Roadsigns – Less Beaten Paths of America Travel Blog

July 8, 2019August 24, 2019

June 2019 Road Trip: Fun, Quirky and Offbeat Things

With any road trip I take, I look for a lot of different things. I can find the offbeat and quirky, the beautiful, the unique, the magical, the historical, the fun and more…all in one trip. I am focused…on the big picture.

My June 2019 road trip took me over the road for nearly 6000 miles and through nine states. I tried to stick to back roads wherever possible because that is where the greatest discoveries can be found.

In this post, I present to you some of the more unique, fun and, in some cases quirky things that I discovered along the way. There is always something out there.

Here are few fun things…

Place Names

I am always looking for fun names. How about Delight, Turkey, Jolly, Greasy Corner?

That way to Turkey, Texas (I didn’t have time to take a Turkey trek.)

Greasy Corner, Arkansas. I did mosey on over to Greasy Corner only to find the corner, but no signs

Jolly, Texas. We didn’t stop, but I have been there before. Not much Jolly there but a truck stop

Business Names

Well lookee here, there are some fun business signs to found on the road, including one of my (now) all-time favorites below.

Ever had a BBQ Sno-Cone? They have them in Dover, Tennessee

Or maybe you wanna getcha some of this instead? (BBQ that is) Naaman’s BBQ in Texarkana, Texas

A motel in Winslow, Arizona taking full advantage….

We all know what NEED to be done on a road trip. This place between Winslow and Holbrook can fulfill the need

Would you stay in a place called “It’ll Do Motel”? Can you do better? Its in Clarendon, Texas

Other Unique Signs and Things

I guess this is one place where people are delighted, even when dead? Delight, Texas

I often come across signs around towns, in shops, restaurants and such that make me want to snap a shot.

Ya Can’t Fix Stupid…especially the ones who try to take their cars where they shouldn’t go. This sign was in a shop window in Winslow, Arizona. Weaver’s is actually in Water Valley, Mississippi

I guess aliens need to park somewhere – at The Thing in Dragoon, Arizona

Circle N takes the No Shirt No Shoes concept to a whole new level Forrest City, Arkansas

Texans apparently don’t call 911. Saw these in a shop near El Paso, Texas

Now, this is a good spin on Desserts! Saw this at a restaurant on the top of Mt. Lemmon, near Tucson, AZ

And then you should mind your own biscuits. Found in a cafe in Clarkson, Kentucky

Speaking of restrooms, The Thing in Arizona apparently has some good uns….

Then there is the unique…

Big Pink Elephant with glasses in Clarksville, TN

Then there are the unique things out there. The Glass-wearing elephant has a bovine friend just north of it in Kentucky

Big Cow with pink glasses in Guthrie, KY

And the cow’s pal Pink Elephant around the corner from it in Guthrie as well.

What’s a road trip without coming across a big ol’ Muffler Man? This one is on a rooftop in downtown Gallup, New Mexico

I came face to face with this dinosaur at The Thing in Dragoon, Arizona

And saw this big metal chomper in Sedona, Arizona

Holbrook, Arizona has dozens of dinos hanging around. Here are a couple of biggies

Absurd…saw this replica of the Ghostbusters car in Bogata, Texas. I guess in Texas they are Ghostboosters? “Boost’n Makes Me Feel Good”

On the timezone in Clarkson, Kentucky. You decide what time it is.

You can sleep in a Wigwam in Holbrook, Arizona

You must stay within 31 MPH in Trenton, Tennessee

I never take a trip without trying to see if a Peter Toth Whispering Giant can be seen. This one was in Winslow, Arizona

And this Whispering Giant was in Las Cruces, New Mexico

A church built into the rock? Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, Arizona

I can’t say I’ve been everywhere until I have been to the birthplace of Johnny Cash in Kingsland, Arkansas

And what a fine sight I was when I jumped in and photo-bombed a motocycle club standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona

Couldn’t resist jumping in with this nice Motorcycle Club from Phoenix at the famed corned in Winslow, AZ

And the Chart Topper (or should I say the Tram Topper?) is….

Watched this guy climb up on the top of the Sandia Peaks Tram in Albuquerque, NM to ride 1200′ above ground on a couple of wires for about 2 miles and 15 minutes. I was scared to death just taking his picture.

