In the past few years, I’ve started hearing more about Buc-ee’s. They’ve crept farther east and north recently, so we finally had a chance to visit one. Wow, what an experience!
Buc-ee’s is a Texas-based travel center named for its beaver mascot. It’s part country store, part gas station, and all Texas! We found this travel center in Florida, though they’re starting to spring up in South Carolina, too. Hopefully we’ll have one within a couple hundred miles in the next few years.
I’d heard mostly about the amazing food, so we arrived hungry. I didn’t realize there was so much more. I was not prepared with the size or scope of these travel centers.
Let’s be honest, I never thought I’d ever be writing about a gas station with any measure of excitement!
There were just too many foods to try, but with five in our family, we made a good dent in the menu at Buc-ee’s! We tried barbecue sandwiches, brisket sandwiches, fries, handmade chips, jalapeño bread, cinnamon pecans, kolaches, and, of course, beaver nuggets.
The barbecue sandwich was made and wrapped right in front of me. I scooped it up right before checkout, so it was hot, fresh, and delicious! There was just the right level of sweetness in the sauce. My husband had a brisket sandwich which was also good. He said that he believes it’s the best brisket sandwich he’s ever had!
The chips and fries were both good. Given the choice, I’d opt for chips since I don’t get a chance to have handmade chips very often.
The jalapeño bread was pre-packaged (though presumably made on-site) and it was quite good, though it had a lot of jalapeños. I ended up eating that mini loaf by myself as the jalapeño flavor was too much for the rest of my family.
Cinnamon pecans are one of my favorite indulgences and Buc-ee’s did them right!
The bakery offerings are also expansive and we had a difficult time choosing. While the giant cinnamon buns looked good, we decided on the kolaches, a Czech pastry that is a Buc-ee’s specialty. It’s available with both sweet and savory fillings. We chose sweet, opting for cherry and strawberry cream cheese kolaches.
They were amazing! The bread itself is more like a roll and not as sweet as expected, though quite good. If we had known what to expect (and weren’t trying to taste one of everything), we’d have packed up a few to bring home.
I love a fountain soda and Buc-ee’s had me covered! In addition to classic favorites (like Dr. Pepper), we found black cherry, cream soda, and sarsaparilla sodas on tap. It was a delight and the kids really enjoyed trying some of our old favorites.
On our way out, we grabbed a bag of beaver nuggets — sweetened curls of puffed corn –to snack on later. We didn’t get around to them until two days later. When I popped the bag open so that we could give them a try, we couldn’t stop eating them and finished the whole bag on the spot!
We were disappointed to miss the fudge, which we didn’t know was a must-have until we’d passed the last Buc-ee’s. We’ll also be sure to hit the jerky bar next time!
The country store takes up half of the shop, offering home décor, travel necessities, staples for grilling and outdoor recreation, and even some seasonal merchandise. We had a good time browsing before we ate. Next time, I’ll be sure to pick up some branded gear!
Plan Your Visit
Buc-ee’s Travel Centers
locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Texas
(coming soon: South Carolina)
