Towns of America A to Z: The I Towns #atozchallenge

Towns of America A to Z: The I Towns #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Buildings, Barns and Houses, Cross Country Road Trips, Dinosaurs, Family Travel, Giant Things, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Michigan, Murals, Museums, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Peter Wolf Toth, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Saskatchewan, Selfies, Signs and Billboards, Water Towers, Welcome Signs, Whispering Giants
Hope my A to Z posts are Interesting to y'all! I am Intending to get some good I town names in this post today.  There are some fun places and perhaps a few surprises! One of America's most famous I towns will be included as will one of the only towns whose name is an abbreviation. We'll also take a brief trip to Canada on this post. ENJOY THE READ!  ENJOY THE RIDE!   I.X.L, OKLAHOMA [caption id="attachment_29965" align="alignleft" width="225"] I.X.L., Oklahoma[/caption] I have traveled to all of the 50 states and have been tens of thousands of miles of backroads, and I.X.L. is the only place name I have come across where the actual town is abbreviated.  There may be more, but I  have personally not come across any.…
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Everywhere a Sign – Some U Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, National Monuments, National Parks, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, States and Provinces, Tennessee, Texas, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 1, US Highway 101, US Highway 177, US Highway 183, US Highway 190, US Highway 2, US Highway 271, US Highway 287, US Highway 51, US Highway 58, US Highway 60, US Highway 68, US Highway 79, US Highway 81, US Highway 89, US Highway 90, US Highways, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Water Towers, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Its a unanimous understatement to say that I love traveling the back roads of America looking for the interesting and unique. It is ultimately my utmost passion (well, besides my family and my grandchildren). I will also do something in this post. I will be posting some of the US Highway signs I have picked up, most specifically in 2018. I'll explain down below.  I hope you enjoy some of the U Signs I discovered in my 2018 travels.  Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride. Uranus, Missouri [caption id="attachment_20977" align="alignnone" width="525"] Welcome to Uranus Missouri[/caption] [caption id="attachment_20969" align="alignnone" width="403"] Uranus, Missouri water tower[/caption] [caption id="attachment_20958" align="alignnone" width="525"] Thanks for Picking Uranus[/caption] [caption id="attachment_20964" align="alignnone" width="525"] Sounds yummy[/caption] [caption id="attachment_20965" align="alignnone" width="412"] Help Keep Uranus Clean[/caption] [caption id="attachment_20951" align="alignnone" width="525"] The…
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Offbeat and Quirky Roadside Attractions Now Available on Amazon!

Adventure, Antsy McClain, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Big John, Books, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Giant Twine Balls, Junk Art, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Muffler Man, Mythical Creatures, Offbeat Places, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Unique Places, Uniroyal Gal, Wanderlust, Whispering Giants, Yard Art
Yesterday my new book, "Less Beaten Paths of America: Quirky and Offbeat Roadside Attractions" made its debut on Amazon! The book is 130 pages of FULL COLOR whimsy and kitsch as I tell stories of my visits to these places all over the U.S. and Canada. Definitely was fun taking these back roads trips to quirkville and I am excited to share them with you in words and photos. Even more exciting was that after a few hours the book was already #5 on Amazon's Road Travel New Releases chart and #24 on their Travel Reference chart!! I hope you will be able to check out the book or even get it on Kindle (#14 on the Road Travel chart). You Chang the book here: SEE NEW BOOK
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April 2018 Cross-Country Road Trip: Dignity of Earth and Sky Statue in South Dakota

