From Virginia to Vegas: Taking the Scenic Route Into 2026

Fueled by flavor: Miles, memories and must-try meals on an (almost) coast to coast road trip.

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Are travel plans on your 2026 bucket list? If your idea of adventure involves snacks, playlists and interesting (and some questionable) wayside stops—may we suggest a road trip?

With two weeks of vacation and a reliable sense of optimism, we set out on a cross-country drive a few months back, from Virginia to Las Vegas. The plan was simple: See some sights, get in some hiking, spend time with friends and family and sample local dining as much as possible along the way. Stops included Memphis, Little Rock, Amarillo, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe and Sedona before we finally rolled into Las Vegas.

Here are a few highlights and lessons learned from the road.

Day 1: Virginia to Memphis (881 miles): Our first day of driving, we started out at 5 a.m. and drove more than 13 hours to Memphis. I would not recommend getting up that early unless you’re typically an early riser! We were pretty sleepy during the morning part of the drive. What helps is a great playlist. We opted for The Beatles. When we weren’t singing along with John, Paul, George and Ringo, other audio options included solving mysteries (“Dateline”) or catching up on sports (“The Herd: With Colin Cowherd.")

We brought along snacks and drinks in a handy Yeti cooler to keep from making too many stops. The rain that fell halfway across Tennessee probably added to the sleepy drive. But we began to perk up once the clouds parted.

We pulled up to the Peabody Hotel around dinnertime. The iconic landmark dates to 1925 (an earlier version of the hotel opened in 1869); the best part of the hotel is the marble lobby, dubbed “the living room of the South” and was designed in an Italian Renaissance style by Chicago architect Walter Ahschlager. It is a beautiful and lively spot. We dined at the bustling (and very convenient) Capriccio Grill Italian Steakhouse at the hotel. After a long drive, we just wanted to stretch, check out the hotel and get some dinner. We opted for the delicious calamari appetizer and salmon entrees.

The more upscale restaurant on the property is Chez Philippe, which is a Forbes four-star, AAA Four-Diamond eatery. Although Capriccio gets pretty good reviews for its food and service, and the hotel for its overall ambiance, some reviews cite the eatery’s outdated appearance. It gets 3.2 stars out of 5 on Yelp. If you’re determined to try some Memphis BBQ, Southern Living suggests A&R Bar-B-Que, Cozy Corner BBQ and Charlie Vergoes Rendezvous.

Day 2: Memphis to Little Rock (137 miles): After a relaxing stay at the Peabody, we packed up our things (and yes, the ducks were marching their way to the lobby fountain on cue at 11 a.m. as we left and it was quite a circus; they head back to their penthouse each day at 5 p.m.) and headed to Graceland; we enjoyed seeing where “the King” lived, especially the rooms frozen in a 1970s time warp.

The pasture area out back with grazing horses was peaceful and the burial area that now includes daughter Lisa Marie and her son Benjamin, feels a bit strange near the pool; Elvis' body was moved to Graceland 11 days after his original burial in 1977 at Forest Hill Cemetery, after an attempt to steal his body there, according to the Daily Memphian. We especially enjoyed seeing Elvis’s car collection, housed across the street from Graceland. Tickets start at about $50 each.

Afterward, we headed to lunch with a college friend and her husband at a sophisticated family-run hidden gem called Libro, a restaurant within the Laurelwood shopping center bookstore Novel, about a 20-minute drive from Graceland. It’s a great stop for book-lovers and a relaxing spot for a casual lunch. You find the restaurant by weaving through the bookstore. Excellent food, surroundings and company! The restaurant gets 4.2 stars out of 5 from Yelp.

After lunch, we were off to cross the Mississippi River into Arkansas, for an easy two-hour drive to Little Rock. After a stop to see my first apartment in the Hillcrest Historic District neighborhood (where I paid $250 a month back in the ‘80s for my place at the Spanish Court apartments, originally built in the 1920s) we checked into our hotel, The Burgundy, where you can earn Hilton points.

