A Grizzly Experience: Grizz Works in Maple, WI

29Jun 2014 by David Kravetz

A Grizzly Experience: Grizz Works in Maple, WI

Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Giant Things, Large Statues, People Shots, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wisconsin, Yard Art

During my trip on US Route 2 across Wisconsin, I came across a unique place called Grizz Works in the small town of Maple, Wisconsin. It amounted to a roadside stop with a whole bunch of big, realistic looking chainsaw carved wooden animals and other statues. I have seen many of these along the roads in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ontario, Arkansas and Kentucky, but the work that they had there was absolutely astounding! What caught my eye from the road was a 10 foot tall giant wooden grizzly that looked alive! Since I passed it, I found the next place to turn around and I went back and stop by for a visit. This is one of those classic reasons why I take back road adventures because you never know what…

27Jun 2014 by David Kravetz

It’s All in the Trip

Antsy McClain, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Large Statues, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, States and Provinces, Tennessee, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wildflowers, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art

I started off today on the last leg of a 9 Day Road trip. This was my second 9 day road trip in one month. Both road trips were mainly for family affairs of one type or another. So, that being said, I did have destinations for both trips. My first trip took me to Montana for my grandson's baptism. I've already posted some content about that, but that trip took me almost 4600 miles in nine days and thru 12 states. I still have a few post to go to finish my blogs on that trip. This current trip's purpose was chiefly to attend a family reunion for my father's side of the family. It was in Galveston, Texas. It is always wonderful to see family and it was…

13Jun 2014 by David Kravetz

Dreams Come True in Bemidji, MN

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Horse Art, Large Statues, Minnesota, Muffler Man, Mythical Creatures, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Street Art, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wall Art, Yard Art

Recently I had the opportunity to visit Bemidji, Minnesota while on a road trip to Montana. I wrote a little blurb about it on my blog post about driving US Route 2 across the state of Minnesota. Bemidji, Minnesota is one of the ultimate "quirky places" to visit in Minnesota and for me it is a dream come true place to visit. Here is why: My whole fascination with travel and the birth of my wanderlust can be traced back to about 1963 when I was a young 7 year old in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Even now I can recall flipping through a book about the U.S. that was published by LIFE Magazine. Almost all of the photos were black and white in the book, but my imagination took me…

12Jun 2014 by David Kravetz

Montana Road Trip: US Route 2 across Minnesota – Offbeat Paradise

Animals, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Large Statues, Minnesota, Muffler Man, Mythical Creatures, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Yard Art

Traveling US Route 2 across Wisconsin was beautiful and had its share of offbeat and quirky places, but Minnesota's section of US Route 2 is one to be reckoned with when it comes to quirky and fun destinations on the same road. Entering from Superior, Wisconsin, Route 2 starts south of Duluth and proceeds through Proctor, MN. From there the road heads northwest into the beautiful lake and birch country that gives Minnesota its name "Land of 10,000 Lakes." Before I go any further, I do need to give a SHOUT OUT to fellow travel blogger Seth Hardmeyer, who does the Highway Highlights blog (also see @HHighlights on Twitter and highway_highlights on Instagram). He provided me loads of information on spots to visit along US Route 2 in Minnesota (though…

02Jun 2014 by David Kravetz

Montana Roadtrip: Gliding Across Wisconsin on US Route 2

Animals, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Large Statues, Michigan, Roadside Attractions, Street Art, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wisconsin, Yard Art

One of my "bucket list trips" is to drive the entire length of US Route 2 from the East Coast to the West Coast. Not necessarily in one trip, but to have been able to drive the length of that highway as the opportunity affords itself. Route 2 is one of the longest continuous highways in the continental United States, spanning 2,571 miles and is also the northernmost US numbered route in the country. The western segment of US 2 extends from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan across the northern tier of the lower 48 states. Most of the western route was built roughly paralleling the Great Northern Railway. US 2 adopted the railway's route nickname "The Hi-Line" as the most northern crossing in the U.S. On this trip to Montana, I chose…

