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.
Home on the Range, North Dakota
Home on the Range sign in North Dakota
Hammering Man – Seattle, Washington
The Hammering Man by Jonathan Borofsky
Ho-Hum Motel – West Yellowstone, Montana
Ho-Hum Motel in West Yellowstone, Montana
Hillybilly Hot Dogs – Lesage, West Virginia
Yes, they do have a Website!!Order Rite Cheer at Hillbilly Hot Dogs in Lesage, WV
Happy, Kentucky
Happy in Happy, KY
Hell, Michigan
Direction to Hell from Pickney, MIWelcome to Hell
The Great Hodag – Rhinelander, Wisconsin
With the famed Hodag in Rhinelander, WI
Himeji Castle – Himeji, Japan
Visiting the famed Himeji Castle in 1987
Harlan Sanders Cafe – Corbin, Kentucky
Sanders Cafe in Corbin, KY. Birthplace of the KFC Special RecipeThe Colonel and Me at Sanders Cafe
Hipp Nursery – Haubstadt, Indiana
Martini bearing pink and white elephant pair at Hipp Nursery in Haubstadt, IN
Harry Truman Mural – Independence, Missouri
A mural of Harry Truman on a Law Office in Independence, MO painted by David McClain. Truman was born in Independence
Horsetail Falls – Multnomah County, Oregon
Horsetail Falls in Oregon
Hung Dong Supermarket – Houston, Texas
Of course, you can always come across unique shop names, like this one in Houston. I hear they have great sausages!!
Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden and Toyland – Calvert City, Kentucky
Hillbilly Garden Car – Calvert City, KYSigns at Hillbilly Garden
Henry’s Rabbit Ranch – Staunton, Illinois
Henry’s Rabbit Ranch – Staunton, IllinoisRich Henry and Sumoflam with their rabbit at Henry’s Ra66it Ranch in Staunton, IL
Hiawatha Statue – Ironwood, Michigan
Hiawatha Stands 50 feet tall in Ironwood, MI
Heini’s Cheese Shop – Charm, Ohio
Heini’s Cheese Shop – Charm, Ohio
Home of Sliced Bread – Chillicothe, Missouri
Chillicothe, Missouri – The Home of Sliced Bread
Hell’s Half-Acre – Powder River, Wyoming
Hell’s Half Acre Sign in Wyoming off of US Route 20/26Hell’s Half Acre in Wyoming
Sam Houston Statue – Huntsville, Texas
77 Foot Tall Sam Houston Statue in Huntsville, Texas
Hope, Arkansas
Made it to Hope, AR
Horse Farm Country – Central Kentucky
Horses graze in the fall on a Woodford County farm near Versailles.Mare and foal jaunt on a farm in Lexington, KY
Hurts Donut – Frisco, Texas
Hurts Donut in Frisco, TexasWanna Hurts Donut?
Hyak Ferry – Bremerton, Washington
Riding the Hyak from Bremerton Terminal in WashingtonA flock of seagulls on the deck of the Hyak
Harvey Jackson Mural – Kemmerer, Wyoming
Harvey Jackson mural on a corner in Kemmerer, WY
Hershey, Pennsylvania
My children at Hershey Chocolate World in 1990sGranddaughter Joselyn gives Grampz a Hershey Kiss at Hershey’s Chocolate World
Hung Far Low Chinese – Portland, Oregon
Hung Far Low – Famous Chop Suey and Famous name – Portland, Oregon
Hurricane, West Virginia
Hurricane, West VirginiaA Wall Mural in Hurricane, WV
Horse Capital of the World – Versailles, Kentucky
A mural on a water tower in Versailles, Kentucky
Hamtramck Disneyland – Hamtramck, Michigan
Windmills and Whirlygigs at Hamtramck Disneyland in DetroitA menagerie of oddball and offbeat things all over the roof, side of the house and the yard – Hamtramck Disneyland
Hutch’s on the Beach – Hamilton, Ontario
Hutch’s on the Beach – Hamilton, Ontario
Hopi Indian Reservation – Walpi, Arizona
While working in Arizona I made over 100 trips to Walpi on the Hopi Indian Reservation in Northern Arizona
Hippos of Hutto, Texas
Greetings from Hutto, home of the HipposOne of the many Hippos in Hutto, TX
Hells Canyon – Oregon
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, OregonHells Canyon in northeast Oregon is actually wider and deeper than the Grand Canyon
Hippie Joe’s Gas – Upper Lake, California
Hippie Joe’s Gas in Upper Lake, CA
History of the Niagara Peninsula – Welland, Ontario
A portion of a massive mural on the side of a shopping mall. Entitled “History of the Niagara Peninsula” by Heinz Gaugel
Hi-Line Theatre – Rudyard, Montana
Hi-Line Theatre in Rudyard, Montana – operating since 1949
Hatch, New Mexico
A&W Family in Hatch, NMA fiberglass Uncle Sam in Hatch, NM with a famous Hatch Green Chile in hand
Hop Bottom, West Virginia
Hop Bottom, WV
Hot Box Cafe – Toronto, Ontario
Hot Box Cafe – Toronto, Ontario
Hugo, Oklahoma
Welcome to Historic Hugo, OKA building made of petrified wood in Hugo
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.
