In 2018 I will feature a random (yet alphabetical) selection of photos I have taken from my nearly 20 years of back roads travel in the United States and Canada. I may even throw in a few random shots from other trips to Japan, Mexico and the Philippines. My theme is called America’s Back Roads: A Grab Bag of Places in Pictures.
Since there are so few places or sites that begin with X, I am throwing a few eXtra items into the miX.
TeXas Signs
Visiting Texas in 2014Welcome to TexasBig Texan Steak House – home of the FREE 72 OZ Steak (if you can eat it all) – Amarillo, TexasTexline, Texas
Xenia, Ohio
Welcome to Xenia, OHJulianne and David at Xenia Station on the Little Miami Scenic TrailMcColly Covered Bridge built in 1876 near Xenia, OH
Little MeXico – Omaha, Nebraska
Giant Wall Mural in Little Mexico district of OmahaMexican Pottery shop in Little MexicoColorful Buildings in Little Mexico district of Omaha make you feel like you are in Mexico
TeXan Motel – Raton, New MeXico
I know. I know. Used this one in an earlier post…but hey…it has an X in it!
Texan Motel – Raton, New Mexico
El FeniX Restaurant – Dallas, TeXas
El Fenix Mexican Food – Dallas, Texas
TeXas Wildflowers
Texas WildflowersBluebonnets and Indian PaintbrushTexas Bluebonnet
Gulf of MeXico – Galveston, TeXas
Seagull in flight in Gulf of MexicoBrown pelicans fly in synchronized formation over the Gulf of Mexico near Galveston, TXSumoflam with the Disaster Memorial in Galveston and the Gulf of Mexico in the backgroundSurrey riding along the beach of the Gulf of Mexico
Hard Rock Cafe – Cozumel, MeXico
Apparently the world’s smallest Hard Rock Cafe in Cozumel, Mexico
TeXarkana, Arkansas and TeXarkana, TeXas
Texarkana Water TowerIn Texarkana, AR in 2009
TaXi Dogs – Pike Place Market – Seattle, Washington
A unique Hot Dog Eatery in Seattle’s Pike Place Market
If you like what you see, you may want to check out my book: Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names, available on Amazon. My second book, Less Beaten Paths of America: Quirky and Offbeat Roadside Attractions, will be available in late April or early May 2018. Click on the photo below for more details or to get a copy of the book.
In 2018 I will feature a random (yet alphabetical) selection of photos I have taken from my nearly 20 years of back roads travel in the United States and Canada. I may even throw in a few random shots from other trips to Japan, Mexico and the Philippines. My theme is called America’s Back Roads: A Grab Bag of Places in Pictures.
Dupuyer, Montana
Welcome to Dupuyer, another unique metal town sign, common in northern Montana
Dinosaur National Monument – Vernal, Utah
Dinosaur National Monument, Vernal, UT
Dolphin Swimming in the Atlantic – Ocean City, Maryland
Christmas morning sunrise in Ocean City , MD and greeted by a dolphin in the foreground.
DISH, Texas
DISH, Texas
Dutch Haven Cafe – Ronks, Pennsylvania
Shoo Fly Pie – YUM!
Dutch Haven Restaurant, Home of the famed Amish Shoo Fly Pie, located in Ronks, PA just down the road from Intercourse
Chocolate Kingdom entrance at Daffin’sSumoflam at the Chocolate Kingdom in Daffin’s
Deer Photos – Shenandoah National Park, VA; Mt. Rainier National Park, WA; Lewistown, Montana
Deer at sunrise in Shenandoah National Park on Easter Morning 2017Deer on the road from Paradise in Mt. Rainier National ParkDeer grazing in the snow in Lewistown, Montana
Duck Commander, home of Duck Dynasty – West Monroe, Louisiana
Duck Commander HQ, home of Duck Dynasty in West Monroe, LADuck Dynasty Headquarters in West Monroe, LA
Delaware Seashore Bridge – Sussex County, Delaware
Delaware Seashore Bridge
DFW Elite Toy Museum – Haltom City, Texas
Visiting the DFW Elite Toy MuseumThe main display room of the Elite Toy Museum. Hundreds and hundreds of various cars
Diamondville, Wyoming
Diamondville Town Hall sign, Wyoming
Dragon Murals – Oak Creek, Colorado & Broken Bow, Oklahoma
Impressive Dragon mural on a Chinese Restaurant in Oak Creek, ColoradoDragon Mural in Broken Bow, OK
Discovery Bay, Washington
Wood carved things in front of Fat Smitty’s in Discovery Bay, WA
Texas Country Restaurant – Dundas, Ontario
Texas Country Restaurant – Dundas, Ontario
Douglas, Wyoming
White Wolf Saloon in Douglas, WYLarge Jackalope – Douglas, WY
Dutch Letters at Jaarsma Bakery – Pella, Iowa
Famous “Dutch Letters” from Jaarsma Bakery – S shaped pastry filled with almond cream and sprinkled with sugar. Delectable!
