Tennessee – Less Beaten Paths of America Travel Blog

July 8, 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.

July 5, 2019July 5, 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!

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 the Summer 2019!! (I hope anyway…working on it)

April 26, 2019

Everywhere a Sign – Some WELCOME Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

Well, the Blogging Challenge is winding down. It has been a wild and wacky challenge for me.

Through the month I have provided readers with a wide variety of wonderful signs which I wandered upon during the year. As I do with all of my posts, I try to be witty and wry in my presentation. I hope that I have brought out the wanderlust in my readers as well. This post will be all about Welcome Signs. Please now enjoy my special edition of W Signs from my travels over the years. Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride.

Welcome Signs Everywhere!

Welcome to my happy place…traveling everywhere

I love feeling welcome in places! Perhaps one of my bigger “collections” of place signs along the highways of America are the Welcome signs to states, communities and places. Here are just a few of the dozens and dozens have wandered upon in my travels. This post features welcome signs taken from 2005 to present. Want everyone to feel Welcome.

Welcome to Carew Tower Sign in Carew Tower Elevators, Cincinnati

Welcome to Zelienople-Harmony, Pennsylvania

Welcome to Punkyville, Kentucky… near Falmouth, Kentucky

We all know who is really Nice! Nice, CA