In-N-Out Burger's Founding Mother

Womantraveler Esther Synder, the founder of the cult favorite In-N-Out Burger, has died at 86, and we remember her this week. Whether you grew up in the post-World War II drive-through hamburger craze or have been indoctrinated more recently, this West Coast alternative to Big Macs, etc., since 1948 has been scoring as the best burger (and, I'm reluctant to admit, best fries). There are many locations, with modern versions of carhops, including an In-N-Out Burger just 5 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 9149 S. Sepulveda Blvd.

And for another taste plus '60s nostalgia, stop at the In-and-Out off Highway 101 north of San Francisco at 798 Redwood Hwy. in Mill Valley. Then drive 10 minutes north to San Rafael -- where director George Lucas used the main street (4th Street) as the 1962 American Graffiti set and the nightly auto cruising to and from Mel's Drive-In. That's the way it really was in San Rafael when Lucas was growing up in the area, and the landmark renovated Rafael movie theater is a popular destination for independent films.