I’m a Food Writer Who Drives 3 Hours to Buc-ees, Here’s Why I Think It’s Worth the Trip

The chain has a loyal following for a reason.

There’s nothing quite like the anticipation I feel when pulling into a Buc-ee’s parking lot. The convenience store chain is known for its food and snacks, from melt-in-your mouth brisket to a top-notch dried fruit selection.

I’m not the only Buc-ee’s fan out there: Since the first store opened in Texas in 1982, there are now nearly 50 locations across Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Missouri and Tennessee.

Sadly for me, the closest Buc-ee’s to my Florida home is a 90-minute drive away, but that doesn’t stop me from making the three-hour round-trip drive a few times a year to stock up on treats that are only available at the chain.

While I’m there, I refill my gas tank (they have dozens and dozens of gas pumps) and shop for Buc-ee’s merchandise, something that’s gained quite a fan following as well. My neighbors proudly display an inflatable Buc-ee’s beaver on their front lawn during the holidays, and I own Buc-ee’s T-shirts for holidays ranging from Christmas to Valentine’s Day.

But back to the food. Wondering what I stock up on my Buc-ee’s road trip? Here are seven food-writer-approved snacks I think you should look for when you visit.

1. Crunchy Snacks

While Buc-ee’s is full of crunchy snacks I can’t get enough of, there are two I can’t leave the store without. First is Beaver Nuggets. The snack is simple—puffed corn tossed in a buttery brown sugar coating—and the blend of salty and sweet can’t be beat. My other favorite is the potato chips, made fresh in-house. There’s nothing quite like freshly made potato chips and, since they are way better than anything you can buy in a bag off the shelf, I always bring some home with me.

Related: 9 Snack Recipes For When You're Craving A Crunch

2. Fresh Salads

While their shelf life is short, I always stock up on freshly prepared salads at Buc-ee’s. Two of my favorites are the chicken Caesar salad and the Southwest salad with a tangy lime dressing spiked with ancho chile. Several of the salads come in wrap form too, including the Caesar, as well as another favorite of mine, chicken salad studded with cranberries and pecans. I also bring a container of their more-plain chicken salad to snack on throughout the week.

3. Brisket

If you didn’t walk through Buc-ee’s snacking on a fresh brisket sandwich, did you even go there? I typically time my visit so I’m pulling into the parking lot at lunchtime, so I can dig into one of the chain’s delicious sandwiches, packed with brisket smoked for at least 12 hours on-site. Buc-ee’s employees chop the brisket while shoppers watch, and you can also buy the tasty smoked meat by the pound to take home with you.

4. Beef Jerky

Another meat product with a loyal following is the jerky. While you can grab bags of it from the store shelves, I head to the meat counter to buy it by the pound. Aside from being able to buy just the amount as I want, I can also taste-test the 20 or so different varieties, which is how I’ve found some of my favorite flavors like Bohemian Garlic and Korean BBQ.

Related: The 10 Best High-Protein Snacks at Walmart, According to Dietitians

5. Snack Cups

Another category I fill my cart with is Buc-ee’s snack cups. Packed with pretzels, cheese cubes and delights like venison sausage or peppered turkey, they’re a great protein-rich snack to have at home for on-the-go meals. If you’re hoping to take more than a cupful home, Buc-ee’s also sells trays of similar combos.

6. Dried Fruit

I love snacking on dried fruit, and Buc-ee’s is a great place to stock up on every type, from banana chips to dehydrated mango slices. In the vast dried-fruit section, you’ll also find treats like chocolate-covered raisins and wasabi peas, so this section of the store is a great place to stock up on snacks that can be eaten as-is or tossed into homemade trail mix.

Related: Can You Eat Dried Fruit If You Have Diabetes?

7. Cinnamon-Glazed Cashews

The last thing I always grab before I check out is these cinnamon-glazed cashews, which are roasted in-house and served up fresh and hot every day. These delicious nuts are not only a source of protein, but they’re also a little bit sweet, so they are one of my favorite things to snack on while making the return trip home. If hot nuts aren’t your thing, or you’re looking for something that’ll keep a little longer in your pantry, the chain also sells plenty of other seasoned bagged nuts on its shelves, like Piña Colada Pecans and Dark Chocolate Almonds.

Related: What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Nuts Every Day

Read the original article on Eating Well.