18Jan 2013 by David Kravetz

A Visit to Mayberry RFD – Mt. Airy, NC

Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, South Dakota
Mayberry Cheese[/caption] Growing up as a child I was a frequent watcher of the Andy Griffith Show.  The show was set in the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina though apparently all of the filming of the show actually took place in California at DesiLu studios. [caption id="attachment_591" align="aligncenter" width="259"] Andy Griffith Museum, Mt. Airy, NC - Statue of Andy and Opie (played by Ron Howard)[/caption] Andy Griffith actually grew up in Mt. Airy, NC and the ficitional town of Mayberry was loosely based on that town.  So, on a trip to North Carolina back in March 2012 , I made my way to Mt. Airy on the way back to Kentucky.  It was nostalgic and fun.  Here are a few shots from "Mayberry R.F.D." [caption id="attachment_590" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Mt.…
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10Jan 2013 by David Kravetz
If not a glass house, how about a house made out of beer cans?

If not a glass house, how about a house made out of beer cans?

Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, South Dakota
Beer Can House[/caption] Now this is a unique place to visit in downtown Houston.  A creation of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. This house was started in 1968 by a guy named John Milkovisch (see history of the house).  According to Ripley's Believe It or Not, over 50,000 beer cans have been used on this house. [caption id="attachment_571" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Beer Can House Front[/caption] He notes on the sign to "Live by the Golden Rule", but I think he is actually living the "Aluminum Rule"!! [caption id="attachment_570" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Beer Can House entry[/caption] [caption id="attachment_566" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Beer Can House Wall[/caption] [caption id="attachment_579" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Beer Can House Siding[/caption] [caption id="attachment_574" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Beer Can House Garland[/caption] [caption id="attachment_577" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Beer Can House Wall[/caption] [caption id="attachment_573" align="aligncenter"…
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06Jan 2013 by David Kravetz
Jackalope Heaven – Douglas, Wyoming

Jackalope Heaven – Douglas, Wyoming

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Giant Things, Jackalope, Large Statues, Museums, Mythical Creatures, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wyoming
Large Jackalope - Douglas, WY Railroad Museum[/caption] Douglas, Wyoming claims to be the "Official Home of the Jackalope."  Throughout the west one can find jackalopes in shops and statues of them.  They even have a Jackalope Days in June. [caption id="attachment_558" align="aligncenter" width="239"] Jackalope Crossing[/caption] According to legendsofamerica.com, "The jackalope is said to be an antlered species of rabbit, sometimes rumored to be extinct. One of the rarest animals in the world, it is a cross etween a now extinct pygmy-deer and a species of killer rabbit. The antlered species of rabbit are brownish in color, weigh between three and five pounds and move with lighting speeds of up to 90 miles per hour. [caption id="attachment_556" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Wyoming Jackalope[/caption] Apparently the first jackalope was spotted in 1829 near the…
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04Jan 2013 by David Kravetz
Cliff Bruce Windmill Hill – How about some off-beat stuff

Cliff Bruce Windmill Hill – How about some off-beat stuff

Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, South Carolina, South Dakota
Cliff Bruce Windmill Hill[/caption] [caption id="attachment_548" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Cliff Brice Warning Sign[/caption] Just outside of Woodstock, Ontario is an interesting place called Cliff Bruce Windmill Hill.  Cliff Bruce is one of those collectors of odd and random stuff.  (another of these is Hamtramck Disneyland in Detroit). He has some whirligigs, windmills, stop lights, random fiberglass animals and even Fred Flintstone on the porch. These are then displayed throughout his yard.  Here are a couple more photos. [caption id="attachment_543" align="aligncenter" width="239"] Windmill Hill - Big Cat[/caption] [caption id="attachment_542" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Windmill Hill - Big Dog[/caption] [caption id="attachment_547" align="aligncenter" width="165"] Tire Snowman[/caption] [caption id="attachment_545" align="aligncenter" width="260"] Whirlygigs[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_546" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Horse Whirlygigs[/caption] Cliff Bruce Windmill Hill, Woodstock, Ontario]]>
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29Dec 2012 by David Kravetz

Lynn's Paradise Cafe – A Feast for Eyes and Tummy!!

Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, Route 66, South Dakota
Lynn's Paradise Cafe[/caption] Welcome to Lynn's Paradise Cafe in Louisville, Kentucky.  This is probably the most unique place you will ever eat at.  Funky lamps everywhere, colorful everything...a real fun place!!  Oh, and did I mention the food?? [caption id="attachment_510" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Squeeze the Day[/caption] Start off the day right with a good breakfast at Lynn's.  They do not skimp on the servings and the eating is YUMMIFEROUS!! Much of my family met there in late December 2012 for a big breakfast.  Here are some of the goodies we had. [caption id="attachment_508" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Breakfast![/caption] [caption id="attachment_504" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Crunchcakes[/caption] [caption id="attachment_505" align="aligncenter" width="225"] French Toast in Bourbon Sauce[/caption] [caption id="attachment_506" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Matador Omelet and Cheese Grits[/caption] [caption id="attachment_507" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Biscuits and Gravy[/caption] [caption id="attachment_514" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Hot…
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27Nov 2012 by David Kravetz

Some REAL Giants – Glen Goode's Big People, Gainesville, TX

Backroads Discoveries, Big John, Family Travel, Giant Things, Large Statues, Muffler Man, Texas, Uniroyal Gal
On a recent trip home from Texas in November 2012,  we made our way through Gainesville.  While there, we decided to take a small diversion to go see Glen Goode's Big People, some large fiberglass statues on the side of the road. [caption id="attachment_494" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Glen Goode's from the Road[/caption] [caption id="attachment_495" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Glen Goode's Big People[/caption] [caption id="attachment_497" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Glen Goode's Big People[/caption] [caption id="attachment_493" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Glen Goode's Big People Glen Goode's Big People[/caption]   Glen Goode's Big People, near Gainesville, TX]]>
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25Oct 2012 by David Kravetz

Got Tuba? — Travelers Club International Restaurant and Tuba Museum

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Colorado, South Dakota
Traveler's Club International Restaurant and Tuba Museum[/caption] Back in May of 2008 I took a trip to Grand Rapids, MI and then headed home on some backroads.  I stopped in Okemos, MI for some lunch and a visit to the Travelers Club International Restaurant and Tuba Museum. [caption id="attachment_478" align="aligncenter" width="316"] World Famous Sousaphountain[/caption] The restaurant is known for its diverse international cuisine, which you dine on casually while looking at the great variety of tubas and sousaphones.  You can also eat outside and listen to the gurgling of the Sousaphountain.  On this day I had a Buffalo Burger and it was great!! [caption id="attachment_465" align="aligncenter" width="432"] Travelers Club International Restaurant's famous Buffalo Burger[/caption] The better part of the journey was all of the tubas around the place.  Here are…
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23Sep 2012 by David Kravetz

Screaming Heads and Midlothian Castle – Ontario

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Family Travel, Farmland, Giant Things, Large Statues, Mythical Creatures, Ontario, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Yard Art
Just about 4 years ago I took a drive through Algonquin National Park in Ontario.  On the trip we also headed west into Burk's Falls to visit the famed "Screaming Heads" and Midlothian Castle.  This was a fascinating trip. This entire project was begun by school teacher and artist Peter Camani.  He is a Secondary School teacher, but has also spent over 25 years constructing Monolith-like sculptures in the shape of giant heads, which are scattered throughout the property. A two-headed dragon sits atop the chimney of his Midlothian Castle and he has a version of the See/Say/Hear No Evils greet visitors. There are more than a hundred “screaming head” sculptures, each one at least 20 feet in height. According to Wikipedia, Camani says he "built his otherworldly creations as…
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