05Apr 2020 by David Kravetz

AtoZ Challenge 2020 – 8154: An Epic Road Trip – The D Stories #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Arizona, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Bucket List Trips, Burger Joints, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Deer, Dinosaurs, Family Travel, Flowers, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Junk Art, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Offbeat Places, Oregon, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Sandhill Cranes, Selfies, Snow Geese, Street Art, Texas, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 101, Vintage Neon, Washington, Welcome Signs, Yard Art
In early 2020 I traveled across the country with one of my daughters and three grandchildren.  We traveled 8154 miles through 20 states over the course of three weeks.  My A to Z posts this year will have the "8154" theme, which will also be the title of my forthcoming new book that will document the epic road trip.  Each entry will highlight a few stories with photos based on the alphabet, and not the order of the trip  I hope you will enjoy this bouncy ride across the back roads of America.  Please enjoy the D Stories. (all photography by David "Sumoflam" Kravetz) Dinosaurs Seems like whenever you get near a trading post a fun place, there always seems to be a dinosaur or two hanging around.  I have…
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26Feb 2020 by David Kravetz

Book 4 Cover Art Reveal – New Book is Titled “8154”

Antsy McClain, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Big Cities, Books, Bucket List Trips, Burger Joints, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Geologic Formations, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Less Beaten Paths Books, Lewis and Clark Sites, Lighthouses, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, Museums, National Monuments, National Parks, Nature Events, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oregon, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Rocky Mountains, Selfies, South Dakota, Street Art, Swamps, Tennessee, Texas, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Washington, Welcome Signs, Wyoming, Yard Art
GREAT NEWS! Book 4 is now officially underway! Thanks to my friend Antsy McClain, the new cover for Book 4 has been setup and here it is. Titled "8154" after the number of miles we traveled for 23 days from late January to mid-February 2020, this book will detail my EPIC Roadtrip with my daughter Marissa and her three children. You'll finally get to take a trip as seen from our eyes. Marissa will help write the book with me. We hope to have it ready for sale by the end of March 2020. We hope you'll watch for it. Some of the sights we visited were kindly suggested by our friends at Roadside America.  Visit them and get their app!! [caption id="attachment_5929" align="aligncenter" width="160"] Roadside America iPhone app[/caption]  
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30Apr 2019 by David Kravetz

Everywhere a Sign – Some Y Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Burger Joints, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Giant Things, Less Beaten Paths Books, Offbeat Places, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 270, US Highway 30, US Highway 71
For the month of April I have yearned to get back on the road, be youthful and young-at-heart.  I have desired some of the yummy things that can be discovered along the way. Sadly, life goes on.  But I'll be on the road again soon like the days of yore driving yonder to bring all sorts of yeasty adventures!  And here are the few Y signs I could garner during 2018.  Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride. Y City, Arkansas [caption id="attachment_21289" align="alignnone" width="525"] "Y" City, Arkansas.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_19531" align="alignnone" width="525"] Y? I don't know....[/caption] [caption id="attachment_19528" align="alignnone" width="525"] Y City VFD[/caption] Y City, Arkansas sits at the junction of U.S. Routes 71 and 270 in the southern in Scott County, Arkansas.  This is another of this places I just…
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28Apr 2019 by David Kravetz

Everywhere a Sign – Some XTRA Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Burger Joints, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Ghost Signs, Idaho, Indiana, Junk Art, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Murals, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, South Dakota, Texas, Town Names, Toy Collections, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Utah, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Washington, Welcome Signs, West Virginia
Throughout my travels in 2018, I did not come across a single X sign.  In the past, I have been able to use Xenia, Ohio, but we didn't go there last year. So, I am Xcited to Xplain how I will post a number of fun XTRAs that I didn't use in previous posts. There were some Xceptionally funny ones and a few Xtremely interesting ones. I hope you'll enjoy my special edition of Xtra Signs from my travels over the years.  Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride. XTRA Fun For ALL -- We are open [caption id="attachment_21731" align="alignnone" width="450"] If We Are Here -- Decatur, Texas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_19018" align="alignnone" width="437"] Love the "Sorry, We're Open" sign!! At Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden Calvert City, Kentucky[/caption] At the X-Roads - Corssroads…
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20Apr 2019 by David Kravetz

Everywhere a Sign – Some R Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, Books, Burger Joints, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Idaho, Illinois, Junk Art, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Oklahoma, Oregon, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Restroom Signs, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, South Dakota, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 281, US Highway 81, US Highway 84, US Highway 90, Washington
Road trips can be redundant. Road trips can be real fun. Rarely is there anything dull along the way. Visit a small town on a back road and you will find something. Here are some R signs, including a collection of Roxy Theaters and Restroom signs...yes, some potty humor.  Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride.     Rustic Rose Mercantile, Evant , Texas [caption id="attachment_21754" align="alignnone" width="525"] Rustic Rose Mercantile, Evant, Texas[/caption] Don't know a thing about this place, but sure love the sign.  Evant, Texas is a small community at the intersection of US Highway 281 and US Highway 84. I drove through here on my way from Lampassas to Hamilton. Rover, Arkansas [caption id="attachment_21758" align="alignnone" width="525"] Rover, Arkansas Post Office[/caption] Rover, Arkansas is a small place on Arkansas…
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13Apr 2019 by David Kravetz

