Unique Places – Page 35 – Less Beaten Paths of America

03Mar 2014 by David Kravetz

New Book on Texas Travel: Tui Snider – Unexpected Texas

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, National Monuments, National Parks, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Street Art, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places

[caption id="attachment_8227" align="alignleft" width="300"] Tui Snider - author of "Unexpected Texas" (courtesy of Tui Snider)[/caption] Throughout my time as a travel blogger I have had the opportunity to correspond and exchange notes with many other travel bloggers who are also find of the offbeat and quirky. One of those with whom I have worked with often is Tui Snider, from Azle, Texas. Tui is a freelance writer and travel blogger specializing in offbeat sites, overlooked history, cultural traditions, and quirky travel destinations. Her articles and photos have appeared in BMIbaby, easyJet, Wizzit, Click, Ling, PlanetEye Traveler, iStopover, SkyEurope, and North Texas Farm and Ranch magazines, among others. She also wrote the shopping chapter for the “Time Out Naples: Capri, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast 2010” travel guidebook. Unexpected Texas is…

31Jan 2014 by David Kravetz

A New Photo Gallery: Sumoflam’s Weird and Wonderful America

Alberta, Amish Country, Animals, Antsy McClain, Arizona, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Big Cities, Birds, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Car Art, Cebu, City Skylines, Colorado, Covered Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Florida, Found Metal Sculptures, Georgia, Giant Things, Giant Twine Balls, Horse Art, Horses, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Japan, Kentucky, Large Statues, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Musicians, Mythical Creatures, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, People Shots, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, South Carolina, South Dakota, Squirrels, States and Provinces, Street Art, Street Musicians, Street People, Television Shows, Tennessee, Texas, Train Bridges, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Volcanic Sites, Wall Art, Washington, West Virginia, Wildflowers, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art

Recently I was assigned by a client to look into the creation of a SmugMug website. I had to do some testing on it, but in the process I created my own SmugMug site. This site has hundreds of photographs that I've taken on my travels around the country, in Canada, in Japan, and in the Philippines. Sumoflam's Weird & Wonderful America I have not always focused on just the unique and offbeat, but I also have visited many national parks, many scenic wonderlands, have focused on animal life, flowers and trees, and other unique and interesting places and things. My new SmugMug site will feature a great variety of all of these photographs. I hope you'll give it a visit and Enjoy the Ride!!

17Dec 2013 by David Kravetz

Louisville and Jeffersonville: Ohio River Sisters

Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bridges, Car Art, City Skylines, Family Travel, Giant Things, Indiana, Kentucky, Large Statues, Mythical Creatures, Train Bridges, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art

[caption id="attachment_7599" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Jeffersonville, Indiana[/caption] Two different cities and a shared river and bridge. In September 2013 one of my daughters and her friends needed some assistance getting to Louisville and had some business to take care of. So, with camera in hand, we were off and they did their stuff while I drove around Louisville and then across the river to Jeffersonville. Here are a few the things I saw in a three hour jaunt thru two towns.... [caption id="attachment_7605" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Louisville as seen from across the Ohio River in Jeffersonville, IN[/caption] This stretch of the Ohio River is the widest and deepest part (about 23 feet) of the Ohio River. [caption id="attachment_7534" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Louisville Slugger headquarters - Louisville, Kentucky[/caption] A drive down West Main Street…

22Nov 2013 by David Kravetz

Creating the Wanderlust – 30 Years of Family Travel – Pt 3

Antsy McClain, Arizona, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Georgia, Giant Things, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Musicians, Mythical Creatures, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, People Shots, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, South Carolina, Texas, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wisconsin

[caption id="attachment_6868" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Joselyn on the Beach - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina summer 2013[/caption] This is the last in my 3 part series on "Creating the Wanderlust" through family travel adventures. (see the other two Part 1 Part 2 ) [caption id="attachment_6856" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Autumn in Rhinelander, WI with the Hodag - Aug 2012[/caption] After three weddings in 2005 I was fried...and, to top things off I had knee surgery later in the year, so there was no travel the rest of that year. In fact, I didn't take any trips until 2007 when I had a couple of big ones. These were with Solomon as Seth was off serving a Mormon mission in Utah. Then, since that time many of the trips from 2008 thru 2013 have…

20Nov 2013 by David Kravetz

New Wall Art in Lexington, KY – Part II More PRHBTN works completed

Backroads Discoveries, Eateries, Giant Things, Horse Art, Kentucky, Mythical Creatures, Roadside Attractions, South Dakota, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wall Art

[caption id="attachment_7456" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sumoflam stares down a character from the huge mural just completed by British urban artist Phlegm[/caption] A few days ago I posted about a number of new and recent murals that now grace the walls of buildings in Lexington (see the post here). Some of these, including the massive Lincoln mural, are part of the annual PRHBTN celebration of art forms that have been criminalized, marginalized, and under-appreciated in the mainstream. In the past week since the completion of the Lincoln project, four other giant works have been completed by three different urban artists including Phlegm from Britain, GAIA from Baltimore, and Odeith, from Portugal. All of these works are just a tad off the beaten path, but well worth seeking out. [caption id="attachment_7458" align="aligncenter" width="512"]…

