08Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

G is for Grandeur – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Arizona, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Big Cities, Bison, Buffalo, California, City Skylines, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Farmland, Florida, Geologic Formations, Idaho, Kentucky, Landscapes, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pelicans, Pennsylvania, Pronghorn Antelope, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, Sandhill Cranes, Selfies, South Dakota, Swamps, Texas, Travel Blogging, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Utah, Virginia, Volcanic Sites, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming
The United States is a vast and diverse country. From sea to shining sea there are sweeping vistas and spectacular scenes of nature. The grandeur of this country is not seen on the interstate highways, but on the back roads and the gravel roads that have woven the fiber of this country. [caption id="attachment_17743" align="aligncenter" width="672"] Grandeur as seen on a back road in North Dakota - The Enchanted Highway[/caption] [caption id="attachment_15481" align="alignleft" width="300"] Mt. Moran in the Grand Tetons as seen from Colter Bay Lodge[/caption] I am always awestruck by the superb landscapes that one can witness on the back roads. Some of these landscapes, such as the Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains, are known by everybody. But there are so many more spectacles to feast your eyes…
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07Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

F is for Falls – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alaska, Arizona, Back Roads, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Idaho, Kentucky, Landscapes, Lewis and Clark Sites, National Parks, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Unexpected Discoveries, Washington, Water Towers, Waterfalls, Wyoming
I love visiting all of the offbeat and quirky places when I'm out on the road. But, I must confess that I am also addicted to the beauty of nature in all its forms. One of the more splendid beautiful objects of nature is the waterfall. Every state in the country has waterfalls, those though some are more magnificent than others. [caption id="attachment_17709" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Sumoflam at Cumberland Falls in Kentucky[/caption] [caption id="attachment_17701" align="alignright" width="300"] Niagara Falls[/caption] Like millions of other tourists, I have most certainly been to Niagara Falls on the Canadian side and to American Falls on the American side. These are beyond spectacular! Though the roar of Niagara Falls will always be in the back of my mind, there are others that I've drawn me closer in…
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06Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

E is for Enjoy the Ride – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Antelope, Arizona, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Cross Country Road Trips, Indiana, Minnesota, Montana, National Parks, Rocky Mountains, Selfies, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Utah, Wanderlust, Wyoming
One of my themes in life is to "Enjoy the Ride." This is how I live my life, but it is especially true when it comes to my wanderlust and desire to travel the back roads of America. The thrill that I get as I get on the open road with the windows rolled down and the music playing while looking at the trees and fence posts and telephone poles flying by me is amazing. I enjoy the ride every single trip! [caption id="attachment_9124" align="aligncenter" width="660"] A lonely tree decorates US Hwy 2 east of Culbertson, MT[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8742" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Pine trees along US Route 2 between Floodwood and Grand Rapids, MN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1875" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Antelope on the Run in Wyoming[/caption] To "Enjoy the Ride" means to look…
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05Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

D is for Diners, Dives and Drive-ins – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Alabama, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Burger Joints, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, People Shots, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, Selfies, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia
What is April A to Z? Every April, bloggers from all over the world participate in the April A to Z blog challenge, and you can too. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a great way to meet other bloggers. To play along, all you do is make a blog post for each letter of the alphabet during April, then visit as many other bloggers as you can. Road trips would never be the same without the opportunity to stop at local diners, dives and drive-ins (OK...I gotta give credit to Guy Fieri). Food is such an important part of a road trip. Obviously, no matter where one drives they always come across the chain shops like McDonald's, Wendy's, KFC, etc. With those places, the food you get is…
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04Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

C is for Car Art – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Burger Joints, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Illinois, Kentucky, Large Statues, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, South Dakota, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Washington, Wisconsin, Yard Art
What is April A to Z? Every April, bloggers from all over the world participate in the April A to Z blog challenge, and you can too. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a great way to meet other bloggers. To play along, all you do is make a blog post for each letter of the alphabet during April, then visit as many other bloggers as you can. Car art. What is it? And what is it about cars that makes someone want to create art with it. Many a travel blogger has visited sites that include car art of some sort. This particular writer is included in that group, and, in fact, is an avid seeker of car art of all forms.   [caption id="attachment_4822" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Cadillac…
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03Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

