June 2019 Road Trip: Fun, Quirky and Offbeat Things

Adventure, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Cross Country Road Trips, Dinosaurs, Eateries, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Junk Art, Kentucky, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Muffler Man, New Mexico, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Quirky Things, Restroom Signs, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, Tennessee, Texas, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places
With any road trip I take, I look for a lot of different things.  I can find the offbeat and quirky, the beautiful, the unique, the magical, the historical, the fun and more...all in one trip.  I am focused...on the big picture. My June 2019 road trip took me over the road for nearly 6000 miles and through nine states.  I tried to stick to back roads wherever possible because that is where the greatest discoveries can be found. In this post, I present to you some of the more unique, fun and, in some cases quirky things that I discovered along the way.  There is always something out there. Here are few fun things... Place Names I am always looking for fun names.  How about Delight, Turkey, Jolly, Greasy…
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June 2019: The Great Southwest Trek

Adventure, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Geologic Formations, Illinois, Kentucky, Landscapes, Missouri, Mountains, National Monuments, National Parks, New Mexico, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Unique Places, Volcanic Sites, Welcome Signs
On June 5 I departed home on a 10 day adventure to the southwest U.S.  I had made plans with my sister Sherry to accompany her and her family to Tucson and Albuquerque to visit our brothers Aaron and Gary, both of whom neither of us had seen on over 20 years. I love my road trips.  But I really looked forward to this one as much of it would take me to many of my old stomping grounds.  Plans were to visit Aaron in Tucson, then go up to Flagstaff, via Sedona, for a couple of days of touring around there and then off to Albuquerque to visit Gary. I was really excited about the Flagstaff part.  From 1980 to 1984 we lived in Flagstaff, where I attended Northern…
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Everywhere a Sign – Some Z Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Offbeat Places, Oregon, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 171, US Highway 26, US Highway 290, Wanderlust
Well, I have made it...from A to Z throughout the month of April.  Along the way I have provided some Zany photos and many Zingers. In 2018 I traveled the country with great Zeal, hitting 26 states with the Zippiest of attitudes.  I hope to provide you with a Zestful rest of your day with a few Z signs I found along the way in 2018.  Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride. Zigzag, Oregon Zigzag, Oregon is located on the very beautiful Mt. Hood Scenic Byway on US Highway 26.  It is home to one of America's oldest Ranger Stations and there are a couple of restaurants and gift shops.  The name Zigzag is assumed to come originally from pioneer/explorer Joel Palmer in 1845 as he wrote about a ravine…
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Everywhere a Sign – Some Y Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Burger Joints, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Giant Things, Less Beaten Paths Books, Offbeat Places, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 270, US Highway 30, US Highway 71
For the month of April I have yearned to get back on the road, be youthful and young-at-heart.  I have desired some of the yummy things that can be discovered along the way. Sadly, life goes on.  But I'll be on the road again soon like the days of yore driving yonder to bring all sorts of yeasty adventures!  And here are the few Y signs I could garner during 2018.  Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride. Y City, Arkansas Y City, Arkansas sits at the junction of U.S. Routes 71 and 270 in the southern in Scott County, Arkansas.  This is another of this places I just happened upon in my travels in 2018. Yummy Palace, Irwin, Pennsylvania I didn't eat at the Yummy Palace in Irwin, Pennsylvania.  Supposedly…
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Everywhere a Sign – Some XTRA Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Burger Joints, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Ghost Signs, Idaho, Indiana, Junk Art, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Murals, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, South Dakota, Texas, Town Names, Toy Collections, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Utah, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Washington, Welcome Signs, West Virginia
Throughout my travels in 2018, I did not come across a single X sign.  In the past, I have been able to use Xenia, Ohio, but we didn't go there last year. So, I am Xcited to Xplain how I will post a number of fun XTRAs that I didn't use in previous posts. There were some Xceptionally funny ones and a few Xtremely interesting ones. I hope you'll enjoy my special edition of Xtra Signs from my travels over the years.  Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride. XTRA Fun For ALL -- We are open At the X-Roads - Corssroads signs from 2018 A Few Xceptionally Interesting Xtra Signs From 2018 A Few Real Oinkers! Now Back to More Xcellent Xtras Like what you see? Well, there is lots…
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Everywhere a Sign – Some WELCOME Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alabama, Alaska, Alberta, Amish Country, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bike Trails, California, Canada, Colorado, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Delaware, Family Travel, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Manitoba, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Murals, Museums, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Washington, Welcome Signs, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Well, the Blogging Challenge is winding down.  It has been a wild and wacky challenge for me. Through the month I have provided readers with a wide variety of wonderful signs which I wandered upon during the year.  As I do with all of my posts, I try to be witty and wry in my presentation. I hope that I have brought out the wanderlust in my readers as well.  This post will be all about Welcome Signs. Please now enjoy my special edition of W Signs from my travels over the years.  Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride. Welcome Signs Everywhere! I love feeling welcome in places!  Perhaps one of my bigger "collections" of place signs along the highways of America are the Welcome signs to states, communities and…
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Everywhere a Sign – Some V Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alabama, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, Books, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Giant Things, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Offbeat Places, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Texas, Unique Eatery, Unique Places
Its a very exciting time when I can visualize a future trip on the back roads of America. I tackle all of my trips with Vim and Vigor.  I feel validated after even the most vexing of trips. As I wind down the month of April and the 2019 blogging challenge, I can see the finish line and can tast victory.  Maybe I will celebrate with Voodoo Doughnuts!! I hope you enjoy some of the V Signs I discovered in my 2018 travels.  Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride. Voodoo Doughnut, Austin, Texas There are not many unique doughnut places.  But, in my opinion, of all of the unique ones, Voodoo Doughnut rides the Top of the list.   My first experience with Voodoo was in 2011 in Portland, Oregon.  I…
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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 Might as well start this post on a humorously low point.  Yes indeed, there is a place in Missouri called Uranus. And yes, it is pronounced "Your Anus" (and by the way, I heard a question on Jeopardy recently and Alex Trebek pronounces…
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Everywhere a Sign – Some T Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Family Travel, Illinois, Less Beaten Paths Books, Missouri, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, Texas, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 2, Vintage Neon, Washington
Travel is my passion.  It is a terrific passion that tantalizes every nerve in my soul. Needless to say, I am a tenacious traveler. I try to track down every nook and cranny on the back roads of this terrific country. From the twisted and tortuous mountain roads to the tall tree-lined highways, I am always tempted to go yet another mile.  I hope you will enjoy some of the T Signs I discovered in my 2018 travels. Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride. Telephone, Texas Telephone, Texas was a surprise for me.  Didn't know this town was here, but it was on my way north to Oklahoma from Fort Worth (on country back roads of course!)  When I got to the small community of about 200, I was thrilled…
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Everywhere a Sign – Some S Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Idaho, Illinois, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, South Dakota, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 2, US Highway 85, US Highway 87, Wanderlust, Washington, Water Towers
Since man could walk, travel has been a part of life.  The sensational opportunity to see the world has kept most of us from being sedentary. The singular driving force is the strong desire of discovery. For nearly 50 years I have sought the sensation, the scintillating, the stylish and the silly in my travels.  In 2018, that striving for something special continued.  I hope you will enjoy some of the S Signs I discovered in my 2018 travels. Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride. Smiley, Texas I was down in Houston in February 2018 and took the grandsons on an expedition.  One of my "goal places" was Smiley, Texas.   I always love places with unique names.  The small community's name has nothing to do with smiles.  Rather, it was…
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