Colorado – Page 4 – Less Beaten Paths of America

01May 2017 by David Kravetz

X is for Xtreme Skies – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Farmland, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, National Parks, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Sandhill Cranes, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

OK. I know.... Xtreme is not really a dictionary word, but many advertisers use it and there are company names and even a band name. So, it is fair game. This post is about xtreme (extreme) skies - unique cloud formations, colorful skies, sunrises, sunsets, sunbeams, moon shots, rainbows and more. A traveler on the highways of America always sees the skies. It can't be helped. For me, I actually pay attention to them for the skies present their own fascinating form of art. [caption id="attachment_11801" align="aligncenter" width="568"] Shining sky above US 79/190 in central Texas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8475" align="alignleft" width="300"] A lovely view of the Big Sky in Montana as seen from US Route 2 west of Bainville, MT[/caption] For this post, I will provide an assortment of photos I…

30Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

W is for Wildlife – #atozchallenge

Adventure, Alligators, Animals, Antelope, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bison, Blue Heron, Buffalo, Colorado, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Deer, Delaware, Eagles, Egret, Elk, Fox, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, Oregon, Pelicans, Pennsylvania, prairie dogs, Pronghorn Antelope, Rocky Mountains, Sandhill Cranes, Seagulls, Squirrels, Swamps, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Virginia, Wanderlust, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

There are not many better things on a back road trip than running into unexpected wildlife. There is an abundance of birds and animals to be discovered on the road. For me, my camera is always at the ready for the chance meeting of some interesting animal or bird. [caption id="attachment_17754" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Sandhill Cranes fly over high plains near Dell, MT[/caption] One such incident happened on a gravel road near Dell, Montana. I was on the lookout for bison as I drive along Ted Turner's massive bison ranch. While stopped to look I heard a strange bird call that I had never heard and shortly thereafter a pair of large birds came zipping by. I got some shots, but wasn't sure what I had until I got to the…

29Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

V is for Vistas – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, California, City Skylines, Colorado, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Delaware, Family Travel, Farmland, Geologic Formations, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Lighthouses, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, South Dakota, Swamps, Tennessee, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Utah, Virginia, Wanderlust, Washington, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Vistas are the joy of back roads travel. Every corner, every crest of a hill, every mile offers a new vista. And this country has some spectacular and splendid vistas. Over the years I have seen some amazing vistas. Whether they be in the deserts of the southwest, the high plains of Montana or on the oceans in the east or the west, the views are endless and inspiring. Following are some of the vistas I have enjoyed and their locations. Enjoy the ride and the views. [caption id="attachment_4039" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Sunset at the Badlands in South Dakota[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2194" align="aligncenter" width="660"] St. Anthony Sand Dunes in Idaho[/caption] [caption id="attachment_15120" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A view of the Portland Head Light in Maine[/caption] [caption id="attachment_18082" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Hills of Shenandoah Valley in…

28Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

U is for Unique Monsters: Dinos, Dragons & Other Monsters – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Colorado, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Dinosaurs, Dragons, Family Travel, Giant Things, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Large Statues, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Murals, Museums, Mythical Creatures, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ontario, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, South Dakota, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wall Art, Wisconsin, Wyoming

People are enthralled by dinosaurs and dragons. Maybe it is because humans have never really seen one alive. All we have are fossil evidences and legends. A roadtrip on the back roads of America will almost always present a dinosaur or a dragon. I have seen hundreds in my travels. [caption id="attachment_5591" align="aligncenter" width="459"] Dragon Biting my head off - Jurustic Park - Marshfield, Wisconsin[/caption] In this post I hope to share some of the photos and fun of dinosaurs, dragons and other monster thingies as seen on the road. [caption id="attachment_7427" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Autumn and "Grampz" with the Hodag of Rhinelander, WI[/caption] Let's look at a couple of strange monsters first. First there is the Hodag, a unique monster found in Rhinelander, WI. According to an 1893 newspaper article…

24Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

Q is for Quirky – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Bucket List Trips, Burger Joints, California, Car Art, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Horse Art, Iowa, Large Statues, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Yard Art

There is a difference between quirky and offbeat in my mind. Quirky is typically off the chain and unexpected, or even downright weird. On the other hand, as noted in my O is for Offbeat post, the offbeat and odd things are typically recognizable. Obviously, there is a fine line between what is quirky and what is offbeat. I think we all make those determinations ourselves. In this post, I will offer up a few Quirky things...those that I think are beyond offbeat and into the realm of quirky. [caption id="attachment_12871" align="aligncenter" width="485"] "Cyclisk" - Obelisk made out of bicycle parts in Santa Rosa, CA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_12834" align="alignleft" width="225"] Sumoflam at the base of "Cyclisk"[/caption] I'll start off with a biggie...a giant obelisk made completely of bicycle parts. Why quirky? …

19Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

N is for National Parks & Monuments – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alaska, Arizona, Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, California, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indian Ruins, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, Museums, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, Selfies, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Travel with grandchildren, Unique Places, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Wyoming

The US National Park System has 417 official units throughout the country including 59 National Parks, 87 National Monuments, 19 National Preserves, 51 National Historic Parks, 78 National Historic Sites, 4 National Battlefield Parks, 9 National Military Parks, 9 National Battlefields, 30 National Memorials and a number of other National sites including National Rivers, National Seashores, National Lakeshores, National Parkways and National Trails. [caption id="attachment_9813" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Bison relax along Lava Creek in Yellowstone while pronghorned antelope look on from the background[/caption] [caption id="attachment_10764" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Sumoflam and Cannons at Vicksburg National Military Park[/caption] [caption id="attachment_16830" align="alignright" width="300"] Towpath Trail in Cuyahoga Valley NP, Ohio[/caption] Officially, the National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration…

17Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

M is for Mountains – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alaska, Arizona, Backroads Discoveries, Colorado, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, Mountains, National Monuments, National Parks, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rocky Mountains, Selfies, Travel Blogging, Unique Places, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming

I love the mountains. I spent a good part of my life in the mountains - New Mexico, Montana, Utah, Colorado, Arizona. These are the BIG mountains. Having lived in Kentucky for the past 25 years, I hear of people that live in "the mountains of Kentucky" or heading to "the mountains of West Virginia." In my perspective these are more like hills. But, by the broader definition, there are mountains in states like Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Maybe even Tennessee. [caption id="attachment_4624" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Purple Mountain Majesties - Sawtooth range in Central Idaho[/caption] [caption id="attachment_17974" align="alignright" width="200"] Here I am at the Sandia Overlook near Albuquerque in 1964[/caption] When I take trips to the Western US, I always try to make an effort to get to the…

11Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

I is for Ingenuity – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alberta, Arizona, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, California, Canada, City Skylines, Colorado, Covered Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Delaware, Family Travel, Giant Things, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, LDS Temples, Mountains, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, Selfies, Texas, Train Bridges, Unique Places, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming

I am always intrigued about the ingenuity of humans. Their ability to build and create things that solves problems for them. There are many examples of ingenuity to can be seen on the back roads of America. Whether it be bridges or towers or buildings. There is always something unique and interesting to see. [caption id="attachment_2664" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Tuckhannock Viaduct - Nicholson, Pennsylvania[/caption] [caption id="attachment_781" align="alignright" width="300"] Nicholson's welcome sign features the Viaduct[/caption] One of my brightest memories of fascination comes from a town in eastern Pennsylvania called Nicholson. In this town, the train company needed a solution to get the train up high to pass by as the town was down in the valley. So, a giant viaduct was built. Called the Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct, this giant structure. towered…

10Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

H is for History – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Arizona, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, LDS Temples, Lewis and Clark Sites, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Museums, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

One cannot travel any road in America or Canada without running into some sort of historical site, monument or building. That is part of the fun of a back road adventure. Our country of 2017 is defined in great part by the history of the country dating back to the 1600s (and earlier if you count the Native Americans). [caption id="attachment_8530" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Camp Disappointment west of Cut Bank< Montana looks out towards the mountains of Glacier National Park. This is one of many Lewis and Clark Monuments across the United States.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_17786" align="alignleft" width="300"] Monument in Beachville, Ontario commemorating the first baseball game in Canada.[/caption] Dotting the roads of America are historical markers that tell about events that occurred in that exact location or nearby. There are literally…

08Apr 2017 by David Kravetz

G is for Grandeur – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Arizona, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Big Cities, Bison, Buffalo, California, City Skylines, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Farmland, Florida, Geologic Formations, Idaho, Kentucky, Landscapes, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pelicans, Pennsylvania, Pronghorn Antelope, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, Sandhill Cranes, Selfies, South Dakota, Swamps, Texas, Travel Blogging, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Utah, Virginia, Volcanic Sites, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming

The United States is a vast and diverse country. From sea to shining sea there are sweeping vistas and spectacular scenes of nature. The grandeur of this country is not seen on the interstate highways, but on the back roads and the gravel roads that have woven the fiber of this country. [caption id="attachment_17743" align="aligncenter" width="672"] Grandeur as seen on a back road in North Dakota - The Enchanted Highway[/caption] [caption id="attachment_15481" align="alignleft" width="300"] Mt. Moran in the Grand Tetons as seen from Colter Bay Lodge[/caption] I am always awestruck by the superb landscapes that one can witness on the back roads. Some of these landscapes, such as the Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains, are known by everybody. But there are so many more spectacles to feast your eyes…

Category: Colorado