As I get older I go out to eat less and less. I have realized cooking at home takes just as much time to wait for a waiter, wait for my order, and the wait to pay the bill, so unless it is for social reasons why bother. But with that there are plenty of wonderful flashback memories of taking my family out for the day. McDonald's and other fast food restaurants have amazing marketing strategy. Advertising that promise family fun and bonding with your kids lure the parents in, while little toys and an indoor gym grabs the kids... brilliant.

While I would not eat fast food often, they have definitely influenced our culture. The Golden Arches, Burger King and others have become symbols of Americana. I love looking vintage pictures of the iconic buildings and how they've changed over the years. And, Of course, I love to collect those little treasures that were sent home in every happy meal too.

Ashley as a tot at McD's:

A&W

Lighted print - Diner Art, "A&W, an American Tradition", in Casper, Wyoming RodShots $99.00	Vintage 1980 A&W Bear Stuffed Plush Teddy Bear 16" gifthorsevintage $45.00	Vintage advertising mug A&W Root Beer Child's Mug orange brown US states logo mug 70's KitchenStuffandSuch $18.00	Vintage A&W Root Beer Winter Knit Hat with Pom - Adult OSFA Rare 1970s - Vintage - Heavy Duty - Great Shape - Root Beer SouthLakeThreadsCom $14.99
Vintage A&W Family Restaurant "Rooty" Collector's Glass. TangerineFig $15.00	Reproduction A&W Root Beer Sign 14 Round mysigngarage $24.00	Vintage A&W Bear PuparooBros $20.00	Mini A&W Root Beer Mug OurLeftovers $7.00
Pinback Button Vintage A&W Pin Back Button 1980's Snowboard Teddies TreasureCoveAlly $3.00	Vintage A&W Root Beer Cream Soda Refrigerator Office Magnets TymelessTrinkets $14.00	Dexter A&W - Michigan ROOTartNarchitecture $100.00	Rooty Bear Vintage 1970s A&W Root Beer Plush Mascot Stuffed Animal Lot of 2 Stuckinthe80sVintage $39.99
Vintage A&W ROOTBEER Logo 80's Knit Winter Stocking Hat Pom Ski Cap Soda Pop PaddleDownTraders $30.00	Set of 3 Repurposed A&W Root Beer Clear Glass Filled Ornaments kellystreasures1 $22.00	Vintage a&w root beer bear halloween trick or treat bags OurFun $5.95	Set of Vintage A&W The Great Root Bear glasses HollyWouldFind $14.00

Dairy Queen

Photograph of a Vintage Dairy Queen sign in the Viileray neighborhood in Montreal DaneauPhoto $12.99	Vintage 1990 Dairy Queen Color Changing Spoon - DQ Dennis The Menace YesteryearShop $15.00	Dairy Queen Upcycled Toddler Pants (2T/3T) IttyBittyBottomsUp $15.00	15 dollar active valid Gift Card Inserted in your gift Taco Icecream Sub Fries and more Stashers $16.00
Dairy Queen Frosted Glasses - Set of 9 goodvintage $46.50	Vintage Dairy Queen Sign, Ice Cream Cone, Antique Sign, Advertisement, Architectural Photography, Sign Photo, Sign Print DavidMellenbruch $25.00	Vintage Dairy Queen Clicker / Noisemaker Promotional Ad & Toy NEfinds $30.00	Mid Century Modern, Neon Road Sign Photography, Wall Art, Just Desserts, Ice Cream, Red, Pink, Baby Blue, Retro, Chic 1950, Nursery Wall Art KaleidoscopePhoto $15.00
Dairy Queen Ice Cream Fridge Magnet BlueCrabMagnets $5.95	1980s Dairy Queen Googly Eyes JUNK FOOD Erasers Set of 3 therpsajik $1.25	Vintage DAIRY QUEEN (1970s) - Ice Cream Shop & Classic Buick - Reprint Photograph avail in size 8x10 - 11x14 - 16x20 Car Photo Picture Print PictureRelic $7.95	Vintage DAIRY QUEEN Logo 80's Knit Winter Stocking Hat Pom Ski Cap Ice Cream Restaurant PaddleDownTraders $28.00
Dairy queen notecard quicksnaps $4.00	Vintage Dairy Queen Ad FRIDGE MAGNET BandKMagnets $5.50	2 whistles. one in shape of oscar meyer weiner mobile and the other a Dairy Queen ice cream cone. small PreciousMemoriesToo $6.99	Fridge Magnet Dairy Queen advertisement illustration shows Restaurant and people eating ice cream RetroMagnifico $4.50

