01Apr 2022 by David Kravetz
Towns of America A to Z: The A Towns #atozchallenge

Towns of America A to Z: The A Towns #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alligators, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, Big Cities, Books, Bridges, Canada, Cities and Towns, Cross Country Road Trips, Donut Places, Eateries, Family Travel, Giant Things, Highways and Roadways, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Murals, Nebraska, New Mexico, Offbeat Places, Ontario, Oregon, Peter Wolf Toth, Philippines, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, Signs and Billboards, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 101, US Highway 212, Virginia, Wall Art, Washington, Welcome Signs, Whispering Giants
It's another year and another opportunity to provide a fun VIRTUAL road trip.  For the 2022 A to Z  Challenge, I will be taking you, the readers, to some of the many places I have visited.  Almost every little town to every big city has something unique to offer visitors. I hope to take you to some of these places across the United States, and even to Canada, the Philippines and Japan on some select posts, for a virtual trip to see places you may not know about. Today's post covers a number of towns and cities that begin with the letter A. Some are huge cities and some are barely dots on the maps.  I hope you'll enjoy this trip.  Ironically, on this April 1, I am visiting Anderson,…
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28Mar 2022 by David Kravetz
BIG NEWS!! – April 1, 2022: Book Signing at Uranus Fudge Factory #2 in Anderson, Indiana

BIG NEWS!! – April 1, 2022: Book Signing at Uranus Fudge Factory #2 in Anderson, Indiana

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Indiana, Less Beaten Paths Books, Missouri, Offbeat Places, Quirky Things, Restrooms, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, Sheltowee Trace, Signs and Billboards, Tourist Traps, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Unique Shops
As many of you know, I am a huge fan of the Uranus Fudge Factory in St Robert, Missouri.  I have written about their huge tourist attraction in two of my books.  Well, as Mayor Louie lies to exclaim "Uranus is Expanding!"  And indeed it is!  On April 1 they will be celebrating the GRAND OPENING of their new Uranus #2 off of Interstate 69 (exit 222) in Anderson, Indiana (a tad NE of Indianapolis).  See their Facebook Page. I am excited to announce today that I will be at the Grand Opening in Indiana from 11 AM to 2 PM to sign four of my five books, all of which are for sale at BOTH Uranus Fudge Factory locations. [caption id="attachment_34497" align="alignnone" width="960"] Mayor Louie and Miss Tiffany!![/caption] The…
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31Jan 2022 by David Kravetz
The Year in Travel – 2021 (Long post – may take a minute to load)

The Year in Travel – 2021 (Long post – may take a minute to load)

Adventure, Back Roads, Bike Trails, Books, Bridges, Buildings, Barns and Houses, Church Signs, Family Travel, Hiking & Biking, Hiking Trails, Indiana, Kentucky, Landscapes, Less Beaten Paths Books, Mountains, Murals, National and State Parks, Historic Sites and More, National Parks, Nature and Scenery, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Sandhill Cranes, Selfies, Sheltowee Trace, Signs and Billboards, Staycations, Street Art, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Unique Shops, US Highway 127, Virginia, Wanderlust, Waterfalls, Welcome Signs, West Virginia, Yard Art
What an interesting year 2021 turned out to be for me.  I started out the year with dreams of a road trip down the Florida panhandle to the southernmost point, but it didn't pan out. With COVID on the rampage, there were limitations and I didn't want to risk getting out too much.  But, I was also very heavily engaged in doing support driving for the Sheltowee Trace Association and my wife and daughter who participated in the 2021 STA Hiking Challenge, hiking sections of the 343 mile trail each month.  This took up a great deal of my time and ended up becoming the theme of my fifth Less Beaten Paths book, which was published on November 30 (see the bottom of this post for more details).  I drove…
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30Nov 2021 by David Kravetz
SURPRISE! – Brand New Book on Sheltowee Trace is now available

