Giant Things – Page 5 – Less Beaten Paths of America

16Mar 2020 by David Kravetz

AtoZ Challenge Theme Reveal: 8154 – An Epic Road Trip in 2020 #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Giant Things, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Nebraska, New Mexico, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places

Every year for the past 5 years I have participated in the AtoZ Bloggers Challenge and April 2020 is no different. But, unlike other years, I will be taking a different twist than I have in the past. From late January to mid-February 2020, I took an epic road trip with my daughter and three of my grandchildren. We went through 20 different states as we drive up to Washington State, down the Pacific Coast to California and then east through Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, then back to Kentucky. This trip, which I now call "8154" because of the total mileage of the road trip, offered many unique adventures, since most of it was taken on the back roads of America. I am currently writing my fourth book,…

11Sep 2019 by David Kravetz

Red River Gorge – Slade, KY: A Different Look

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Family Travel, Geologic Formations, Giant Things, Goats, Junk Art, Kentucky, Landscapes, Less Beaten Paths Books, Mountains, Mythical Creatures, Offbeat Places, Quirky Things, Restroom Signs, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Tourist Traps, Turtles, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Wanderlust, Zoos

[caption id="attachment_22070" align="alignleft" width="300"] Slade, Kentucky Welcome Sign[/caption] Ofttimes when we visit a place, we have a destination in mind. The Red River Gorge area of Kentucky is one of those places. Visitors typically are focused on visiting beautiful and expansive views of the gorge, hiking some of the well known trails, taking a hike up to the Natural Bridge or something else. This past weekend (August 31, 2019) I took my wife to the area fora hiking meetup. This left me with a three hour window to do other things. I am not able to hike some of these trails right now because my knee has been causing problems. [caption id="attachment_22105" align="alignnone" width="525"] Red River Gorge[/caption] [caption id="attachment_22100" align="alignnone" width="525"] Red River Gorge Scenic Byway[/caption] So, after dropping my…

23Aug 2019 by David Kravetz

Special About Peter Wolf Toth – Whispering Giants Artist

Adventure, Arizona, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Cross Country Road Trips, Giant Things, Illinois, Interviews, Less Beaten Paths Books, New Mexico, Peter Wolf Toth, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Utah, Whispering Giants

[caption id="attachment_22050" align="alignleft" width="300"] Peter Toth at his studio in April 2018. (Photo used with permission courtesy of Caroline Porsiel, Atlanta Expat Magazine)[/caption] On August 20 I had a wonderful opportunity to spend a couple of hours on the phone with American artist Peter Wolf Toth who took time to speak with me from his Florida Studio. I had contacted Peter to get more details about this interesting man with the intent on adding a chapter about him and his Trail of the Whispering Giants into my new book, which will be available in August 2019. (Actually, the Kindle version is now available...see the link at the end of this post) [caption id="attachment_19548" align="aligncenter" width="525"] With Whispering Giant #61 in Ottawa, Illinois[/caption] If you are not familiar with the Trail…

08Jul 2019 by David Kravetz

June 2019 Road Trip: Fun, Quirky and Offbeat Things

Adventure, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Cross Country Road Trips, Dinosaurs, Eateries, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Junk Art, Kentucky, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Muffler Man, New Mexico, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Quirky Things, Restroom Signs, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, Tennessee, Texas, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places

With any road trip I take, I look for a lot of different things. I can find the offbeat and quirky, the beautiful, the unique, the magical, the historical, the fun and more...all in one trip. I am focused...on the big picture. My June 2019 road trip took me over the road for nearly 6000 miles and through nine states. I tried to stick to back roads wherever possible because that is where the greatest discoveries can be found. In this post, I present to you some of the more unique, fun and, in some cases quirky things that I discovered along the way. There is always something out there. Here are few fun things... Place Names [caption id="attachment_21988" align="alignnone" width="531"] Welcome to Delight, Arkansas[/caption] I am always looking for…

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…

25Apr 2019 by David Kravetz

Everywhere a Sign – Some V Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alabama, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, Books, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Giant Things, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Offbeat Places, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Texas, Unique Eatery, Unique Places

