02Apr 2019 by David Kravetz

Everywhere a Sign – Some B Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Blue Heron, Books, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, South Dakota, Texas, Town Names, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 20, Vintage Neon, Washington
(Editor's Note:  For  my  2019  posts,  I will be posting photos from my travels in 2018.  I visited 26 states and drive over 13,000 miles in 2018.  These posts will feature of few of the road signs and business signs I came across, as well as some stories behind them.  Enjoy the Read and Enjoy the Ride!) I love to always watch for interesting places on the road.  I will typically grab photos of town signs, road signs and other places.  Here are just a couple of "B" Signs that I came across in my road trips across America in 2018. Belfair, Washington As I began my return trip from Port Orchard down WA Hwy 3 (on my way to US 101), I drove through Belfair.  Didn't stop, except for…
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01Apr 2019 by David Kravetz

Everywhere a Sign – Some A Signs From 2018 #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Cross Country Road Trips, Less Beaten Paths Books, Montana, Offbeat Places, Oregon, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, South Dakota, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Unique Places
(Editor's Note:  For  my  2019  posts,  I will be posting photos from my travels in 2018.  I visited 26 states and drive over 13,000 miles in 2018.  These posts will feature of few of the road signs and business signs I came across, as well as some stories behind them.  Enjoy the Read and Enjoy the Ride!) Everywhere you drive you see signs...all kinds of them -- road signs, directional signs, business signs, advertisements, and more.  As I drive, with camera by my side, I am always on the look out for something unique, interesting and fun.  Here are just a couple of "A" Signs that I came across in my road trips across America in 2018. Alzada, Montana [caption id="attachment_21410" align="alignnone" width="525"] Alzada, Montana[/caption] I drove through Alzada on…
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18Mar 2019 by David Kravetz

2019 April Blogging From A to Z Challenge: Theme Reveal #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Back Roads, Books, Cross Country Road Trips, Offbeat Places, Oklahoma, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Texas, Town Names, Unique Places
Its that time of the year again.  Yes,  the A to Z challenge! Today is the day to reveal my 2019 Theme. During 2018 I traveled through 26 states and over 12,000 miles.  Along the way I passed through many towns and, of course, each town has their signs. So, my Theme for 2019 is "Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign."  I will be including road signs and others that may fit the theme this year.  It will be a fun ride for all of you!  Enjoy the Read and Enjoy the Ride! [caption id="attachment_21354" align="aligncenter" width="525"] IXL Oklahoma[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21279" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Telephone, Texas[/caption] Looking for a unique and fun gift for yourself or  your traveler friends? How about a book about offbeat and quirky places to take on your…
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26Feb 2019 by David Kravetz

Travel in 2018: Fun Place Names and Street Signs

Alabama, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, South Dakota, States and Provinces, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 101, US Highway 171, US Highway 2, US Highway 20, US Highway 212, US Highway 26, US Highway 270, US Highway 412, US Highway 49, US Highway 71, US Highway 87, US Highway 90, Utah, Water Towers
[caption id="attachment_21323" align="alignleft" width="300"] Smiling in Smiley, Texas[/caption] I am always on the lookout for fun places to visit when on the backroads of America.  My travels in 2018 took me to 26 different states and along the way I found more unique town names and fun street signs to add to my collection.  In 2017 I published my first book titled "Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names."  (Check out the book here) At the time I wrote it, I didn't think I would get enough new places to fill up a second book, but , indeed, I have.  And 2018 really helped with that. [caption id="attachment_21293" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Happyville Road in Greensburg, Kentucky (I always #CHOOSEHAPPY)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_21324" align="alignright" width="300"] Autumn and me in Marvel, Alabama with…
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25Feb 2019 by David Kravetz

My Travels in 2018

Adventure, Alabama, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Big Cities, Books, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Car Art, City Skylines, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Dinosaurs, Eateries, Family Travel, Farmland, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Graffiti Walls, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Junk Art, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, Murals, Museums, Mythical Creatures, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Rocky Mountains, Route 66, Selfies, South Dakota, Street Art, Tennessee, Texas, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 101, US Highway 2, US Highway 20, US Highway 212, Utah, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Washington, Water Towers, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Life gets so busy. The first two months of 2019 have been exceptionally busy and so I am just now getting to my annual review posts for 2018. [caption id="attachment_21282" align="alignleft" width="225"] Visiting Route 66 in Oklahoma[/caption] At the beginning of 2018 I didn't have very high hopes for many travel opportunities. I had begun a new job in early October of the previous year and I didn't have any definitive travel plans. But, I had also learned to roll with things and, as good fortune would have it, 2018 actually became a really good travel year. Over the course of the year I was able to travel through 26 different states and drove nearly 12,000 miles. I was able to add a plethora of photos (I took over 15,000…
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27Nov 2018 by David Kravetz