SURPRISE! – Brand New Book on Sheltowee Trace is now available

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Bike Trails, Books, Burger Joints, Eateries, Family Travel, Farmland, Flowers, Geologic Formations, Hiking & Biking, Hiking Trails, Kentucky, Landscapes, Less Beaten Paths Books, National and State Parks, Historic Sites and More, National Parks, Nature and Scenery, Place Names, Selfies, Sheltowee Trace, Signs and Billboards, Tennessee, Travel Blogging, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Unique Shops, Wanderlust, Waterfalls, Wildflowers
[caption id="attachment_33788" align="alignleft" width="222"] Book 5[/caption] The year 2021 was a momentous year in terms of unique travel.  I spent nearly a month of driving and support on the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail from Big South Fork in Tennessee to the Northern Terminus north of Morehead, Kentucky.  The trail itself is 343 miles long and my wife Julianne, daughter Marissa and over 90 others completed the Sheltowee Trace Association Trace Challenge over the course of the year, hitting sections month by month.  I decided back in October to change my book writing schedule so that I could cover this amazing adventure as a support driver and Driving the Sheltowee Trace - Highlights from a Support Driver is now available in both Kindle and Paperback as Book 5 of my…
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11Nov 2021 by David Kravetz
Visiting Muhlenberg County, Kentucky: Greenville, Kentucky

Visiting Muhlenberg County, Kentucky: Greenville, Kentucky

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bike Trails, Books, Buildings, Barns and Houses, Covered Bridges, Family Travel, Flowers, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Hiking & Biking, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Murals, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Unique Places, Unique Shops, Vintage Neon, Welcome Signs
[caption id="attachment_33745" align="alignleft" width="300"] Visiting Greenville[/caption] This is the eighth and final installment on my visit to Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. On August 18, 2021 I was invited by Misty Deason, the owner of Apple House Mercantile and a member of the Muhlenberg County Board of Tourism, to come out for a visit.  She now carries my Less Beaten Paths books in her shop and wanted me to come out and sign them and then visit some of the major tourist attractions in this small, but unique, Kentucky county. [caption id="attachment_33738" align="alignnone" width="700"] Greenville Alley[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_33741" align="alignright" width="700"] Colbi Ferguson in her domain at the Greenville Tourism Office.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_33740" align="alignleft" width="300"] Greenville Tourism and Courthouse[/caption] I had a great visit with Colbi Ferguson, the director of the Greenville…
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16Sep 2021 by David Kravetz
Visiting Muhlenberg County, Kentucky: A Visit With the Big Twigs

Visiting Muhlenberg County, Kentucky: A Visit With the Big Twigs

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Family Travel, Giant Things, Hiking & Biking, Hiking Trails, Kentucky, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Murals, National and State Parks, Historic Sites and More, Nature and Scenery, Offbeat Places, People Shots, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Signs and Billboards, Tennessee, Travel Blogging, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Welcome Signs
[caption id="attachment_33710" align="alignleft" width="300"] Sumoflam visiting with Happy Malone[/caption] This is the seventh post in my series on Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. On August 18, 2021 I was invited by Misty Deason, the owner of Apple House Mercantile and a member of the Muhlenberg County Board of Tourism, to come out for a visit.  She now carries my Less Beaten Paths books in her shop and wanted me to come out and sign them and then visit some of the major tourist attractions in this small, but unique, Kentucky county.   [caption id="attachment_33695" align="alignnone" width="700"] The Big Twigs[/caption] I had many reasons for a visit to Muhlenberg County via Misty's kind invitation.  Besides signing the books, I was most excited to visit with the county's newest giant residents in Lake Malone…
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22Aug 2021 by David Kravetz
Visiting Muhlenberg County, Kentucky: The Music and Motorsports Museums – Part I