Dude Motel – West Yellowstone, Montana
Dude Motel – West Yellowstone, Montana
Drain, Oregon
I guess this post is going down the drain! Drain, OR
Danielle Colby Cushman of American Pickers – LeClaire, Iowa
Sumoflam with Danielle Colby Cushman – June 20, 2012
Driggs, Idaho
Grand Tetons as seen from Driggs, Idaho
Big Spider – Denver, North Carolina
Big Spider, Denver, North Carolina
Dean Martin Mural – Steubenville, Ohio
Dean Martin mural in Steubenville, OH painted by Robert Dever in 1998
Disaster Memorial Statue – Galveston, Texas
The Disaster Memorial by David. W. Moore in Galveston, TX
Donut Whole – Wichita, Kansas
Donut Whole – Wichita, Kansas
Deer Crossing on Enchanted Highway – near Regent, North Dakota
Sumoflam at Enchanted Highway Stop #2 – ‘Deer Crossing”
Dave Thomas Statue – Wendy’s in Dublin, OH
Sumoflam with Dave Thomas statue in Dublin, OH
Duck Lake, Montana
Heading to the mountains on Montana Hwy 464 near Duck Lake
Watertower in the middle of the road – Dallas, South Dakota
Water tower in Dallas — in the middle of the roadWelcome to Dallas, SD
Donkey, Virginia
A place called Donkey in Virginia
If you like what you see, you may want to check out my book: Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names, available on Amazon. My second book, Less Beaten Paths of America: Quirky and Offbeat Roadside Attractions, will be available in late April or early May 2018. Click on the photo below for more details or to get a copy of the book.
Throughout my travels I drove over 10,000 miles and took over 3000 photos in 2014. I have numerous shots from the road of quirky places, offbeat sites and some nice looking places. If you missed my “nature photos”, some of which are from my travels, please check them out on my Sumoflam’s Singlewide Site. Following are my ten favorite travel shots from 2014 and the stories behind them (and a number of honorable mentions).
NUMBER 1 – OLD PRAIRIE SCHOOL HOUSE
Old Prairie School House on Smith-Frisno Road west of Havre, Montana. I wanted this one in black and white…more authentic feel
I once saw a photo of this old school house and knew that I had to get to this relic of the past. So, on my way to Shelby, MT from Havre, I sought to track it down. Instructions from most are difficult to find, so I figured if I could find the place I could also document its location. I took color shots, but edited this one to be in black and white. Gives that old-timey feel.
NUMBER 2 – PAUL BUNYAN AND BABE
Paul Bunyan and Babe in Bemidji, MN
It had always been a dream of mine to get to this famed roadside attraction from 1937 located in Bemidji, MN. I first saw this in a LIFE Magazine Travel book in the 1960s. From that time my wanderlust kicked in and finally, in 2014, I was able to get there.
Pictures shown in LIFE Magazine in February 1945SumoPaul Bunyan with Sumoflam….done as a complement from Roadside America (roadsideamerica.com)
NUMBER 3 – CARHENGE
Carhenge in Alliance, NebraskaCarhenge in Alliance, Nebraska
Car art at its best, my 2014 visit to this famed roadside attraction fulfilled my goal to hit the trifecta of car art sites (the other two being Cadillac Ranch, which I visited in 2013 and “Spindle”, the Cars on a Spike, which I visited in 2007)
NUMBER 4 – GIANT HIAWATHA
The giant Hiawatha statue in Ironwood, MI, which is supposedly the tallest Native American statue in the US
I went to Ironwood, MI to begin my journey west on US Highway 2, which I drove for over 1200 miles, eventually to Browning, Montana. This giant can be seen down the road as one enters the town of Ironwood from the south. It was one of many “giants” I would see in 2014.