Sumoflam on LIVE in Studio Interview on WRFL in Lexington on Thursday, 11/29

Adventure, Books, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Interviews, Less Beaten Paths Books, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places
[caption id="attachment_21108" align="alignleft" width="171"] Quirky and Offbeat Roadside Attractions[/caption] I am excited to announce that on THURSDAY (11/29)  at 7:30 AM EST I will be a guest on one of Lexington's longest running radio shows.  Called Trivial Thursdays  and hosted by long-time announcer Mick Jeffries, it can be heard locally in Lexington on WRFL-FM (88.1 FM).  From outside Lexington, you can listen online at www.wrfl.fm. We will be discussing my travel books, among other things. You can also catch it as a Facebook LIVE Video feed.  Hope you will give it a listen. Please share!! #choosehappy Mick Jeffries hosts this award-winning, long-running radio show that is kind of a college radio version of a morning drive-time show — complete with lots of talking, laughing, and music. The weekly hijinx revolve slightly around the trivia associated…
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19Oct 2018 by David Kravetz

Experiencing Old-Timey Decatur, Texas

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Less Beaten Paths Books, Murals, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Texas, Town Names, Travel with grandchildren, Unique Houses, Unique Places, US Highway 287, Vintage Neon, Wall Art
Heading north out of Keller, Texas on US 287 you can enjoy a scenic ride and make your way into the town of Decatur, Texas.  Named after naval hero Stephen Decatur, the town was originally set up in 1856 and eventually was a stopover for ranchers and herders on the Chisholm Trail. [caption id="attachment_21052" align="aligncenter" width="525"] The old Eighter from Decatur Sign[/caption] By 1882, the railway came into Decatur from Fort Worth.  It was apparently at that time a gambling railway worker was talking about a female from Decatur and coined the phrase an "Eighter from Decatur," which has stuck around ever since. [caption id="attachment_21050" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Welcome to Decatur sign[/caption] Today, the peaceful little town still draws traffic from ranchers and railway folk, but also from tourists trying to…
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14Aug 2018 by David Kravetz

Welcome to Uranus (Missouri) – Really?

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Dinosaurs, Eateries, Family Travel, Missouri, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, Tourist Traps, Town Names, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places
[caption id="attachment_21013" align="alignleft" width="240"] One of the Uranus Billboards along Interstate 44[/caption] In late July and early August 2018 I had been on the road traveling with my granddaughter for nearly two weeks and we finally made our way to US Route 66 in Oklahoma and Missouri. On our last night on the road, we spent the night in Springfield, Missouri. As we departed down Interstate 44, one of the first things I saw was a sign telling us to visit Uranus at exit 163! REALLY? In all my years of traveling, I had never heard of this place. As we headed east we continued to see signs...you know, the "Tourist Trap" type of signs that try to draw you in. [caption id="attachment_20958" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Thanks for Picking Uranus[/caption] [caption…
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30May 2018 by David Kravetz

April 2018 Cross-Country Road Trip: Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Bucket List Trips, Burger Joints, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Ghost Signs, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Minnesota, Montana, Murals, Nevada, Offbeat Places, Oregon, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, South Dakota, Street Art, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Utah, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Washington
[caption id="attachment_20124" align="alignleft" width="225"] Sign post in Broadus, Montana[/caption] One thing that we all see when traveling America's highways is signs.  All kinds of them: road signs, exit signs, mile markers, billboards, "Welcome to Our Town" signs and the massive assortment of business signs from fast food places to local eateries.  Indeed, our eyes and minds are deluges with them! Over the course of my 6000 mile road trip to Washington State and back, I probably saw way more than a sign a mile (on average).  Yes, there are many places with no signs, but then, there are others, such as going through small towns, where they are in abundance. [caption id="attachment_20107" align="aligncenter" width="450"] One of hundreds of Wall Drug signs to be seen on I-90 from as far away…
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27May 2018 by David Kravetz

April 2018 Cross-Country Road Trip: US Route 2 in Washington

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Bucket List Trips, Burger Joints, Cross Country Road Trips, Ghost Signs, Idaho, Landscapes, Less Beaten Paths Books, Mountains, Murals, Offbeat Places, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 2, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Washington, Waterfalls
[caption id="attachment_19897" align="alignleft" width="225"] US Route 2 in Washington[/caption] Over the years I have been able to travel the majority of US Route 2 from Michigan all the way to the other side of Glacier National Park.  But I have never had the opportunity travel Route 2 in Washington, which would effectively let me finish the western segment of the highway, which, ultimately stretches 2,112 miles from St. Ignace, MI to Everett, WA.  Within Washington, the highway traverses a 326.36-mile-long route that connects the western and eastern regions of the state as a part of the state highway system and the National Highway System. US 2 also forms parts of two National Scenic Byways, the Stevens Pass Greenway, which goes over a portion of the Cascades, and the Coulee Corridor Scenic Byway near Coulee City, which offers some wonderful views of…
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