Sunset at White Sands National Park

Sunset at White Sands National Park

Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Geologic Formations, Landscapes, Less Beaten Paths Books, National and State Parks, Historic Sites and More, National Monuments, National Parks, Nature and Scenery, Nature Events, New Mexico, People Shots, Sand Dunes, US Highway 70, US Highway 82
[caption id="attachment_29018" align="alignleft" width="244"] Visiting White Sands National Monument in February 2021[/caption] In early August I had the opportunity to visit White Sands National Park in the southeast corner of New Mexico.  The Park was originally designated White Sands National Monument on January 18, 1933 by then President Herbert Hoover. On December 20, 2019, President Donald Trump redesignated it the National Park status. This is my third visit to the park in the past decade, but this time it was a very special visit as we arrived there just before sunset and got to experience an amazing sunset along with a bright moon over the white sands. [caption id="attachment_35453" align="alignnone" width="700"] White Sands National Park at dusk[/caption] The park, which is close to the New Mexico cities of Alamogordo and…
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Towns of America A to Z: The A Towns #atozchallenge

Towns of America A to Z: The A Towns #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alligators, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, Big Cities, Books, Bridges, Canada, Cities and Towns, Cross Country Road Trips, Donut Places, Eateries, Family Travel, Giant Things, Highways and Roadways, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Murals, Nebraska, New Mexico, Offbeat Places, Ontario, Oregon, Peter Wolf Toth, Philippines, Place Names, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, Selfies, Signs and Billboards, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 101, US Highway 212, Virginia, Wall Art, Washington, Welcome Signs, Whispering Giants
It's another year and another opportunity to provide a fun VIRTUAL road trip.  For the 2022 A to Z  Challenge, I will be taking you, the readers, to some of the many places I have visited.  Almost every little town to every big city has something unique to offer visitors. I hope to take you to some of these places across the United States, and even to Canada, the Philippines and Japan on some select posts, for a virtual trip to see places you may not know about. Today's post covers a number of towns and cities that begin with the letter A. Some are huge cities and some are barely dots on the maps.  I hope you'll enjoy this trip.  Ironically, on this April 1, I am visiting Anderson,…
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A to Z Challenge: Reflections #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Alaska, Alberta, Amish Country, Arizona, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Big Cities, Bucket List Trips, California, Car Art, City Skylines, Colorado, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Geologic Formations, Giant Things, Giant Twine Balls, Horse Art, Hot Springs, Idaho, Illinois, Indian Ruins, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Lewis and Clark Sites, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, Muffler Man, Murals, Museums, Mythical Creatures, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Rocky Mountains, Saskatchewan, Selfies, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Uniroyal Gal, Utah, Vintage Neon, Washington, Water Towers, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
During the month of April 2016 I participated in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. The challenge had each blogger select a theme and then do a post thematically from A to Z during each day of April , except Sundays. This was my first opportunity to really participate in this annual event, which just completed its 6th year.  It was not easy!!  I had to not only post something daily, but also create a theme and stick with it.  And, in my perfectionist way, I wanted to make sure there were plenty of photos and commentary.  I wrote in such a way to draw people to the more detailed posts, where ever possible.  It was a load of fun and I completed the challenge.  Not sure how many…
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A to Z Challenge: The A Towns #atozchallenge

#TBT, A to Z Challenge, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Car Art, Covered Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Family Travel, Giant Things, Iowa, Large Statues, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, Texas, Throwback Thursday, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 61, Wall Art, Water Towers
During the month of April I am participating in the  Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  The challenge has each blogger select a theme and then do a post thematically from A to Z during each day of April , except Sundays. My blog is number 1337 out of 1670 participating blogs. This year my A to Z posts will take you across the back roads of America to many unique towns, some known for their names, other for unique sites in town. To see what other bloggers will be posting about, check out the link:  A to Z Theme Reveal List for 2016 The A Towns Amarillo, Texas [caption id="attachment_5800" align="alignnone" width="300"] Sumoflam at Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas in August 2013[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6709" align="alignnone" width="199"] Big Texan Steak…
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Ten Really Obscure Quirky Places You May Have Never Heard Of

#TBT, Alberta, Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Illinois, Michigan, Murals, Mythical Creatures, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Roadside Attractions, Tennessee, Throwback Thursday, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_5742" align="alignleft" width="300"] Cadillac Ranch - Amarillo, Texas[/caption] Over the years I have traveled tens of thousands of miles of back roads across the United States (only missing Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont...they will be hit soon!).  Through all of these travels I have seen the many "famous" unique and quirky tourist spots like Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX (the one with all the Cadillacs in the ground), the giant Paul Bunyan and Blue Ox in Bemidji, MN, the Enchanted Highway in ND or the competing Eiffel Towers in Paris, TX and Paris, TN. [caption id="attachment_8772" align="alignright" width="300"] Paul Bunyan and Babe in Bemidji, MN[/caption] Among the 100s of places I have been, there are a few that really stand out to me and I would consider as future…
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