B is for Back Roads – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Alaska, Amish Country, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Farmland, Geologic Formations, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, Saskatchewan, Selfies, South Dakota, Staycations, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
What is April A to Z? Every April, bloggers from all over the world participate in the April A to Z blog challenge, and you can too. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a great way to meet other bloggers. To play along, all you do is make a blog post for each letter of the alphabet during April, then visit as many other bloggers as you can. I live to travel the back roads of America. These are the core of my travels around the United States and Canada. They always offer the best of everything: scenery, traffic conditions and a myriad of surprises.   [caption id="attachment_17615" align="aligncenter" width="660"] A gravel road south of Belvidere, SD[/caption] [caption id="attachment_17586" align="alignright" width="300"] A road approaching a checkerboard wheat farm near…
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01Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

A is for Adventure – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Car Art, Covered Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Geologic Formations, Giant Things, Idaho, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Mountains, Murals, Ohio, Pelicans, Place Names, Post Offices, Random Thoughts, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, Selfies, South Dakota, Staycations, Tennessee, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 2, Wanderlust, Washington, Wyoming
What is April A to Z? Every April, bloggers from all over the world participate in the April A to Z blog challenge, and you can too. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a great way to meet other bloggers. To play along, all you do is make a blog post for each letter of the alphabet during April, then visit as many other bloggers as you can. Today is day one of the A to Z bloggers challenge. I am focusing on Wanderlust and for my first post I will look at what is probably the biggest result of wanderlust. That is, adventure. Those that travel in most cases do so for the adventure. Indeed, the opportunity to discover new things, experience new things and taste new things…
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20Mar 2017 by David Kravetz

Sumoflam’s #AtoZChallenge Theme Reveal: Wanderlust

A to Z Challenge, Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Random Thoughts, Selfies, Travel Blogging, Travel with grandchildren, Unique Places, Wanderlust
Last year I decided to take on a challenge from my author friend Tui Snider, namely, to participate in the 2016 Bloggers A to Z Challenge.  It was not easy.  The rules of the challenge are to post 26 blog posts, one a day, except on Sundays, and all based on a self-defined theme and in alphabetical order. You can see my entire list of last year's posts with links on my Reflections Post from May 2016.  Check it out at https://lessbeatenpaths.com/a-to-z-challenge-complete-list/ Ultimately, despite the grueling challenge, I have decided to tackle it again this year.  Read more to see the theme! [caption id="attachment_17256" align="alignright" width="200"] Travel the US[/caption] As a travel blogger (and sometimes blogger of things odd and quirky and offbeat), I plan on keeping my theme along…
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08Mar 2017 by David Kravetz

Watch for my 2017 A to Z Blog Challenge Reveal on March 20 #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Roadside Attractions, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries
Last April (in 2016), I participated in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  I was a "Survivor" since I did a post for each letter through the month of April. Last year I posted about Unique Towns Across America.  You can see my Reveal Post from last year HERE. I had a load of fun and met many new bloggers online as a result...I even learned a few things. You can see my entire list with links on my Reflections Post from May 2016.  Check it out at https://lessbeatenpaths.com/a-to-z-challenge-complete-list/ Chances are that this year there will still be a travel related A to Z posting from me, but it may have a few fun twists. So, please make sure to check out my blog to see my BIG REVEAL…
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07Mar 2017 by David Kravetz

The Story Behind the Story Inn – Story, Indiana

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Indiana, Murals, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Yard Art
A couple of weeks ago (Feb. 25, 2017) we took a trip to Indianapolis for a meeting for my wife and daughter. As is typically the case, I wanted to go along and drive some back roads.   [caption id="attachment_17507" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Welcome to Story, IN[/caption] I am always on the lookout for unique and interesting places to visit and we did find one on this particular trip. We visited a little community in Indiana called Story. [caption id="attachment_17461" align="aligncenter" width="344"] Map of Story, IN[/caption] Story probably only has about 100 people or less in the village.  It was founded in 1851 by Dr. George Story who received a land grant from then President Millard Fillmore. By the 1880s the town had become one of the largest settlements in the…
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