National Parks: Best Eats
From fresh, tropical milkshakes to buffalo steaks the size of your head, we dug up the best chow near America’s national parks.
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Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
THE STOP: Rock Inn Mountain Tavern, a rustic joint on Highway 66 in Estes Park, just 500 yards from the park’s entrance. THE MEAL: Everything from steaks to carrot smoothies. Serious carnivore? Go with the bacon-wrapped filet mignon. Average meal price: $15; rockinnestes.com
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
THE STOP: Blackberry Farm, a 4,200-acre spread near the park on East Millers Cove Road in Walland, Tennessee. THE MEAL: Each dinner is a five-course meal that changes daily. $125/person; blackberryfarm.com
Everglades National Park, Florida
THE STOP: Robert Is Here, a roadside fruit stand located on 344th Street, off Highway 821. THE EATS: Fresh fruit, veggies, milkshakes, key lime pie, and that’s it. Get the key lime shake. $5; robertishere.com
Olympic National Park, Washington
THE STOP: First Street Haven, a cozy breakfast joint located in downtown Port Angeles, just ten minutes from the park entrance. THE EATS: Breakfast and sandwiches. We recommend Jesi’s Omelet: bacon, mushrooms, spinach, roasted cashews, and cream cheese. $7-$15; 360-457-0352
Glacier National Park, Montana
THE STOP: Babb Bar Cattle Baron Supper Club, a steakhouse 10 miles outside Glacier on Highway 89. Call ahead for reservations. THE EATS: Steak, steak, steak. Get The Blackfeet, an inch-and-a-half-thick hunk of buffalo ribeye. $25-$35; (406) 732-4033
Yosemite National Park, California
THE STOP: Whoa Nellie Deli, inside the Tioga Mart gas station, seven miles east of the park on Vista Point Road, in Lee Vining. THE EATS: Everything from pork tenderloin to lobster taquitos to buffalo meatloaf. We recommend the World Famous Fish Tacos. $10-15; whoanelliedeli.com
Zion National Park, Utah
THE STOP: Bit and Spur, a saloon-style restaurant located just one mile from Zion’s entrance on Zion Park Boulevard in Springdale. THE EATS: Southwestern cuisine at its finest. Get the sweet-potato tamales. $15-$20; bitandspur.com
Acadia National Park, Maine
THE STOP: Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound, a seaside shack located next to the Trenton Bridge, just 12 miles outside Acadia. Open Memorial Day to Columbus Day. THE EATS: lobster-salad sandwich (lettuce, green pepper, cucumber, tomato, and lobster). $12.95; trentonbridgelobster.com