02May 2017 by David Kravetz

Z is for Zeal – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alabama, Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Big Cities, California, Canada, Colorado, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Delaware, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Florida, Georgia, Graffiti Walls, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Lighthouses, Louisiana, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, Murals, Mythical Creatures, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Random Thoughts, Rhode Island, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Rocky Mountains, Saskatchewan, Selfies, South Carolina, South Dakota, Staycations, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 2, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wall Art, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
I am a zealous traveler. I travel passion and with all the gusto I can.  A roadtrip with me can be grueling, but it is always fun.  Indeed, I travel with the intent of creating many good memories.  Many call me a Road Warrior. Well, I love that term. I travel with zeal. When on roadtrips, I like to be up with the sun and travel until the sun goes down.  I stop for the night wherever I am at sundown...I can't take many pictures at night now can I? [caption id="attachment_15212" align="aligncenter" width="537"] Taking photos along the way[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16314" align="alignleft" width="150"] Sumoflam and the FREE Stamp in Cleveland[/caption] In my zealous travels, I have visited all 50 states and a few Canadian Provinces. I have at least one…
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25Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

R is for Roadsigns – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Amish Country, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Bike Trails, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Anyone who drives on a road, whether city street or an interstate highway, always depends on roadsigns and street signs to find their way. In this age of GPS, we sometimes miss the turns because we're not looking for the roadsigns. Well, on the back roads of America there are many fun and unique roadsigns. Perhaps they weren't meant to be that way as places were named certain names sometimes as far back as the 1600s and 1700s. But, sometimes neighborhood designers throw in funny names for streets or neighborhoods. [caption id="attachment_728" align="aligncenter" width="559"] Charm, Ohio[/caption] [caption id="attachment_17824" align="alignright" width="300"] Corner of This Way and That Way in Lake Jackson, TX[/caption] In this post I want to take a look at some of the roadsigns I have come across in…
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21Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

O is for Offbeat Oddities – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Mythical Creatures, New York, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Oregon, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
For me there is a difference between "Offbeat" and "Quirky."  I like to look at things that are offbeat as being similar to something conventional or recognizable, but just somewhat off.  On the other hand, quirky is closer to non-conventional and sometimes even absurd (my Q post will focus on Quirky). [caption id="attachment_783" align="aligncenter" width="529"] Oddville, Kentucky[/caption] When I am traveling I love looking at the beauty and nature around me, but I also seek out the offbeat and quirky.  One source I always use to help me find these locations is the Roadside America app. This app covers all 50 states and most of Canada and includes almost anything offbeat, odd, quirky and even downright outlandish and ridiculous. There are literally 1000s of sites and things to find and…
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19Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

N is for National Parks & Monuments – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alaska, Arizona, Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, California, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indian Ruins, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, Museums, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, Selfies, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Travel with grandchildren, Unique Places, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Wyoming
The US National Park System has 417 official units throughout the country including 59 National Parks, 87 National Monuments, 19 National Preserves, 51 National Historic Parks, 78 National Historic Sites, 4 National Battlefield Parks, 9 National Military Parks, 9 National Battlefields, 30 National Memorials and a number of other National sites including National Rivers, National Seashores, National Lakeshores, National Parkways and National Trails. [caption id="attachment_9813" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Bison relax along Lava Creek in Yellowstone while pronghorned antelope look on from the background[/caption] [caption id="attachment_10764" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Sumoflam and Cannons at Vicksburg National Military Park[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16830" align="alignright" width="300"] Towpath Trail in Cuyahoga Valley NP, Ohio[/caption] Officially, the National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration…
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12Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

J is for Joy – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alberta, Alligators, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, California, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Indiana, Kentucky, Large Statues, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Mountains, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, Selfies, South Dakota, Television Shows, Texas, Town Names, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Wanderlust, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Traveling this great country brings me joy!  You can see this thru the myriad selfies I take while on the road. I make it a point to take selfies for posterity sake.   First of all, it proves I was there.  Secondly, it provides a record for my family to see where I've been. Lastly...it shows my joy of being on the road! [caption id="attachment_4867" align="alignnone" width="480"] Jolly Sumoflam! In Jolly, TX[/caption] It makes me Jolly. [caption id="attachment_12842" align="alignnone" width="553"] We all know who is really Nice! Nice, CA[/caption] It makes me Nice. [caption id="attachment_17185" align="alignnone" width="501"] I found Novelty in Ohio[/caption] Travel is always a Novelty Wherever I go I try to Endeavor, [caption id="attachment_17233" align="alignnone" width="480"] Made it to Hope, AR,[/caption] To have Hope [caption id="attachment_17818" align="alignnone" width="544"] Finding…
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10Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