Its a very exciting time when I can visualize a future trip on the back roads of America. I tackle all of my trips with Vim and Vigor. I feel validated after even the most vexing of trips. As I wind down the month of April and the 2019 blogging challenge, I can see the finish line and can tast victory. Maybe I will celebrate with Voodoo Doughnuts!! I hope you enjoy some of the V Signs I discovered in my 2018 travels. Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride. Voodoo Doughnut, Austin, Texas [caption id="attachment_21888" align="alignnone" width="425"] Voodoo Doughnut, Austin, Texas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21887" align="alignnone" width="435"] Voodoo Doughnut, Cash Only[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21886" align="alignnone" width="525"] Voodoo Doughnut emulating Wall Drug (see below)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_19476" align="alignnone" width="525"] Where the Heck is Wall Drug?[/caption]…

05Apr 2019 by David Kravetz

Everywhere a Sign – Some E Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Giant Things, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Missouri, Montana, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Texas, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Vintage Neon

(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!) Every road is an adventure. Every detour offers new entertainment. In this post I am providing some of the E signs I came across during my travels across the country in 2018. E means ENJOY! Eighter From Decatur, Decatur, Texas [caption id="attachment_21463" align="alignnone" width="525"] Eighter from Decatur sign in Decatur, Texas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21025" align="alignnone" width="525"] Decatur, Texas - Home of the Eighter from Decatur[/caption] Decatur, Texas is a fun little town. Home of…

04Apr 2019 by David Kravetz

Everywhere a Sign – Some D Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Giant Things, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Missouri, Murals, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Tennessee, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Water Towers

(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!) Driving across the good old USA is always a fun adventure. There are always so many fun surprises to be seen on the back roads of America. One of the fun ones for me from 2018 was visiting the town of Dime Box, Texas, featured below, along with D signs I found -- mostly in Texas -- during my 2018 travels. Dime Box, Texas [caption id="attachment_21337" align="alignnone" width="525"] A dime for Dime Box.…

05Mar 2019 by David Kravetz

Travel in 2018: The Best of the Roadside Attractions – Part 1

Adventure, Alabama, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Big John, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Dinosaurs, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Muffler Man, Nevada, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, Selfies, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Tourist Traps, Toy Collections, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 101, Utah, Washington, Water Towers, Whispering Giants, Wyoming

[caption id="attachment_20889" align="alignleft" width="225"] Sharkheads in Biloxi, MS[/caption] Obviously, one of my favorite things to do on road trips short or long is locate the fun, unique and offbeat roadside attractions. And, fortunately, 2018 provided me a plethora of these. I have already written about a few of them individually in past months, but this post will be a nice little "photo tour" of some of my favorites. Having been through 26 different states in 2018, I had plenty of sites and loads of fun. I got to share many of these with grandchildren, which made it even better. [caption id="attachment_20271" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Dignity: Of Earth and Sky - 50 foot tall statue by Dale Lamphere[/caption] [caption id="attachment_20268" align="alignright" width="225"] Sumoflam with Dignity near Chamberlain, SD[/caption] Perhaps my favorite from…

25Feb 2019 by David Kravetz

My Travels in 2018

Adventure, Alabama, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Big Cities, Books, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Car Art, City Skylines, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Dinosaurs, Eateries, Family Travel, Farmland, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Graffiti Walls, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Junk Art, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, Murals, Museums, Mythical Creatures, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Rocky Mountains, Route 66, Selfies, South Dakota, Street Art, Tennessee, Texas, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 101, US Highway 2, US Highway 20, US Highway 212, Utah, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Washington, Water Towers, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Life gets so busy. The first two months of 2019 have been exceptionally busy and so I am just now getting to my annual review posts for 2018. [caption id="attachment_21282" align="alignleft" width="225"] Visiting Route 66 in Oklahoma[/caption] At the beginning of 2018 I didn't have very high hopes for many travel opportunities. I had begun a new job in early October of the previous year and I didn't have any definitive travel plans. But, I had also learned to roll with things and, as good fortune would have it, 2018 actually became a really good travel year. Over the course of the year I was able to travel through 26 different states and drove nearly 12,000 miles. I was able to add a plethora of photos (I took over 15,000…

Category: Giant Things