On Dallas St., the main drag in Talihina, Oklahoma, there is this antique shop, named Ursa Minor Curiosities. Talihina could be easily misconstrued as a ghost town. But when you open the shop’s door, you enter into an amazing learning center where you can discover many historic and scientific unknowns of nature and wildlife right here in America.
The megalodon was the biggest shark in the world roaming the oceans millions of years ago. Their teeth are everywhere if you know where to look. The amazing thing is that these are right here in America.
Wes Kirpach -Hunting for Texas Lone Stars
Former teachers, Wes and Kerry Kirpach, created this business to showcase many of the ancient findings they uncover in their travels around the world. Visit the shop. You can purchase all sorts of oddities, fossils, and crystals. Their website includes numerous videos, pictures, and announcements.
What kind of learning experience do you believe our young people (and older) want to experience in America today? Something like what these two people are offering – independent learning experiences?
Please send me information about the interesting learning sites you have visited indie@indieonetheroad.net.
Getting new customers can be difficult for small businesses. Marketing can be expensive. But it doesn’t have to be.
Did you know there is a free service that your small business can offer without giving away your products or services? It’s simple. Offer people traveling through your area a free overnight parking space without any strings attached, including services. You don’t have to do anything for them. Too good to be true? Not really. This article describes how it can be done.
A company called Harvest Hosts offers this interesting marketing proposition. Consumer product/service businesses sign up as hosts for free and provide travelers a free night’s stay in their parking lot with no services (lodging, water, electric, or septic). RV travelers sign up as members (for around $100 per year) to stay in the free, no-frills parking spot (if still available on that day).
This is a win-win for both parties. There are no obligations (other than following Harvest Hosts code of conduct) but expectations are that the host can share what they do and offer products, and the member gets a free stay with no hassles from a campground or hotel.
Many travelers we encountered commented that they had more fun staying at Harvest hosts, which run the gamut from vineyards to breweries, cattle farms to heather gardens, and golf courses to eclectic art studios.
Almost all of the hosts we met said Harvest Hosts was good for their business and that they met the most interesting people who were genuinely interested in their products and services. The travelers also noted Harvest Hosts stays were more relaxing and interesting than other lodging alternatives.
If you’re interested in a great way to visit interesting small businesses across the country and stay for free with your RV, check out the Harvest Hosts website!
BTW, besides Harvest Hosts which apparently started the “free parking lot stays”, we have noticed that there are now homeowners and other businesses offering overnight stays for travellers as well. I will post this information in another post.
Write me about your your small business story and what is working for you at indie@indieontheroad.net
President Calvin Coolidge’s Legacy Family Business
Cheese, cheese, and more cheese, and all handmade. Still in operation today, the Coolidge family cheese factory continues to carry on the legacy of the 30th US President Calvin Coolidge’s family, churning out artisan cheeses to the satisfaction of locals as well travelers passing through Plymouth, Vermont.
What artisan products have you been making or encountering in your travels? How did you hear about it?
Whether they grow their own or buy grapes from other vineyards, wine businesses that produce wine that is not only drinkable but challenges your pallet, are worth checking out. On this occasion we visited the Four Sisters Ranch in San Miguel, CAfor a wine tasting and were educated on a grape with which we were unfamiliar and is rarely mentioned here in the US – Tempranillo.
An Interesting Grape Varietal
According to winefolly.com, “Tempranillo is Spain’s number one red wine grape… In Portugal, it’s also known as Tinta Roriz and Aragonéz. Well-crafted Tempranillo wines age for two or more decades.”
Our fascination with this varietal started when we walked into the tasting room and met another RV travelling couple who were there for the tasting as well. They had lived in Chile and Spain, and loved Tempranillo wine. On the list of wines we would taste was the Tempranillo Limited Edition 2018.
It was full-bodied with deep, dark fruit notes, the grape’s signature leather flavors. Certainly worth it. We purchased a bottle, along with a few others that delighted our pallets.
As members of Harvest Hosts, we stayed in our RV parked near the vines. The next morning we awoke to a beautiful sunrise and walked through the vineyard with its sprawling acres of mature vines. If you are travelling through California, add this vineyard to your travels. It is certainly worth the trip. And try the Tempranillo!
By the way, have you ever seen a javelina? Early morning we encountered a couple small ones and a big one rummaging through the rows of vines. These pig-like animals create tremendous havoc for farms because they dig up everything. Share your story – tell us what you have encountered when visiting American farms and vineyards. There’s always something interesting.
Have you ever been on the road, and get a hankering for BBQ? I have. This time we were traveling through Alabama. I had never been to Alabama so had no clue where to look. We grabbed the maps. Our route was going to take us through Tuscaloosa. So, I plugged in a search on my iPhone, and out came “Dreamland”.
Sometimes the search engines get lost and deliver results with terrible reviews, but this one was right on!
It was a dark night when we reached Tuscaloosa in our RV. Following the directions on one of the maps applications, we soon discovered how much road development and and land ownership can change the landscape created by previous generations. Dreamland BBQ was located off the the highways going through this busy city. It was located in a residential neighborhood with narrow streets and tight turns for our not-so-big RV.
The lateness of the day contributed to our worry that our efforts to find good BBQ might be for naught if they were closed.
When we arrived at this neon-lit food destination, several men were just coming out from the entrance. Of course they stopped and stared at us in our RV rig maneuving the residential area into the parking lot. I got out and asked “Are they still serving?” One with a German accent retorted, “Gut luck. You betta hurry, there is only one couple left in there.”
We somehow managed to park in their small parking lot, and rushed in to find a bartender mopping the bar for the evening, and several staff trying to control what appeared to be an angry grease fire in the grill. A waitress arrived and said, “I can seat you, but the kitchen is about to close!”
Just in Time
Beer and water was ordered and menus quickly reviewed. “We heard about the ribs. What do you suggest?”, I asked. The waitress had probably heard that line from every tourist. “Well, with the kitchen closing, I’d suggest the ribs and slaw.”
“By the way, do you sell your sauce?” I was thinking ahead for doing our own home-cooking BBQ. “Of course! How many jars?”
This turned out to be a finger-licking good time. Within minutes we were enjoying one of the best BBQ dinners we’d ever eaten. My belly was feeling good after a long day of driving! And we were continuing on our journey across America with a jar of their secret BBQ sauce!
Here’s a little background on Dreamland BBQ. The business was started at the Tuscaloosa, Alabama location in 1958. Since then they expanded to 10 locations across the Southeast.
The website touts “The best BBQ ribs and a variety of hickory-smoked meats, as well as classic Southern sides and desserts.” It includes “mostly true stories” of ribs, sauce, and the legend of founder John “Big Daddy” Bishop.
Big Daddy Bishop [Dreamland website]
What is amazing – and explains why the original restaurant is still located in a neighborhood instead of aloing a strip mall – the site goes on to explain, “While Dreamland has grown over the years, Mr. Bishop’s incredible story and love for the community remain at the forefront of everything we do. It’s why we proudly say, ‘Ain’t nothing like ’em nowhere.’”
Dream On!
What dreamy BBQ have you experienced on your journeys across America? Send me your story and I will post it here.
