06May 2013 by David Kravetz

Road Trip Home from Idaho – Day 2: Along the Montana Hi-Line from Shelby to Glendive

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Montana, US Highway 2
Abandoned Schoolhouse - Fresno, Montana (east of Kremlin)[/caption] March 31, 2013: After spending a few wonderful days in Shelby, Montana with family (see my previous post on Shelby), it was time to head back to Kentucky.  This segment of the trip we would take US Route 2 along what is called the Montana Hi-Line.  Basically, the highway parallels the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF). The full Hi-Line in Montana stretches from North Dakota to Idaho border, for a distance of more than 650 miles.  However, it seems that to many of the residents in the area, the Hi-Line is really the stretch of US Route 2 from about Cut Bank, MT all the way east to the North Dakota border. US Route 2 is the northernmost east-west route…
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03May 2013 by David Kravetz

A Few Days in Shelby, Montana and surrounding area

Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, City Skylines, North Dakota, South Dakota
Shelby, Montana[/caption] March 28, 2013:  On our way back to Kentucky from Rexburg, Idaho we made a three day detour to Shelby, Montana to visit our daughter and her husband and their 4 children. Thanks to our new best trailer tires we were able to go on rough roads quite smoothly, and I have to say till date they have been my best investment on the RV. During our three days here, we were very busy with a trip to the base of Glacier National Park, a drive around town capturing the "Neon Essence" of Shelby, and a trip north to Sweetgrass, just south of the Canadian border, where we also visited a Hutterite colony and learned of their amazing communal ways.  This post will cover these activities through photos…
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28Apr 2013 by David Kravetz

Road Trip Home from Idaho – Day 1: Rexburg, ID to Shelby, MT

Bridges, Bucket List Trips, City Skylines, North Dakota, South Dakota
Gold Butte in Northern Montana as seen from Frontier Bar near Shelby, Montana[/caption] Mar. 27, 2013: After almost two weeks in Rexburg working with my new employer DSN America, it was time to return back to Kentucky and home sweet home.  They had flown Julianne out to Idaho, so I was blessed to have my very best friend and sweetheart with me for the long drive home, with a brief stopover in Shelby, Montana to see our daughter and their kids.  It was an easy first day. Rexburg, ID to Shelby, MT We left Rexburg in the afternoon and eventually zipped up I-15.  We crossed over Monida Pass, which serve as the border between Idaho and Montana. The mountains were still snow covered and beautiful, especially as we came close to the…
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25Apr 2013 by David Kravetz

Sumoflam is Everywhere – A Photo Gallery

Arizona, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, City Skylines, Colorado, Horses, Missouri, North Dakota, Place Names, Route 66, South Carolina, South Dakota, Squirrels, States and Provinces, Trinity Music Productions, Wildflowers, Yard Art
Sumoflam and Thunderbirds in Bismarck, ND[/caption] Over the years I have taken nearly 30,000 photos of my travels and in most cases I have not been in the photos.  Over the coming months I will add new galleries that are thematic. this is the first one.  Enjoy!! [nggallery id=2] ]]>
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18Apr 2013 by David Kravetz

Traveling the Enchanted Highway in North Dakota

Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, City Skylines, North Dakota, South Dakota
If you are at all interested in the whimsical, unique and humongous roadside attractions of this great country, then a drive down the amazing Enchanted Highway in North Dakota is a MUST!! On April 2, 2013, I finally had the opportunity to drive one of the "Bucket List" trips for me in all of my travels across the country.  The 32 mile drive features a number of pieces of the amazing artwork of retired Regent, ND school teacher Gary Greff who has taken on this effort in order to keep the small dying town from becoming a ghost town.  I hope to have a pretty comprehensive overview of the entire route, including the map below and detailed directions, mileage, photos and even some details about each stop along the way.…
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17Apr 2013 by David Kravetz