Adventure, Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Illinois, Kansas, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Lewis and Clark Sites, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Offbeat Places, Oklahoma, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, South Dakota, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Whispering Giants
[caption id="attachment_20268" align="alignleft" width="225"] Sumoflam with Dignity near Chamberlain, SD[/caption] I love having the opportunity to come upon new and unplanned discoveries in my roadtrips.  While traveling, I constantly check my Roadside America app (which is available for iPhone download here) which has a handy dandy location finder and will tell you the closest of their featured attractions.  While driving through South Dakota near Chamberlain, I did so and came across "Dignity: A 50 foot-tall Indian Woman" statue entry.  Turns out it is located at a rest area near Chamberlain, SD overlooking the Missouri River valley way below.  It was also a Lewis and Clark stopover. [caption id="attachment_20271" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Dignity: Of Earth and Sky - 50 foot tall statue by Dale Lamphere[/caption] [caption id="attachment_20270" align="alignright" width="225"] Dignity statue as…
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A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The R Things #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alabama, Alberta, Arizona, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Books, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, California, Car Art, Colorado, Covered Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Enchanted Highway, Geologic Formations, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Junk Art, Kentucky, Landscapes, LDS Temples, Less Beaten Paths Books, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Murals, Museums, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, Squirrels, Street Art, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Virginia, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Washington, Water Towers, Waterfalls, Wyoming, Yard Art
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.   Ric's Grill - Steak in Water Tower - Lethbridge, Alberta [caption id="attachment_3228" align="alignnone" width="131"] Ric's Grill - Lethbridge, Alberta[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3229" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ric's Grill - Lethbridge, Alberta[/caption] Route 66 Soda / Route Beer - Mokena, Illinois [caption id="attachment_6685" align="alignnone" width="400"] Route 66 "Route Beer"[/caption] Rabbit Hash, Kentucky [caption id="attachment_8249" align="alignnone" width="266"] Welcome to Rabbit Hash, KY[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8243" align="alignnone" width="400"] Sign at Rabbit Hash Road[/caption] [caption…
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A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The M Things #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, Big John, Bike Trails, Birds, Books, Bucket List Trips, Burger Joints, California, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Fuji City, Geese, Geologic Formations, Illinois, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Manitoba, Mexico, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Mountains, Murals, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, North Carolina, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Saskatchewan, Selfies, South Dakota, Tennessee, Town Names, Travel in Japan, Tulum, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Utah, Vintage Neon, Virginia, Wall Art, Washington, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Yard Art, Zoos
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.   Mystic Pizza - Mystic, Connecticut [caption id="attachment_14789" align="alignnone" width="300"] Mystic Pizza in Mystic, CT with my sweet wife[/caption] Moon Township, PA [caption id="attachment_17276" align="alignnone" width="400"] Township of Moon, PA[/caption] Muscovy Duck - Damascus, Virginia [caption id="attachment_16945" align="alignnone" width="400"] A unique Muscovy duck in the river in Damascus[/caption] Mammy's Cupboard - Natchez, Mississippi [caption id="attachment_10735" align="alignnone" width="400"] Mammy's Cupboard in Natchez, MS[/caption] [caption id="attachment_10771" align="alignnone" width="400"] Mammy's Cupboard…
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A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The I Things #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Amish Country, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, Bridges, Burger Joints, Cebu, Covered Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Delaware, Dinosaurs, Dream Highways, Eateries, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Junk Art, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Murals, Museums, Nebraska, New York, Offbeat Places, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Saskatchewan, Selfies, Street Art, Texas, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Waterfalls, Wildflowers, Wyoming
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.   Idaho Potato Museum - Blackfoot, Idaho [caption id="attachment_14072" align="alignnone" width="400"] At the Idaho Potato Museum in 2013 - Blackfoot, ID[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2322" align="alignnone" width="400"] Idaho Potato Museum - Blackfoot[/caption] Intercourse, Pennsylvania [caption id="attachment_764" align="alignnone" width="400"] Intercourse, PA Sign - the most stolen town sign in the US[/caption] [caption id="attachment_15445" align="alignnone" width="360"] Amish Buggy Sales lot just outside of Intercourse[/caption] Indian Falls Log Cabin Restaurant - Corfu, New…
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A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The H Things #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Burger Joints, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Enchanted Highway, Found Metal Sculptures, Geologic Formations, Ghost Signs, Giant Things, Himeji, Horses, Hot Dog Places, Illinois, Indiana, Japanese Castles, Junk Art, Kentucky, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Murals, Mythical Creatures, National Monuments, National Parks, New Mexico, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Street Art, Texas, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Washington, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
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 [caption id="attachment_3012" align="alignnone" width="400"] Home on the Range sign in North Dakota[/caption] Hammering Man - Seattle, Washington [caption id="attachment_13688" align="alignnone" width="300"] The Hammering Man by Jonathan Borofsky[/caption] Ho-Hum Motel - West Yellowstone, Montana [caption id="attachment_4148" align="alignnone" width="400"] Ho-Hum Motel in West Yellowstone, Montana[/caption] Hillybilly Hot Dogs - Lesage, West Virginia [caption id="attachment_3359" align="alignnone" width="400"] Yes, they do have a Website!![/caption] [caption…
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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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S is for Super Statues – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Giant Things, Kansas, Large Statues, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Museums, New York, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places
There are some super huge statues in this country. Giant behemoths that can be seen from far away. Perhaps there is no place better for BIG than in Texas, where everything is supposedly bigger.  Texas actually has three of the tallest statues in the United States, including two that honor the great Texas heroes Sam Houston and Stephen Austin.  All three giant free standing statues exceed 70 feet in height (including the pedestal/base). This puts these giants in the top seven tallest monuments in the United States. [caption id="attachment_10390" align="aligncenter" width="660"] 77 Foot Tall Sam Houston Statue in Huntsville, Texas[/caption] "Tribute to Courage" - Sam Houston Statue - The First Texas Giant "World's Tallest Statue of an American Hero" [caption id="attachment_10392" align="alignleft" width="300"] Sumoflam with Big Sam Houston towering behind…
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