Like what you see? Well, there is lots more! I now have three books available about offbeat and quirky places to take on your road trips. You can see all of them at http://amzn.to/2ks6fQZ. Book 3 was published and available on August 24, 2019.

Book Cover for Book 3 – Cover Art and design by Antsy McClain

July 5, 2019August 24, 2019

June 2019: The Great Southwest Trek

On June 5 I departed home on a 10 day adventure to the southwest U.S. I had made plans with my sister Sherry to accompany her and her family to Tucson and Albuquerque to visit our brothers Aaron and Gary, both of whom neither of us had seen on over 20 years.

I love my road trips. But I really looked forward to this one as much of it would take me to many of my old stomping grounds. Plans were to visit Aaron in Tucson, then go up to Flagstaff, via Sedona, for a couple of days of touring around there and then off to Albuquerque to visit Gary.

San Francisco Peaks outside of Flagstaff, Arizona

I was really excited about the Flagstaff part. From 1980 to 1984 we lived in Flagstaff, where I attended Northern Arizona University and, for three years, worked as a Tour Guide/Driver for the Gray Line Tours franchise called Nava-Hopi Tours. That job was always one of my favorites as I got to take people from all over the world to see parts of the world that were fascinating. The geography and geology of the area is world-renown. The history, with the ancient American relics and the present day Native American Navajo and Hopi tribes and their life styles were also fascinating. I really was excited to visit many of the places I had not visited since the 1990s, when I took a return trip up there after getting back from Japan.

This ten day adventure took me over 6000 miles of highway and through nine states. During the trip we got to visit two National Parks (including Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest) and four National Monuments (White Sands, Sunset Crater, Wupatki, Montezuma Castle). We visited mountain tops and deserts and saw a lot of great scenery.

It has taken a while to compile much of the road trip fun. Hopefully, over the next couple of weeks I will be able to get a few fun posts out about what will likely be my big road trip for 2019.

Watch for detailed posts on the road trip and the many places. ENJOY THE RIDE!

April 30, 2019

Everywhere a Sign – Some Z Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

Well, I have made it…from A to Z throughout the month of April. Along the way I have provided some Zany photos and many Zingers.

In 2018 I traveled the country with great Zeal, hitting 26 states with the Zippiest of attitudes. I hope to provide you with a Zestful rest of your day with a few Z signs I found along the way in 2018. Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride.

Zigzag, Oregon

The Zigzag Ranger Station was built in 1935 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Zigzag, Oregon is located on the very beautiful Mt. Hood Scenic Byway on US Highway 26. It is home to one of America’s oldest Ranger Stations and there are a couple of restaurants and gift shops. The name Zigzag is assumed to come originally from pioneer/explorer Joel Palmer in 1845 as he wrote about a ravine from Mt. Hood.

“The manner of descending is to turn directly to the right, go zigzag for about one hundred yards, then turn short round, and go zigzag until you come under the place where you started from; then to the right, and so on, until you reach the bottom.”

Since then there are a number of Zigzags… Zigzag ravine, Zigzag Glacier, Zigzag Creek and, of course, the small community of Zigzag.

Zing’s Restaurant, Carmine, Texas

I am not sure if Zing’s is open any longer. But I thought the signs and the rustic nature of the place in this small community on US Highway 290 was an interesting addition to my sign collection.

Zwolle, Louisiana

Zwolle is a small town of about 1800 people on US Highway 171 in Sabine Parish northwest of Many and south of Shreveport, Louisiana. Unlike many of the towns in Louisiana, Zwolle celebrates its Native American and Spanish heritage.

Zwolle was originally an Indian village that was occupied by the Spanish Province of Texas for many years. It was settled by the descendants of French and Spanish adventurers, who intermarried with the friendly Indians and with English-speaking settlers from Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas. The town was named for a community in Holland, in honor of a prominent Dutch visitor.

The town has become regionally famous for its spicy tamales and has a Tamale Fiesta annually in October. The fiesta stems from a combination of the Indians’ and Spaniards’ culinary efforts to produce the most delectable hot tamale in the country.

Like what you see? Well, there is lots more! I currently have two books about offbeat and quirky places to take on your road trips. You can see both of my books at http://amzn.to/2ks6fQZ. Working on Book 3, coming in late Spring 2019!!