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!
Jolly Sumoflam! In Jolly, TX
It makes me Jolly.
We all know who is really Nice! Nice, CA
It makes me Nice.
I found Novelty in Ohio
Travel is always a Novelty
Wherever I go I try to Endeavor,
Made it to Hope, AR,
To have Hope
Finding Success in Missouri
And find Success
Sumoflam at Friendship Post Office in Arkansas
Being on the road has helped find Friendship
Meeting a Friendly guy outside the Friendly, WV Post Office
And to be Friendly
Chunky, MS
And perhaps even Chunky
Welcome to Earth, Texas
It has brought me down to Earth
Township of Moon, PA
Zipped me to a Township named Moon
At the Starship Enterprise in Vulcan, Alberta 2007
Or by a Starship in Vulcan
And found Prosperity in PA
And to even find Prosperity
Santa Claus, IN
Heck…I even found Santa Claus!
Though I try to be Real Quiet about it,
Sumoflam and Big Fish in Bena, MN
I find that I have some Big Fish stories
Sumoflam at “Fisherman’s Dream” on Enchanted Highway in North Dakota
Maybe even Bigger Fish Stories
Willie the Walleye in Baudette, MN
Indeed, Giant Fish Stories
The Beef House in Covington, Indiana
I have found The Beef
Say “Cheese!” – You’re in Wisconsin!
But also found the cheese
Giant Macaroni in Champaigne, IL
And even a Macaroni to go with it!
Sumoflam with the cow that wears pink glasses
Those big cows are moooving
Salem Sue in New Salem, ND – the World’s Largest Holstein Cow (Yes, that’s Sumoflam under the Udders)
But they can be Udderly huge
Big Bull in Minnesota
And that is certainly no Bull
Giant Pheasant in Gregory SD
I have gotten joy at the feet of a big bird
Giant Sandhill Crane in Steele, SD
And maybe even a bigger bird
Sumoflam at Pheasants on the Prairie on Enchanted Highway in North Dakota
Ok, perhaps even giant birds!
One of my favorite shots…Alligator, MS
I have become a big Alligator
Baby Gator at Gator Chateau in Jennings, LA
But have held a small one
Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, NY 1990
Travel gives me Liberty
Sumoflam with Big Sam Houston towering behind him in Huntsville, TX
And helps me to stand at the foot of giants
The iconic Route 66 roadside attraction known as Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX
I have had many out of car experiences
Sumoflam at Carhenge in Alliance, NE
And I have been surrounded by cars
At Magnolia Market in Waco, TX – Home of the TV Program Fixer Upper
I have learned to be a Fixer Upper
Sumoflam with old Nash at Antique Archaeology in LeClaire, Iowa (home of American Pickers)
And an Antique Archaeologist
Voodoo Doughnut in Portland — lost my selfie
I’ve enjoyed some Voodoo doughnuts
Sumoflam at Carlo’s Bake Shop in Hoboken, NJ
And other baked goods from coast to coast
Sumoflam at Wonderland Rd. in Upton, KY
And have found the road to Wonderland
The Yellow Brick Road near Dayton, OH
I even found the Yellow Brick Rd.