NUMBER 5 – “I AM MO” MURAL
The enormous “I Am MO” mural in the Lexington Distillery District, Lexington, KY
Sometimes the best sites are in your own backyard. This amazing mural was done in the summer of 2014 as part of the PRHBTN Arts program. A number of murals were added to Lexington. But this one is humongous!!
NUMBER 6 – GREETINGS FROM AUSTIN
Greetings from Austin Mural – Austin, TX
One can’t visit Austin without visiting this famed mural. They continue to update it over the years, but it is well known.
NUMBER 7 – TEE PEE MOTEL
Tee Pee Motel – Wharton, Texas
A throwback to the 50s and 60s, this motel was rebuilt in the 1980s but left with the vintage style buildings and furnishings. A few other similar ones can be found dotting the country.
NUMBER 8 – THE GREAT TEXAS SUPPER
The Great Texas Supper at LSA Burger in Denton, Texas
This mural is play on the Last Supper but features famed Texas musicians enjoying a meal with Jesus. It was painted by Icon Studios in Dallas. I got the opportunity to visit LSA Burgers for a special visit before they opened for the day (back in June 2014). They were kind enough to give me a nice tour thanks to Denton’s famed ghost tour lady Shelly Cumbie Tucker. L-R in the painting: George Jones, Selena, Roy Orbison, Waylon Jennings, Scott Joplin, Janis Joplin, Bob Wills, Willie Nelson, Freddy Fender, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Holly and T-Bone Walker.
NUMBER 9 – MAMMY’S CUPBOARD
Mammy’s Cupboard in Natchez, MS
Mammy’s Cupboard is a great place to eat and an awfully unique roadside attraction. I found out about it as I researched my trip to Galveston. I had to not only grab a photo, but had to stop for a bit to eat just so I could say I have eaten in this historical roadside attraction.
NUMBER 10 – THE BIG FISH
I love this angle – Big Fish Eats House!! In Bena, MN
This Big Fish is, in my opinion, one of the “Big Three” roadside attractions in Minnesota (though there are dozens of other good ones – the other two are Paul Bunyan in Bemidji, above, and the Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth). I got a number of angles, but I loved this one where it looks as if the giant fish is about to devour the little house.
SOME HONORABLE MENTION SHOTS
The Rugby Monument to the Geographical Center of North America in Rugby, NDCorner of Live Oak and Stockwell in Damon, TXShowmen’s Rest, a cemetery for circus workers in Hugo, OklahomaThe Disaster Memorial by David. W. Moore in Galveston, TXThe Mushroom House in Hyde Park area of CincinnatiThe Pyramid Shaped MSR of the Mickelson facility in Nekoma, NDGateway to the Blues, Tunica, MississippiPink Elephant in Guthrie, KYStephen F. Austin Statue as seen from Highway 288 in Angleton, TXJackalope Country – Douglas, WYDetail of the “Whispering Giant” of Red Lodge, Montana…one of many across the countryAn outdoor dinosaur at the Old Trail Museum in Choteau, MontanaBoudreau’s Antiques and Collectibles on US Hwy 2 east of Ashland, WIThe old abandoned Elms Restaurant in El Paso, IL. Vintage neon and a classic old building.Cincinnati’s “The Singing Mural” (detail) by C.F. PayneCamp Disappointment west of Cut Bank< Montana looks out towards the mountains of Glacier National ParkThe Pink Elephant of DeForest, WI at exit 126 on I-94Winking Smiley on backside of Water Tower in Grand Forks, NDThe Gol Stave Church replica and museum at the Scandinavian Heritage Center in Minot, NDBig Dino Statue in Bynum, MontanaA portion of Billy Tripp’s Mindfield Cemetery in Brownsville, TNCannon line the grounds of Vicksburg National Military park in Vicksburg, MSP’MAWS Bait Shack in Pierre Part, LA (Notice it is SWAMP spelled backwards)
In 2018 I will feature a random (yet alphabetical) selection of photos I have taken from my nearly 20 years of back roads travel in the United States and Canada. I may even throw in a few random shots from other trips to Japan, Mexico and the Philippines. My theme is called America’s Back Roads: A Grab Bag of Places in Pictures.
