13Mar 2013 by David Kravetz

Road Trip to Idaho – Day 2: Savage, MN to Miles City, MT

Backroads Discoveries, Bison, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Farmland, Found Metal Sculptures, Geese, Geologic Formations, Giant Things, Landscapes, Large Statues, Lewis and Clark Sites, Minnesota, Montana, Murals, North Dakota, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 2, Wall Art, Yard Art
Rural Scene on Enchanted Highway, South of Gladstone, ND[/caption] I embarked on Day 2 of my trip to Idaho - left Savage, MN in the midst of snow and fog.  The roads were scary heading northwest to Fargo, ND. [caption id="attachment_1818" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Snowy highways in Minnesota[/caption] Today (March 9, 2013) was the second leg of my trip to Idaho.  Today I drove from Savage, MN to Miles City, MT.  I drove 781 miles over a 14 hour stretch.  Following is the map of the trip. View Larger Map My first stop along the way was for gas.  I stopped in Avon, MN.....which, I discovered, is also the home of the Lake Wobegon Trail.  The trail is 46 miles long and 10 feet wide.  It opened in 1998.  Avon is…
Read More
16Feb 2013 by David Kravetz

A dream day – Kentucky Back Roads driving and then Tommyfest in E-town

Amish Country, Antsy McClain, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Eateries, Edgar Cruz, Family Travel, Farmland, Kentucky, Landscapes, Michael Kelsey, Musicians, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Tommy Emmanuel, Town Names, Trinity Music Productions, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places
Tommy Emmanuel, c.g.p. and Michael Kelsey         courtesy of Marc Manning[/caption] Today (Feb. 15, 2013) was one of those delightful days when I got to enjoy most of my passions...mainly travel, photography and music.  Ultimately, the main reason for the trip was to go to Elizabethtown to see Tommy Emmanuel and Michael Kelsey.  But, I took the long way to do it.  Following is a map with the stops I made. View Gravel Switch to E-Town in a larger map [caption id="attachment_1613" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Perryville Mural[/caption] I drove from Lexington thru Danville and then into Perryville.  I made a quick drive through the old Merchant's Row area of Perryville. [caption id="attachment_1614" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Merchant's Row Plaque[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1616" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Severed Head Trading Post[/caption] After Perryville it…
Read More
06Jan 2013 by David Kravetz
Jackalope Heaven – Douglas, Wyoming

Jackalope Heaven – Douglas, Wyoming

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Giant Things, Jackalope, Large Statues, Museums, Mythical Creatures, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wyoming
Large Jackalope - Douglas, WY Railroad Museum[/caption] Douglas, Wyoming claims to be the "Official Home of the Jackalope."  Throughout the west one can find jackalopes in shops and statues of them.  They even have a Jackalope Days in June. [caption id="attachment_558" align="aligncenter" width="239"] Jackalope Crossing[/caption] According to legendsofamerica.com, "The jackalope is said to be an antlered species of rabbit, sometimes rumored to be extinct. One of the rarest animals in the world, it is a cross etween a now extinct pygmy-deer and a species of killer rabbit. The antlered species of rabbit are brownish in color, weigh between three and five pounds and move with lighting speeds of up to 90 miles per hour. [caption id="attachment_556" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Wyoming Jackalope[/caption] Apparently the first jackalope was spotted in 1829 near the…
Read More
27Nov 2012 by David Kravetz

Some REAL Giants – Glen Goode's Big People, Gainesville, TX

Backroads Discoveries, Big John, Family Travel, Giant Things, Large Statues, Muffler Man, Texas, Uniroyal Gal
On a recent trip home from Texas in November 2012,  we made our way through Gainesville.  While there, we decided to take a small diversion to go see Glen Goode's Big People, some large fiberglass statues on the side of the road. [caption id="attachment_494" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Glen Goode's from the Road[/caption] [caption id="attachment_495" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Glen Goode's Big People[/caption] [caption id="attachment_497" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Glen Goode's Big People[/caption] [caption id="attachment_493" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Glen Goode's Big People Glen Goode's Big People[/caption]   Glen Goode's Big People, near Gainesville, TX]]>
Read More
23Sep 2012 by David Kravetz

Screaming Heads and Midlothian Castle – Ontario

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Family Travel, Farmland, Giant Things, Large Statues, Mythical Creatures, Ontario, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Yard Art
Just about 4 years ago I took a drive through Algonquin National Park in Ontario.  On the trip we also headed west into Burk's Falls to visit the famed "Screaming Heads" and Midlothian Castle.  This was a fascinating trip. This entire project was begun by school teacher and artist Peter Camani.  He is a Secondary School teacher, but has also spent over 25 years constructing Monolith-like sculptures in the shape of giant heads, which are scattered throughout the property. A two-headed dragon sits atop the chimney of his Midlothian Castle and he has a version of the See/Say/Hear No Evils greet visitors. There are more than a hundred “screaming head” sculptures, each one at least 20 feet in height. According to Wikipedia, Camani says he "built his otherworldly creations as…
Read More
06May 2012 by David Kravetz

