Bainbridge, Georgia…A Southern Gem

Bainbridge, Georgia is the kind of small town in America that we hope will be around for many future generations to explore and enjoy. It’s the kind of town we seek out when we travel. So here is a glimpse of our overnight stay earlier this year as we headed North toward our home in the heartland…

We arrived in the late afternoon, and we checked into the Quality Inn Hotel. 

The exterior of the hotel was beautiful, and the front desk staff was very friendly and accommodating. Our room was clean and well stocked. But the one negative at that hotel property was…dirty windows! All of them! That was actually the first thing we noticed as we drove into the parking lot since the setting sun was shining directly on the building. (It’s amazing how one relatively minor slip-up in maintenance can be so noticeable to weary travelers!)

After we unpacked our overnight bags, we walked across the parking lot for dinner. (Peepaw usually picks hotels in locations that have restaurants within walking distance so we can stretch our legs and burn a few calories.) And in this case we headed “South of the Border” to Laredo Grill.

The decor was bright and cheerful…

And slightly quirky…

But the food was delicious…starting with warm chips and cold salsa.

And followed by a plate of authentic Mexican deliciousness…

After our HUGE and wonderful meal, we waddled back to our hotel room, but instead of hunkering down for the night we decided to find “Main Street” in Bainbridge and see what the heart of the little town was really like. (Meemaw’s Travel Tip…DON’T just stay on the edge of small towns near the freeway. Take time to explore the part of town where the town’s history began, and you won’t be disappointed by driving a few extra miles. Trust me!)

Want proof of being worth the drive? We discovered a Southern gem…

With a Back To The Future vibe…

What a BEAUTIFUL town! And after seeing the main street and the square I Googled the town and found out they are world famous for their Antebellum Mansions And Painted Ladies In Bainbridge…but, sadly, it was already too dark to  see them in person! (Note to self…Google an overnight stop BEFORE we arrive…and before it gets dark!)

We headed back to our hotel for a good night’s sleep, and before leaving the next morning we searched for a spot nearby for a hearty breakfast. And when I saw this sign I knew we just had to try the eatery. (After all, who can resist a Blue Plate Special at a diner?!? Not ME!)

It wasn’t until we walked inside that I realized the restaurant looked suspiciously like that Southern staple of fine dining…

A Waffle House!

We’re not sure how the restaurant left the Waffle House name behind, but the menu was VERY similar to the Waffle House fare. But since I had always wanted to try cheese grits in the South I decided this was the time to order them. 

I’ll admit I was disappointed when the meal arrived, since I was not expecting Southern cheese grits to be just a slice of processed cheese melted on top of regular grits. But the omelet was OK and the raisin toast was “raisiny”…so all was not lost.

So with a tummy full of underwhelming grits we headed back out on the road…happy to have new memories of another beautiful Southern town.  And the town square in downtown Bainbridge is absolutely worth driving a few extra miles off of that freeway. And when YOU go…please snap a few pictures of those Antebellum mansions and painted ladies for me…OK? I’m still sorry I missed them.

If only I could have traded those grits for some Antebellum mansions…