Everywhere a Sign – Some L Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Burger Joints, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Illinois, Less Beaten Paths Books, Montana, Offbeat Places, Oregon, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 20, US Highway 212, US Highway 30, US Highway 412, Vintage Neon, Wanderlust, Washington
(Editor's Note:  For  my  2019  posts,  I will be posting photos from my travels in 2018.  I visited 26 states and drive over 13,000 miles in 2018.  These posts will feature of few of the road signs and business signs I came across, as well as some stories behind them. ) Longing for something luscious and lighthearted?  Today is your lucky day as I provide a luscious array of L signs in this post.  Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride. Light, Arkansas [caption id="attachment_21330" align="alignnone" width="525"] I have seen the Light!! It's in Arkansas![/caption] [caption id="attachment_21649" align="alignnone" width="525"] Light Baptist Church, Light, Arkansas[/caption] Light is located at the junction of U.S. Route 412 and Arkansas Highway 228 and was named after original settler Daniel Light.  Really out in the middle…
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08Apr 2019 by David Kravetz

Everywhere a Sign – Some G Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Burger Joints, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Kansas, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Missouri, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, South Dakota, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 20, US Highway 49, Vintage Neon, Washington
(Editor's Note:  For  my  2019  posts,  I will be posting photos from my travels in 2018.  I visited 26 states and drive over 13,000 miles in 2018.  These posts will feature of few of the road signs and business signs I came across, as well as some stories behind them.  Enjoy the Read and Enjoy the Ride!) It is always a GOOD thing when I am on the road, looking at the Great scenery, the Grandeur of the mountains and the Garish signs and road markers.  Here are a few G signs that I saw during my 2018 travels across 26 states.  Enjoy the Read.  Enjoy the Ride. Gold Bar, Washington [caption id="attachment_20030" align="alignnone" width="525"] Discover Gold Bar in Washington[/caption] [caption id="attachment_20086" align="alignnone" width="525"] Welcome to Gold Bar, Gateway to…
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06Apr 2019 by David Kravetz

Great Burgers at Sunshine General Store – Brookeville, MD

Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Burger Joints, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Less Beaten Paths Books, Maryland, Offbeat Places, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Wanderlust
[caption id="attachment_21554" align="alignleft" width="225"] Sunshine General Store, Brookeville, MD[/caption]   The first week of April saw my wife and I take a trip to Baltimore so she could attend a training for a new business venture we are starting.  While there, I worked and also ventured out.  As I always do, I try to find interesting one-off places to eat.   On one of the days I drove about 40 minutes west to the small town of Brookeville to meet a co-worked of mine from PopCulture.com.  I had looked for an "interesting" place to meet near to where he lived near West Virginia.  So, I came across a place called the Sunshine General Store. [caption id="attachment_21546" align="alignnone" width="525"] Wider view of Sunshine General Store[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21543" align="alignnone" width="525"] This sign hangs…
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07Jun 2018 by David Kravetz

April 2018 Cross-Country Road Trip: Miscellaneous Leftovers

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Burger Joints, Car Art, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Giant Things, Graffiti Walls, Illinois, Junk Art, Less Beaten Paths Books, Montana, Murals, Offbeat Places, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, South Dakota, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 101, US Highway 50, Utah, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Washington, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_20013" align="alignleft" width="300"] Steven's Pass - Washington[/caption] On a long road trip like the one I did in April, there are so many places visited, but some didn't fit into a post for one reason or another.  Here are some odds and ends leftovers from my 6000 mile cross country trek through 14 states.  There is really no rhyme or reason, but the opportunity to address these places in a little more depth. Papa Joe's Stop & Go - Crescent Junction, Utah [caption id="attachment_19673" align="alignright" width="300"] Papa Joe's in Crescent Junction - fun "tourist trap"[/caption] Out in the middle of nowhere in Utah is the small place called Crescent Junction at the junction of I-70 and US 191.  There is really not much there and it is basically a…
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30May 2018 by David Kravetz

April 2018 Cross-Country Road Trip: Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Bucket List Trips, Burger Joints, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Ghost Signs, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Minnesota, Montana, Murals, Nevada, Offbeat Places, Oregon, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, South Dakota, Street Art, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Utah, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Washington
[caption id="attachment_20124" align="alignleft" width="225"] Sign post in Broadus, Montana[/caption] One thing that we all see when traveling America's highways is signs.  All kinds of them: road signs, exit signs, mile markers, billboards, "Welcome to Our Town" signs and the massive assortment of business signs from fast food places to local eateries.  Indeed, our eyes and minds are deluges with them! Over the course of my 6000 mile road trip to Washington State and back, I probably saw way more than a sign a mile (on average).  Yes, there are many places with no signs, but then, there are others, such as going through small towns, where they are in abundance. [caption id="attachment_20107" align="aligncenter" width="450"] One of hundreds of Wall Drug signs to be seen on I-90 from as far away…
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