David Kravetz – Page 10 – Less Beaten Paths of America

02Apr 2021 by David Kravetz

AtoZ Challenge 2021 – Signs Signs – The B Signs #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Arizona, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Books, Burger Joints, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Giant Things, Indiana, Kentucky, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Maryland, Missouri, Murals, Mythical Creatures, Nebraska, New Mexico, Offbeat Places, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Restroom Signs, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Signs and Billboards, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Tourist Traps, Washington, Welcome Signs

Welcome to another year of the AtoZ Challenge. This year I am doing signs that I have seen across the country. This post will feature signs associated with the Letter B. ENJOY THE RIDE! We can't avoid signs. They are everywhere. Advertisements, informational signs, directional signs, business signs and, sometimes, even humorous and fun signs. Each of my posts in this years' challenge will feature a hodgepodge of signs I have come across in my travels. In most cases, I'll also note where they were taken. Some were actually inside of shops or otherwise, so not all will have locations. I hope you enjoy this fun trip each day of April. If you have been to Texas you have likely seen or even been to a Buc-ee's store. A massive…

01Apr 2021 by David Kravetz

AtoZ Challenge 2021 – Signs Signs – The A Signs #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Amish Country, Arizona, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Delaware, Eateries, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Maryland, Missouri, National and State Parks, Historic Sites and More, National Parks, New Mexico, Offbeat Places, Ohio, People Shots, Place Names, Quirky Things, Restroom Signs, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Signs and Billboards, Tourist Traps, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Utah, Washington

Welcome to another year of the AtoZ Challenge. This year I am doing signs that I have seen across the country. This post will feature signs associated with the Letter A. ENJOY THE RIDE! We can't avoid signs. They are everywhere. Advertisements, informational signs, directional signs, business signs and, sometimes, even humorous and fun signs. Each of my posts in this years' challenge will feature a hodgepodge of signs I have come across in my travels. In most cases, I'll also note where they were taken. Some were actually inside of shops or otherwise, so not all will have locations. I hope you enjoy this fun trip each day of April. Let's get started with Apples! Everyone likes apples. Wenatchee, Washington is the purported Apple Capital of the World. In…

31Mar 2021 by David Kravetz

Sakura – A Cherry Blossom Story

#TBT, Flowers, Fuji City, Gifu, Japan, Kentucky, Nature and Scenery, Ogaki, Oita, People Shots, Selfies, Travel in Japan

Back when I was in first grade (around 1963 or 1964) I learned a song in school. It was a Japanese song called "Sakura Sakura," which means Cherry Blossom, Cherry Blossom. It was a springtime song and the class sang it for the parents. I have never forgotten the words to the song over all these years. However, as a young child, it didn't even dawn on me that someday I would go to Japan and experience the Cherry Blossoms myself! In Lexington, where I reside, the cherry blossoms are in bloom, especially at the Lexington Cemetery. Each year as I go see them, I recite the words to the song again. Translated, this simple song says: Cherry Blossoms, Cherry Blossoms In the spring sky, as far as the eye…

25Mar 2021 by David Kravetz

Old-Timey General Stores Part 2: R.M. Brooks General Store – Rugby, TN

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Buildings, Barns and Houses, Less Beaten Paths Books, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Tennessee, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Turkeys, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places

This is the second post of my visits to Old-Timey General Stores. On March 5, 2021 I visited the R.M. Brooks General Merchandise Store in Rugby, Tennessee. Established in 1917, this one was a blast from the front of the store to all of the great antiques on the inside. Tiffany Jones Terry is the current proprietor and is the great-granddaughter of R.M. Brooks. She runs the place well. Their food offerings are amazingly good too! And you gotta try the Hoop Cheese on a sandwich! While my wife was hiking the Sheltowee Trace in the Big South Fork, I thought I would make a trip to Rugby from Jamestown. It isn't too far of a drive and Rugby is noted for its historic buildings, etc. (There will be…

17Mar 2021 by David Kravetz

Old-Timey General Stores Part 1: Forbus General Store – Pall Mall, TN

Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Buildings, Barns and Houses, Family Travel, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, National Parks, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Tennessee, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Uncategorized, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 127, Welcome Signs, Yard Art