A street with No Name in Millersburg, OH
A road with No Name
Finding Uncertainty in Uncertain, TX
May lead me to be Uncertain
Corner of This Way and That Way in Lake Jackson, TX
But whether I go This Way or That Way
Okay, Oklahoma in 2012
I’ll always be Okay
Winner Winner..no chicken dinner, just the name of a town in SD
Which makes me a Winner when I travel
Sumoflam at Top of the World on the Beartooth Highway in Wyoming
The year 2016 was not a banner year for travel for me as there were no super long cross country trips taken like I had done form 2012-2015. However, over the course of the year we did take a number of smaller trips and a couple of fairly long trips. I visited 11 states during the year and made it to some places where I hadn’t been for nearly 30 years. Even made it into towns from A (Abingdon, VA) to Z (Zanesville, OH) and one with an X too (Xenia, OH)!!
Here is a map that includes many of the places:
Abingdon, VA – Eastern terminus of the Virginia Creeper TrailZanesville, Ohio home of the Y BridgeJulianne and David at Xenia Station on the Little Miami Scenic Trail
During the course of the year we visited a few major cities including Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, Houston and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We also visited Nashville and Memphis in Tennessee.
Panoramic View of Pittsburgh from atop Mt. WashingtonJulianne and Laura at the North Bend Rail Trail HQ in Cairo, WV
A good portion of my travel in 2016 was related to rails to trails bike trails that my wife Julianne had desired to ride. We visited some lovely bike trails in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia. While Julianne rode, I would take the back roads and meet her along the trails. This was until I got my own bicycle on my birthday in October.
All of us at Whitetop Station at the beginning of the 10 mile downhill Virginia Creeper Bike Trail near Damascus, VAFlying to Houston from Cincinnati
We took one flight during the year which was to Houston to celebrate a calling for my son in church and to visit our grandsons. In late October, we also drove to Fort Worth, Texas for the funeral of my father. Not as joyous a trip, but we did visit a few locations along the way for fun.
Visiting my youngest grandchild Sam in HoustonSumoflam and the FREE Stamp in Cleveland
Our trips to Cleveland and Pittsburgh were predominantly because Julian sister Laura had moved from Idaho to the Pittsburgh area. So she met Julianne on a couple of the bike ride trips. She and Julianne also attended a conference at the Kirtland Temple and while they were there, I visited my family in Little Italy in Cleveland and also took some tours around the city with my sister Tina and her husband Jim.
Riding with Tina and Jim around ClevelandSumoflam at the Kirtland TempleMonongahela Incline in Pittsburgh
Then we visited Laura in Pittsburgh, we got to see a number of wonderful things in Pittsburgh including the Monongahela Incline, hey unique rail type system that pulled us up to the top of Mt. Washington where we had spectacular views of the city of Pittsburgh and the three rivers down below.
Bridges across PittsburghClassic Neon of famed Dumser’s Drive-In in Ocean City, MD
The year ended on a high note as we took a long trip to Ocean City, MD where we stayed with Julianne’s sister and her husband Richard and their daughter for about a week on the beach. It was a wonderful trip! It was during this trip that we also visited Washington DC and the large LDS Washington DC Temple with all of its amazing Christmas lights. I also made my way up to Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, both of which I had not visited since the 1980s.
Welcome to Delaware…first time since 1986Washington DC Temple at ChristmasThe Washington Monument and the US Capitol in Washington DCOld Paradise Cafe sign in Ocean City. What is a beach resort town without a flamingo or two?I think I counted about 12 themed mini golf places on the main drag in Ocean City, including dragons, pirates and dinosaurs.Township of Moon, PA (I have also been to Earth, TX, Mars, PA, Jupiter, FL and even Vulcan, AB
Of course, whenever we take road trips I always try to find the unique and the unusual whenever possible. And most of our trips were not immune from my searching to do so. On our trips visited such wonderful places as Friendly, WV, Prosperity, PA, Novelty, OH, Happy, KY, Eighty Four, PA and a few other unique named towns as indicated in photos below. I even located a Yellow Brick Road in Ohio and a Bliss Happens Lane in Maryland!
