23Jan 2013 by David Kravetz

People Shots from My Travels – Part 1 (Canada and US)

Amish Country, Arizona, Graffiti Walls, Illinois, Kentucky, Murals, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, People Shots, Street Musicians, Street People, Texas, Wall Art, Washington
Street Person - Toronto[/caption] Throughout my travels in Canada and the US, I have run across many opportunities to get random shots of people.  Our world is made up of people of all types. [caption id="attachment_618" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Strolling by Mo's Seafood Restaurant - Newport, Oregon[/caption] So, for this entry and the next couple of them, it will be more about people, than places.  I hope you will enjoy this little cruise.  People are fun! [caption id="attachment_613" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Soccer in the Shadows - Hoboken, NJ[/caption] [caption id="attachment_615" align="aligncenter" width="640"] "Super" Family Trip - Metropolis, Illinois[/caption] [caption id="attachment_614" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Old Man - Paducah, Kentucky[/caption] I got the next couple of shots while on a visit to Niagara Falls with my family.  I took quite a few, but these were…
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06May 2012 by David Kravetz

A Super Place called Metropolis

Backroads Discoveries, Big John, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Family Travel, Giant Things, Illinois, Large Statues, Muffler Man, Murals, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery
Metropolis Welcome Sign[/caption] This blog entry not only includes a unique name of a town, but is now introducing the second theme of this blog...the big statues and unusual sites along the road. [caption id="attachment_265" align="alignleft" width="96"] Metropolis Signs[/caption] Metropolis is the home of the Giant Superman Statue - a 200 foot tall statue of the Man of Steel. Funny thing is, as I drove into this town, the first big statue I saw was in front of a grocery store and was NOT the Giant Superman Statue!! The town is really all about Superman.         [caption id="attachment_266" align="aligncenter" width="199"] The Giant non-Superman Statue - Big John the Grocery Clerk[/caption] [caption id="attachment_268" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Giant Superman with not so giant Sumoflam[/caption] [caption id="attachment_267" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Flying Superman…
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01Apr 2012 by David Kravetz
Yes, I have been to Hell and lived to tell about it

Yes, I have been to Hell and lived to tell about it

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Michigan, Murals, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unique Eatery, Wall Art
[/caption] Back in late May 2008 I was on a return trip home from Ontario via Michigan.  I made my way through Central Michigan.  As I had been told to "go to Hell" a few times, I decided I would finally go to Hell...in Michigan (see entire trip report) [caption id="attachment_191" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Howell Rd. to Hell"][/caption] Hell, Michigan is actually not a real town.  It is a "tourist trap" in the midst of the Pinckney Recreation Area, about five miles north of Pinckney, MI.  It is, honestly, quite a scenic drive. To get there from the town of Pinckney you need to take south Howell Rd. (no joke...you get to Hell via Howell Rd. -- Hell is in the name of the road).     The village of Hell…
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14Mar 2012 by David Kravetz
From Earth to Vulcan

From Earth to Vulcan

Alberta, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Giant Things, Large Statues, Murals, Museums, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Television Shows, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places
Welcome to Vulcan[/caption] A couple of days ago I posted an article about Earth, Texas.  Back in 2007 I had occasion to visit a friend of mine in Alberta, Canada.  One of the side trips we tool was to the town of Vulcan, which has taken full advantage of its name and the association with the TV show Star Trek. [caption id="attachment_160" align="alignleft" width="300"] Welcome sign in Klingon[/caption] Vulcan is a town located midway between the cities of Calgary and Lethbridge inthe prairies of Southern Alberta, Canada.  The population of the town was 1,940 in 2006, and the population of the county, which is also named Vulcan, was 3,718.  According to Wikipedia, "The town was named by a surveyor for the Canadian Pacific Railroad in 1915 after the Roman God of…
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13Mar 2012 by David Kravetz
Going through a Hurricane and a Tornado in the same day

Going through a Hurricane and a Tornado in the same day

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Murals, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, West Virginia
Through a Hurricane and a Tornado all in one afternoon[/caption] I got back yesterday from a trip to Oregon and left again today for a trip to North Carolina.  On the way, I took some back roads through West Virginia and literally went through a Hurricane and then a Tornado. [caption id="attachment_148" align="alignleft" width="300"] A Wall Mural in Hurricane, WV[/caption] According to the Hurricane Website, "it was a cool, misty morning in the year of 1774. A party of surveyors, commissioned by George Washington, traveled down the Kanawha River. As the sun was slowly rising, cutting through the fog of this early spring day, they noted in their journal that all the trees at the mouth of the creek were bent in the same direction. and they called the location…
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10Mar 2012 by David Kravetz
Where on earth is Earth?

Where on earth is Earth?

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Murals, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Texas, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Water Towers
Earth is that way[/caption] When returning from a trip to Arizona in May 2011, we came back through NM, visited Roswell and then, from all the UFO stuff in Roswell, we found ourselves arriving in Earth, TX. [caption id="attachment_135" align="alignleft" width="300"] Earth is only 6 miles away[/caption] According to a Wikipedia article, "Earth was established by William E. Halsell, who laid out the townsite in 1924. Originally Halsell named the town Fairlawn, but in 1925 it was renamed Earth when it was learned that there was already a town in Texas by the name of Fairlawn.In order to find a new name the townspeople sent in suggestions, and the agreed-upon best name was chosen. The name Earth was submitted by Ora Hume (O.H.) Reeves, who became the owner of the…
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29Feb 2012 by David Kravetz
Maybe not strange, but Peculiar…

Maybe not strange, but Peculiar…

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Missouri, Place Names, Post Offices, Random Thoughts, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Water Towers
Peculiar, MO[/caption] Just as there is a Normal in Illinois, there is a Peculiar in Missouri.  Yes, this is more than a strange name for a town, it is a Peculiar name.  On a trip to Kansas City in January 2011, I made my way to Peculiar. [caption id="attachment_34" align="alignleft" width="300"] Peculiar welcome sign[/caption] I love hitting places like this.  According to legend, Peculiar received its name when the first postmaster, Edgar Thomson, had his first choice, Excelsior, rejected because it already existed in Atchison County, MO. Apparently, a number of  other choices were also rejected. So, the annoyed Thomson wrote to the Postmaster General to complain saying, among other things, "We don't care what name you give us so long as it is sort of 'peculiar'." Thomson submitted the…
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