One of the great American traditions is taking a road trip with all the freedom of an adventure from traveling on the open roads. If you’re a foodie fanatic, then combining an adventurous journey with culinary pit stops can open a world of flavors and new experiences. Planning a foodie road trip from Baltimore will not let you down when it comes to ultimate food encounters of mouth-watering tastes and the awesome sights it has to offer. Baltimore is centrally located on the East Coast and therefore it makes it relatively easy to visit cities along this region so if you’re planning on taking a road trip from Baltimore, here are some tempting places to get you started.
Before You Leave
There are many things to consider before hitting the road and planning your journey is just one of them. The practical choices of which vehicle to drive should be top of your list, and whichever you choose, ensure it has had a mechanical service beforehand and is the right choice for your trip. If you have the space, it’s also a good idea to bring car, RV or truck parts and spares with you too so that should a breakdown occur, you are already armed with the right gear. Plan where the cheaper gas stations are on your route and incorporate regular stops. Invest in gadgets to help you organize your route and upload travel apps to make your journey more easy to navigate.
Baltimore
Known as the’City of Neighborhoods’, Baltimore is home to more than seventy historic districts, and once you’ve visited, you might even decide to stay and buy a home here! The Inner Habor alone is buzzing with tourists and locals keen to explore the shops, restaurants, wineries, museums, and of course, the promenades and beaches. While famous for many things, Baltimore also has an historic connection with gastronomy; in particular, for its seafood. You can’t leave Baltimore without trying the Maryland Blue Crabs, and although crabs are an ingredient for many dishes, their Crab Cakes are probably the most notorious. It uses Old Bay, another local favorite, which is a popular seasoning with locals, so make sure you buy some to take back home with you. When you’re on the road, try Pit Beef, a hometown classic, from one of the roadside stands. For those with a sweet tooth, check out their Berger Cookies too!
Philadelphia
It might surprise you to learn that Philadelphia takes their food very seriously. If you’re wanting to see the sights of Philly, such as Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, or any of the Rocky attractions, you must combine sight-seeing with food tasting. Most famous of all are their juicy cheesesteaks and hoagie. It was first created in 1930 by Pat Olivieri and consists of thinly sliced beef, sweet peppers and fried onions in a crusty roll; however, choosing the appropriate cheese to melt can be a matter of great debate amongst locals. In addition to the more cheaper eats, Philly offers a vibrant restaurant scene serving up anything from local to international cusines. For a snack on the road, pretzels have been hugely popular here for centuries and can be bought from the bakery or street vendor.
New Jersey
New Jersey isn’t called the Garden State for no reason having maintained a huge reputation for food production of peaches, cranberries, corn, blueberries and tomatoes; the latter of which are probably the most famous so you must try their Trenton Tomato Pie, which is actually more like a pizza. If you fancy making your own food en route, you’ll find plenty of farmers selling fresh produce on their roadside stalls and you can buy bagels fresh out of the oven. However, it’s the Pork Roll which will really tantalize your taste buds, and is a popular cornerstone in local diners. Invented in 1856 by JohnTaylor, the thinly sliced pork-based meat is either grilled or pan-friend until crispy, and then added to a sandwich using cheese and eggs. Don’t forget to also try their hot dogs, usually served with fried potatoes on top for a truly New Jersey food experience.
Connecticut
No trip to Connecticut would be worthwhile if you didn’t try their ‘Connecticut style’ lobster roll which differs from the lobster salad roll as you won’t find any mayo here, just warm lobster with melted butter served in a top-split hot-dog bun; a totally pure Connecticut experience! If you didn’t already know, the Lobster Roll was first created in 1929 at Perry’s restaurant in Milfod so it’s essential you try out this traditional food if visiting the area. As well as the glorious seafood found in this state, another speciality is the Steamed Cheeseburger, also believed to be invented in Connecticut. This hamburger with cheese is steamed in small stainless steel boxes which is where it gets its juicy burger fame from. Choose your own toppings and be prepared for a mouth watering foodie heaven.
Portland
It’s a well known fact that Portland has the reputation of being one of America’s most renowned food cities. The mixture of restaurants and food cart culture ensures its appeal for foodies to try out a range of culinary delights. In particular, Portland’s legendary food cart scene compares to no other and there are hundreds throughout the city, declaring Portand as one of the greatest street food cities. As a result, not only can you try out local cuisine such as seafood and classic burgers or donuts, but farmers’ markets along with food carts will ensure you have enough choice to have a feast on the go while driving on your road trip.
Whatever route you choose from Balitmore along the East Coast, you’re bound to find diverse cuisines according to the locality and food history of the area. Combine this with cultures and historical attractions and you’ve got a road map for interesting highlights and foodie delights. Provided you plan well, choose the most appropriate vehicle, and are open to the idea of tasting new dishes, you’ll have a hassle-free time driving on the road and a foodie’s dream when you finally stop to explore.