We visited with family later at The Faded Rose, a family-run establishment in business for 44 years (and very busy on a Saturday night!). We loved the gumbo and the legendary Rose’s Creole Soaked Salad with chopped green olives. The Faded Rose gets 4 out of 5 stars on Yelp. Another dining choice if you stay at The Burgundy is the hotel restaurant, Table 28, which LoveFood.com names as the best hotel restaurant in The Natural State and has 4.2 out of 5 stars on Yelp.

Another great casual stop in Little Rock is Jimmy’s Serious Sandwiches, which has been around for 46 years and is where you can try the award-winning “The Garden” sandwich which includes Swiss, cheddar and provolone cheese, mushrooms, sunflower seeds and a spinach pâté on pumpernickel bread. The sandwich shop gets 3.9 out of 5 stars on Yelp.

If you have more time, be sure to stop by the William J. Clinton President Library & Museum, as well as the Old Statehouse (where Clinton announced his run for the presidency Oct. 3, 1991), Capital Hotel (built in 1872) and the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, which saw a $150 million renovation two years ago.

Day 3: Little Rock to Amarillo (596 miles): After a full breakfast at The Burgundy, we were off to Amarillo, Texas. The wide open spaces on the drive were dotted with wind turbines as far as the eye could see. The area is home to about 11,000 of them. Our dinner stop was the iconic The Big Texan Steak Ranch, which admittedly is something of a tourist trap but we had to check out this iconic spot that got its start in 1960.

The place is huge (it can seat about 500 diners) and there was a line to get in, but we waited and headed through a giant packed room to our booth. We decided against trying to win a free meal by devouring a 72-ounce steak in an hour (along with one dinner roll, three fried shrimp, one baked potato and a dinner salad) and instead, went with the Spicy BBQ Quesadillas. Delicious! We also grabbed some Big Texas steak seasoning to take home from the gift shop. Yelpers give this place 3.4 out of 5 stars on Yelp.

Days 4-9: Amarillo to Rio Rancho, N.M. (299 miles): After a good night’s rest at a Marriott in Amarillo, we headed for Rio Rancho, north of Albuquerque. Some of the highlights (in addition to lots of family activities) during our stay included dinner at El Pinto Restaurant & Cantina, voted Best New Mexican Restaurant in Albuquerque. Here you can order green or red (or both) tamales or enchiladas and order from more than 175 tequilas (we had to try the margaritas and they were great).

The restaurant sources their own eggs at their own “Hen Hotel” laying hen property. The family-owned restaurant got its start in 1962 with one room and now seats 1,200 and still uses recipes from co-founder Connie Thomas’ grandmother. The restaurant has expansive patios for outdoor seating and often features live music. You can purchase El Pinto’s salsa and even become a member of the restaurant’s monthly salsa club. Yelp reviews rate this restaurant 3.4 stars out of 5.

Another culinary highlight in Albuquerque was visiting Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm. The venue is known for its organic lavender fields and has earned two Michelin Keys for its sense of place. We made a reservation at the inn’s Campo restaurant for brunch and made time to enjoy the property before dining. The breakfast was delicious, kicking off with a signature Lavender Latte made with Los Poblanos’ own lavender syrup. The Eggs Benedict and Farm Breakfast were perfect.

I discovered “The Gardens of Los Poblanos,” a book about the property by author Judith Phillips, at the gift shop on site. Starting this year, breakfast at Campo, from Monday to Wednesday, is for lodging guests only; it's open to the public for brunch Thursday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Campo gets 4.2 out of 5 stars on Yelp. The restaurant has earned numerous nods from the James Beard Foundation.

Before heading further west, we took a day trip to visit Santa Fe, just 56 miles northeast of Rio Rancho. We strolled through Santa Fe Plaza, which is near the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi; Cathedral Park is adjacent to the church and is a welcoming spot to relax on a bench during your walk around town. We stopped at James Beard award-winning restaurant, The Shed, for lunch and were seated at a table on the flagstone patio. The Shed dates to 1953 and is known for its red Chile enchiladas, blue corn specialties and margaritas. The red Chile enchiladas were muy deliciouso. The Shed earns 3.9 out of 5 stars from Yelpers.

