America's Best Retro Escapes

Seattle: Dick’s Drive-In Restaurant

The Vibe: Built in 1954, the Wallingford neighborhood location is the earliest outpost of the quintessential drive-in chain. Loyalists of all ages come for drive-in classics like fresh burgers, hand-whipped shakes, and house-cut fries; in fact, that’s pretty much all that’s on the menu. There’s no customer seating, so in-car dining is part of the experience.

The Crowd: Burger snobs and toddlers find common ground at this award-winning (local publications have cited Dick’s for its Best Cheap Eats, Best Burger, Best Fast Food, Best Fries...the list goes on), kitschy kitchen.

Time-Travel Tip: Don’t try to ask for substitutions or omissions; the as-is attitude is part of the tradition.