Vacation with Kids: A Gastronomic Tour of the South

A vacation with the kids can be filled with memories. Those vacations can also be eye-opening experiences.

One of our regular vacations when my kids were little was a trip to Tennessee for the annual family reunion. I usually tried to fit a few extra days in and travel to Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains.

When my son was nine years old, he was a very picky eater. He's since outgrown this with a vengeance. In fact, my son discovered his appetite during that vacation to Tennessee.

My dad's side of the family is very large and filled with very good cooks. The annual reunion features tables filled with food, lots of laughter and a "business" meeting at the end.

My son actually ate very heartily during the actual dinner - two plates plus dessert. I was shocked to see him sitting with one of my great uncles during the business meeting as most of the young children were outside playing. Then I noticed the bowl in front of him - filled with MORE fried chicken.

That evening, when we returned to Pigeon Forge, we decided the perhaps we might need a light dinner. There was a restaurant on the main strip that featured a soup and salad buffet, the perfect meal after a huge lunch.

We were in that restaurant for well over an hour after we were seated - watching in shock as my son repeatedly returned to the buffet for salad and soup. He wasn't filling up on bread and desserts, but eating food that was very good for him.

During that particular vacation, we were also able to travel to Myrtle Beach and Atlanta. On our first evening in Myrtle Beach, we found a nice family restaurant that was featuring all-you-can-eat spaghetti. While my boyfriend, daughter and I each ate one plate and were very satisfied, I watched my son eat two plates of spaghetti, plus the salad and rolls.

Fortunately, my son was still in the "children's" price ranges. After that vacation, many of our family dinners out included traveling to restaurants featuring buffets, always a value and especially with a growing son.

During later years, my son's vacation appetite changed with the location. When he was 19, we traveled and worked together in Louisiana. During lunch or dinner visits to buffet restaurants, I couldn't help but flash back to that Tennessee vacation, watching my small son eat his way through the South.