When I was talking to my wandering parents a few days ago, I suggested that they look for Wall Drug while in South Dakota. Wall Drug, which I read about in books by Bill Bryson and Dave Barry, among other places (it even has an entry on Wikipedia), is a drug store that metamorphosed over the years into a mall-sized roadside tourist attraction, advertised by billboards starting hundreds of miles away.

Well, I talked to my parents tonight, and they have had the Wall Drug experience. I’m so jealous.

According to the company’s web site, they got started in the great depression by offering travelers free ice water; according to Dad, the various billboards offer 5 cent coffee to everyone, and free coffee and donuts to hunters, veterans and other groups.