Rev Your Engines: 7 Great Outings for Car-Crazy Kids (and Dads!)

At Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In, you can order a burger the size of a dinner plate, with a fountain drink in a personal pitcher. The sign on the door clearly warns, “Nothing you eat or drink here is good for you.” Fair enough.

The restaurant’s interior is plastered with pictures of cars and car memorabilia. Outside, Triple XXX hosts some 25 car shows a year, pretty much one every weekend over the warmer months. The combination of fun cars and artery-clogging diner fare is alluring. Check the Triple XXX Rootbeer event schedule for show dates and themes. One of the summer’s biggest events, Fenders on Front Street, is a free vintage car show on Father’s Day, June 18.

When we visited a Triple XXX car show, we saw a few other kids, but the scene was more “college spring break in Florida” than “family picnic.” The crowd was mostly guys in their 20s, with clouds of cigarette smoke and dogs everywhere. A car gunned its engine — VRRRRRR! — and even the DJ snickered into his microphone, “Don’t be that guy.” My son was excited to see a tricked-out purple car creeping down the street. There are cars of all shapes and colors waiting to be admired here.

Where: 98 N.E. Gilman Blvd., Issaquah

Cost: Free to look at cars outside; a basic cheeseburger is $9.75, but most burgers come with fries and start at $15; (no credit or debit cards accepted; cash or in-state checks accepted; ATM on site).

Next stop: Greenwood Car Show

^{Image credit: John Gately/Flickr CC}