06Jan 2016 by David Kravetz
2015 In Review: The Year In Travel

2015 In Review: The Year In Travel

Antsy McClain, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Big Cities, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, California, Car Art, City Skylines, Colorado, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Geologic Formations, Giant Things, Graffiti Walls, Kentucky, Large Statues, Maine, Mountains, Murals, Museums, National Parks, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Seagulls, Selfies, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Utah, Wall Art, Washington, West Virginia
[caption id="attachment_15055" align="alignnone" width="474"] San Francisco, May 2015[/caption] [caption id="attachment_15062" align="alignnone" width="474"] Seattle, WA, August 2015[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14669" align="aligncenter" width="474"] New York City at night as seen from Hoboken, NJ, September 2015[/caption] [caption id="attachment_15067" align="alignleft" width="300"] Golden Gate Bridge[/caption] The year 2015 started off with plans to travel to a couple of locations, but not the extent of the travel that I enjoyed in 2014. As it turned out, I had some great experiences and more travel than had been originally planned. It was truly a good year for my travel as I have noted in my blog posts and Facebook posts throughout the year. [caption id="attachment_13584" align="alignright" width="225"] Flying in 2015[/caption] Unlike most of my travel, which I like to do by car on back roads, the year's travel…
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10Dec 2015 by David Kravetz

A Trip To New England – September 2015

#TBT, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, Bucket List Trips, City Skylines, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Flowers, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Television Shows, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, West Virginia, Wildflowers
[caption id="attachment_14635" align="alignleft" width="300"] Baby Samuel September 2015[/caption] At the end of August we had a new grandson born into the family -- Samuel Kravetz is now grandchild #10.  He was born to my son Seth and his wife Holly, who, at the time, were living near Hartford, Connecticut.  Naturally, this was a cause for celebration and for a trip to Connecticut to see this new bundle of joy. [caption id="attachment_14830" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Our Route to Connecticut from Lexington (via Hershey World and Carlos Bake Shop)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14653" align="alignright" width="300"] Heading east with the grandkidz![/caption] So, we planned the trip and our daughter Marissa and her three children would join Julianne and I for a visit to New England.  On September 5th we headed east on I-64 for this "see…
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06Oct 2015 by David Kravetz

Washington State: Point Defiance Zoo

Birds, Budgies, Cross Country Road Trips, Eagles, Elephants, Family Travel, Flowers, LDS Temples, Mountains, Polar Bears, Puffins, Tigers, Travel with grandchildren, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Washington, Zoos
[caption id="attachment_14298" align="alignleft" width="300"] All packed in and ready to head for the zoo.[/caption] On Day 4 of our visit to Washington we packed up the kids and a couple of cars and made our way south to Tacoma to visit the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium.   Though not as huge as some of the zoos we have been to (such as San Diego, Louisville, Cincinnati), it is still a nice zoo with some great opportunities to see some good wildlife.  The thing I like about most zoos is that they not only have a lot of animals, but they also have an abundance of flowers and foliage that is always pleasant.  So, this trip on this day was about grandkidz, animals and flowers. [caption id="attachment_14280" align="alignright" width="300"] Point Defiance…
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24Sep 2015 by David Kravetz

Finally Made It! All 50 US States – Sept. 2015

Alabama, Alaska, Antsy McClain, Arizona, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Big Cities, Bucket List Trips, California, Caves and Caverns, City Skylines, Colorado, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Delaware, Dream Highways, Eateries, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Farmland, Florida, Found Metal Sculptures, Geologic Formations, Georgia, Giant Things, Giant Twine Balls, Graffiti Walls, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indian Ruins, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Murals, Museums, Mythical Creatures, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Rhode Island, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, Route 66, Selfies, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Travel Blogging, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, US Highway 101, US Highway 2, US Highway 212, US Highway 61, US Highway 89, Utah, Vermont, Vintage Neon, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art
WARNING-This is a long post. It took me nearly 59 years to get to all 50 states! [caption id="attachment_14144" align="alignleft" width="210"] Made it to State #50![/caption] On September 8, 2015, I set foot on the side of the road just north of Brattleboro, VT after we crossed over the Connecticut River from New Hampshire on Hwy 9. I got out and took a selfie of myself under a Welcome to Vermont sign.  I had finally set foot in my 50th US state...a nearly 59 year journey. Stay 3 or more nights & save up to 25% now! At participating hotels Following is a state by state chronicle of my nearly 59 year journey in order of states visited. [caption id="attachment_14142" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Four Corners - July 15, 1993[/caption] My 50…
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31Aug 2015 by David Kravetz

