Top 10 Restaurant Chains for Holiday Road-Tripping Families

If you don't want to put up with the airfares this Christmas but you want to take your family to see the grandparents, you are inevitably going to be taking a road trip and your family is going to get hungry. Here are the top ten restaurant chains to visit when traveling this holiday season:

1) Cracker Barrel - This is a great place to get a home-cooked meal. Breakfast and dinner are the best times to come here and the best meal for dinner is the country fried steak. If you happen to come here for breakfast you should try the French toast - it's the best I've ever had.

There are more stores in the east but Cracker Barrel has stores across the United States. A special feature of Cracker Barrel is its old Country Store. The store has a wide variety of candies, toys, soaps and lotions. If you're bored on your trip you can rent stories on tape, which will let you rent the cassettes and return them at the next store. After your meal you can relax on the huge front porch in a rocking chair and let your food digest.

2) McDonald's - Everyone knows of McDonald's and you can bet there will be one at every exit. McDonald's will be good for smaller children ages 5 to 8 since some McDonald's have play pits where the children can stretch their legs. The children also love McDonald's food. If you're like me I do not let my children eat fast food on a regular basis but if it will keep them happy on excruciatingly long trips then I will reward them with chicken McNuggets.

The best meals to eat at McDonald's are breakfast and lunch. Adults will agree that McDonald's can give you some good coffee to keep your eyes open on the road and you cannot beat the egg McMuffins.

3) Applebee's - The best meal to eat here is lunch. Applebee's has a variety of healthy meal options like the Weight Watchers tortilla chicken melt and combo lunches that include soap and salad. The service is quick and friendly and the children can get a milkshake to-go for the ride. Or if you have time to sit and eat dessert order the Blondie - it's a warm white brownie with walnuts and hot caramel sauce served on a hot skillet with vanilla ice cream.

4) Dave & Buster's - The best place to have dinner and get the children to release all their energy from sitting in the car. One of the best features of Dave & Buster's is its extensive selection of classic arcade games. It is a good restaurant choice as a mid-stop between locations and best for meals before going to stay in a motel overnight because you may be there for awhile.

5) Red Lobster - If you and the family love seafood then you will be happy to know that Red Lobsters are located in most states. The best meal to eat here is dinner. You can even pick out the lobster you want to eat and the kids will love to see them vegetating on the bottom of the fish tank.

6) Tony Roma's - If your family is in the mood for BBQ then come here. They are most common in the west.

7) Outback Steakhouse - If you are craving a juicy steak or a blooming onion stop at an Outback Steakhouse. The bread appetizer with softened butter is the best I've had and you have to try the blooming onion.

8) Panera Bread - Long trips can take a toll on your body so trying to eat healthy along the way is important. Panera Bread is the best place to get some light lunch. The best feature of Panera is the fresh made breads and succulent soups and salads.

9) Dunkin Donuts - Dunkin Donuts is sure to please all members of the family. The best time to come here to eat is for breakfast or a quick dessert. They have superb coffee for the parents and a variety of fresh hot donuts for everyone. Looking for a healthy alternative? Try one of their fruit smoothies.

10) Chi Chi's Pizza - This is a very family oriented restaurant. Chi Chi's specializes in an all-you-can-eat buffet for $5.99. It's assured that every member of the family will find something they like since Chi Chi's carries a wide selection of pizza toppings and dessert pizzas as well as salad and pasta. This restaurant has the best value.

That completes my list for the top ten places to eat while on the road. Drive safely and remember to buckle up.