As you browse the internet, you will occasionally see a list of “things that you should do before you die,” lists that appear to be compiled by adventurous people with unlimited resources. But for the rest of us, those who enjoy a good “B-grade” vacation, there should be a list of “one hundred ‘dorky’ things to do before you die.”
Like most people on the east coast, we’ve driven up and down I-95 many times:
I-95 through the Carolinas probably qualifies as one of the most boring stretches of highway in the nation (just pavement and pine trees):
Just before you succumb to highway hypnosis, a colorful sign will pop into view:
There are almost 200 of these signs, stretching from NY to FL, tempting you to stop at South of the Border. Although we’ve resisted the urge for decades, we decided to pull over and join Pedro for a meal:
Since we visited during the off-season, many of the exciting attractions seemed to be poorly attended:
With a history stretching back to 1949, a visit to South of the Border would certainly be on our list of 100 dorky things to do before you die. Feel free to let us know your ideas for other things that should be included on this list for us common folk!
Ha! We too have driven by those signs many, many times. I drove our two kids nuts for miles because I would read the signs in a crazy, Mexican-sounding accent. At first they laughed but then, after many signs, begged me to stop! But….it’s addictive so I couldn’t. 🙂
We did stop once many years ago. It was not good so we never did that again. BTW, there are never many people there—-kinda like the new Williamsburg Pottery here in Williamsburg. Once when there were funky old warehouses with bargains, it was a fun place to visit but now the widow of the founder has made it into a weird place to visit. It’s a tacky, new style, like a half-mile of “strange” and boring since they redid it. So, guess you could add that to a “dorky” list next time you’re in town. Enjoyed this post—it brought back memories!
I too have driven by that sign many times on my way to Myrtle Beach. However, if you pull off I-95 you can get on to SC 411 you will see some 50 signs for a similar place; Sparky’s. Another wonderful explosion of neon colors and dusty tacky souvenirs still in their bins from when they were originally placed there in the early 1980’s. However, my family considers our lives much richer from having stopped at this roadside experience.