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

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

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Museums, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Unique Places, Vintage Neon
[caption id="attachment_33611" align="alignleft" width="182"] Motorsports Museum[/caption] In my previous post, I presented the Muhlenberg County Music Museum.  It is only part of the bigger picture as the entire back of the building features the Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum. As with the Music Museum, Dr. Freddie Mayes manages the facility.  The museum features a variety of motorsports treasures that includes most everything from racing.  Dr. Mayes said that their current garage can't handle a Monster Truck yet, but they are working on a way to display one.  The facility also includes a vintage soda shop, a number of vintage neon signs, Hall of Fame trophies and other memorabilia.   [caption id="attachment_33613" align="alignnone" width="700"] A view of the Motorsports Museum[/caption] [caption id="attachment_33612" align="alignnone" width="700"] Another view of the Motorsports…
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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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Visiting Muhlenberg County, Kentucky: The House of Onyx

Visiting Muhlenberg County, Kentucky: The House of Onyx

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Offbeat Places, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Staycations, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Unique Shops, Wanderlust
[caption id="attachment_33560" align="alignleft" width="255"] House of Onyx Brass Plaque[/caption] Take a drive down North Main Street in Greenville, Kentucky and you will come across a very non-descript tan brick building with a bronze plaque on the front as well as a brass name across the wall.  All they say is "House of Onyx Inc." The bronze plaque also includes an inscription with the Established 1967 and the names Fred & Shirley Rowe.   My guide, Misty Deason, the Proprietor of Apple House Mercantile, would tell me nothing about the place, but said we were going there and that I would be very surprised. I am always up for a "mysterious place" and so I was all in. [caption id="attachment_33593" align="alignright" width="300"] DFW Elite Toy Museum plaque in Haltom City, Texas[/caption] Only…
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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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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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Antsy McClain – Late Bloomer: A Review of His Newest Album – Available NOW!

Antsy McClain – Late Bloomer: A Review of His Newest Album – Available NOW!

Antsy McClain, Back Roads, Pauly Zarb, People Shots, Selfies
[caption id="attachment_33504" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Antsy McClain[/caption] I have had the special honor of being associated with singer/songwriter/artist/poet Antsy McClain for nearly 30 years. I have known him from before the days of the Trailer Park Troubadours in the 1990s and have just loved his music throughout the years.  He has written well over 300 tunes over the years and has released over 25 albums. (And I should note that he is the designer of my book covers and my Less Beaten Paths highway banner) On July 2 he will be releasing a new album titled Late Bloomer, a double album with 23 brand new songs. The songs really cover the gamut of Antsy's musical styles.  From his well-known humorous songs, to philosophical songs, to story songs, it really hits all of…
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AtoZ Challenge 2021 – Signs Signs – The U Signs #atozchallenge

AtoZ Challenge 2021 – Signs Signs – The U Signs #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Less Beaten Paths Books, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, Stop Signs, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 14, US Highway 16, Utah, Water Towers, Welcome Signs, Wyoming
I have fallen way behind on my A to Z posts this year due to added work and travel, but I will get them all!  This year I am doing signs that I have seen across the country.  This post will feature signs associated with the Letter U. ENJOY THE RIDE! We can't avoid signs.  They are everywhere.  Advertisements, informational signs, directional signs, business signs and, sometimes, even humorous and fun signs.  Each of my posts in this years' challenge will feature a hodgepodge of signs I have come across in my travels.  In most cases, I'll also note where they were taken.  Some were actually inside of shops or otherwise, so not all will have locations.  I hope you enjoy the remainder of my posts as get to them…
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AtoZ Challenge 2021 – Signs Signs – The T Signs #atozchallenge

AtoZ Challenge 2021 – Signs Signs – The T Signs #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Arizona, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Books, Bucket List Trips, Buildings, Barns and Houses, Burger Joints, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Graffiti Walls, Hot Dog Places, Ice Cream Places, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Missouri, Murals, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oregon, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, Signs and Billboards, Tennessee, Texas, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Turkeys, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Volunteer Fire Departments, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Washington, Water Towers, Welcome Signs, West Virginia, Wyoming
I have fallen way behind on my A to Z posts this year due to added work and travel, but I will get them all!  This year I am doing signs that I have seen across the country.  This post will feature signs associated with the Letter T. ENJOY THE RIDE! We can't avoid signs.  They are everywhere.  Advertisements, informational signs, directional signs, business signs and, sometimes, even humorous and fun signs.  Each of my posts in this years' challenge will feature a hodgepodge of signs I have come across in my travels.  In most cases, I'll also note where they were taken.  Some were actually inside of shops or otherwise, so not all will have locations.  I hope you enjoy the remainder of my posts as get to them…
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