H is for History – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Arizona, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, LDS Temples, Lewis and Clark Sites, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Museums, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
One cannot travel any road in America or Canada without running into some sort of historical site, monument or building.  That is part of the fun of a back road adventure.  Our country of 2017 is defined in great part by the history of the country dating back to the 1600s (and earlier if you count the Native Americans). [caption id="attachment_8530" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Camp Disappointment west of Cut Bank< Montana looks out towards the mountains of Glacier National Park.  This is one of many Lewis and Clark Monuments across the United States.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_17786" align="alignleft" width="300"] Monument in Beachville, Ontario commemorating the first baseball game in Canada.[/caption] Dotting the roads of America are historical markers that tell about events that occurred in that exact location or nearby. There are literally…
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05Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

D is for Diners, Dives and Drive-ins – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Alabama, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Burger Joints, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, People Shots, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, Selfies, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia
What is April A to Z? Every April, bloggers from all over the world participate in the April A to Z blog challenge, and you can too. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a great way to meet other bloggers. To play along, all you do is make a blog post for each letter of the alphabet during April, then visit as many other bloggers as you can. Road trips would never be the same without the opportunity to stop at local diners, dives and drive-ins (OK...I gotta give credit to Guy Fieri). Food is such an important part of a road trip. Obviously, no matter where one drives they always come across the chain shops like McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, etc. With those places, the food you get is…
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10May 2016 by David Kravetz

A to Z Challenge: Reflections #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Alaska, Alberta, Amish Country, Arizona, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Big Cities, Bucket List Trips, California, Car Art, City Skylines, Colorado, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Geologic Formations, Giant Things, Giant Twine Balls, Horse Art, Hot Springs, Idaho, Illinois, Indian Ruins, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Lewis and Clark Sites, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, Muffler Man, Murals, Museums, Mythical Creatures, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, Saskatchewan, Selfies, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Uniroyal Gal, Utah, Vintage Neon, Washington, Water Towers, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
During the month of April 2016 I participated in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. The challenge had each blogger select a theme and then do a post thematically from A to Z during each day of April , except Sundays. This was my first opportunity to really participate in this annual event, which just completed its 6th year.  It was not easy!!  I had to not only post something daily, but also create a theme and stick with it.  And, in my perfectionist way, I wanted to make sure there were plenty of photos and commentary.  I wrote in such a way to draw people to the more detailed posts, where ever possible.  It was a load of fun and I completed the challenge.  Not sure how many…
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23Apr 2016 by David Kravetz

A to Z Challenge: The T Towns #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Arizona, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Geologic Formations, Giant Things, Hot Springs, Idaho, Landscapes, Large Statues, Mississippi, Missouri, Murals, Museums, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, Selfies, South Dakota, Street Art, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 16, US Highway 160, US Highway 18, US Highway 377, US Highway 51, US Highway 61, US Highway 81, US Highway 89, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Water Towers, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art
During the month of April I am participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. The challenge has each blogger select a theme and then do a post thematically from A to Z during each day of April , except Sundays. My blog is number 1337 out of 1670 participating blogs. This year my A to Z posts will take you across the back roads of America to many unique towns.  To see what other bloggers will be posting about, check out the link: A to Z Theme Reveal List for 2016 The T Towns Tightwad, Missouri [caption id="attachment_201" align="alignnone" width="300"] Tightwad, Missouri[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14143" align="alignnone" width="300"] Then there is place called Tightwad in MO and they even have a bank![/caption] [caption id="attachment_206" align="alignnone" width="300"] Tightwad Fire Department[/caption] [caption…
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19Apr 2016 by David Kravetz

A to Z Challenge: The P Towns #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Geologic Formations, Giant Things, Iowa, Kentucky, LDS Temples, Lewis and Clark Sites, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Murals, Museums, Mythical Creatures, Nebraska, New York, Ontario, People Shots, Place Names, Post Offices, Random Thoughts, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 20, US Highway 61, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Washington, Water Towers, West Virginia, Wyoming, Yard Art
During the month of April I am participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. The challenge has each blogger select a theme and then do a post thematically from A to Z during each day of April , except Sundays. My blog is number 1337 out of 1670 participating blogs. This year my A to Z posts will take you across the back roads of America to many unique what other bloggers will be posting about, check out the link: A to Z Theme Reveal List for 2016 The P Towns   Pella, Iowa [caption id="attachment_3137" align="alignnone" width="300"] Welcome to Pella[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6116" align="alignnone" width="199"] Vermeer Dutch Windmill in Pella, IA - the largest working windmill in the United States[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3573" align="alignnone" width="300"] Jaarsma Bakery - Pella,…
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