02Jun 2014 by David Kravetz

Montana Roadtrip – Day 1: A Cheesy Drive to Yooperville

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Large Statues, Michigan, Mythical Creatures, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wisconsin

I began my 4600 mile trek to Montana and back by driving from Lexington, Kentucky to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (these folks call themselves "Yoopers") and the small town of Ironwood. As with most of my long road trips, the first leg did require a bit of driving on the interstate which I try to avoid once I get into the midst of a trip. For a change of pace, I headed north to Cincinnati and then west on I-74 to Indianapolis and then continued on I-74 all the way to Bloomington, IL. I have made numerous trips to Indianapolis and into Illinois, so I am not documenting much about those states in this post. I should note however, that from Bloomington I followed US 51 north, though much…

02Jun 2014 by David Kravetz

4600 Miles of Back Roads Bliss

Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bucket List Trips, Car Art, City Skylines, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Horses, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Large Statues, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Mythical Creatures, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, North Dakota, People Shots, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, Squirrels, Street Art, Train Bridges, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wildflowers, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art

As I returned home from my long nine-day trip across America I wanted to take a quick look back at all the events. Over the course of this trip I have covered 12 states, over 4600 miles, taken almost 2000 photos (including over 100 "selfies" and have seen all kinds of things. The big highlights of this trip were visiting the Paul Bunyan and Big Blue in Bemidji, Minnesota, driving up the Beartooth Mountains in Wyoming/Montana, and hitting Carhenge in Nebraska. Along with these, I saw many other interesting places. I had numerous oddball sites along the way including a pink elephant, big bears, Jackalopes and many other roadside attractions. This trip took me along many US highways as I generally avoided the interstate whenever possible. I was fortunate enough…

23May 2014 by David Kravetz

Kentucky to Montana: Random Shots from the Road

Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Illinois, Large Statues, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wisconsin, Yard Art

I have been on the road to Montana (chiefly along US Route 2) for the past three days now. I will be writing detailed bogs about the trip, but wanted to post a few random shots from the drive. The weather has been awesome the entire trip (May 20-22, 2014). Following are just a few shots from the trip..... Watch for detailed writeups in the next few days!

21Apr 2014 by David Kravetz

A Quirky and Offbeat Weekend in Cincinnati

Antsy McClain, Backroads Discoveries, Eateries, Family Travel, Giant Things, Kentucky, Ohio, Roadside Attractions, Street Art, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Wall Art, Yard Art

The first week of April 2014 provided a great fun time for my wife and I as we went to Cincinnati for a weekend getaway. The main reason was to see my good friend Antsy McClain perform with a new "Trailer Park Troubadours" band that included amazing Aussie musician Pauly Zarb and the fabulous finger picking virtuoso Pat Kirtley and his brother. We decided to make a weekend of it and visit a few places around Cincy that we have not seen yet. Our first stop in town was a place that I have wanted to visit for quite a while. Called the "Mushroom House," it is truly one of the quirkiest places in the city. The Mushroom House is located in the Hyde Park District of the city at…

03Mar 2014 by David Kravetz

New Book on Texas Travel: Tui Snider – Unexpected Texas

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, National Monuments, National Parks, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Street Art, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places

Throughout my time as a travel blogger I have had the opportunity to correspond and exchange notes with many other travel bloggers who are also find of the offbeat and quirky. One of those with whom I have worked with often is Tui Snider, from Azle, Texas. Tui is a freelance writer and travel blogger specializing in offbeat sites, overlooked history, cultural traditions, and quirky travel destinations. Her articles and photos have appeared in BMIbaby, easyJet, Wizzit, Click, Ling, PlanetEye Traveler, iStopover, SkyEurope, and North Texas Farm and Ranch magazines, among others. She also wrote the shopping chapter for the “Time Out Naples: Capri, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast 2010” travel guidebook. Unexpected Texas is her first book. First off, I am honored to have been asked to be a…

Category: Unexpected Discoveries