Made it to Hope, AR, just before the 2016 elections. Hope is the home of former President Bill Clinton.Meeting a Friendly guy outside the Friendly, WV Post OfficeHappy Happy Happy…yes, there is a Happy, KYI found Novelty in Ohio……and found Prosperity in PAThere is a Yellow Brick Road in OhioA Sugar and Water corner is in Chillicothe, OHNo Name Street in Millersburg, OHLost? Try going the Udder Way, This is in Yellow Springs, OH at Young’s DairyAnd I found where Bliss Happens in MarylandReuben Sandwich and Sweet Potato Fries at In the Country in Damascus, VA
During the year we often ate at places that were focused on bicyclists and motorbike enthusiasts. One such location was in Oregonia, OH. It was way out of the way to get to. Then there was the place on the Virginia Creeper Trail which was almost impossible to get to my car but was built specifically for the bicyclists coming down the Virginia Creeper Trail.
In the Country Bakery and Eatery on the outskirts of DamascusAt Damascus Old Mill Inn in DamascusThe Little River Cafe in Oregonia, OH is most easily reached by bike. It is literally on the side of the trail. The road to Oregonia is way out of the way.Elliston Place Diner in Nashville
In August, we got to visit Nashville and hang with my good friend and musician Antsy McClain. He took us around with a few other “field trippers” and showed us some of the sites of Nashville including music Row, some music dives and some good places to eat including the oldest diner in Nashville. We also have the unique chance to sit in a recording studio with Antsy and sing back up vocals on one of his songs!
Hanging with Antsy McClain at a dive in NashvilleHad lunch at Flatrock Coffee in Nashville. Great food and a large collection of one of a kind Antsy McClain art on coffee cupsAntsy McClain art on Coffee Cups — one of dozens of original pieces on display at Flatrock Coffee in NashvilleThe Antsy Backup gang at the recording studio in NashvilleSanders Cafe in Corbin, KY. Birthplace of the KFC Special Recipe
During the course of the year, I also took a few “staycation” trips within Kentucky. This included one on the bike trail with Julianne, but also to Ravenna, where I visited hey famed café called the Wigwam. I also took a fun trip with my grandchildren and my daughter Marissa down to Cumberland Falls and then on into Corbin to visit the Harlan Sanders museum and restaurant which is where the recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken got it start. During the fall I took a solo trip up into Red River Gorge to get pictures of the fall colors. I was about a week too late to get most of them, but that was because we were in south eastern Virginia on the Creeper Trail to see the beautiful colors down there.
Birthplace of KFCVisiting Cumberland Falls with my daughter and her kids.The Colonel and Me at Sanders CafeThe fall colors as seen from the Virginia Creeper Trail near Damascus, VAVisiting Kentucky’s Red River Gorge in NovemberColorful trees and leaves line a small road in Red River GorgeStory of Superman at Joe Shuster’s former home
Some of the other more unique places that I got to see over the past year would include the “Birthplace of Superman,” which was in Cleveland, as well as the house where the movie “A Christmas Story” was filmed. Also while in Ohio, I visited the world’s largest geodesic dome in Novelty, OH. That was fascinating.
Of course, I can’t neglect to mention the visit to Little Italy to see my birthplace and family. I ate fine Italian cuisine at Mama Santa’s and had a great time seeing other sites there. Its the best Little Italy in the US!
Cleveland Water TowerMurray Hill Rd….where I was born. Little ItalySumoflam with Mama Santa’s owner Papa TioThe Wendy’s Original $150,000 Crystal Cheeseburger created by Waterford Crystal
During the year I also visited two fast food restaurants that had included museums in them. The Wendy’s restaurant in Dublin, OH had a whole section built in there with the history of Wendy’s and a large statue of Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas. In Canonsburg, PA, there is a McDonald’s restaurant that includes dedications and memorabilia of Perry Como and Bobby Vinton, both of whom grew up in Canonsburg.
