I drove five hours for Zaxby’s 

Yes, you read that right — no need to adjust your glasses or computer screen.

A few columns ago, I wrote a love letter to Popeyes. But honestly, I didn’t know any better living in Colorado. While their chicken sandwich may reign supreme, my favorite chicken chain is actually Zaxby’s.

In a town full of chain restaurants and standard food options, we surprisingly didn’t have a Zaxby’s in Colorado.

Not. One. Single. Location.

Zaxby’s absence was confirmed for me at KREX 5 News. One of our anchors moved from Georgia and told me how much he missed Zaxby’s. 

I had no idea what a Zaxby was. I looked it up on my phone and the only thing I could muster up was, “Their logo looks like the chicken from ‘Surf’s Up.’” (It didn’t; I’m just clueless about pop culture. The logo looks much more like Foghorn Leghorn.)

My interaction with the new anchor planted a seed that would grow into an unforgettable experience. 

My husband, Devon, and I met sometime later and started dating a few months later. (He wasn’t the anchor.) I knew he moved to Colorado from Georgia early on, and we had talked about regional chains like Cook Out and Krystal, but never Zaxby’s.

One day, we were hanging out at his house. It was a pretty average Friday. We had the day off and were lazing on the couch watching TV.

I’m not entirely sure where the topic came from, but I once again talked about Zaxby’s. Is there a term describing a longing for something you’ve never had? Limerence, maybe? No, limerence is an intense crush that is unreciprocated. 

Maybe limerence does describe it. I was smitten with Zaxby’s (sorry, Devon.) I needed to try it. 

So I asked Devon, “Where is the closest Zaxby’s?”

“Looks like Salt Lake City,” he replied.

“That’s five hours away. Who would drive five hours for Zaxby’s?” I questioned.

Apparently, I would. 

“Let’s go,” I said.

I sprang into action and packed a duffel bag. We planned to drive to Salt Lake City, eat at Zaxby’s, stay overnight, and then go home in the morning.

Devon took the driver role, while I was the faithful navigator with impeccable taste in road trip music and snacks. (But not too many snacks; I didn’t want to spoil my dinner.)

After an uneventful journey up, we stopped at one of the three locations in town. I can’t remember exactly what I ordered, but I know it was delicious. The taste of Zaxby’s was everything I had imagined and more.

We took it back to our hotel room, had a romantic candlelit dinner (ok, maybe not candlelit) and I went into a food coma. 

The next day, my husband and I talked about the city over breakfast. Although I had visited a few times, my husband had never been to Salt Lake City.

So, I had to take him to see the sights. That day, we visited the Mormon Temple, found a hipster coffee shop, checked out a local art museum, and visited Dreamscapes, an immersive art experience.

By the time we had finished sightseeing, it was getting late. So we begged the hotel for another night and made an impulse trip to the aquarium the next day. 

We were the only couple without kids, but we didn’t mind. He was delighted seeing the sharks and I saw my all-time favorite animals: jellyfish and octopuses.

Our final stop on our journey was a unique roadside attraction in Green River, Utah. For the sake of keeping this a family paper, I won’t say the actual name, but if you are curious, search “Green River jerky store” on Google. You’ll know it by its very tacky outer space theme. It was a bizarre yet fascinating place, filled with alien-themed decor and a wide variety of jerky flavors.

Ultimately, our impromptu road trip to satisfy my craving for Zaxby’s became an incredible adventure. It was a journey filled with good food, new experiences, and unforgettable memories with my now husband. It’s funny how a simple conversation about a commonplace chicken chain led to such a delightful venture. 

As we made our way home, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the spontaneous decision and the cherished moments we shared. Who knew a craving for Zaxby’s could turn into a trip filled with love, laughter, and unexpected discoveries?