A few sites in Southeast Idaho – Idaho Falls and Blackfoot

Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Farmland, Geese, Giant Things, Idaho, Landscapes, Large Statues, Mountains, Muffler Man, Murals, Museums, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, Seagulls, Selfies, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Uniroyal Gal, Vintage Neon, Wall Art
Potato Museum - Blackfoot[/caption] While in Rexburg for the last week of March and the first week of April, I had the opportunity to take a couple of trips south to Blackfoot and Idaho Falls, where I was able to catch a few of the interesting sites in the area.  I even caught an amazing quarrel between a Canadian goose and a couple of seagulls. Idaho Falls [caption id="attachment_2336" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The waterfalls on the Snake River.  Idaho Falls, as they are called, were once rapids on the Snake[/caption] Idaho Falls is a nice little town at the base of the foothills with the Snake River running through the middle of town.  It is currently the largest city in Southeastern Idaho with a population of nearly 57,000 and a metro…
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06Apr 2013 by David Kravetz

In and Around Rexburg, ID

Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Buffalo, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Elk, Farmland, Idaho, LDS Temples, Mountains, Murals, Museums, National Parks, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, Selfies, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Yard Art
Rexburg, ID[/caption] I spent two weeks in Rexburg from March 11 thru March 25, 2013 working on a job possibility.  During my free time I spent a good deal of time in town and also looking around town and some of the surrounding areas. [caption id="attachment_2176" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Rexburg LDS Temple at sunrise[/caption] Perhaps Rexburg is best known for its LDS (Mormon) population, BYU-Idaho and the Rexburg Temple of the church (shown above). But Rexburg is also famous as the town that was practically destroyed by the Teton Dam Flood in June of 1976 (see story here).  The town has been totally rebuilt since that time. [caption id="attachment_2179" align="aligncenter" width="448"] More murals from downtown Rexburg[/caption] Rexburg is kind of in a bowl, with mountain ranges all around it.  To the…
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23Mar 2013 by David Kravetz

A Visit to Heaven: Jackson, Wyoming and the Grand Tetons

Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Fox, Geologic Formations, Idaho, Landscapes, Mountains, Murals, National Parks, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, Selfies, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 89, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wyoming, Yard Art
Grand Tetons[/caption] March 13, 2013:  Today was heavenly...WOW!! I spent the day with my niece and her husband and we traveled east from Rexburg over Teton Pass to Jackson, Wyoming and then north to Grand Teton National Park. Jackson, WY and Grand Tetons [caption id="attachment_2123" align="aligncenter" width="199"] "Mountain Man" by Steve Horn - Horn Mountain Gallery in Tetonia, ID[/caption] Our first stop on the road to Jackson was in Tetonia, ID. We made a stop outside of Horn Mountain Living to get the shot of the "Mountain Man" sculpture above, which was done by Steve Horn.  Steve moved to Teton Valley over 30 years ago and lived as a mountain man prior to that. He is completely self-taught and gives his Creator full credit for his abilities. He has since…
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21Mar 2013 by David Kravetz

Road Trip to Idaho – Day 4: Shelby, MT to Rexburg, ID

Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, City Skylines, South Dakota
Cabin in the Snow[/caption] March 25, 2013: After a fabulous couple of days in Shelby, MT with my daughter, her husband and all the kids, it was back on the road for the last leg of the trip to Rexburg.  This was basically a straight shot down I-15 thru Great Falls, Helena and Butte.   Unfortunately, the day started off pretty snowy and yucky. [caption id="attachment_1998" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Gas Station in Shelby, MT[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1999" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Interstate 15 heading South towards Great Falls[/caption] By the time I had hit the Great Falls area, the weather was basically clearing up and so it was more or less smooth sailing to Helena.  I was provided an excellent view of Tower Rock State Park. [caption id="attachment_1960" align="aligncenter" width="300"] South on I-15 towards Tower…
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18Mar 2013 by David Kravetz

Road Trip to Idaho – Day 3: Miles City, MT to Shelby, MT

Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, City Skylines, South Dakota
Antelope on the Run[/caption] Day 3 - March 10, 2013: A beautiful morning in Miles City, Montana.  A cool 45 degrees and bright sunny skies.  Should be a wonderful day to drive to Shelby, about 6 or 7 hours away. Following is the path I took to Shelby from Miles City: Miles City to Shelby, Montana [caption id="attachment_1942" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Welcome to Miles City[/caption] Miles City is a town of about 8500 people in Custer County in the far southeast of Montana. The town was founded in 1877 by settlers who had been evicted by General Nelson A. Miles from the Tongue River Cantonment for selling alcohol to the soldiers.  It is a typical Western town and actually similar to some Texas towns I have been to. [caption id="attachment_1935" align="aligncenter"…
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