Family Travel – Page 24 – Less Beaten Paths of America

20Jan 2015 by David Kravetz

Top Ten Travel Photos for 2014

Alligators, Animals, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Ghost Signs, Giant Things, Graffiti Walls, Illinois, Kentucky, Large Statues, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Murals, National Monuments, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, Street Art, Tennessee, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, US Highway 2, US Highway 212, US Highway 89, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Water Towers, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art

Throughout my travels I drove over 10,000 miles and took over 3000 photos in 2014. I have numerous shots from the road of quirky places, offbeat sites and some nice looking places. If you missed my "nature photos", some of which are from my travels, please check them out on my Sumoflam's Singlewide Site. Following are my ten favorite travel shots from 2014 and the stories behind them (and a number of honorable mentions). NUMBER 1 - OLD PRAIRIE SCHOOL HOUSE [caption id="attachment_9237" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Old Prairie School House on Smith-Frisno Road west of Havre, Montana. I wanted this one in black and white...more authentic feel[/caption] I once saw a photo of this old school house and knew that I had to get to this relic of the past. So,…

16Jan 2015 by David Kravetz

Houston to Austin: The Scenic Route

Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Farmland, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Graffiti Walls, Landscapes, Large Statues, Murals, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Street Art, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Water Towers, Yard Art

This is the second part of my Galveston return trip journey (see first post if you missed it). After a night in Houston with my Uncle, I was back on the road through Houston and on to Austin, the long and scenic route.... [caption id="attachment_11750" align="aligncenter" width="474"] My route from Houston to Austin ... the long and scenic route[/caption] I chose this roundabout way through the heart of Texas in order to enjoy the unique Texas scenery and perhaps run into some of those quirky things that little towns have. Initially, I had a business meeting scheduled in Conroe, but it fell through, so I headed to Huntsville, but, as I checked the map I noticed that not too far from Conroe was a small town called Cut and Shoot,…

01Jan 2015 by David Kravetz

#TBT Montana Road Trip: Day 1 – June 15, 2005

#TBT, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, City Skylines, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Giant Twine Balls, Illinois, Indiana, Large Statues, Minnesota, Roadside Attractions, Throwback Thursday, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wisconsin

Montana Road Trip Journal June 15, 2005: Today we departed on our trip to Great Falls, Montana for Amaree's wedding, the second in a string of 3 weddings in 8 weeks. Accompanying me on the trip is Seth, Solomon and Marissa, who will be married on the 25th of June in Louisville, which is in 10 days. Our Road Trip will comprise about 4500 miles as we drive north thru Indiana and Illinois and then across Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and into Montana. Our return will be a similar trip, except thru a corner of Wyoming and then across South Dakota and then Minnesota and Wisconsin. A general map of the trip can be seen below: My goal was to leave at 5:30 AM since we have such a long…

01Jan 2015 by David Kravetz

Let the 2015 #TBT Posting Begin!

#TBT, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, National Parks, Roadside Attractions, Throwback Thursday, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places

[caption id="attachment_11730" align="aligncenter" width="432"] World's Largest Teapot, Chester, WV (2008)[/caption] Starting with Thursday, January 1, 2015, I will be retrofitting old travel journal articles from the past decade (and perhaps earlier) into my blog. As many of you know, Thursday has become "Throwback Thursday" (also known as #TBT) on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, etc. [caption id="attachment_11731" align="aligncenter" width="451"] Sumoflam at the USS Enterprise Monument (with Crafty Jack) in Vulcan, Alberta (2007)[/caption] So, for my #TBT weekly posts I will go back to old "Travel Journal" entries that I made before I began this blog in early 2013. I may also go back to old travel photos and write a quick story about some of the places, especially in Japan and some of our earlier family travels. [caption id="attachment_11732" align="aligncenter" width="474"] With…

31Dec 2014 by David Kravetz

2014: The Highlights and Top 10 Sites Visited

Alligators, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Geologic Formations, Giant Things, Graffiti Walls, Illinois, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Murals, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, North Dakota, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Street Art, Texas, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 2, US Highway 212, US Highway 61, Wall Art, Wyoming, Yard Art

The year 2014 brought me some wonderful opportunities to travel and even fulfill some travel dreams. In the past year I traveled nearly 10,000 miles on road trips and traversed through 19 states (including my home state of Kentucky). With all of this travel I was able to hit a few "bucket list" stops and also drive a good part of some "bucket list" highways as well. Overall, the year was splendid. The Big Highlights 9,700 Miles Driven Traveled through 19 states Drove about 1,200 miles of US Route 2, one of my Bucket List Highways. Drove from Ironwood, MI to Browning, MT Drove the Blues Highway in Mississippi Drove the Beartooth Highway in Wyoming (which Charles Kuralt noted as "the most beautiful drive in America" and I concur My…

