03Mar 2018 by David Kravetz

Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden and Toyland – Calvert City, KY

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Junk Art, Kentucky, Murals, Museums, Mythical Creatures, Offbeat Places, People Shots, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Street Art, Toy Collections, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Houses, Unique Places, US Highway 68, Wanderlust, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_19043" align="alignleft" width="300"] Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden[/caption] Down in southwestern Kentucky, Calvert City (near Paducah) there’s a little back road (actually US Highway 68) that takes you to a place called Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden and Toyland. It is not necessarily what you would think of as a “garden,” but it is certainly hillbilly fun. And the toyland is amazing! I visited there in early February 2018 and had a real good time with the proprietor Keith Holt who, ironically, looks like a hillbilly! [caption id="attachment_19041" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Hanging with the fascinating Keith Holt[/caption] [caption id="attachment_18990" align="alignright" width="225"] Signs at Hillbilly Garden[/caption] I will tell you upfront, this place is not for everyone. Some people may look at it is a big junkyard. Others, like myself, look at it…
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24Jan 2018 by David Kravetz

SPOILER!: Cover Art for Book 2 – Quirky and Offbeat Roadside Attractions

Adventure, Antsy McClain, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Big John, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Enchanted Highway, Giant Things, Less Beaten Paths Books, Minnesota, Offbeat Places, Oklahoma, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Texas, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wanderlust
[caption id="attachment_18667" align="alignleft" width="225"] Big Cabin, OK[/caption] My second book - Less Beaten Paths of America: Offbeat and Quirky Roadside Attractions is currently being worked on.  My hope is to have it published by June 30. Like the first book, this will also be available for Kindle.  Unlike the first book, Volume Two will be chock full of COLOR photos from all over the U.S. and Canada and will include my fun stories about the dozens of quirky attractions I feature in the book.  It will definitely be a fun read!! GET BOOK ONE HERE IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT   The cover for the new book has just been completed.  Once again, this was nicely done by my good friend Antsy McClain.  The original photography is mine with some cute…
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26Dec 2017 by David Kravetz

Get an Amazon Gift Card for Christmas? Try Out My New Book!

Adventure, Alabama, Alberta, Amish Country, Antsy McClain, Arizona, Arkansas, Books, California, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, South Dakota, Staycations, Television Shows, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Virginia, Wanderlust, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Looking for something fun to use that Amazon gift card on? How about a fun travel book? Read some of my first hand experiences visiting America’s Unique Named Towns!  Visit places like Tightwad, Uncertain, Boring, Oddville, Cool, Earth, Prosperity and many more! See more at http://amzn.to/2ks6fQZ
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04Dec 2017 by David Kravetz

My new book – Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names now available in Print

Alberta, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Less Beaten Paths Books
I am so excited today!  My first book is now available in print and for sale on Amazon.  I decided to run an EARLY BIRD Special for $9.99 through December 15,  just in time for Christmas.  If you ware with Amazon Prime the shipping is free and you also get a Free Kindle download if you want it. You can get the book on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Less-Beaten-Paths-America-Unique/dp/1975917960/
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03Dec 2017 by David Kravetz

Back at the Blogging – Lots of Catching Up to Do

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bike Trails, Books, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Caves and Caverns, City Skylines, Eateries, Family Travel, Giant Things, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, National Parks, New York, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Street Art, Tennessee, Texas, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Waterfalls, West Virginia
[caption id="attachment_18651" align="alignleft" width="169"] Big Mike's Mystery House in Cave City, KY[/caption] It has been a while since I’ve written in the blog. The last few months have been a whirlwind of activity beginning in July with a family reunion and continuing on with the new job at comicbook.com. In the midst of all of that I have spent the last couple of months using most of my “writing time“ to complete my first book which was referred to in my previous post a couple of days ago. Now that that book is published and on Amazon.com. I’m going to try to knock out a few of the blog posts that have been piling up on me. Over the next couple of weeks you’ll see blog posts about the new murals…
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29Nov 2017 by David Kravetz

Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names now available for Kindle!

