03Apr 2020 by David Kravetz

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

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Antelope, Arizona, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bison, Books, Buffalo, California, Cormorants, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Ghost Signs, Ghost Towns, Idaho, Landscapes, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Montana, Murals, Museums, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, New Mexico, Offbeat Places, Oregon, Place Names, Pronghorn Antelope, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, South Dakota, Texas, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 101, US Highway 2, US Highway 70, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Washington, Water Towers, Welcome Signs, Wyoming
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 C Stories. (all photography by David "Sumoflam" Kravetz) Caddo Lake - Uncertain, Texas In my "A Stories," I mentioned Aaron Applebaum of Mystique Tours and his great boat rides through the swamps of Caddo…
Read More
02Apr 2020 by David Kravetz

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

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bison, Books, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Buffalo, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Eagles, Family Travel, Junk Art, Less Beaten Paths Books, Montana, Museums, National Monuments, National Parks, New Mexico, Oregon, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, South Dakota, Texas, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 101, Washington, Welcome Signs, Wyoming
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 A Stories. (all photography by David "Sumoflam" Kravetz) Bald Eagles - all over On our 8154 mile drive across the United States, we were fortunate enough to see 24 Bald Eagles...we saw them in…
Read More
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…
Read More
05Jul 2019 by David Kravetz

June 2019: The Great Southwest Trek

Adventure, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Geologic Formations, Illinois, Kentucky, Landscapes, Missouri, Mountains, National Monuments, National Parks, New Mexico, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Unique Places, Volcanic Sites, Welcome Signs
On June 5 I departed home on a 10 day adventure to the southwest U.S.  I had made plans with my sister Sherry to accompany her and her family to Tucson and Albuquerque to visit our brothers Aaron and Gary, both of whom neither of us had seen on over 20 years. [caption id="attachment_21985" align="alignnone" width="525"] Red Rock Crossing in Sedona, Arizona[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21983" align="alignnone" width="525"] Route 66 in Winslow, Arizona[/caption] I love my road trips.  But I really looked forward to this one as much of it would take me to many of my old stomping grounds.  Plans were to visit Aaron in Tucson, then go up to Flagstaff, via Sedona, for a couple of days of touring around there and then off to Albuquerque to visit Gary. [caption…
Read More
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…
Read More
24Apr 2019 by David Kravetz

Everywhere a Sign – Some U Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, National Monuments, National Parks, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, States and Provinces, Tennessee, Texas, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 1, US Highway 101, US Highway 177, US Highway 183, US Highway 190, US Highway 2, US Highway 271, US Highway 287, US Highway 51, US Highway 58, US Highway 60, US Highway 68, US Highway 79, US Highway 81, US Highway 89, US Highway 90, US Highways, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Water Towers, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Its a unanimous understatement to say that I love traveling the back roads of America looking for the interesting and unique. It is ultimately my utmost passion (well, besides my family and my grandchildren). I will also do something in this post. I will be posting some of the US Highway signs I have picked up, most specifically in 2018. I'll explain down below.  I hope you enjoy some of the U Signs I discovered in my 2018 travels.  Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride. Uranus, Missouri [caption id="attachment_20977" align="alignnone" width="525"] Welcome to Uranus Missouri[/caption] [caption id="attachment_20969" align="alignnone" width="403"] Uranus, Missouri water tower[/caption] [caption id="attachment_20958" align="alignnone" width="525"] Thanks for Picking Uranus[/caption] [caption id="attachment_20964" align="alignnone" width="525"] Sounds yummy[/caption] [caption id="attachment_20965" align="alignnone" width="412"] Help Keep Uranus Clean[/caption] [caption id="attachment_20951" align="alignnone" width="525"] The…
Read More
23Apr 2019 by David Kravetz

Everywhere a Sign – Some T Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Family Travel, Illinois, Less Beaten Paths Books, Missouri, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, Texas, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 2, Vintage Neon, Washington
Travel is my passion.  It is a terrific passion that tantalizes every nerve in my soul. Needless to say, I am a tenacious traveler. I try to track down every nook and cranny on the back roads of this terrific country. From the twisted and tortuous mountain roads to the tall tree-lined highways, I am always tempted to go yet another mile.  I hope you will enjoy some of the T Signs I discovered in my 2018 travels. Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride. Telephone, Texas [caption id="attachment_21279" align="alignnone" width="525"] Telephone, Texas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21342" align="alignnone" width="525"] I was so thrilled for this place. It had a laundromat and a restroom!![/caption] [caption id="attachment_21343" align="alignnone" width="525"] There are so many unique places in Texas. I just accidentally came across this one....[/caption] Telephone,…
Read More
15Apr 2019 by David Kravetz

Everywhere a Sign – Some M Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Alabama, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Offbeat Places, Oregon, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 26, US Highway 90, US Highway 97, US Highways, Utah, 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. ) There are many road signs and store front signs to be seen across this magnificent country.  The endlessly marvelous variety of signs and places always has me camera ready.  Here are some of the Many signs I found along the way, including some that say Many!  Enjoy the Read. Enjoy the Ride. Many, Louisiana [caption id="attachment_21345" align="alignnone" width="525"] Welcome to Many. Not just a few here![/caption] I am always on the lookout for a unique town name and its…
Read More
11Apr 2019 by David Kravetz

Everywhere a Sign – Some J Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

Alabama, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Illinois, Less Beaten Paths Books, Missouri, Offbeat Places, Oklahoma, Oregon, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 26, US Highway 395, US Highway 70, US Highway 72
(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 brings me great joy to travel the back roads of America as I jump from here to there with joviality in my heart.  So, here are some of the J signs I found in 2018. Enjoy the Read.  Enjoy the Ride. John Day, Oregon [caption id="attachment_21515" align="alignnone" width="525"] John Day, Oregon[/caption] I don't often see names of towns named after a full name of a person.  John Day, Oregon is an exception. …
Read More
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…
Read More