28Oct 2014 by David Kravetz

Three Days in Galveston – Pelican Fascination

Antsy McClain, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Ghost Signs, Giant Things, Large Statues, Murals, Museums, People Shots, Roadside Attractions, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Water Towers, Wildflowers

After a long two days of driving from Lexington thru Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana, I got to spend three days with family relaxing on the beaches of Galveston Island and visiting many of the interesting sites on the island. And, for me, I got to spend some time watching the amazing brown pelicans as they flew in formation, glided over the Gulf of Mexico and took amazing dives for fish. It was a wonderously amazing visit. [caption id="attachment_11053" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Pelicans fly in formation over the beach in Galveston[/caption] Galveston is not only a city in southern Texas but is also an island. The city actually sits on Galveston Island and Pelican Island. [caption id="attachment_11092" align="aligncenter" width="961"] Map of Galveston Island[/caption] The town was named for Gálvez-town or Gálveztown in…

20Oct 2014 by David Kravetz

Highway 61 Visited – Day 2: Vicksburg, MS to Galveston, TX

Alligators, Antsy McClain, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, City Skylines, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Ghost Signs, Louisiana, Mississippi, Murals, National Parks, People Shots, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 61, Wall Art, Water Towers, Wildflowers, Yard Art

[caption id="attachment_10738" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Sumoflam at US 61 south just south of Tunica, MS[/caption] [caption id="attachment_10820" align="aligncenter" width="657"] Map of travels from Vicksburg, MS down US 61 to Natchez, MS and then thru Louisiana and on to Galveston, TX via the Bolivar Peninsula.[/caption] Highway 61 in Mississippi may be called the Blues Highway, but there is much more to it than the Blues. After my first long drive from Kentucky to Vicksburg, I woke up early the next day to visit the Vicksburg National Military Park before heading south on Highway 61. [caption id="attachment_10651" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Cannon line the grounds of Vicksburg National Military park in many places[/caption] The park preserves the site of the American Civil War Battle of Vicksburg, waged from May 18 to July 4, 1863 and…

21Sep 2014 by David Kravetz

Highway 61 Visited: The Blues Highway of Mississippi – Day 1

Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Family Travel, Farmland, Ghost Signs, Giant Things, Graffiti Walls, Landscapes, Large Statues, Mississippi, Muffler Man, Murals, Museums, National Monuments, National Parks, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Tennessee, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 61, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Water Towers, Wildflowers, Yard Art

Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn have all sang about it. And now, Sumoflam has driven it. US Highway 61 cuts down the middle of Mississippi, all the way from Memphis to Natchez and more. [caption id="attachment_10789" align="aligncenter" width="556"] Map of the Blues Highway (US 61) through Mississippi[/caption] Highway 61 is better known as "The Blues Highway" as many of the famed Blues musicians grew up along this swath of the state just east of the Mississippi River. [caption id="attachment_10777" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Sumoflam at the Blues Highway in Mississippi[/caption] In July 2014 I had the opportunity to travel this famed highway from North to South, visit many of the small towns and learn more about Blues History. It was an amazing drive through rural Mississippi! [caption id="attachment_10592" align="aligncenter"…

13Sep 2014 by David Kravetz

Life Gets Busy – Blog Suffers

Arkansas, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Farmland, Large Statues, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Murals, Place Names, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 61, Vintage Neon, Wall Art

To all of you who faithfully follow my Travel Blog, I don't want you to think I have quit writing. I am in the midst of an extremely busy work season (I work in high school sports web management and social media and it's football season!) I still have plenty to write: US 61 through Mississippi, a drive through the swamplands of Louisiana, a visit to Galveston, some back roads in Texas and more. Indeed, life has sent me this way and that way. So, watch soon for more fun and quirky offbeat back roads travel.

01Sep 2014 by David Kravetz

The Back Road to Memphis: US Route 79

Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Bucket List Trips, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Farmland, Found Metal Sculptures, Ghost Signs, Giant Things, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Murals, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Street Art, Tennessee, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Water Towers, Yard Art

[caption id="attachment_10502" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Bozo's Hot Pit BBQ - Mason, TN[/caption] With this post I continue blogging about some of our wonderful US Highways as I strive to avoid the interstates in my travels. In June, I took a trip to Galveston, Texas for a family reunion. The entire length of the trip was predominantly US Highways or State Highways as I made my way to Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and then southern Texas. [caption id="attachment_10509" align="aligncenter" width="889"] Route to Memphis from Lexington via Russellville, KY and US Route 79[/caption] The first leg of this trip would take me from Lexington to Russellville, KY where US Highway 79 begins. Following that highway, I would make my way into downtown Memphis, TN. From there I would catch US Highway 61 (The Blues…

Category: Family Travel