A Super Place called Metropolis

Backroads Discoveries, Big John, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Family Travel, Giant Things, Illinois, Large Statues, Muffler Man, Murals, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery
Metropolis Welcome Sign[/caption] This blog entry not only includes a unique name of a town, but is now introducing the second theme of this blog...the big statues and unusual sites along the road. [caption id="attachment_265" align="alignleft" width="96"] Metropolis Signs[/caption] Metropolis is the home of the Giant Superman Statue - a 200 foot tall statue of the Man of Steel. Funny thing is, as I drove into this town, the first big statue I saw was in front of a grocery store and was NOT the Giant Superman Statue!! The town is really all about Superman.         [caption id="attachment_266" align="aligncenter" width="199"] The Giant non-Superman Statue - Big John the Grocery Clerk[/caption] [caption id="attachment_268" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Giant Superman with not so giant Sumoflam[/caption] [caption id="attachment_267" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Flying Superman…
Read More
20Apr 2012 by David Kravetz
Ho Ho Ho…Welcome to Santa Claus!

Ho Ho Ho…Welcome to Santa Claus!

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Giant Things, Indiana, Large Statues, Roadside Attractions, Unique Eatery, Unique Places
Santa Claus Post Office[/caption] OK, you want Christmas year round?  You like looking at jolly old elves in red clothing daily?  Then Santa Claus, Indiana is for you. [caption id="attachment_240" align="alignleft" width="300"] Santa Claus Town Hall[/caption] According to Wikipedia, Santa Claus was established in 1854. In 1856, when the town (then known as Santa Fe, mispronounced "fee") was working to establish a Post Office, the US Postal Service refused their first application as there was already another Santa Fe in the state. Several town meetings were held, during which the name Santa Claus was selected. [caption id="attachment_241" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Santa Claus, Indiana[/caption] The town apparently has the world's only post office to bear the nameof Santa Claus. Because of this popular name, the post office receives thousands of letters to…
Read More
01Apr 2012 by David Kravetz
Yes, I have been to Hell and lived to tell about it

Yes, I have been to Hell and lived to tell about it

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Michigan, Murals, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unique Eatery, Wall Art
[/caption] Back in late May 2008 I was on a return trip home from Ontario via Michigan.  I made my way through Central Michigan.  As I had been told to "go to Hell" a few times, I decided I would finally go to Hell...in Michigan (see entire trip report) [caption id="attachment_191" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Howell Rd. to Hell"][/caption] Hell, Michigan is actually not a real town.  It is a "tourist trap" in the midst of the Pinckney Recreation Area, about five miles north of Pinckney, MI.  It is, honestly, quite a scenic drive. To get there from the town of Pinckney you need to take south Howell Rd. (no joke...you get to Hell via Howell Rd. -- Hell is in the name of the road).     The village of Hell…
Read More
14Mar 2012 by David Kravetz
From Earth to Vulcan

From Earth to Vulcan

Alberta, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Giant Things, Large Statues, Murals, Museums, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Television Shows, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places
Welcome to Vulcan[/caption] A couple of days ago I posted an article about Earth, Texas.  Back in 2007 I had occasion to visit a friend of mine in Alberta, Canada.  One of the side trips we tool was to the town of Vulcan, which has taken full advantage of its name and the association with the TV show Star Trek. [caption id="attachment_160" align="alignleft" width="300"] Welcome sign in Klingon[/caption] Vulcan is a town located midway between the cities of Calgary and Lethbridge inthe prairies of Southern Alberta, Canada.  The population of the town was 1,940 in 2006, and the population of the county, which is also named Vulcan, was 3,718.  According to Wikipedia, "The town was named by a surveyor for the Canadian Pacific Railroad in 1915 after the Roman God of…
Read More
10Mar 2012 by David Kravetz
Where on earth is Earth?

Where on earth is Earth?

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Murals, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Texas, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Water Towers
Earth is that way[/caption] When returning from a trip to Arizona in May 2011, we came back through NM, visited Roswell and then, from all the UFO stuff in Roswell, we found ourselves arriving in Earth, TX. [caption id="attachment_135" align="alignleft" width="300"] Earth is only 6 miles away[/caption] According to a Wikipedia article, "Earth was established by William E. Halsell, who laid out the townsite in 1924. Originally Halsell named the town Fairlawn, but in 1925 it was renamed Earth when it was learned that there was already a town in Texas by the name of Fairlawn.In order to find a new name the townspeople sent in suggestions, and the agreed-upon best name was chosen. The name Earth was submitted by Ora Hume (O.H.) Reeves, who became the owner of the…
Read More