The Mad Mouse roller coaster at J’s Amusement Park in Guerneville before it was torn down.

In Brawley, a town that most coastal dwellers zip past on their way to somewhere else, Brownie’s Diner has been quietly perfecting the art of comfort food without fanfare or pretension.

Hidden in Indiana’s Amish country sits a humble diner where calories don’t count and pie crusts are flaky enough to make your ...