Antsy McClain, Books, Family Travel, Less Beaten Paths Books, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Post Offices, Selfies, Town Names, Unique Places
The book is finally completed and I am offering a preorder of the Kindle version for only $3.99 through December 15.  The PRINT version should be available on December 15 and the Kindle version will come free with that. CHECK IT OUT HERE [caption id="attachment_18642" align="aligncenter" width="525"] The Full Cover of the Print Edition - designed by Antsy McClain[/caption]
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09Nov 2017 by David Kravetz

New Book Update! Sample Chapter Included

Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Bucket List Trips, Family Travel, Mississippi, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Town Names, Unique Places
New Book Update!!! For those of you interested in my forthcoming book “Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names,” here are some updates! The chapters are all done - 22 of them. I am making some final edits, doing the acknowledgements, and a few other things. It has more than 100 pages and covers more than 35 unique places. I am attaching a sample Chapter on Alligator, MS so you can see the format. Please make sure to send me an email at [email protected] to get on the mailing list for more updates.
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02Sep 2017 by David Kravetz

Announcing My First Book! Now in progress

Less Beaten Paths Books, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries
[caption id="attachment_17818" align="alignleft" width="300"] Finding Success in Missouri[/caption] Hello all! Just wanted to announce that I am in the midst of writing my FIRST BOOK (in a planned series of 12) - Titled "Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names," the book is all about a number of unique named places I have been to on my numerous travels along the back roads of America. The cover art is currently being designed by my good friend Antsy McClain, who is not only an amazing singer/songwriter/storyteller, but also a very accomplished graphic artist. I also want to thank my friend and fellow travel writer Tui Snider for her divine advice on self-publishing. [caption id="attachment_17230" align="alignnone" width="525"] Happy Happy Happy...yes, there is a Happy, KY[/caption] I hope to have the book…
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01Jul 2017 by David Kravetz

West Virginia’s Midland Trail – US Route 60 from Virginia to Charleston

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Covered Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Farmland, Geologic Formations, Murals, National Parks, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Street Art, Town Names, Train Bridges, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 60, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Yard Art
During the month of May I made several trips to West Virginia to assist a friend in need.  Also, during Easter Weekend (2017) I had occasion to take my wife to northern Virginia near Shenandoah National Park and on my return started my treks along US Route 60 in West Virginia, what they refer to as the Midland Trail.   On subsequent visits, I tried to hit US 60 in the western part of the state as well.   [caption id="attachment_18311" align="alignnone" width="525"] A scene from along US 60 in WV[/caption] [caption id="attachment_18256" align="alignright" width="300"] The WV State Capitol Building in Charleston[/caption] The Midland Trail crosses some of the most rugged and beautiful terrain of the Mountain State and extends for approximately 100 miles from White Sulphur Springs in the east…
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03May 2017 by David Kravetz

Blogging A to Z Challenge – The Complete List for 2017 – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alabama, Alaska, Alberta, Alligators, Amish Country, Animals, Antelope, Antsy McClain, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Big Cities, Bike Trails, Birds, Bison, Blue Heron, Bobby Cochran, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Buffalo, Burger Joints, California, Canada, Car Art, Cebu, City Skylines, Colorado, Connecticut, Covered Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Deer, Delaware, Dinosaurs, Dragons, Dream Highways, Eagles, Eateries, Edgar Cruz, Egret, Elk, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Farmland, Florida, Found Metal Sculptures, Fox, Fuji City, Geese, Geologic Formations, Georgia, Ghost Signs, Giant Things, Giant Twine Balls, Graffiti Walls, Hawaii, Himeji, Hiroshima, Horse Art, Horses, Idaho, Illinois, Indian Ruins, Indiana, Iowa, Japan, Japanese Castles, Japanese Shrines, Kansas, Kentucky, Kyoto, Landscapes, Large Statues, Lewis and Clark Sites, Lighthouses, Louisiana, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico, Michael Kelsey, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, Muffler Man, Murals, Museums, Mythical Creatures, Nagasaki, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ogaki, Ohio, Oita, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Patti Hall, Pauly Zarb, Pelicans, Pennsylvania, People Shots, Philippines, Place Names, Post Offices, prairie dogs, Pronghorn Antelope, Quirky Things, Random Thoughts, Rhode Island, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Rocky Mountains, Sandhill Cranes, Saskatchewan, Seagulls, Selfies, Sendai, South Carolina, South Dakota, Squirrels, States and Provinces, Street Art, Street People, Swamps, Television Shows, Tennessee, Texas, Tommy Emmanuel, Town Names, Train Bridges, Travel Blogging, Travel with grandchildren, Tulum, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Uniroyal Gal, Utah, Vermont, Vintage Neon, Virginia, Volcanic Sites, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Washington, Washington DC, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art
During the month of April I participated with nearly 2000 other bloggers worldwide in the "Blogging from A to Z Challenge" which is now in its 7th year. This was my second year to participate and this year's theme for my series was "Wanderlust."  As a "Travelographer," my posts tend to be photo heavy.  I travel and take loads of photos. This is my way of sharing the wonders of the back roads of America. [caption id="attachment_17824" align="aligncenter" width="523"] Corner of This Way and That Way in Lake Jackson, TX[/caption] Following are links to the complete A to Z set.  Just click on the banner for each and letter and enjoy the posts and the photos.  I hope all readers will Enjoy the Ride as much as I have enjoyed…
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