Rave Review....Of a Toilet?
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86875)
United States
February 2, 2021 12:15pm CST
Here’s something you just won’t find on Trip Advisor: a rave review of a rest stop.
Hey, a toilet’s a toilet! (Unless you visit Asia, then they’re I don’t know what....NOT western toilets, I’ll put it that way.)
True, but in this case I’m going to discuss what surrounded the toilet. The Chambers County Rest Area on I-10 in eastern Texas, to be precise.
Sure, everything’s bigger in Texas, but bigger isn’t always better. While this wasn’t the “biggest,” it sure was great. Restrooms, of course, and tables with USB plugs.
Then outside, there was a miniature nature preserve! An elevated walkway (this is Texas, and there are gators) path went through the area, marked with a number of signs indicating what type of wildlife might be viewed during the stop. A list of birds, including the migratory visitors, plants, and animals were detailed with photos on signs throughout the walking path.
And yes, that also included snakes. Two of the poisonous snakes — copperheads and coral snakes — might make an appearance at the rest area. No, I did not wait for the appearance, I just took the sign’s word for it.
So after a pleasant walk around the nature trail, a nap, and use of the facilities, I was back on the road.
There are some standout rest areas in the country. This was definitely one of them.
12 people like this
11 responses
@prinzcy (32299)
• Malaysia
3 Feb 21
@FourWalls never would I imagine people interested of taking picture of a toilet
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
3 Feb 21
My former boss showed me photos from his trip to China, and he said he told his translator he hoped they wouldn’t think something was “wrong” because he wanted to take a photo of the toilet. The translator said most westerners DO want to take photos of the toilets because they’ve never seen a toilet like it before.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Feb 21
@FourWalls They are in our airports now and I've even seen one in a coastal town. Some of our tourist destinations get a LOT of Asian tourists.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Feb 21
There's one in either VA or W. VA (I can't remember which) that has a large shop for artsy fartsy stuff, a couple of restaurants and of course the toilets.
The only thing I really need in a rest stop is a toilet and enough room to stretch my legs. Though I guess the all the critters (with the exception of the snakes) would be nice to come across.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
2 Feb 21
I think they’re adapting to the modern traveler. There are people who car camp, so some of the rest areas provide “extras,” and that includes nighttime security for the people sleeping in their cars. When I started this trip I posted a picture of the mock-up of a Saturn V rocket at the welcome center in Alabama. I do like the unique ones that have a regional feel.
And yes, sometimes all you need is a place to pee. 
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Feb 21
@FourWalls It makes sense to adapt. Like you mentioned the USB ports. I guess it can create revenue for the state too since rest areas are state funded.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209169)
• United States
2 Feb 21
That sounds like a good one..I noticed several of the stops out west featured wifi and some neat designs. I would have loved to have discovered the little nature preserve though.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
3 Feb 21
The one with the waterfall urinal? Haven’t been there. I did read they let women go in and see it....
@wolfgirl569 (135992)
• Marion, Ohio
3 Feb 21
That would be a pleasant rest stop.
2 people like this
@xFiacre (14804)
• Ireland
2 Feb 21
@fourwalls I do like a good toilet, one that is fully functional and is securely anchored to the floor. Using unfamiliar facilities is often fraught with difficulty and alarm, and can lead to misadventure. I have a friend who, in a badly lit and unclean facility set his behind down and dropped his business onto a hornets nest. He did not remain sitting for long. It was inexcusable to laugh, but hey.
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (53005)
• Mojave, California
2 Feb 21
Haha , needed that sign for military. They were not scared of getting blown up but were scared going to bathroom in middle of the night. 
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (91169)
• United States
2 Feb 21
Sounds like a nice way to spend some time and stretch your legs (,in addition to using the facilities). Seeing that there are poisonous snakes would deter me from wandering too far.
2 people like this
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My favorite restroom was at the old Ritz hotel in Paris.
Happy you are enjoying the trip!