It is always fun to run into an "old-timey" General Store when driving back roads. These are a throwback to the past and typically have items you don't see in most other stores. The "old-timey" stores each have their own personalities and may offer home-style meals, special home-made pies or fudge. On recent trips (February/March 2021) to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in northeastern Tennessee I had occasion to visit not one, but two of these 100-year old plus General Stores. What fun! I'll cover these in two different posts. This first post visits the Forbus General Store on York Highway (U.S. Hwy 127) in Pall Mall, Tennessee. The store was built by WM. Johnson in 1892 and was operated by him until his death in…

15Mar 2021 by David Kravetz

AtoZ Challenge Theme Reveal: Signs Signs Everywhere a Sign #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Mississippi, Missouri, Ontario

As I travel across the US and Canada, I obviously run into a variety of signs. Some are just informational, but others are very unique. My theme for the 2021 AtoZ Challenge is going to be signs. I'll present fun pictures and commentary on the many signs I run across. Some posts may have four or five and others just one. But, rest assured, you will see some fun signs along the way. I hope you will enjoy the ride as I introduce a plethora of fun signs from the U.S. and Canada (and maybe even some from overseas travels if I get the inkling!)

26Jan 2021 by David Kravetz

Roadtrippin’ 2020: The Roadways – Seeing the USA on back roads

Adventure, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Farmland, Geologic Formations, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, Mountains, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ocean Scenes, Oregon, Roadsigns, Route 66, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, US 129, US Highway 101, US Highway 14, US Highway 16, US Highway 16A, US Highway 2, US Highway 20, US Highways, Washington, Wyoming

The most time consuming part of any extended road trip is being on the road. For me, this is the icing on the cake. Sure, I love to see all of the quirky places, unique towns, Mom and Pop eateries and more. But, there is something about driving a two-lane highway (or narrow road or even gravel road) that brings out the wanderlust in me big time. Watching those white/yellow lines pass by while seeing the scenery, wildlife, buildings, etc., as I drive by, is one of the best parts of travel. Of course, a good soundtrack, like the thousands of songs on my Spotify playlists, also adds to the fun. I am a stats person. I love the numbers. Therefore, I keep my phone synced to Google Maps and…

23Dec 2020 by David Kravetz

Roadtrippin’ 2020: An Overview

Adventure, Arizona, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bison, Books, Bridges, Buffalo, California, City Skylines, Cross Country Road Trips, Deer, Dinosaurs, Dragons, Dream Highways, Eagles, Family Travel, Geologic Formations, Giant Things, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Landscapes, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, Mountains, Murals, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ocean Scenes, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oregon, Place Names, Quirky Things, Raccoon, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Rocky Mountains, Route 66, Sandhill Cranes, Seagulls, Selfies, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US 129, US Highway 101, US Highway 16, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Welcome Signs, Wyoming

The year 2020 has been a tough year for many people around the world. Its thrown me for a few loops as well. But, overall, as I look back on the year, it has been an absolutely amazing one. In fact, this may very well have been one of my biggest domestic road tripping years ever. Including the 8154 epic road trip in January and February, I put on an additional 4-5000 miles. Following are some of the highlights, which will be covered in separate posts over the next few days. Many of the trips included some of my children and grandchildren. We had some mini-reunions together. From the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, to the Pacific Ocean, Sequoia National Park and the Grand Canyon, we…

04Nov 2020 by David Kravetz

Murals of Hamilton, Ohio

Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Graffiti Walls, Less Beaten Paths Books, Murals, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Street Art, Unexpected Discoveries, Wall Art

Many cities are moving towards becoming "mural towns" as a drawing card to their towns. The nice thing about murals is that they are each so unique and original. In late October 2020 I had the opportunity to visit Hamilton, Ohio, which has now added numerous murals to buildings all around the town. Thanks to an organization called StreetSpark, some lovely murals have begun dotting the town. StreetSpark is similar to Lexington's PRHBTN organization, which I have written about a number of times. StreetSpark is a public art program established in 2016 in partnership with the Fitton Center for Creative Arts, the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Community Foundation, and was founded to further the creative identity in Hamilton, Ohio through exciting murals and public art projects. Since the…

06Oct 2020 by David Kravetz

Check out my Interview on the SECTION 500 Podcast. Released LIVE on Oct. 6, 2020

Adventure, Antsy McClain, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Less Beaten Paths Books, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Travel Blogging, Unique Places

I am so excited to announce my newest podcast interview. Honored to have been picked for their one year anniversary podcast too!! Please go #GRABALISTEN and Enjoy the Ride. These guys recently visited Mayor Louie Keen of Uranus in Missouri who turned them on to me. 500 Team in Uranus, MO with Louie Keen, the Mayor.

Author: David Kravetz