You’ve packed your bags, loaded the car, and waved goodbye to your friends and family—excited for an adventure to Atlanta. With the music playing and A/C blasting away the springtime heat, you’re ready to cruise country roads as you drive back from vacation or move into your dorm. Regardless of your reason for visiting the city, The Connector has compiled a list of elusive countryside sights.
Waffle House
It doesn’t matter where you exit—there will probably be one of these southern staples luring you to its doors with a siren song of fantastic service and comforting cuisine.
If you’ve ever been inside one Waffle House, you’ve been to them all. The food and restaurant layout are consistent across locations, and a scent of hash browns, syrup and smoked ham will greet you at the front door. So rain or shine, sun or snow, 24/7 and 365, Waffle House is ready to welcome any weary travelers.
Corny Lawyer Ads
Are you really in the middle of nowhere until you’ve seen a corny lawyer ad? Bonus points if it’s for divorce or auto accidents. So when that Dodge Charger cuts someone off on I-20, trust that charismatic legal resources are waiting to help.
Farm Animals
Who doesn’t love driving through farmland? It might smell, but those rolling green hills are home to gentle giants. Cows, horses and goats graze in the sun, paying no mind to the cars that drive past them. While basking in the cows’ cuteness, you can ignore any big tractors slowing traffic for the next mile.
Porch Grandpas
If there’s one thing old Southern folks love to do, it’s sitting on the front porch. These hard-working elders enjoy country life with a dog in their lap, watching the cars roll down the road. “Porch Grandpas” soak up the sunshine from the comfort of a worn rocking chair—retirement never looked so good.
Sketchy Gas Stations
A sketchy gas station usually has two working pumps, a disgruntled clerk and it only accepts cash payments. The worn floors are perpetually damp and the lights buzz from either electricity or insects. You won’t want to stop here for longer than necessary.
Bumper Stickers
Have you watched a stick figure family fly by on the back of an SUV? Maybe you’ve seen a university emblem on someone’s pick-up truck window. Whether it’s religion, politics or sports teams, there’s a bumper sticker for every interest or brand. Southern drivers truly love advertising their passions via automobile.
Cemeteries
You’ll likely see a cemetery at the local church as you pass through a quiet town. Generations of loved family members are put to rest under carefully carved headstones, weathered from rain and sunlight. Flower arrangements and picture frames dot every plot, showing that someone cares for these aged gravesites. Though cemeteries can look spooky, they’re historical staples of country communities.
Yard Sales
Rummage, garage, yard or whatever-you-call-them sales are great opportunities to discover new things. You can find an 80s band poster or a Nintendo DS that looks like one you lost in 2010. In the box on the driveway side, you might find valuable antique jewelry. Though thrifting is trendy now, Southerners have long valued selling their items before sending them to a landfill.
“Not-Cars”
Have you ever seen a machine on the road that makes you think, “What the heck is that?” You wouldn’t be the first. But once you’re outside the city, you see some creative contraptions. They have wheels, a seat, and maybe some lights, but something tells you they’re not a car. As legally confusing as some vehicles are, it’s impressive to see what people invent for travel.
Beautiful Views
The Southern USA is filled with weird yet wonderful experiences. Evergreen trees line the highway, shading you from the warm sunshine. Clear blue skies sit over the vast winding hills with tiny houses and barns. At night, you can point out constellations in the stars or swerve around opossums that wander into the street. There’s something special around every corner—all you have to do is drive.
