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

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, Books, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Buildings, Barns and Houses, California, Cities and Towns, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Farmland, Giant Things, Highways and Roadways, Illinois, Indiana, Japan, Landscapes, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Mississippi, Murals, Nagasaki, National Parks, Nature and Scenery, Nikko, North Dakota, Ocean Scenes, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, People Shots, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Signs and Billboards, Tennessee, Town Names, Train Bridges, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Unique Shops, US Highway 20, US Highway 61, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Washington, Welcome Signs
Whether Naughty or Nice, its always fun to travel the back roads of America to discover interesting places. Viewing Natural scenery on Narrow roads can be Nourishing to the soul. Obviously, on my trips I do come across sites that may be Nutty or Notorious or even Nostalgic. I hope you find this post Noteworthy despite some sense of Normal. ENJOY THE READ!  ENJOY THE RIDE! NICE, CALIFORNIA I choose to be nice and never be naughty,  Therefore, I was excited to make my way into the beautiful area known as Nice in California.  And we'll start it off with a big Welcome to Nice!! [caption id="attachment_32576" align="alignnone" width="700"] Welcome to Nice - California[/caption] NEAH BAY, WASHINGTON [caption id="attachment_32028" align="alignleft" width="300"] Welcome to Neah Bay, Washington[/caption] Neah Bay represents the…
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AtoZ Challenge 2021 – Signs Signs – The B Signs #atozchallenge

AtoZ Challenge 2021 – Signs Signs – The B Signs #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Arizona, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Books, Burger Joints, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Giant Things, Indiana, Kentucky, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Maryland, Missouri, Murals, Mythical Creatures, Nebraska, New Mexico, Offbeat Places, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Restroom Signs, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Signs and Billboards, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Tourist Traps, Washington, Welcome Signs
Welcome to another year of the AtoZ Challenge.  This year I am doing signs that I have seen across the country.  This post will feature signs associated with the Letter B.  ENJOY THE RIDE! We can't avoid signs.  They are everywhere.  Advertisements, informational signs, directional signs, business signs and, sometimes, even humorous and fun signs.  Each of my posts in this years' challenge will feature a hodgepodge of signs I have come across in my travels.  In most cases, I'll also note where they were taken.  Some were actually inside of shops or otherwise, so not all will have locations.  I hope you enjoy this fun trip each day of April. If you have been to Texas you have likely seen or even been to a Buc-ee's store.  A massive…
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AtoZ Challenge 2020 – 8154: An Epic Road Trip – The R Stories #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Arizona, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Bucket List Trips, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Junk Art, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Museums, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Offbeat Places, Oregon, Quirky Things, Raccoon, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Route 66, South Dakota, Texas, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 101, US Highway 14, US Highway 16, US Highway 16A, US Highway 180, US Highway 20, US Highway 200, US Highway 212, US Highway 277, US Highway 283, US Highway 30, US Highway 34, US HIghway 59, US Highway 60, US Highway 61, US Highway 62, US Highway 65, US Highway 70, US Highway 77, US Highway 80, US Highway 82, US Highway 84, US Highway 87, US Highway 93, US Highway 95, US Highway 97, US Highways, Vintage Neon, Washington, Wyoming
In early 2020 I traveled across the country with  the course of three weeks.  My A to Z posts this year will have the "8154" theme, which will also be the title of my forthcoming new book that will document the epic road trip.  Each entry will highlight a few stories with photos based on the alphabet and not the order of the trip.  I hope you will enjoy this bouncy ride across the back roads of America.  Please enjoy the R Stories. (all photography by David "Sumoflam" Kravetz) Route 66 - Here and There Though we didn't drive the entire route, we did hit a number of places on our trip along the famed Route 66.  Indeed, we got our kicks on Route 66! [caption id="attachment_23751" align="alignnone" width="525"] Route…
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A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The N Things #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bike Trails, Bucket List Trips, Burger Joints, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Japan, Japanese Shrines, Junk Art, Kentucky, LDS Temples, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Muffler Man, Murals, Museums, Nagasaki, National Monuments, Nature Events, Nebraska, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, People Shots, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, South Dakota, Street People, Texas, Town Names, Travel in Japan, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Washington, Water Towers, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Wisconsin
In 2018 I  will feature a random (yet alphabetical) selection of photos I have taken from my nearly 20 years of back roads travel in the United States and Canada.  I may even throw in a few random shots from other trips to Japan, Mexico and the Philippines. My theme is called America's Back Roads: A Grab Bag of Places in Pictures.   The Nutt House Hotel - Granbury, Texas [caption id="attachment_15403" align="alignnone" width="400"] Who would stay in the Nutt House Hotel?[/caption] Nice, California [caption id="attachment_12842" align="alignnone" width="400"] We all know who is really Nice! Nice, CA[/caption] New River Gorge - Victor, West Virginia [caption id="attachment_18087" align="alignnone" width="314"] A view of the New River Gorge in West Virginia taken in 1995[/caption] [caption id="attachment_18843" align="alignnone" width="400"] New River Gorge Bridge -…
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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 N Towns #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Backroads Discoveries, Big John, Bucket List Trips, California, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Illinois, Large Statues, Mississippi, Murals, Museums, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 101, US Highway 2, US Highway 61, Vintage Neon, Washington, Water Towers, Yard Art
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 what other bloggers will be posting about, check out the link: A to Z Theme Reveal List for 2016 The N Towns Nicholson, Pennsylvania [caption id="attachment_2664" align="alignnone" width="300"] Tuckhannock Viaduct - Nicholson, Pennsylvania[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4582" align="alignnone" width="239"] Nicholson, Pennsylvania[/caption] [caption id="attachment_15579" align="alignnone" width="240"] The viaduct is dizzying when looking up from below[/caption] [caption id="attachment_15580" align="alignnone" width="300"] Tuckhannock Viaduct towers…
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FOOD FOOD FOOD – Part 1: Restaurants and Cafes on the Less Beaten Paths

