Less Beaten Paths of America

15Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

An Alien in Mars

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Yard Art

Famous Spaceship in Mars, PA[/caption] On a trip between Canada and Lexington in April 2008 I took a trip to West Virginia and Pennsylvania and made my way to Mars (see full report). [caption id="attachment_168" align="alignleft" width="227"] Welcome to Mars[/caption] Mars is a small town in western Pennsylvania. From what I could locate there is not really any history as to how the town got its name. The town was founded in 1873 by a Samuel Parks, where he eventually had a Post Office added to his home and had assistance from a certain Samuel Marshall. The original name was Overbrook, but in 1882 it was changed to Mars since there was already a train station along the way called Overbrook. Speculation has it that the town was a shortened…

14Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

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…

13Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

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…

10Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

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…

08Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

How about a little Charm?

Amish Country, Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Farmland, Horses, Ohio, People Shots, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places

Charm, Ohio[/caption] In the midst of Amish country in Ohio there is small community called Charm. The village, though small, does have a post office and even a website. [caption id="attachment_125" align="alignleft" width="300"] Keim Lumber in Charm[/caption] Not many other signs around the town, but he name alone makes you want to go there. The pastoral environment and Amish atmosphere really does give it some charm! [caption id="attachment_126" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Amish cart in Charm, OH[/caption] Everywhere you look in Charm, you see both Amish folk and lots of Amish influence. [caption id="attachment_127" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Amish Laundry[/caption] The photo above is one of my favorite shots. Very colorful. [caption id="attachment_128" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Charm, OH: Old vs. New[/caption] View Larger Map Charm, OH]]>

08Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

Hungry? How about a visit to Rabbit Hash?

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Kentucky, Landscapes, Place Names, Post Offices, Random Thoughts, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Yard Art

Rabbit Hash, KY[/caption] In October 2008 I took a two day road trip with my wife. We went to Indiana and then came back via some back roads along the river. Along the way we arrived at the scenic and unique riverside village called Rabbit Hash. [caption id="attachment_115" align="alignleft" width="199"] Rabbit Has Mayor - Lucy Lou[/caption] According to the Rabbit Hash website: "The town's name, "Rabbit Hash" is said to have originated during the flood of 1847 when the abundant local rabbit population was driven to higher ground and became a food staple in a special stew called "hash." Little documented history of Rabbit Hash actually survives, primarily because devastating Ohio River floods in 1884, 1913 and 1937 deluged the little town and ruined many records." Rabbit Hash is basically…

06Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

A Boring Trip

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Landscapes, Mountains, Oregon, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places

Entering Boring, OR[/caption] Today I actually flew to Portland for iHigh work and a couple of hours to spare, so I took a drive south of Clackamas, where I am staying and made my way to Boring, a small town south of Portland. [caption id="attachment_105" align="alignleft" width="300"] Welcome to Boring[/caption] Boring really is actually a nice town nestled in the fir covered hills heading towards Mt. Hood. Boring was actually named after William H. Boring, who was an early resident of the area. He was a Union veteran who had moved out to Oregon after the Civil War and had served with the 33rd Illinois Infantry. Boring died in 1932 at the age of 91 and was buried with his wife Sarah in Damascus Pioneer Cemetery, just north of Boring.…

05Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

What in the world does Toad Suck mean?

Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places

Toad Suck, AR[/caption] In June 2007 I took a trip with my son Solomon down to Texas (see here for full trip report). Along the way we visited some unique places. Like Kentucky and West Virginia, Arkansas has a number of odd place names. Toad Suck is one of those places. [caption id="attachment_96" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sumoflam in Toad Suck, AR[/caption] Like many odd named communities, Toad Suck has a small population. According to a local website, the town got its name as follows: "What does "Toad Suck" mean anyway? Well, the answer is quite simple... Long ago, steamboats traveled the Arkansas River when the water was at the right depth. When it wasn't, the captains and their crew tied up to wait where the Toad Suck Lock and Dam now…

04Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

Staying Cool..in Texas

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Flowers, Roadside Attractions, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 180

Welcome to Cool, TX[/caption] Just over 2 years ago I was making my way from Fort Worth to Mineral Wells High School. Along the way I came across the VERY small (blink your eye small) town of Cool, Texas. In fact, the town is only 1.6 square miles in size. The only thing of significance in Cool is the Cool Cafe. [caption id="attachment_81" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Cool Cafe: If We Ain't Shut We're Open[/caption] I had hoped to visit but they were "Shut". On a subsequent visit in April 2010 I made my way to Mineral Wells again and tried again. One more time: [caption id="attachment_82" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Cool Cafe Shut[/caption] I thought it would be a Cool place to eat, but I may never know. The April trip did offer…

03Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

Coolville – Now that's an awesome name!

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Ohio, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 50

Coolville, OH[/caption] Back in May 2008, on a return trip to Canada for work at the Toyota Plant in Woodstock, Ontario, I took a trip up along the Ohio River, basically on the Ohio/WV border. (see my entire trip report for some unusual other places here). Along the way I came into the town of Coolville. Pretty cool name!! [caption id="attachment_69" align="alignleft" width="300"] There is a Post Office in Coolville![/caption] You Scooby Doo fans out there may remember the fictional place called Coolsville, OH in the cartoon series. This is NOT that place. Rather, Coolville is a small town of about 530 people clear in the southeastern part of the state. It was named after Ashel Cooley, who was apparently a great grandson of Benjamin Cooley of Springfield, MA (see…