16Feb 2017 by David Kravetz

The Shack Burger Resort in Cypress, Texas

Backroads Discoveries, Burger Joints, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Graffiti Walls, Murals, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Street Art, Texas, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Wall Art, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_17411" align="alignleft" width="174"] The Shack Burger Resort in Cypress, TX[/caption] I occasionally write about unique eateries that I come across in my travels.  In the past I have written about Hillbilly Hot Dogs in Lesage, WV (see link), Voodoo Doughnut in Portland, OR (see link), Lambert's Cafe - the Home of Throwed Rolls in Sykston, MO (see link), the Wigwam in Ravenna, KY (see link), Fat Smitty's Burgers in Port Townsend, WA (see link) and dozens of other unique places.  Last week (Feb.  8, 2017) we were introduced to another fabulous place called The Shack Burger Resort in Cypress, TX.  Much like Fat Smitty's in Washington or Hillbilly Hot Dogs in West Virginia, this is a quirky themed eatery (or in this case, a resort...). [caption id="attachment_17419" align="aligncenter" width="474"]…
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13Feb 2017 by David Kravetz
Uncertain Revisited: A Tour of Caddo Lake

Uncertain Revisited: A Tour of Caddo Lake

Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Blue Heron, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Egret, Family Travel, Louisiana, Mythical Creatures, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Swamps, Texas, Town Names, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places
It was a few years ago when I first visited Uncertain, TX (You can see my March 2012 Post here.).  As a matter fact, it was on a cold day in February 2012 when I stopped by to see it for my first time. The real draw for me initially, was the name of the town, but the bigger draw ended up being the beautiful swamp-like setting of Caddo Lake. This past weekend (Feb. 10, 2017) I had an opportunity again to visit this beautiful setting, this time with my daughter and her three children. Unlike my visit to Uncertain before, we had bigger sights set on seeing Caddo Lake and some of the swamp. [caption id="attachment_17361" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Our guide, Aaron Applebaum with Mystique Tours[/caption] [caption id="attachment_17358" align="alignleft" width="300"]…
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11Jan 2017 by David Kravetz

The Year in Travel: 2016 from A to Z

Amish Country, Antsy McClain, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Bike Trails, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, City Skylines, Cross Country Road Trips, Delaware, Eateries, Family Travel, Illinois, Kentucky, Large Statues, Maryland, National Monuments, National Parks, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Staycations, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia
The year 2016 was not a banner year for travel for me as there were no super long  cross country trips taken like I had done form 2012-2015. However, over the course of the year we did take a number of smaller trips and a couple of fairly long trips. I visited 11 states during the year and made it to some places where I hadn't been for nearly 30 years. Even made it into towns from A (Abingdon, VA) to Z (Zanesville, OH) and one with an X too (Xenia, OH)!! Here is a map that includes many of the places: [caption id="attachment_17253" align="aligncenter" width="316"] Abingdon, VA - Eastern terminus of the Virginia Creeper Trail[/caption] [caption id="attachment_15813" align="aligncenter" width="236"] Zanesville, Ohio home of the Y Bridge[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16769" align="aligncenter"…
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05Oct 2016 by David Kravetz

Bike Trails: Dawkins Line Rail Trail – Royalton, KY

Backroads Discoveries, Bike Trails, Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Farmland, Kentucky, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Staycations, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 23, US Highway 460
This is the fourth post in a continuing series of Bike Trail posts. Like the back roads of America, the recent interest in bike paths and rails-to-trails paths provides a new insight on "back roads". Each Bike Path post will include surrounding information, vehicle support info and trail ratings as provided by my wife Julianne. One bike pump equals a "poor" rating while five pumps equals an "excellent" rating. We'll also provide links to the RTC TrailLinks overview of the trail. Complete Trails Overview Post is HERE Dawkins Line Rail Trail - Swamp Branch, KY (Click here for Trail Post with photos)Click here for RTC TrailLink Details Kentucky's longest and best Rails to Trail Bike Trail is the Dawkins Line Rail Trail which runs 18 miles from Royalton, KY (near…
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23Sep 2016 by David Kravetz

Life Gets Busy But I Still Try To Enjoy The Ride

Antsy McClain, Backroads Discoveries, Bike Trails, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Kentucky, Landscapes, Ohio, People Shots, Random Thoughts, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Tennessee, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Virginia
[caption id="attachment_17164" align="alignleft" width="217"] Somewhere in Oregonia, OH[/caption] Recently, life has gotten pretty hectic for old Sumoflam.  So much so that my blogs are taking a beating and seemingly forgotten.  I am now teaching Japanese full time at the University of Kentucky and that, coupled with my website work, has taken a toll on available time. [caption id="attachment_17161" align="alignright" width="300"] Sunbeams through the trees at Jacobson Park in Lexington, KY[/caption] Traveling, blog writing and photography are my passions.  They are my art.  When I can't be working on them, it hurts. I feel like I am missing out on some of life's joys. Today we are traveling to the Pittsburgh area and I had a few minutes to write a couple of notes.  I have had some travel opportunities in…
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01Sep 2016 by David Kravetz

