At the site of the original Dairi-O location, framing the entrance of the restaurant, is a giant milkshake cup. The cup has two giant red straws sticking out the top because obviously, it's big enough to share. Dairi-O began in 1947 and now has several locations across North and South Carolina. A retro roadside giant that serves up just enough nostalgia to draw you in. You can step right inside this towering shake on East Dalton Road in King, NC

This place is pure underground magic. Located on the site of the original 1834 Galt Hotel, it sits in an almost 200 year old basement that has survived a fire and flood. In 2011 it was reborn with the original brick walls and reclaimed materials from the original building. If you are in downtown, duck under the bridge on West Washington Street in Louisville, KY

The original location opened in 1971 and this one in 1992. Easily the best pizza I've ever had, with it's unique charred, but not burnt, cheesy caramelized crust. The restaurant is named for the whaling ship from "Moby Dick" and has a shameless whale mascot, sipping a beer and wearing a thong, giving a nod to the "whale tail" fashion statement of the 90's. Located on Clybourn Avenue in Chicago, IL, it's worth the trip. When your pizza arrives, don't be surprised if you are mo

This muffler man can be found standing outside of Carl's Ice Cream Factory luring customers in with a giant ice cream cone in one hand and a giant cheeseburger in the other. He reminds us that life is too short not to enjoy custard and burgers. Carl's waiting to join you for a selfie on West College Avenue in Normal, IL

This general store began in 1880 under another name during the days when Granville was a thriving riverboat town. It changed hands and names many times until Thomas Benjamin Sutton acquired it in 1925 and ran it for 45 years. In addition to selling food and dry goods, Sutton also ran a barbershop, pharmacy and fix it shop out of the store. After being closed for many years, it was finally renovated and reopened in 2001. Today the store is a gift shop, restaurant, museum and m

This great classic neon sign was at an old fashioned drive in style restaurant that opened in 1951. The food was really good, but the star of the show was the butterscotch milkshake! I may, or may not have, gone back later for another! Stop by and try one on US Highway 68 East in Aurora, KY

Billed as the last diner on Route 66, this retro diner began in 1986 but hasn't updated their calendar since the 1950's. The diner maintains it's nostalgic charm with bright neon signs, the decor and the menu. There are even vintage newspapers and a jukebox the plays the oldies. You can stop by for some classic diner fare on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA

This restaurant began in a smaller location in 1931 and moved here 20 years later. Still family owned and boasts a crowd of famous guests with many celeb photos on the walls. No photos of one set of famous diners who ate their last meal here in 1969 before their fate was sealed at the hands of the Manson Family later that night. The exact booth they sat in was featured in the movie "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood". True Crime buffs still pilgrimage there to see the famous boot

This classic diner is nearly 100 years old. It opened in 1926 and is still a popular spot. I love thier logo. Not easy to see here but it's a boy wearing a "Time for Beany" propeller hat, with a creepy little grin, rubbing his tummy and a slogan that says "Good "N Side". I'm guessing that means the food is good inside your tummy? It was my intent to eat here but my timing ended up being way off. It is still my intent to eat here some day! It's on Sunset Boulevard in Los Ang

This restaurant opened in the 1970's, but is now closed. The new El Moro cafe did update and save this great sign. You can see it on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA

Serving real pit BBQ since 1946, proving if it ain't broke, don't fix it. There was more great neon on the front of the building, but unfortunately there was a big moving truck out front so I didn't get to see it when I drove by. You can stop and sample some of their southern hospitality, but don't wear white because honestly, no white shirt is making it out of there alive. It's on Fair Oaks Avenue in South Pasadena, CA

This restaurant chain began in 1922 as Sonora Cafe but in 1925 a diner, waiting for his meal, drew a figure of a man and called him El Cholo. The owner liked it so much, he changed the name and used the image as his logo. This location opened around 2000 but has since closed. The little neon sign depicting El Cholo is gone now too. It was on the cafe building on East Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, CA

Purposefully not leaving anything to the imagination, this neon sign said it all. The restaurant opened in 1984 but sadly didn't survive the Covid-19 shutdown orders and, the big neon fish is the one that got away. You can still see the building signage on East Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, CA

When I saw this giant windmill looming over the horizon, I didn't expect to see a Denny's sign on the building. The building was originally built as a Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakery. When the chain folded in the 1990's, Denny's acquired the building. They planned to remove the windmill but yielded to protests from the locals and kept it. They have restored and repaired it over the years and it's still spinning today. It's worth a drive by to see this quirky roadside remn

This restaurant began in 1918 as a hamburger stand for folks on horse back. By 1932, it had evolved into a full fledged steakhouse. The name and this neon sign were a great tribute to it's origins. The restaurant closed but this classic 1950's era sign boasting a giant boot with a spur hanging off it's heel has been partially preserved at the location. You can see what remains on East Route 66 in Glendora, CA

This restaurant opened in 1995. The retro neon sign is a replicate of the original sign from the first location in Alhambra, opened in 1951. You can see this one on West Route 66 in Glendora, CA.

Being raised in the Midwest, this was my first Foster's Freeze sighting. The founder of this California fast food chain originally tried to open Dairy Queen locations in California, but due to California laws protecting the dairy industry, he had to develop his own brand labeled as Old-Fashioned Freeze because the soft-serve didn't meet the butterfat percentages required by the laws to use the word dairy. This old sign has the original logo with the cheerful ice cream cone ch

There couldn't be a better way to advertise a steakhouse built on the site of an old Wells Fargo Stagecoach, then a covered wagon sign. This steakhouse was opened in 1967 and is the Wild West's answer to casual Fridays. The dress code is strictly "no tie" and if you wear one in, they will cut it off and hang it from the rafters! Mosey on over for a bite on Foothill Boulevard in San Dimas, CA

The building was built in the 1920's as Wilson's Sandwich Shop, then La Paloma opened in 1966. The neon sign is a great example of signs from that time with it's googie style shapes, stars and bright colors. If you look closely, you can see the dove on the chef's sombrero on the sign as paloma is Spanish for dove. Stop in and sample some of Abuela Maria's recipes as the place is still operated by the same family. It's on Foothill Boulevard in LaVerne, CA

In 1917, John and Molly Wolfe opened a modest market on a dirt road that would later become Route 66. Back then, Wolfe’s was the only gas...