23Jul 2014 by David Kravetz

Montana Trip: US Highway 89 thru Montana – North 89

Animals, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Farmland, Found Metal Sculptures, Geologic Formations, Ghost Signs, Giant Things, Graffiti Walls, Horses, Landscapes, Large Statues, Montana, Murals, Museums, National Monuments, National Parks, Place Names, prairie dogs, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, States and Provinces, Train Bridges, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 2, US Highway 212, US Highway 287, US Highway 89, US Highways, Vintage Neon
[caption id="attachment_9398" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Snow covered mountains of Glacier National Park as seen from US 89 just south of US Route 2 near Browning, MT[/caption] As I continued my trip in Montana, I spent some time with my daughter and her children in Shelby.  From there I proceeded to head back to Kentucky the "back roads" way over a number of US Highways and State Highways. [caption id="attachment_9399" align="aligncenter" width="474"] US Route 2 and US Route 89[/caption] My goal was to travel the majority of Montana's US 89 during this trip.  I did not hit the portion north of Browning to Alberta on this trip, though I have traveled it in the past.  In fact, over the years I have traveled US 89 from the Canadian border all the way…
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17Jul 2014 by David Kravetz

Montana Roadtrip: Taking the Hi-Line Across Northern Montana

Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Montana, Museums, National Parks, Place Names, prairie dogs, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Train Bridges, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_9159" align="aligncenter" width="474"] US Route 2 Montana - The Hi-Line[/caption] My trip along Route 2 continued from Glasgow, Montana westward along what is known as the Montana Hi-Line (See my May 2013 post about a previous drive on a portion of the Hi-Line).  Back in May last year I drove through to Glasgow and then south.  On this trip I tried to spend a little more time in some of the smaller towns on the road and capture the essence of what I feel is a dieing breed hanging on.  In fact, to proclaim their existence, many of the towns have a big sign on the highway to proclaim "Hey, we're here!" [caption id="attachment_2970" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Chester, Montana welcome sign on West side of town - one of many…
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04Jul 2014 by David Kravetz

Montana Road Trip: Zipping across North Dakota on US Highway 2

Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Horse Art, Large Statues, Montana, North Dakota, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Vintage Neon
[caption id="attachment_9121" align="aligncenter" width="474"] US Route 2 in North Dakota[/caption] I continue my series on my Montana road trip and my drive along US Route two across the northern border from Michigan to Montana. [caption id="attachment_8983" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Welcome to North Dakota[/caption] As one progresses further west after leaving Minnesota, you soon discover that the land is flatter, full of prairies and grasslands and not as many lakes and streams as one would see in Minnesota. [caption id="attachment_8990" align="aligncenter" width="474"] US Route 2 in North Dakota[/caption] I spent the night in Grand Forks, North Dakota and then proceeded to head west early in the morning. The first thing I did was look for the famed Smiley Water Tower in Grand Forks. Unlike others with a similar smiley on them, this…
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29Jun 2014 by David Kravetz

A Grizzly Experience: Grizz Works in Maple, WI

Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Giant Things, Large Statues, People Shots, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wisconsin, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_8706" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Grizz Works in Maple, WI[/caption] During my trip on US Route 2 across Wisconsin, I came across a unique place called Grizz Works in the small town of Maple, Wisconsin. It amounted to a roadside stop with a whole bunch of big, realistic looking chainsaw carved wooden animals and other statues. I have seen many of these along the roads in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ontario, Arkansas and Kentucky, but the work that they had there was absolutely astounding! [caption id="attachment_8974" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Grizz Works Art[/caption] What caught my eye from the road was a 10 foot tall giant wooden grizzly that looked alive! [caption id="attachment_8964" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Giant Grizzly[/caption] Since I passed it, I found the next place to turn around and I went back and stop…
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27Jun 2014 by David Kravetz

It’s All in the Trip

Antsy McClain, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Large Statues, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, States and Provinces, Tennessee, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wildflowers, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="768"] The Corner of This Way and That Way in Lake Jackson, TX[/caption] I started off today on the last leg of a 9 Day Road trip. This was my second 9 day road trip in one month. Both road trips were mainly for family affairs of one type or another. So, that being said, I did have destinations for both trips. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Giant Cow with glasses in Guthrie, KY[/caption] My first trip took me to Montana for my grandson's baptism. I've already posted some content about that, but that trip took me almost 4600 miles in nine days and thru 12 states. I still have a few post to go to finish my blogs on that trip. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Riding the…
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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…
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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…
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02Jun 2014 by David Kravetz

Montana Roadtrip: Gliding Across Wisconsin on US Route 2

Animals, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Large Statues, Michigan, Roadside Attractions, Street Art, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wisconsin, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_8626" align="aligncenter" width="167"] US Route 2 and Lake Superior Circle Tour beginning in Ironwood, MI[/caption] One of my "bucket list trips" is to drive the entire length of US Route 2 from the East Coast to the West Coast. Not necessarily in one trip, but to have been able to drive the length of that highway as the opportunity affords itself.  [caption id="attachment_8632" align="alignleft" width="300"] Sumoflam at the starting point of his Route 2 adventure in Ironwood, MI[/caption] Route 2 is one of the longest continuous highways in the continental United States, spanning 2,571 miles and is also the northernmost US numbered route in the country. The western segment of US 2 extends from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan across the northern tier of the lower 48 states. Most of the…
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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…
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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…
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