The kind of thing the media will never tell you.
With the World Cup underway here in America, a lot of visitors have discovered that the country isn’t anything like what they’ve seen on the news and in the media. Tourists from all over the world have been praising the United States for the natural beauty and hospitality they’ve experienced while visiting the country.
One German fan recently went viral after describing his experience, explaining that he was initially a little skeptical but found the country to be nothing but welcoming:
“I fell in love with this country and this was so emotional, I even cried in the stadium. To be honest, I was a bit scared or had a fear to travel to the United States. News about shootings and criminals and that the country is not safe.”
And one couple from Ireland, who wasn’t here for the World Cup but found themselves vacationing in the United States last month, apparently had the same experience thanks to some southern hospitality.
Scott Young and Amy Jane Dinsmore, who have over 30,000 subscribers on their YouTube channel, documented their travels as they decided to venture off the beaten path for this trip and away from the big cities to experience small town America. And at one point their travels led them to Scottsboro, Alabama, where they got a taste of the real America thanks to a restaurant called the Liberty Restaurant & Diner.
The restaurant looks exactly like what you’d want your small town diner to look like, complete with ads for local businesses on the table and decor that may or may not have been updated since the place opened. You’re probably picturing a place like it in your mind, and chances are, you’re spot on.
Once they got inside, Scott and Amy Jane couldn’t get over the hospitality from not only their waitress but the entire staff – and they got the full southern experience as the waitress even called Amy “baby.”
“She just sounds like Ella Langley. That’s so nice.”
(They also revealed during the video that they’re fans of the Red Clay Strays, so it sounds like they’ve already discovered some of the best that Alabama has to offer).
And at one point, Amy wasn’t able to hold back her tears at all the kindness they received:
“I don’t want to leave Alabama now.”
Of course if there’s anything better than the people in the south, it’s the food, which the couple quickly discovered as they got their meals of fried catfish, fried chicken, cornbread and hush puppies (which the waitress had to describe to Scott as he tried them for the first time).
When it came time for dessert though, not only did the waitress bring each of them their preferred dishes of banana pudding (which also blew them both away) and chocolate cobbler, but she also brought them a strawberry punch bowl cake that looked incredible to try on the house.
Throughout the meal, staff continued to come and check on the couple and ask about their travels, and at one point someone even brought over a magnet for them to take back home to remember their vacation by. It would quickly turn into one they wouldn’t forget though, when the owner Barry Nichols came over to chat – and when they went to pay, informed the couple that their meal was taken care of.
Amy immediately took to social media to share her experience, calling it “the best restaurant experience that we’ll probably ever have,” and praising not only the Liberty Restaurant & Diner but all of the hospitality they received on their trip. And Scott said while they were initially nervous
“I feel like I’m starting to feel more at home here. I think whenever you first come somewhere new, you are kind of like – you don’t know the people, you don’t know the culture, you don’t know what to expect. But now that we’ve been here a while and met a load of friendly people, I’m starting to feel more relaxed and like, ‘Oh, all the people here are chill and friendly and it is nice.'”
Of course anybody from the south will tell you that their experience isn’t out of the ordinary: Walk in any diner in any small town in the south and you’re going to get the same southern hospitality, the same friendly service, and of course the same great food. It seems like the only people who are surprised are those in the media who already look down on the south anyway, which is why you never hear about how warm and welcoming it is.
Scott and Amy Jane were even asked to sign the wall of the restaurant before they left, and since posting their videos the Liberty Restaurant has been flooded with positive reviews and folks promising to stop in and visit for themselves.
The Irish couple say they hope to return to America in the fall, and I have a feeling that Scottsboro, Alabama might just be on their itinerary for their next trip.
Why go to New York or Vegas when you can experience that southern hospitality?