Washington State: Fat Smitty’s – The Quirky Burger Joint

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Giant Things, Large Statues, People Shots, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 101, Wall Art, Washington, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_13909" align="alignleft" width="300"] Wood carved things in front of Fat Smitty's[/caption] Every so often I come across an eatery that looks so quirky and fun that I must stop there.  On my recent trip to Washington, we stopped in one of these places.  Weeks before the trip, my daughter and son in law apprised me of these place near Port Townsend, WA and said that it was "So Sumoflam" that we would go there. [caption id="attachment_14003" align="aligncenter" width="527"] Fat Smitty's at the edge of Discovery Bay, WA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13991" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Fat Smitty's in Port Townsend, WA[/caption] Fat Smitty's is a funky little burger joint sitting on US Hwy 101 at the junction with WA Route 20 in the Discovery Bay region of Port Townsend.  The outside is decorated…
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02Jul 2015 by David Kravetz

Ten Really Obscure Quirky Places You May Have Never Heard Of

#TBT, Alberta, Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Illinois, Michigan, Murals, Mythical Creatures, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Roadside Attractions, Tennessee, Throwback Thursday, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_5742" align="alignleft" width="300"] Cadillac Ranch - Amarillo, Texas[/caption] Over the years I have traveled tens of thousands of miles of back roads across the United States (only missing Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont...they will be hit soon!).  Through all of these travels I have seen the many "famous" unique and quirky tourist spots like Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX (the one with all the Cadillacs in the ground), the giant Paul Bunyan and Blue Ox in Bemidji, MN, the Enchanted Highway in ND or the competing Eiffel Towers in Paris, TX and Paris, TN. [caption id="attachment_8772" align="alignright" width="300"] Paul Bunyan and Babe in Bemidji, MN[/caption] Among the 100s of places I have been, there are a few that really stand out to me and I would consider as future…
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26Jun 2015 by David Kravetz

Missing the Open Highways: A Look Back at Some Back Roads of America

Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, California, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Enchanted Highway, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Rocky Mountains, Route 66, South Dakota, Texas, Unique Places, US Highway 101, US Highway 2, US Highway 20, US Highway 212, US Highway 287, US Highway 61, US Highway 79, US Highway 89, US Highways, Wisconsin, Wyoming
[caption id="attachment_8431" align="alignleft" width="167"] The start of US Route 2 heading west out of Ironwood, MI[/caption] It is nearing the end of June 2015.  About a year ago at this time I was rolling down US Highway 61, better known as the Blues Highway, in Mississippi.  I was on my way to Galveston for a family reunion and then would make my way back home to Kentucky via Houston, Austin, Fort Worth and then thru Oklahoma, Missouri and Illinois.  I love the freedom of the road and sitting home in Lexington, KY is not what I wish I were doing.  Following is a pictorial of what I am missing and longing for on this hot, humid Kentucky day. These are photos of the highways...the well beaten, but sometimes less beaten…
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23Jun 2015 by David Kravetz

Going To California: Fun at Woodflock VI

Antsy McClain, Bucket List Trips, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Random Thoughts, Selfies, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_13299" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Happy Me at Woodflock[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13292" align="alignleft" width="225"] Sumoflam and Floyd at Woodflock VI[/caption] What a fitting occasion...it has been a busy month since I got back from California and Woodflock.  But, today is National Pink Flamingo Day...shouldn't it be a great time to write my final California report...all about the famed Woodflock event in Red Bluff, CA. The Memorial Day weekend event celebrated its 6th year in 2015.  Known to Antsy McClain fans (aka Flamingoheads) as a Summer Camp for Flamingoheads, Woodflock has grown from 60 participants in its first year to well over 300.  It is held at the Red Bluff Recreation Area on the Sacramento River in an enclosed area, all under Flamingohead control!! The event includes evening concerts around a campfire, music…
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30May 2015 by David Kravetz

Going to California: Santa Rosa – Ukiah – Red Bluff

Antsy McClain, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Landscapes, Large Statues, Murals, Mythical Creatures, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Street Art, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 101, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_12844" align="alignleft" width="300"] Goofing around at Carla's house with her pink flamingo hat and a few Antsy McClain posters[/caption] Day 2 of my Woodflock trip started off nice and slow.  No hurry so I was able to sleep in over at Carla's doublewide in Santa Rosa.  Woke up to a beautiful morning in the trailer park. Soon, Carla and I were on the road heading north.  She decided to go through Ukiah for a more scenic route (and likely to appeal to my wanderlust!) [caption id="attachment_12832" align="alignright" width="225"] In good hands with Carla!! Standing with Agraria by Larry Kirkland[/caption] Santa Rosa is home to a couple of quirky roadside attractions, so we stopped at these on our way out of town.  The first of them was a big hand…
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