Roadside Attractions

[Photobug]

Does anyone else "collect" these oddball attractions? When I was little, my parents would pack us kids in the car and drive around on weekends or vacations just to see what we could find. Now as an adult, I'm trying to get DH to loosen up a bit and do this, too. (He's a Planner, no unscheduled stops for him, thank you.) I'd love to see how many of these types of things are still out there. Some of my favorites that we visited were a house made entirely out of old bottles, a house made out of cans and a house made out of newspaper! :eek: Okay, looks like I'm obsessed with weird houses. But some of the other things have been the "world's smallest cat", the "world's longest rope ladder", and "the biggest honeycomb in North America"

So what weird, wacky and wonderful attractions have you visited?

[jlp]

What a great idea! I've always wanted to take a vacation like that, but DH thinks I'm nuts. :p

Every year on the way to our cottage in Canada, we pass this place in Michigan called, Seashell City. The signs leading up to it say things like, "Giant Man Eating Clam"... Every year I beg to stop, but God forbid we get off schedule.

I just googled "weird roadside attractions", and it brought up TONS of listings.

I'm off to plan a vacation. ;)

p.s. here's a great site I just found with state by state listings.

Have fun!
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/index.html

[camberne]

Gosh, there's the Big Duck that we have always used as a landmark on Long Island. I'm not sure exactly where it is though. It was actually on my Aunt's Christmas card last year! I thought that was a hoot!

On 460 in Virginia there is a "lighthouse" made from old tires that have been spraypainted red, white & blue. Every time I pass it, I think that I need to stop and take a picture of it.

[camberne]

Oooh, I found the picture on the website jlp posted!!

The Big Duck:
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/images/ny/NYFLAduck_mangels.jpg

[jlp]

Glad I could help. :p

Speaking of Giant Statues of odd things:

Port Clinton, Ohio
Since 1996, the Lake Erie fishing village of Port Clinton, Ohio has augured in the new year with "Walleye Madness at Midnight," when they lower Captain Wylie, an 18-foot long, 500 lb. fiberglass walleye, by crane from a roof in downtown clinton. A local volunteer in a bowtied Captain Wylie costume wanders the sidewalks during events and parades... The town holds an annual Walleye Festival on Memorial Day weekend, when they crown the new Junior Miss Walleye. Port Clinton gets points for its over-the-top commitment to the Walleye theme....
Similar to this:
http://roadsideamerica.com/attract/images/mn/MNGARwalleye.jpg
I just saw this last weekend - very strange. I live only 20 minutes from here, and I must get to the New Year's Eve celebration one of these years. I think David Letterman had someone there one year.

Gilboa, Ohio
http://www.carolsturtletales.com/turtle_tales/20030826-1.jpg

Newark, Ohio
Longaberger
http://www.longaberger.com/longaberger/images/visitUs/Home_Office_all_spring.jpg

And, in Michigan-
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/images/mi/MIunclesam.jpg
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/images/mi/MIOSSbunyan.jpg

There's a Giant Canada Goose we pass every year too, but I can't locate it. It may be in Ontario.

Another site you all might enjoy:
http://www.worldslargestthings.com/wllist.htm

[littlebear]

My favorite is South of the Border in South Carolina.

You are going to LOVE this website. www.roadsideamerica.com It's a guide to off beat tourist attractions. Have fun! (It's got Canadian attractions in there too.)
ETA: Oooops! I'm an idiot. I didn't completely read everyone's posts before re-posting the url for Roadside America. :o

[jlp]

Apparently I didn't look close enough the first time...

http://www.roadsideattractions.ca/goose.jpg

[shopaholic]

there is actually a great book on this very topic. I was flipping through it at Barnes

[alisong]

If you like Big Things, you simply must visit Australia!

http://www.bigthings.com.au/

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~arundell/bigthing.htm