States and Provinces – Less Beaten Paths of America Travel Blog

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!!

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April 30, 2019April 30, 2019

Everywhere a Sign – Some Y Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

For the month of April I have yearned to get back on the road, be youthful and young-at-heart. I have desired some of the yummy things that can be discovered along the way.

Sadly, life goes on. But I’ll be on the road again soon like the days of yore driving yonder to bring all sorts of yeasty adventures! And here are the few Y signs I could garner during 2018. Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride.

Y City, Arkansas

Y City, Arkansas sits at the junction of U.S. Routes 71 and 270 in the southern in Scott County, Arkansas. This is another of this places I just happened upon in my travels in 2018.

Yummy Palace, Irwin, Pennsylvania

World’s Largest Big Mac in N. Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

I didn’t eat at the Yummy Palace in Irwin, Pennsylvania. Supposedly really good Thai food. It just happened to be next door to the McDonald’s restaurant that houses the largest Big Mac statue and the history of the Big Mac. Created near North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, the Big Mac has become an icon of the burger industry. In 2018 it celebrated its 50th Anniversary and I was able to visit and also have the full collection of commemorative coins. Not a Y per se, but the Yummy Palace is next door….

Yinzer’s, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Yinzers in Strip District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Last stop on the Y Train is Yinzers in the Burgh. This is apparently one of the biggest Pittsburgh Sports gear stores. Yinzer is supposedly a slang reference to identify the blue collar workers who spoke a locally Pittsburghese dialect. The term stems from the word yinz (or yunz), a second-person plural pronoun, brought to the area by early Scots-Irish immigrants. Over time, yinzer has been used by many Pittsburgh residents to self-identify, even if they didn’t speak with a thick accent. (So, I learned something new from this one! Did you?)

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April 28, 2019

Everywhere a Sign – Some XTRA Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

Throughout my travels in 2018, I did not come across a single X sign. In the past, I have been able to use Xenia, Ohio, but we didn’t go there last year.

So, I am Xcited to Xplain how I will post a number of fun XTRAs that I didn’t use in previous posts. There were some Xceptionally funny ones and a few Xtremely interesting ones. I hope you’ll enjoy my special edition of Xtra Signs from my travels over the years. Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride.

XTRA Fun For ALL — We are open