Days 10-13: Rio Rancho to Sedona (359 miles): Sedona, Arizona is a five-and-a-half hour drive from Rio Rancho. Once we reached Flagstaff, it was a beautiful drive to Sedona as we wound through hairpin turns on the Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive. Sedona was a highlight of the trip with its beautiful Red Rock views, hikes and amazing restaurants. After checking in at the Courtyard by Sedona, we headed to Elote for dinner.

Red Rock Views in Sedona

We discovered Elote (meaning “fire-roasted corn’ in Spanish) restaurant has received rave reviews, but we weren’t prepared to be completely bowled over. My husband noted it was the best Mexican food he has ever had. The menu offerings are a fusion of modern Mexican and Southwestern cuisine, thanks to the creative direction of Chef‑Owner Jeff Smedstad, who has been nominated for numerous James Beard awards.

Smedstad draws on decades of travel in southern Mexico—places like Oaxaca, Veracruz and Puebla—plus his Arizona roots, to craft a menu that is both authentic and inventive. Many ingredients are sourced locally and seasonally, and the drink menu features standout tequilas, mezcal and cocktails. Due to its popularity, reservations are highly recommended; many visitors say the wait can be long otherwise. When visiting Sedona, be sure to try one of Elote’s signature dishes, smoked brisket and the elote appetizer, a hot Mexican corn dip.

Other terrific restaurants we tried in Sedona were The Hudson, owned by Executive Chef Jeff Storcz, which has great views with seating both inside and outside; it was pretty warm in August so we sat inside at a large booth and tried the blackened swordfish and ahi tuna sandwiches and got great service from our waiter. Later we stepped outside to check out the gorgeous views.

On our last night in Sedona, after a swim at the hotel, we celebrated our wedding anniversary at Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill which has amazing views of the Red Rocks from its perch atop a bluff off the beaten path. The eatery was designed by Chef Lisa Dahl, a Sedona restaurateur with her hands in six local eateries. As you approach Mariposa, you’ll be greeted by an impressive, handcrafted 1,000-pound door, designed by gemstone artist Zee Haag.

Once inside, diners are treated to Red Rock views through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The menu feature bold flavors from a wood-fired grill and wood-burning oven. The Grilled Skirt Steak, charred and served over frijoles negros accompanied by rosemary-roasted potatoes, house chimichurri, pico de Gallo with three-seed cilantro sauce. Be sure to make reservations.

In Sedona, we got a flat tire on our way to our second day of hiking; we limped into a local service center and they had us up and running again in a few hours after patching the tire. (This is our third flat tire on vacation — others occurred in Maine and Hawaii, where we hit some lava rock; I had a blowout in the Keys on a girlfriends' getaway.)

Days 14-16: Sedona, Arizona to Las Vegas (283 miles): We pulled up to the Palazzo at the Venetian Resort when the temperature was well past 100 degrees. Luckily, it was not only a dry heat, but you’ll find plenty of swimming pools and indoor activities around town including the epic Sphere, where some of the shows coming up in 2026 include The Eagles, Backstreet Boys, No Doubt, Kenny Chesney, Phish and “The Wizard of Oz.”

Although we had high hopes of hitting some major restaurants in Las Vegas, we settled on convenience, opting for a pizza restaurant while visiting relatives and having a wonderful home-cooked meal in their home on another night.

But if Vegas is on your 2026 bucket list, go for these top Vegas eateries, named to Yelp’s Top 100, nationally:

Next stop for me? Harry Reid International Airport, time to return to work. After dropping me off, my (retired) husband headed for home with stops in Zion National Park in Utah, then onto Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky and finally, Virginia.

Here's to all of your adventures in 2026. Safe travels!

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