Holiday travels.... road eats - Day 2

Rise and Shine - day 2

We mostly missed the complementary breakfast at our hotel, but were able to grab things as they were packing it away.

Then we hit the road with a stop on our way out of Medford at the Rogue Creamery.
Cause nothing sounds better at 9 am than stinky blue cheese, am I right?

Well, this place makes CRAZY GOOD stinky blue cheese and other amazing cheeses.
We hadn't realized it was on our route for the trip until we saw the sign at the same exit as our hotel the evening before. [Editor's note: I've decided that if someone told me that for the rest of my life, I could only ever eat cheese from Beecher's in Seattle, Tillamook in Northern Oregon or Rogue Creamery in Southern Oregon, I would be content... With only one exception: Parmigiano Reggiano from Italy)]

So it was a required detour... its not a chain restaurant but we can't go to a Rogue Creamery store at home.
The brave and (awake) among us sampled cheese. Others of us just explored and some found the viewing window into the factory and watched a cheesemaker, make some cheddar.
Our young man, who knows a lot about a lot, told me what the guy was doing, was called "Cheddaring".
So now you know ;)

And then we bought cheese :)

Back to the road.
I-5 South to Cali, roads were clear with lots of white on the sides to make it all feel like winter.

After the snow passed, and we had entered California - the landscape has changed a lot.

Lunch was in Redding. Marie Calendar's was the pick.
We haven't eaten in a Marie Calendar's in 5 years, when they closed the one in our general vicinity.
It was probably a bit longer ago than that, as only one of our kids remembered it.
And once inside the doors, it was EXACTLY the same.
Why is the cornbread so much fluffier at the restaurant than when we make the mix at home? You've wondered this yourself, right?
Crazy.

And we had to have pie to wrap up the visit. Chocolate Satin, Lemon Meringue and Coconut Cream if you were wondering. All were good and brought back memories.

Soo many pies to choose from! 

After a few more hours of driving we made it to the California family. And once we said our hello's and hugs, it was dinner.
(See, I am really mainly dealing with the food here)
For dinner, Strings Italian Cafe. I think this is a Sacramento area chain - I don't recall it from other parts of the state.
We had a leisurely dinner here with our family. The food was good and plentiful. We all brought home doggy bags. But my gut says they won't be eaten.
When we are at hotels we always think that we will get to leftovers and it never happens. But maybe this time.....?