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Family Roadtrip: Barbecue country

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Not long before we left for our vacation, someone asked me if we would be looking for diners on our journey. I replied, "Down South, I ain't looking for diners. I'm looking for barbecue!" And yes, I even added a little twang for emphasis. Let's face it: No one does diners better than my Northeastern brethren. Don't even try to argue with me. Barbecue is another matter. Yes, I can point you to some excellent joints in New York or Massachusetts or even Philadelphia, but finding a good, down home, wood-fired pit comes about as easy as a Phillies post season win. I regret that I haven't spent more time in the region hunting down the better examples, but I notice -- with some chagrin -- that the South has a number of regional barbecue chains. That speaks volumes for the prevalence of the cuisine and its acceptance as a form of family dining. Up north, it seems that true barbecue remains a special treat and something of an anomaly. New England certainly has its share of great seafood restaurants, but you might not go to a chain for the best available. Few such chains really exist, though you'll find an exception in Legal Seafood. Other than that, bupkis. We made one stop on the second day of the trip at a place that qualifies as a joint, but not before passing by a place that had some real promise.