01Apr 2016 by David Kravetz

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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20Jan 2015 by David Kravetz

Top Ten Travel Photos for 2014

Alligators, Animals, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Car Art, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Ghost Signs, Giant Things, Graffiti Walls, Illinois, Kentucky, Large Statues, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Murals, National Monuments, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, Street Art, Tennessee, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, US Highway 2, US Highway 212, US Highway 89, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Water Towers, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art
Throughout my travels I drove over 10,000 miles and took over 3000 photos in 2014. I have numerous shots from the road of quirky places, offbeat sites and some nice looking places.  If you missed my "nature photos", some of which are from my travels, please check them out on my Sumoflam's Singlewide Site.  Following are my ten favorite travel shots from 2014 and the stories behind them (and a number of honorable mentions). NUMBER 1 - OLD PRAIRIE SCHOOL HOUSE [caption id="attachment_9237" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Old Prairie School House on Smith-Frisno Road west of Havre, Montana. I wanted this one in black and white...more authentic feel[/caption] I once saw a photo of this old school house and knew that I had to get to this relic of the past.  So,…
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20Nov 2014 by David Kravetz

Ten Giant Reasons to Visit North Dakota

Animals, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Birds, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Enchanted Highway, Found Metal Sculptures, Geologic Formations, Giant Things, Landscapes, Large Statues, National Parks, North Dakota, Roadside Attractions, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 2, Water Towers, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_11604" align="aligncenter" width="699"] MapLoco States I Have Visited[/caption] In the last few days there has been a viral survey on Facebook (seems like there is one every week!!).  Simply put, "How Many States Have You Visited" is fun for all because it is simple and adds color and is really a "go viral" piece.  MapLoco.com has apparently used it to draw attention to their site.  I did it and my results are above - yes, I only have three states to go.  Many of my friends have done it as well and one common theme I found among many of them....they had not yet been to North Dakota.  In fact, a couple of my friends even indicated that they may never find a reason to go to North Dakota.…
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04Jul 2014 by David Kravetz

Montana Road Trip: Zipping across North Dakota on US Highway 2

Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Horse Art, Large Statues, Montana, North Dakota, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Vintage Neon
[caption id="attachment_9121" align="aligncenter" width="474"] US Route 2 in North Dakota[/caption] I continue my series on my Montana road trip and my drive along US Route two across the northern border from Michigan to Montana. [caption id="attachment_8983" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Welcome to North Dakota[/caption] As one progresses further west after leaving Minnesota, you soon discover that the land is flatter, full of prairies and grasslands and not as many lakes and streams as one would see in Minnesota. [caption id="attachment_8990" align="aligncenter" width="474"] US Route 2 in North Dakota[/caption] I spent the night in Grand Forks, North Dakota and then proceeded to head west early in the morning. The first thing I did was look for the famed Smiley Water Tower in Grand Forks. Unlike others with a similar smiley on them, this…
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23May 2014 by David Kravetz

Kentucky to Montana: Random Shots from the Road

Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Illinois, Large Statues, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wisconsin, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_8455" align="aligncenter" width="474"] An Old Truck by a pond in North Dakota[/caption] I have been on the road to Montana (chiefly along US Route 2) for the past three days now.  I will be writing detailed bogs about the trip, but wanted to post a few random shots from the drive.  The weather has been awesome the entire trip (May 20-22, 2014).  Following are just a few shots from the trip..... [caption id="attachment_8419" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Ran across this old piece of Americana in El Paso, IL[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8420" align="aligncenter" width="474"] On I 39 North near Bloomington, IL. Looks like we will drive right into the wind turbines[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8421" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Beloit, WI Smiley Water Tower[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8423" align="aligncenter" width="474"] The famous pink elephant of DeForest, WI[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8424"…
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20Sep 2013 by David Kravetz

A 5 Day Midwest Adventure – Day 2: Walcott, IA to Nebraska City, NE

Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Giant Things, Iowa, Nebraska, Roadside Attractions, Television Shows, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wildflowers
[caption id="attachment_6137" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Welcome to Nebraska[/caption] Day 2 of my trip with Marissa would take us through Iowa and into Nebraska.  I promised to be a fun day of driving the backroads of the Midwest (kind of....) View Larger Map - Walcott, IA to Nebraska City, NE With the Grandkidz with us, every morning was an early one, so we were on the road in Walcott fairly early.  First thing I saw as I stepped out of the hotel was this big semi carrying a blade for a wind turbine.  This would set the stage for some subsequent visits along the road this day. You never really know how big these are until you have a frame of reference, like a huge truck. [caption id="attachment_6061" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Truck with…
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