Roadside America Celebrates 20 Years on the Web today

Backroads Discoveries, Big John, Bucket List Trips, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Giant Things, Giant Twine Balls, Large Statues, Muffler Man, Museums, National Monuments, National Parks, Roadside Attractions, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Uniroyal Gal, Vintage Neon
My friends at Roadside America (www.roadsideamerica.com) are celebrating 20 years on the World Wide Web today (September 1, 2016.) [caption id="attachment_17149" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Home page from 1996 kickoff of Roadside America website[/caption] I have actually been using their site since the beginning and over the years have submitted stories, updates and photographs from my travels to the 50 United States and parts of Canada. [caption id="attachment_8762" align="alignnone" width="960"] Sumoflam and Big Fish in Bena, MN, one of the 1000s of sites covered[/caption] There are many travel sites on the web, but this, in my opinion, tops them all!! If there is a quirky, offbeat, unique roadside attraction on the back roads of America, chances are you can read about it and see photos on its site. I am honored to…
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04Aug 2016 by David Kravetz

Ohio’s Amish Country – Holmes County, OH

Amish Country, Backroads Discoveries, Bike Trails, Bridges, Covered Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Farmland, Giant Things, Landscapes, Ohio, People Shots, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 62, Wildflowers
[caption id="attachment_17018" align="alignleft" width="300"] Holmes County Trail, Ohio[/caption] We took a road trip to Holmes County, OH in late July 2016 for Julianne to ride the Holmes County Bike Trail and the Mohican Valley Bike Trail.  (I will have Bike Trail posts about both of these coming soon) While she rode, I visited a few of the places in the area.  I had visited the area in 2008, including the town of Charm.  (See my post HERE) In another trip in the early 2000s, we had also visited the unique town of Berlin.  I never did a post about the town and hope to make it there again sometime in the future.  On this particular visit, we didn't make it to that part of Holmes County.  Rather, we focused on…
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28Jul 2016 by David Kravetz

Bike Trails: Montour Trail, Canonsburg, PA

Backroads Discoveries, Bike Trails, Cross Country Road Trips, Farmland, Geologic Formations, Landscapes, Pennsylvania, Roadside Attractions, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places
This is the third post in a continuing series of Bike Trail posts.  Like the back roads of America, the recent interest in bike paths and rails-to-trails paths provides a new insight on "back roads".  Each Bike Path post will include surrounding information, vehicle support info and trail ratings as provided by my wife Julianne.  One bike pump equals a "poor" rating while five pumps equals an "excellent" rating.  We'll also provide links to the RTC TrailLinks overview of the trail. Complete Trails Overview Post is HERE Montour Trail - Pittsburgh/Canonsburg, PAClick here for RTC TrailLink Details [caption id="attachment_16766" align="alignleft" width="225"] Julianne at the Montour Trail in Pennsylvania[/caption] In late May 2016, Julianne and I visited her sister Laura in Canonsburg, PA. Right outside of Canonsburg (you can see my…
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27Jul 2016 by David Kravetz

Bike Trails: Ohio Erie Towpath Trail, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH

Backroads Discoveries, Bike Trails, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Museums, National Parks, Ohio, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places
This is the second in a continuing series of Bike Trail posts.  Like the back roads of America, the recent interest in bike paths and rails-to-trails paths provides a new insight on "back roads".  Each Bike Path post will include surrounding information, vehicle support info and trail ratings as provided by my wife Julianne.  One bike pump equals a "poor" rating while five pumps equals an "excellent" rating.  We'll also provide links to the RTC TrailLinks overview of the trail. Complete Trails Overview Post is HERE Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail – Cuyahoga Valley N.P., OH Click here for RTC TrailLink Details [caption id="attachment_16830" align="alignright" width="300"] Towpath Trail in Cuyahoga Valley NP, Ohio[/caption] The Ohio Erie Towpath Trail runs along the old Erie canal towpath and covers approximately 85…
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25Jul 2016 by David Kravetz

A visit to Damascus, Virginia

Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, Bike Trails, Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Farmland, Flowers, Ghost Signs, Giant Things, Kentucky, Landscapes, Murals, Muscovy Duck, People Shots, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Street People, Tennessee, Train Bridges, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, US Highway 119, US Highway 23, US Highway 58, Virginia, Wall Art, Wildflowers, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_16847" align="alignleft" width="210"] Welcome to Damascus[/caption] Last weekend we made a trip to Damascus, VA with the goal of Julianne and our daughter Marissa riding their bikes on the Virginia Creeper Trail, one of many wonderful Rails to Trails bike trails that can be found in this part of the country.   I will have a different post about the Virginia Creeper Trail as part of my Bike Trail Series, but I wanted to post an article about the non-bike portion of our trip to Damascus, Abingdon, and Bristol, VA.  Besides the bike trail, there is so much more to see and do on a  road trip down to this part of Appalachia. We began our trip by leaving early in the morning on Saturday to drive to Damascus…
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