Mythical Creatures – Page 4 – Less Beaten Paths of America

02Jul 2015 by David Kravetz

Ten Really Obscure Quirky Places You May Have Never Heard Of

#TBT, Alberta, Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Illinois, Michigan, Murals, Mythical Creatures, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Roadside Attractions, Tennessee, Throwback Thursday, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art

[caption id="attachment_5742" align="alignleft" width="300"] Cadillac Ranch - Amarillo, Texas[/caption] Over the years I have traveled tens of thousands of miles of back roads across the United States (only missing Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont...they will be hit soon!). Through all of these travels I have seen the many "famous" unique and quirky tourist spots like Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX (the one with all the Cadillacs in the ground), the giant Paul Bunyan and Blue Ox in Bemidji, MN, the Enchanted Highway in ND or the competing Eiffel Towers in Paris, TX and Paris, TN. [caption id="attachment_8772" align="alignright" width="300"] Paul Bunyan and Babe in Bemidji, MN[/caption] Among the 100s of places I have been, there are a few that really stand out to me and I would consider as future…

30May 2015 by David Kravetz

Going to California: Santa Rosa – Ukiah – Red Bluff

Antsy McClain, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Landscapes, Large Statues, Murals, Mythical Creatures, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Street Art, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 101, Yard Art

[caption id="attachment_12844" align="alignleft" width="300"] Goofing around at Carla's house with her pink flamingo hat and a few Antsy McClain posters[/caption] Day 2 of my Woodflock trip started off nice and slow. No hurry so I was able to sleep in over at Carla's doublewide in Santa Rosa. Woke up to a beautiful morning in the trailer park. Soon, Carla and I were on the road heading north. She decided to go through Ukiah for a more scenic route (and likely to appeal to my wanderlust!) [caption id="attachment_12832" align="alignright" width="225"] In good hands with Carla!! Standing with Agraria by Larry Kirkland[/caption] Santa Rosa is home to a couple of quirky roadside attractions, so we stopped at these on our way out of town. The first of them was a big hand…

13Jun 2014 by David Kravetz

Dreams Come True in Bemidji, MN

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Horse Art, Large Statues, Minnesota, Muffler Man, Mythical Creatures, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Street Art, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wall Art, Yard Art

Recently I had the opportunity to visit Bemidji, Minnesota while on a road trip to Montana. I wrote a little blurb about it on my blog post about driving US Route 2 across the state of Minnesota. [caption id="attachment_8771" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Welcome to Bemidji, Minnesota[/caption] Bemidji, Minnesota is one of the ultimate "quirky places" to visit in Minnesota and for me it is a dream come true place to visit. Here is why: [caption id="attachment_8776" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Life Magazine article on Bemidji and Paul Bunyan statue in February 1945[/caption] My whole fascination with travel and the birth of my wanderlust can be traced back to about 1963 when I was a young 7 year old in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Even now I can recall flipping through a book about the…

12Jun 2014 by David Kravetz

Montana Road Trip: US Route 2 across Minnesota – Offbeat Paradise

Animals, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Large Statues, Minnesota, Muffler Man, Mythical Creatures, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Yard Art

[caption id="attachment_8728" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Northern Pike Statue in Deer River, MN[/caption] Traveling US Route 2 across Wisconsin was beautiful and had its share of offbeat and quirky places, but Minnesota's section of US Route 2 is one to be reckoned with when it comes to quirky and fun destinations on the same road. Entering from Superior, Wisconsin, Route 2 starts south of Duluth and proceeds through Proctor, MN. From there the road heads northwest into the beautiful lake and birch country that gives Minnesota its name "Land of 10,000 Lakes." Before I go any further, I do need to give a SHOUT OUT to fellow travel blogger Seth Hardmeyer, who does the Highway Highlights blog (also see @HHighlights on Twitter and highway_highlights on Instagram). He provided me loads of information…

02Jun 2014 by David Kravetz

Montana Roadtrip – Day 1: A Cheesy Drive to Yooperville

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Large Statues, Michigan, Mythical Creatures, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wisconsin

[caption id="attachment_8600" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Excitement at 4 AM as I get ready to leave on a long roadtrip![/caption] I began my 4600 mile trek to Montana and back by driving from Lexington, Kentucky to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (these folks call themselves "Yoopers") and the small town of Ironwood. [caption id="attachment_8601" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Unique Clouds at 6:30 AM heading west on I-74 in central Indiana[/caption] As with most of my long road trips, the first leg did require a bit of driving on the interstate which I try to avoid once I get into the midst of a trip. For a change of pace, I headed north to Cincinnati and then west on I-74 to Indianapolis and then continued on I-74 all the way to Bloomington, IL. I have…

02Jun 2014 by David Kravetz

4600 Miles of Back Roads Bliss

Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bucket List Trips, Car Art, City Skylines, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Horses, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Large Statues, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Mythical Creatures, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, North Dakota, People Shots, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, Squirrels, Street Art, Train Bridges, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wildflowers, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art

