Do you remember when you were driving on the road and suddenly had to step on the brake to stop at one of the big Welcome Road Sign?

I’m thinking about the National Park road signs, the city signs and the county road signs here. You remember when you cross state lines you are always greeted with a huge road sign? Or when you enter a National Park you have those gorgeous signs to welcome you?
I gathered 5 reasons below why these road signs are so fascinating.
1. They are beautifully crafted
I lived in three different countries and no other country has such a perfection and precision to create these signs and place them carefully as the United States. It’s just so appealing that you have to stop and have a look at it. If you inspect the signs you can see how detailed they are. Some include the year of foundation, seals, images, state flowers and other information. They made from custom carved wood (Death Valley National Park – Homeland of the Timbisha Shoshone) or simple metal (Connecticut Welcomes You – Connecticut, We’re full of Surprises). And some are full of colors (Maryland Welcomes You – Enjoy your visit) and some follow minimalist designs (Welcome to Pure Michigan).

2. Taking a picture is a must
Stopping by at these signs is a must! You can’t just pass by them without the examination and of course the selfie shoots. It feels like you are taking a photo with a celebrity. You know that after this photo the magic will happen. Your trip enters into a new phase and excitement takes over. Enjoy your journey!
3. They are a clear indication that you have arrived to your destination
Imagine you are driving for like 4-5 hours from Colorado state to Utah and finally you saw the sign ‘Welcome to Utah’. It’s the best feeling to see this sign. It means you have arrived to your destination. Almost, but you are in Utah (or whatever is your place of target)! These signs give you a satisfaction that your effort is not in vain and you are on the right direction to reach the end of your road journey.

4. They can be educational and informative
They actually indicate a nickname for the state, for example Arkansas, “The Natural State” (They have a vast of mountains, lakes, hot springs) or Arizona “The Grand Canyon State”. These expressions describe the state’s main attractions. The signs provide you with some info about the place of interest and its major tourist landmarks. They can also show historical dates (Rocky Mountain National Park established in 1915), people (Welcome to Illinois – The Land of Lincoln. From the People of Illinois), events (‘Welcome to North Carolina – May 20th 1775 – April 12th 1776’ showing two dates of events: the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and the Halifax Resolves) and what the state is actually famous for (Welcome to Montana with images of cowboys and the Bighorn Canyon)
5. It shows the beginning of something more
Once you reach these welcome signs guess what? They welcome you to a new chapter of your travel too. Whether you carry on to another place or you stay there for a while you know that something more thrilling and interesting will happen to you. This is just the beginnings of your adventures. Welcome road signs are just the indication that you are closer to your travel goals.
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