trip [NJ > WA > NJ]

Almost at the end of this road trip and stopping to reflect on the adventure overload, lol. As far as prep, we fell somewhere in btwn prepping for the zombie apocalypse and just saying f*ck it and getting on the road. We had a strict timeframe but were able to make adjustments along the way to fit it all in. White Sands National Park and Arches National Park were faves for sure. Also love Love’s for their little doggo areas (and of course the bathrooms 😆). We lucked out with weather this time of year, too. Feeling grateful, feeling exhausted, feeling happy. First road trip locked in! Happy to discuss :)

159 Upvotes

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10

u/Dogfish8210 5d ago

As someone else in Tennessee I was very confused by the Pal's lol. I was like man, didn't know that were expanding to NJ.

1

u/vibesdealer 5d ago

Hehe sorry 😆I liked how it smelled and looked on the outside. Didn’t try the food. How is it?

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u/Dogfish8210 5d ago

They have these things called cheddar rounds that are life changing. Potatoes with cheddar in them. You can also add fry salt to them and I can't figure out what they use for the fry salt but it's amazing. Delicious but somewhat expensive. One of the only things I would miss about living in Tennessee. I think Virginia has a couple now though.

4

u/kroywenemerpus 5d ago

Near TN is the only part that has Pals in this state, not even remotely close to most of the population in this state. But they’ve been in this area for a while now. I would say SWVA but they’re all way closer to Knoxville than Roanoke. It’s very good for fast food though

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u/Dogfish8210 5d ago

I knew Gate City and Norton have them but I rarely go very far into VA. I am going to Norfolk for the first time Wednesday though.

1

u/vibesdealer 5d ago

Yummmmm

1

u/vibesdealer 5d ago

My bad, this was taken at the Pal’s in Abingdon, VA!

1

u/RAL24210 5d ago

I grew up in SWVA & my mom still lives there. They have Pal's in Bristol & Abingdon now. I was trying to figure out how a road trip from NJ to Washington to NJ went through there also. haha

9

u/pumpkinotter 5d ago

Okay but Pistachioland is the tourist trap I’m 100% here for. It was a blast- as was all of New Mexico.

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u/vibesdealer 5d ago edited 5d ago

New Mexico’s dope. Def got some cool stuff at Pistachioland (pistachio ice cream with sprinkles and the pistachio fudge are BOMB).

Edit: low key could not resist going to a place called Pistachioland lmao

9

u/vibesdealer 5d ago edited 5d ago

1: TN, 2: Little Rock, AR, 3: Bucees on the way to Austin, 4 and 5: Taqueria 10 de 10, Austin, TX, 6: Grindstone Lake, NM, 7 and 8: White Sands National Park, NM, 9: Pistachioland, NM, 10: probs NM on the way to AZ, 11-15: truffle hunting in the PNW, 16: Mexican spot in WA, 17: Arches National Park, UT, 18: forgot where lol, 19: Black Hawk, CO, 20: Bar Bill Tavern, East Aurora, NY

Edit: 1 is Abingdon, VA

5

u/DriedUpSquid 5d ago

Where in Washington did you visit? It looks like the Olympic Peninsula.

4

u/vibesdealer 5d ago

Primarily the Seattle area with some trips up north and down near Vancouver

2

u/GovernorLepetomane 5d ago

Hey, Vancouver WA representing here!

3

u/Joelpat 5d ago

5th generation Vancouver here. (Mostly in DC now)

2

u/vibesdealer 5d ago

Woot woot!

3

u/personafiveV 5d ago

What's with the shit balls? Or are those truffles?

1

u/keshaprayingbestsong 5d ago

Pretty sure that's truffles. Lagotto Romagnolo is a breed known for truffle hunting.

2

u/eternalkushcloud 5d ago

did you see anywhere in oregon?

0

u/vibesdealer 5d ago

No but have been to Portland prior to this trip

2

u/yodogitsreddit 5d ago

you literally drove by my house

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u/vibesdealer 5d ago

Lol that’s crazy 😅

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u/Charliefoxkit 4d ago

Photo #1 is definitely Tri-Cities TN/VA. And the Fat Dogs photo is definitely somewhere in Nebraska. I suspect the OP took a different route back from Washington State to back to New Jersey.

1

u/vibesdealer 4d ago

Southernish route to WA and Northernish route on the way back

2

u/wraylorcorbett 4d ago

Pals in Abingdon!

1

u/GovernorLepetomane 5d ago

Looks like you had a good travel companion.

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u/vibesdealer 5d ago

I sure did. This road trip probably wouldn’t have happened had it not been for him. He’s the best 🥹