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 N Towns

Nicholson, Pennsylvania

Nicholson, Pennsylvania is a rather non-descript town in the eastern part of the state, close to New York. But, it does have one major attraction….The Nicholson Bridge (actually the Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct) which is 2375 feet long , 240 feet tall and 34 feet wide.  Yes, 24 stories tall !!!!!  The bridge was built as part of the Clark’s Summit-Hallstead Cutoff, which was part of a project of the Lackawanna Railroad to revamp a winding and hilly system. This rerouting was built between Scranton, Pennsylvania and Binghamton, New York.  All thirteen piers were excavated to bedrock, which was up to 138 feet (42 m) below ground level.  Almost half of the bulk of the bridge is underground. The bridge was built by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad and was designed by Abraham Burton Cohen. Construction on the bridge began in May 1912, and dedication took place on November 6, 1915. Amazing to think that this bridge is over 100 years old!! See more about the bridge HERE.

Nekoma, North Dakota

Go north on ND Highway 1  from US Highway 2 in central North Dakota and it will take you to Nekoma, North Dakota, not too far from the Canadian border. Like Nicholson above, the town is rather non-descript and practically a ghost town except for a few wind turbines and one other major item – America’s largest pyramid.  In the middle of nowhere. Actually, the pyramid is part of a larger installation called the Stanley R. Mickelson Safeguard Complex (SRMSC).  This complex was the United States’ first operational ABM (anti-ballistic missile) defense system. The Mickelsen Safeguard complex was deployed during the 1970s to defend the offensive Minuteman missiles based at Grand Forks Air Force Base in the event of a nuclear ICBM attack by the Soviet Union or China. The 80 foot high truncated pyramid “turret” of the MSR gave the radar its ability to see in all directions and is the only visible part of the MSCB. Nekoma is also the home of the Langdon Wind Farm which has 106 Wind Turbines, some of them right up on the Mickelsen Safeguard complex. In the middle of prairie lands, it offers unique views.  See more about northern North Dakota in my 2013 post HERE.

Natchez, Mississippi

US Highway 61 in Mississippi is known as the Blues Highway.  From the Tennessee border near Memphis all the way to Natchez are historical towns filled with blues history. In the midst of all of this is Mammy’s Cupboard Cafe….the epitome of vintage novelty architecture. Built in the 1940s, this unique place is a MUST SEE and MUST STOP destination if anywhere close. All of the food is home made.  I had a nice sandwich with their wonderful homemade bread.  But their homemade cake was to die for!!  I couldn’t resist….  See more about southern Mississippi in my 2014 post HERE.

Neah Bay, Washington

In 2015 my wife and I flew to Seattle to visit our daughter and her family.  While there, we all went northwest to the small town of Neah Bay, which is located on the Makah Indian Reservation. It is a small fishing town nestled in a corner by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the east.  Much of the area near the Pacific is high cliffs over looking the ocean.  Lots of Makah Culture surrounds the town. It is a beautiful place that is a long, fun drive!  See more about our 2015 visit to Neah Bay HERE.

Nauvoo, Illinois

There are not many Mormon historical sites as important or famous as Nauvoo, Illinois.  As members of the LDS Church, my family has visited there a few times both before and after the completion of the current temple there. The town is full of Mormon history, many small shops, and folks dressed in period clothing doing things as they did in the 1800s, such as making soap, printing presses, etc.  Every year they also have a magnificent pageant that covers the history of the LDS Church including the storied history of Nauvoo.  See more about Nauvoo on their website HERE.

Newport, Oregon

Back to the West Coast, but in Oregon.  Along the famed Pacific Coast Highway (US Highway 101), Newport sits on the Pacific southwest of Portland and is home of Mo’s Seafood, which supposedly has the best Clam Chowder in America (and I can attest to the fact that it was amazing!!).  It is also home to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, which the mural above represents. See more about Mo’s and other unique eateries all over the US and Canada HERE.

Newark, Ohio

Want to see a HUGE picnic basket?  Visit Newark, OH, home of the Longaberger Basket Company.  Their headquarters building is shaped just like a picnic basket.  No Joke!

Normal, Illinois (Honorable Mention)

Not a lot to see in Normal, Illinois.  But I do like the town name. I have written a bit about Normal HERE.

Nice, California (Honorable Mention)

Then there is a place in California I visited in 2015 called Nice.  Just stopped for a picture with the sign!  Be Nice or go away! See more about Nice and other central California oddities HERE.

New Salem, North Dakota (Honorable Mention)

Finally…the humongous Holstein known as Salem Sue in New Salem, North Dakota.  Talk about udderly moooving roadside attractions. Read about our 2005 visit to see Salem Sue and a number of other GIANTS along Interstate 94 in Minnesota and North Dakota HERE.

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