Alberta, Arkansas, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Eateries, Family Travel, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ontario, Oregon, Texas, Unique Eatery, Wisconsin
Maid Rite - Lexington, MO[/caption] One of the important facets of traveling the less beaten paths of America (and Canada) is the food.  As I travel the country, I look for good food at local places. This post covers some of the restaurants, steak houses, cafes and fine (or semi-fine) dining places.  Subsequent FOOD posts will include Diners/Drive-Ins, Barbecue Joints, Burger Places and Bakeries/Donut Shops. [caption id="attachment_3217" align="aligncenter" width="448"] Food - Cozy Dog, Springfield, Illinois[/caption] Ric's Grill - Lethbridge, Alberta Ric's Grill - Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada [caption id="attachment_3227" align="aligncenter" width="324"] Ric's Grill - Dinner in a Water Tower[/caption] Ric's Grill is one of those REALLY unique places to eat.  I visited Lethbridge on a cross-country trip from Kentucky to Washington in 2005.  I have friends in Lethbridge who took us…
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People Shots from My Travels – Part 1 (Canada and US)

Amish Country, Arizona, Graffiti Walls, Illinois, Kentucky, Murals, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, People Shots, Street Musicians, Street People, Texas, Wall Art, Washington
Street Person - Toronto[/caption] Throughout my travels in Canada and the US, I have run across many opportunities to get random shots of people.  Our world is made up of people of all types. [caption id="attachment_618" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Strolling by Mo's Seafood Restaurant - Newport, Oregon[/caption] So, for this entry and the next couple of them, it will be more about people, than places.  I hope you will enjoy this little cruise.  People are fun! [caption id="attachment_613" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Soccer in the Shadows - Hoboken, NJ[/caption] [caption id="attachment_615" align="aligncenter" width="640"] "Super" Family Trip - Metropolis, Illinois[/caption] [caption id="attachment_614" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Old Man - Paducah, Kentucky[/caption] I got the next couple of shots while on a visit to Niagara Falls with my family.  I took quite a few, but these were…
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