Visiting Muhlenberg County, Kentucky: The Music and Motorsports Museums – Part I

Adventure, Backroads Discoveries, Chet Atkins, Everly Brothers, Family Travel, Ike Everly, John Prine, Kennedy Jones, Kentucky, Merle Travis, Mose Rager, Murals, Museums, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Staycations, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places
[caption id="attachment_33608" align="alignleft" width="300"] Don Everly put his 1977 MG on display in the Music Museum.[/caption] Yesterday was August 21, 2021.  Famed singer and part of the Everly Brothers, Don Everly, passed away at the age of 84.  Just a few days ago I was standing next to his car and listening to Everly Brothers music at the Muhlenberg County Music Museum.  We had been discussing how Don Everly was still alive and well and living in the county. Things can change in an instant. That said, I had a fun time visiting the dual museums -- The Muhlenberg Music Museum and the Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum.  Both museums are housed together in a large building on First Street in Central City. My guide, Misty Deason, owner…
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19Aug 2021 by David Kravetz
Visiting Muhlenberg County, Kentucky: Apple House Mercantile

Visiting Muhlenberg County, Kentucky: Apple House Mercantile

Adventure, Antique Shops, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Buildings, Barns and Houses, Family Travel, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Nature and Scenery, Selfies, Sheltowee Trace, Staycations, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places
[caption id="attachment_33549" align="alignleft" width="300"] Apple House Mercantile, Central City, Kentucky[/caption] On August 18, 2021 I had the opportunity to get an in-depth visit to Muhlenberg County, Kentucky courtesy of the Misty Deason and also the some of the tour departments in the county.  I originally met Misty along the Sheltowee Trace in 2020.  She saw some of my photos from the trail and began following me on Facebook.  As she had recently opened a new tourist/gift-centric business called Apple House Mercantile in Central City ( 110 W. Everly Brothers Blvd.), she wanted to add my travel books to her inventory.  This then blossomed in an invite to visit the county to see the newly dedicated Big Twigs at Lake Malone State Park, as well as a number of other places…
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29Jul 2021 by David Kravetz
Book 4 – 8154: An Epic Family Road Trip Across America – NOW AVAILABLE on Amazon

Book 4 – 8154: An Epic Family Road Trip Across America – NOW AVAILABLE on Amazon

Adventure, Animals, Antelope, Antique Shops, Antsy McClain, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Bison, Books, Bucket List Trips, Buffalo, Burger Joints, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Deer, Dinosaurs, Donut Places, Dream Highways, Eagles, Eateries, Egret, Family Travel, Farmland, Found Metal Sculptures, Geologic Formations, Giant Things, Highways and Roadways, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Jimmy Jackson, Junk Art, Junk-art Sculptures, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Lighthouses, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, Murals, Museums, National and State Parks, Historic Sites and More, National Monuments, National Parks, Nature and Scenery, Nebraska, Nevada, Ocean Scenes, Offbeat Places, Oklahoma, Oregon, People Shots, Place Names, Post Offices, prairie dogs, Pronghorn Antelope, Quirky Things, Raccoon, Restroom Signs, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Sandhill Cranes, Seagulls, Selfies, Signs and Billboards, Snow Geese, South Dakota, Street Art, Swamps, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 101, US Highway 14, US Highway 16, US Highway 16A, US Highway 2, US Highway 20, US Highway 31, US Highway 60, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Welcome Signs, Wyoming
[caption id="attachment_33522" align="alignleft" width="193"] 8154 Cover[/caption] Big News!!  My newest book, titled "8154: An Epic Family Road Trip Across America" is now available on Amazon in both print and Kindle versions. The book details the three week long 8,154 mile road trip with my daughter Marissa Noe and her three children. New print programs on Amazon have also made it cheaper than previous books!! The book is 138 pages and full of color photos from 20 different states.  I have included a chapter all about how to plan for a long trip like this, especially with children.  A long road trip can be a challenge for the kids, so there are all sorts of ideas including in this book for making it fun and memorable for the kids. There are…
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