Home of Wendy’s“Where’s the Beef?” memorabilia from the famed advertising campaign in the Wendy’s Museum in Dublin, OHSumoflam with Dave Thomas statue in Dublin, OHBobby Vinton Statue in the Canonsburg, PA McDonald’sBobby Vinton Stage items on display in Canonsburg McDonald’s
It was fun for me to visit Xenia, OH and see the murals and the architecture and then also travel around some of the other areas nearby with Julianne and her sister and/or our grandchildren who rode their bikes along some of the bike trails including the Little Miami Scenic Trail.
We visited the Little Miami Scenic Trail twice and each time had a great time.
Julianne, Marissa and the kids on the Little Miami Scenic Trail near Beatty Station, OHWe stopped at Young’s Dairy for some fresh ice cream on this hot dayOne of Peter Toth’s 50+ Whispering Giants…this one in Ocean City, MD
Overall, I have to say it was a wonderful year. I saw dolphins swimming at sunrise on Christmas morning in the Atlantic Ocean in Maryland. We got to visit some of our great national historical sites in Washington DC. On many of the trips, it was fun to travel with the grandchildren and see the delight in their eyes they saw big waterfalls, giant statues and other interesting places.
Christmas morning sunrise in Ocean City , MD and greeted by a dolphin in the foreground.Delaware Seashore BridgeAnother Peter Toth Whispering Giant in Bethany Beach, DESumoflam at the Wigwam Drive-In in Ravenna, KY
On a final note, I have to say that we did visit a few interesting places to eat. A great taco place in Houston, and, as I mentioned before, the Wigwam in Ravenna, KY. Also of note were the Crabcake Factory in Ocean City, MD and a Japanese place with a unique name Saketumi, in Rehoboth Beach, DE.
Japanese food at the Saketumi Asian Bistro in Rehoboth Beach, DEEnjoyed a nice Amish Buffet in Ronks, PA on the way back from Maryland
As I start a new position in new venture 2017, I look forward to traveling. The new company (PrecisionHawk) is in Raleigh, NC and so I will be taking a trip there in early January. Who knows what other delights I will find in 2017.
Following are a few other random shots from my trips in 2016:
Sumoflam with Nancy Starvaggi Schaffer, showing off the AMAZING homemade sausage and pasta from Mama Santa’s Restaurant in Cleveland, OHWe visited Texas in October. This was in Texarkana, TXA shot with Elvis in MemphisA large mural of a train welcomes visitors to Ravenna, KYThe Washington Court House in Washington Court House, OH was one of many unique buildings I got to visit in 2016Cleveland Fire MemorialAssawoman Dr. in Ocean City, MDVisited Moon, PA in 2016. Visited Earth, TX in 2011. Earth vs Moon Police!World’s largest Geodesic Dome in Novelty, OHMany Unique Restaurants could be found in Ocean City and up in Delaware…Fun with my wife at Chagrin Falls in OhioBristol, Tennessee and Virginia – taken when we visited the Virginia Creeper Bike TrailAn old Mail Pouch barn in Brinkhaven, OHOf course, you can always come across unique shop names, like this one in HoustonKillbuck Depot on the Holmes County Trail in OhioA Pal’s Sudden Service building. Lots of fun and it looks like the food is great too.The Got Muchies Truck in Royalton, KY. Too funny for wordsHad to add this sign…this place was one of our true 2016 highlights!The 370 foot long Bridge of Dreams over the Mohican River near Brinkhaven.Damascus calls itself Trail Town USA for a reason. The Appalachian Trail, the Virginia Creeper Trail and others come to a crossroads here.Korean War Memorial in Zanesville, OH… hundreds of real helmetsWelcome to 84 Country – Eighty Four , PASumoflam at Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop in OhioHolmes County Trail is in the middle of Amish Country. The Bike Trail is shared with Amish BuggiesHiker painting on a restroom wall in Damascus