That is nuts, yes nuts!

Where would we be without peanut butter? Who doesn't love a handful of peanuts on occasion?  Did you know that 50% of American peanuts we enjoy so much are harvested within a 100-mile radius of the City of Dothan?  Dothan claims to be the 'Peanut Capital of the World'.  This draws me in to take a drive to the southeastern corner of the state to see what all the hype is about.  Today will be my last road trip in Alabama.  I hope it will be a good one. 

Entering Dothan, it is little obvious they are super confident in their claim holding an annual National Peanut Festival - a little nutty?  Well, it does attract over 200,000!  As you drive through the streets, huge child-size peanuts are waving to you.  

There are over 40 of these fun shell people to find.  Go to the visitor center to get a map so you can get the full 'spread' of their locations.  Each one has its own unique personality.  The entire morning, I am driving up and down streets, through alleys, and into parking lots as I just can't get enough of these 'shelled' characters.  

As I am going 'nuts' searching for these peanuts, I begin noticing many huge murals on sides of buildings. A local tells me there are 19 murals within an eight-block radius and with each mural is a unique story to be told.  In my travels I have seen a lot of murals, but there is something different about these.  This one definitely grabbed my attention.

The story goes like this - In 1889, the city tried to impose a tax on commercial carts.  The locals went to the streets and a huge riot broke out on Main Street (exact spot of this mural).  Marshall Toby was one of the instigators.  Many folks today say the ghost of Marshall Tucker still patrols the streets, late evenings, trying to keep them safe. 

During the War of 1812, many soldiers were taken by malaria and dysentery. An outdoor care center, Camp Recovery, was built to separate the sick soldiers from the healthy soldier.  As I view this most unusual mural, I find my eyes being drawn to the left corner where a man is offering a cup to very sick man.

As I am about to depart from Alabama, I realize one thing I have missed.  A certain meal all Alabamans know too well - Meat and Three.

I remember reading that there is a restaurant, on the outskirts of Dothan, which has won the the award, 'States Best Meat and Three'.  Oh, I have to make one more stop!

I grab a red plastic tray and get in line at the school-like cafeteria style buffet.  My meat - easy - fried chicken, of course.  My 3 sides, well that gets a bit more complicated with so many southern options.  I am told by multiple staff members to get the cabbage and mac n' cheese.  I stop at the desserts and smile spotting banana bread pudding.  

As I gather and eat the crunchy crumbs, which fell to my plate earlier from the fried chicken coating, I smile knowing what I am about to do next.  I looked around, as I don't want to be seen to do what I am about to do.   I pick up my Styrofoam banana bread pudding bowl and begin licking the entire inside. As I set it down, I smile realizing, in that moment, I returned to my childhood. As I leave the store, the owners Zack and Diane ask me if I enjoyed my meal.  Zack walks me over to a wall where there are over 25 awards for their restaurant.  Zack tells me the biggest honor was, 'Businessman of the Year' award.  His last comment to me is asking how many meals I think they served today between the hours of 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Zach smiles and humbly says, "Over 600 lunches in 4 hours".  

My last day in Alabama goes out in style!  Dothan is a city worth the visit for so many reasons, including feasting at Zacks Restaurant.  In my 13 states of traveling so far, this lunch is one of my top 10 meals I experienced - yes it was an experience.  By the way - Why did the man smear peanut butter all over the highway? To go with the Traffic Jam! Haha!