Wendy's

Where's the Beef Funny Custom Made T-Shirt TexasTeesEtc $20.00	Furskins Hattie Bear Mini Bear Doll Wendys 1986 - 7.5 Inches SaturdayMorningM $13.00	1982 World's Fair Glasses Mcdonald's Wendy's Promotionals ChapterThreeVintage $8.00	Furskins Bears Wendy's Promotion /Ferrell/ Hattie/ Appalachian Artworks Excellent Condition Price 4.00 Each GroovyGrannysAttic $5.00
Vintage Wendy's "Where's the Beef?" Mug GoshenGals $15.00	City Fast Food Hamburger Restaurant Open Late Model built with Real LEGO (R) Bricks ABSDistributors $95.00	VINTAGE--Boone Furskins Teddy Bear acraftingheart $7.75	Wendy's Keychain CreativeWiccy $5.00
Wendy's Matchbook Vintage Matches vintagejewelryalcove $5.50	Vintage Wendy's Where's the Beef Puffy Sticker \| Novelty 1984 \| Funny Weird Ironic Pieces of Flair 80s Pop Culture Paper Goods VintageDiehls $2.00	Wendy's Original Face Logo CavemanSigns $30.00	FURSKINS stuffed bear,Farrell Furskins bear,Vintage Wendy's Restaurant toy, Stuffed toy, vintage Plush Promotional Bear, vintage farmer bear TheJellyJar $9.95
All On A Sesame Seed Bun Shower Curtain sonsofwolves $70.00	Wendys "Where's the Beef?" Vintage Patch 1984 Ad TrunkMonkeyTavern $7.99	Where's The Beef WENDY'S Clara Peller Vintage Set of 2 Potholders Oven Mitts 1984 awesome80s $14.00	Thank You for Visiting Sign Wendy's Daysgonebytreasures $48.00

Burger King

Burger King Mascot Sign CavemanSigns $50.00	6 Burger King glasses from the 1980's tompkinsoriginal $10.00	Vintage Toys, Burger King Lickety Splits, Rolling Racer, Trio, Drink, Fries and Cheesburger, Food toys on wheels, 1989, Food Toys SunnyDaySupplies $7.95	Vintage Burger King Collectible Glass RetroAlleyVintage $5.00
Burger King Logo Iron On Embroidery Patch PandaSevenShop $1.89	Burger King: Large AntiquiTEES $14.00	Mark Twain Festival Summer Burger King Glasses (1985) RandysGallery $19.95	Burger King Lickety Split Kids Meal Complete Set 1989 kuniqueboutique $15.00
Burger King Lickety Splits Rolling Racers Fast Food Toy Chicken Tenders 1989 TheJunkieJunction $4.00	Lot of 3 Vintage Burger King Matchbooks Unstruck Unused 20 matches per Book GinGroveInn $6.00	Vintage 80's Burger King Doll By Knickerbocker 2BarnPickers $25.00	1979 Burger King Collector Series Sir Shake A Lot Collector Glass ~Free Shipping~ PTTreasures $10.00
Vintage Pair Burger King Restaurant Tin Ash Trays--Small Round Gold Ashtray--Advertising Memorabilia--Old School Smoking--Giveaway Premiums- AlloftheAbove $14.99	1980's Era Snuffy's Fire Safety Brigade Film Reel \| Burger King Franchise Shipping Container OneReDunn $45.00	Burger King Logo Dangle Novelty Earrings Murals4U $7.99	1976 Burger King Bicentennial glass - eagle on shield HandPickedTreasures2 $10.00

Mc Donald's

Pay Phone in the Golden Arches kqphotos $15.00	Vintage One Arch Mc Donald's Coffee Cup haikumovingcompany $20.00	Mc Donald's lunch box 1982 alongroute66 $32.00	Vintage 1989 MC DONALDS The McNugget Band Plate CandysToyBox $5.00
Mc donalds grimace Christmas cookie jar. UpYourAlleyAntiques $75.00	McD cplummerart $10.00	SALE - Complete set of 6 collectable vintage 1977 Mc Donalds tumblers / high ball water glasses. Promo glass. Retro 70s Drinkware FranzsFavorites €36.00	RONALD MC DONALD Rolling Toy, 1994 Vintage Happy Meal Train Toy, Mc Donald's Train, vintage train toy, child's toy, red Happy Meal toy TheJellyJar $4.95
Vintage Childrens Book: Let's Eat Out, by John Jones OneReDunn $23.99	Vintage Happy Meal Transformers toys MC Donalds 1980's Lot Nuggets burgers fries shakes Milk+ Blastpastplush $65.99	Vintage NEW IN Original Box 1996 McMemories Restaurant Lighted Restaurant for McDonalds memborabilia Collectors, Night Light, Gift Giving OHANCollectibles $50.00	Pair of Vintage Milk White Anchor Hocking Mc Donalds Coffee Cups HeidisWorldHobbies $21.95
2 Page 1991 McDonalds Print Advertisement TreasureTimeCapsule $6.75	1970's McDonald's French Fry AM/FM radio -Mint in box MilestonesInMem $99.00	Vintage Mc Donald's Bambi Collection 1988 shesawitfirst $20.00	Vintage 1974 Playskool McDonald's Familiar Places Activity Toy With box cocoawhite $89.99