[caption id="attachment_8557" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Following My Bliss![/caption] [caption id="attachment_8476" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Shaded hills on US Route 2 as the sun lowered in the sky east of Wolf Point, MT[/caption] As I returned home from my long nine-day trip across America I wanted to take a quick look back at all the events. [caption id="attachment_8471" align="aligncenter" width="474"] The Rugby Geographical Center of North America monument juxtaposed with the HUB Motel sign in Rugby, ND[/caption] Over the course of this trip I have covered 12 states, over 4600 miles, taken almost 2000 photos (including over 100 "selfies" and have seen all kinds of things. [caption id="attachment_8450" align="alignleft" width="474"] The famed Paul Bunyan and Babe statues made in 1937 in Bemidji, MN[/caption] The big highlights of this trip were visiting the Paul Bunyan…

31Jan 2014 by David Kravetz

A New Photo Gallery: Sumoflam’s Weird and Wonderful America

Alberta, Amish Country, Animals, Antsy McClain, Arizona, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Big Cities, Birds, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Car Art, Cebu, City Skylines, Colorado, Covered Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Florida, Found Metal Sculptures, Georgia, Giant Things, Giant Twine Balls, Horse Art, Horses, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Japan, Kentucky, Large Statues, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Musicians, Mythical Creatures, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, People Shots, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, South Carolina, South Dakota, Squirrels, States and Provinces, Street Art, Street Musicians, Street People, Television Shows, Tennessee, Texas, Train Bridges, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Volcanic Sites, Wall Art, Washington, West Virginia, Wildflowers, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art

Recently I was assigned by a client to look into the creation of a SmugMug website. I had to do some testing on it, but in the process I created my own SmugMug site. This site has hundreds of photographs that I've taken on my travels around the country, in Canada, in Japan, and in the Philippines. Sumoflam's Weird & Wonderful America I have not always focused on just the unique and offbeat, but I also have visited many national parks, many scenic wonderlands, have focused on animal life, flowers and trees, and other unique and interesting places and things. My new SmugMug site will feature a great variety of all of these photographs. I hope you'll give it a visit and Enjoy the Ride!!

17Dec 2013 by David Kravetz

Louisville and Jeffersonville: Ohio River Sisters

Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bridges, Car Art, City Skylines, Family Travel, Giant Things, Indiana, Kentucky, Large Statues, Mythical Creatures, Train Bridges, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art

[caption id="attachment_7599" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Jeffersonville, Indiana[/caption] Two different cities and a shared river and bridge. In September 2013 one of my daughters and her friends needed some assistance getting to Louisville and had some business to take care of. So, with camera in hand, we were off and they did their stuff while I drove around Louisville and then across the river to Jeffersonville. Here are a few the things I saw in a three hour jaunt thru two towns.... [caption id="attachment_7605" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Louisville as seen from across the Ohio River in Jeffersonville, IN[/caption] This stretch of the Ohio River is the widest and deepest part (about 23 feet) of the Ohio River. [caption id="attachment_7534" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Louisville Slugger headquarters - Louisville, Kentucky[/caption] A drive down West Main Street…

22Nov 2013 by David Kravetz

Creating the Wanderlust – 30 Years of Family Travel – Pt 3

Antsy McClain, Arizona, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Georgia, Giant Things, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Musicians, Mythical Creatures, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, People Shots, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, South Carolina, Texas, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wisconsin

[caption id="attachment_6868" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Joselyn on the Beach - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina summer 2013[/caption] This is the last in my 3 part series on "Creating the Wanderlust" through family travel adventures. (see the other two Part 1 Part 2 ) [caption id="attachment_6856" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Autumn in Rhinelander, WI with the Hodag - Aug 2012[/caption] After three weddings in 2005 I was fried...and, to top things off I had knee surgery later in the year, so there was no travel the rest of that year. In fact, I didn't take any trips until 2007 when I had a couple of big ones. These were with Solomon as Seth was off serving a Mormon mission in Utah. Then, since that time many of the trips from 2008 thru 2013 have…

20Nov 2013 by David Kravetz

New Wall Art in Lexington, KY – Part II More PRHBTN works completed

Backroads Discoveries, Eateries, Giant Things, Horse Art, Kentucky, Mythical Creatures, Roadside Attractions, South Dakota, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wall Art

[caption id="attachment_7456" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sumoflam stares down a character from the huge mural just completed by British urban artist Phlegm[/caption] A few days ago I posted about a number of new and recent murals that now grace the walls of buildings in Lexington (see the post here). Some of these, including the massive Lincoln mural, are part of the annual PRHBTN celebration of art forms that have been criminalized, marginalized, and under-appreciated in the mainstream. In the past week since the completion of the Lincoln project, four other giant works have been completed by three different urban artists including Phlegm from Britain, GAIA from Baltimore, and Odeith, from Portugal. All of these works are just a tad off the beaten path, but well worth seeking out. [caption id="attachment_7458" align="aligncenter" width="512"]…

Category: Mythical Creatures