13 Hour Sandwich

I have never had any reservations when it comes to spontaneous road trips.  Growing up (and still living) in Florida, I have traveled all over the state on spur-of-the-moment road trips.  Sometimes the urge to jump in my car and drive took me out of Florida.  You never know what will spark a great road trip or where it will take you.  When the opportunity knocks, GO!!

One day while in college, I was killing time with my roommate.  We were kicking around the idea of one day opening our own deli.  While brainstorming, we began creating a very rough menu.  Then the question was asked, "what is the best sandwich you have ever had?" 

My answer was simple.  Growing up in Tampa, I have an affinity towards Cuban sandwiches.  Therefore, I emphatically responded, "a Cuban from Alessi Bakery!"

My roommate did not grow up in Tampa and had a very different type of sandwich in mind.  He told me that I have never had the best sandwich ever, because I have not yet been to Louisiana.  According to him, the best sandwich our great country has to offer resides in Lake Charles, LA at restaurant called Pronia's Deli.  In his opinion, a muffaletta from Pronia's trumped all other sandwiches.

I had to experience it!  Within an hour, we had embarked on our 800+ mile / 13 hour journey for a sandwich.

On the way to Lake Charles, we noticed a lot of traffic and noise while driving through New Orleans.  We just shrugged our shoulders and continued to West Louisiana. 

I was able to book a nice little hotel while we were on our way.  The hotel was comfortable, but nothing fancy.  The next morning we woke and bolted out the door.  We finally made it to our destination!  The sandwich was amazing!  It was definitely the best muffaletta I've ever had, but I wouldn't call it the best sandwich ever. 

I felt as though the trip was a success.  I had experienced the famed Pronia's muffaletta, I had a cooler full of craw fish, and I got to see the vast swamplands of Louisiana.  We were now headed back to Florida.  I had no idea the best part of the trip was still in store. 

On our way back, we hit significant traffic in New Orleans.  This time, I rolled down my window and asked the people in the car next to us if heavy traffic was usually at 2pm in New Orleans.  They said, "it is during Mardi Gras!"  What!!!  Mardi Gras was happening now?  We had no idea at all.  We decided to book a last minute hotel and indulge.

Mardi Gras is the most fun you'll never want to do again.  Exciting? Fun? Most definitely.  Clean? Absolutely not.  However, the pros outweighed the cons, and I have stories for a lifetime. 

You will never know what happens on the trip you don't take.  Be adventurous, hit the road!

TripAdvisor: Top family friendly hotels, destinations for 2011

By Barbara De Lollis, USA TODAY

The historic Williamsburg Inn is the No. 1 hotel in the No. 1 family friendly destination in the USA, as chosen by TripAdvisor reviewers. The fancy hotel opened in 1937 and has hosted royalty, heads of state and other VIPs. Rooms are large, averaging 500 square feet - a feature that's popular with families. The property belongs to two upscale hotel networks: The Leading Small Hotels of the World and Historic Hotels of America.

CAPTION

By TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor today reveals the Top 10 destinations - and hotels - that its reviewer members ranked as the USA's best for family travel.

Winners of TripAdvisor's 2011 Travelers' Choice Family Awards were chosen based on the greatest number of recommendations from reviewers who traveled with family.

PHOTO GALLERY: See TripAdvisor's top picks

What's absent from the Top 10 list? Pricey New York City, which is filled with cultural treasures for children, but where you can easily pay $40 a night in hotel taxes alone, excluding room rate.

Family travel is an increasingly important segment of the travel industry that hotels - regardless seek to encourage.

When the just-opened dual Renaissance and Residence Inn hotel in government contractor hub Crystal City, Va., for instance, was choosing between installing mini-bar systems or empty mini-refrigerators in guest rooms, family travel played a role.

The hotel decided to install refrigerators partly because they'll appeal to families who general manager Jerry Caliguire expects to host on weekends. Despite a location amid mammoth office buildings, some families stay in these hotels as part of tour groups or to use as an affordable base for Washington D.C. sightseeing, sporting competitions or other local events, he told me.

According to a recent TripAdvisor survey, 83% of U.S. respondents plan to travel with family in 2011 with 90% of them planning domestic trips.

The Top 10 list for "Great U.S. Destinations to Discover" is dominated by just four states: Virginia, Texas, Florida and Tennessee.

To stay in these top 10 places, expect to pay an average of $215 per night, TripAdvisor says.
Travelers' Choice Family Award-winning Great U.S. Destinations to Discover and top hotel picks, based on
TripAdvisor reviews:

1. Williamsburg, Va. Top hotel pick: Williamsburg Inn
2. Virginia Beach, Va. Top hotel pick: Springhill Suites Virginia Beach Oceanfront
3. Lake George, NY: Top hotel pick: Blue Lagoon Resort
4. Pigeon Forge, Tenn.: Top hotel pick: Inn at Christmas Place
5. Branson, Mo.: Top hotel pick: Best Western Music Capital Inn
6. Gatlinburg, Tenn. Top hotel pick: Deer Ridge Mountain Resort
7. Corpus Christi, Texas. Top hotel pick: Staybridge Suites Corpus Christi
8. Port Aransas, Texas. No hotel met TripAdvisor's criteria for top pick.
9. Daytona Beach, Fla.: Top hotel pick: Hampton Inn Daytona Shores
10. Destin, Fla. Top hotel pick: Candlewood Suites Destin-Miramar Beach

Posted Mar 8 2011 9:02AM