supermarkets

Supermarkets, Snacks, Picnics and Soft Drinks in the USA and Canada

Supermarkets are usually very much cheaper sources for these items than vending machines in motels.

Crisps

Extremely large packets of crisps are available and these usually offer the best value for money. Plastic spring clips, called Chip Clips, can be used to re-seal these bags and are widely available at supermarkets for very reasonable prices.

Many of the best known brands of potato crisps in the USA and Canada, such as Lays (also called Frito-Lay) tend to be considerably lighter and crisper than is the norm for crisps in Britain.

Besides all the different flavours of potato crisps, a huge range of nacho crisps are available. These are made from corn tortillas and so have the same basic taste as taco shells, although they tend to be a little thicker and many varieties come in different flavours.

Soft Drinks

On the subject of soft drinks, which due to the heat you're likely to consume a fair amount of, most of the US fast food chains will now give you one free refill which you are entirely at liberty to take out with you when you leave. Some fast food chains such as Taco Bell have self-service bars for the dispensing of soft drinks, so providing customers with the option of endless free refills. One wonders why these chains then offer soft drinks in different sizes - I suppose it does limit how much you can take with you on your final fill-up before leaving. Most of the family steakhouse chains such as the Golden Corral give endless free refills, but because these are served in their own plastic "glasses" you can't take a drink with you when you leave. Don't be afraid of making the most of these free refills - everyone else does.

Convenience stores such as 7-Eleven sell soft drinks, often at quite reasonable prices. 7-Eleven feature a huge size of soft drink, called a "Big Gulp"! Convenience stores are often cheap sources of petrol, but for most grocery items they are much more expensive than supermarkets.

Many cars have devices for holding soft drink cans and the waxed paper soft drink cups used by fast food restaurants. These tend to be ingenious bits of machinery which unfold and fold away as required, often from the central front bench seat folding seat arm, which also provides a place for storing audio cassettes, etc.