18Oct 2013 by David Kravetz

Vintage Neon Everywhere

Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Giant Things, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, South Dakota, States and Provinces, Tennessee, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming

[caption id="attachment_6800" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Old Mojo Gas Sign - Rock Springs, Wyoming[/caption] Everywhere I go I see old neon. These signs remind me of the my youthful days in the 1960s and 70s when we traveled. Alas, for many, the only signs they see are the same unoriginal fast food, gas station and motel chain signs all over the place. But, in the by gone days there were few McDonald's and Motel 6 spots. Instead, there were the little cozy motels with the old metal chairs in the front and the unique neon signs. There were the local burger joints with their big shiny signs. And there were the drive in movie theaters and the downtown theatres with their unique names. Here is a trip down memory lane with neon…

13Oct 2013 by David Kravetz

A 5 Day Midwest Adventure: Day 5 – Columbia, St. Louis, Ra66it Ranch and a Fire Breathing Dragon

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Giant Things, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Large Statues, Muffler Man, Mythical Creatures, National Monuments, National Parks, People Shots, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, States and Provinces, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wildflowers

[caption id="attachment_6504" align="aligncenter" width="512"] University of Missouri - Columbia, Missouri[/caption] The final day of our five day whirlwind trip to Nebraska and back began in Columbia, Missouri and took us through St. Louis and then some interesting spots in Illinois along old Route 66 and then eventually home to Lexington. Following is our final day route: View Larger Map - Columbia, MO to Lexington, KY Columbia was a pleasant surprise. A beautiful college town with lots of murals and color and historical buildings, like the administration building for the University of Missouri (shown above). Before we headed down the road towards St. Louis, we took a brief drive around Columbia. Here are a few shots: [caption id="attachment_6495" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Colorful Phone Booth in downtown Columbia, MO[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6496" align="aligncenter" width="300"]…

13Oct 2013 by David Kravetz

Henry’s Ra66it Ranch – Staunton, Illinois

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Car Art, Found Metal Sculptures, Illinois, Large Statues, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, States and Provinces, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Yard Art

[caption id="attachment_6605" align="aligncenter" width="163"] Historic Route 66 in Illinois[/caption] This Post is actually a continuation of my Post on a bigger road trip in the Midwest. But, due to the nature and value of this place in Americana, I have created a separate post. Henry's Ra66it Ranch (the 66 instead of "bb" is intentional) celebrates Route 66 and the people along the highway with its emporium of highway and trucking memorabilia that includes a collection of Campbell's "Humpin' to Please" trailers next to a replica of a vintage gas station. [caption id="attachment_6606" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Henry's Ra66it Ranch in Staunton, IL[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6631" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Official Route 66 Roadside Attraction[/caption] This is one of those vintage Americana places, even though it has not been around for much more than 10-15 years.…

07Oct 2013 by David Kravetz

Larry Vennard’s Iron Sculpture Park in Centralia, Missouri

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Missouri, Mythical Creatures, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Yard Art

[caption id="attachment_6414" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Larry Vennard - Scrap Metal Artist, Centralia, Missouri[/caption] In September I was traveling back home and on the way had the opportunity to stop at a small farm north of Centralia, Missouri on Highway T to visit scrap metal artist Larry Vennard, see his "Original Highway 'T' Rex" and a number of other pieces of his "Outside Art Sculpture Park." I mentioned him in my blog post about my trip back from Omaha, Nebraska. But, he deserves his own blog entry much like my blog post about "Jurustic Park" in Wisconsin. In the tradition of other "Outside Art", he has dinosaurs, animals and mythical creatures all made from scrap metal (see one of my most popular posts entitled Yard Art: Creativity with Scrap Metal, Chain Saw…

02Oct 2013 by David Kravetz

A 5 Day Midwest Adventure – Day 4: Omaha, Council Bluffs and offbeat Central Missouri

Animals, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, Birds, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Giant Things, Illinois, Iowa, Large Statues, Nebraska, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, Squirrels, States and Provinces, Television Shows, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wildflowers, Yard Art

[caption id="attachment_6386" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Home of Sliced Bread - Chillicothe, Missouri[/caption] After a good day of rest in Nebraska City, we were off the next morning. My daughter was to meet her friends at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha (which by many reports is one of the Top Ten Zoos in America) and I was going to visit some places in Council Bluffs while they were all at the zoo. I actually visited the Henry Doorly Zoo in 2012 during the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials though I didn't write any blog posts about the visit. So, I will include some of my photos from my visit as well as a couple of my daughter's photos. After my visit to Council Bluffs we were then to make our way east …

Category: Unique Places