Roadside Attractions

From SmarterTravel

The quirky and unconventional culture that exists alongside the highway is sure to make any road trip an exciting adventure. There are several ways to plan a trip around these bizarre oddities. Roadside America is an excellent resource that offers traveler's first-hand tips and advice on attractions around the country. It's also a great place to add attractions and begin plotting a route.

National

Nevada

• Little A'Le'Inn: The only place outside of the highly secretive Area 51 where you can hear tales of extraterrestrials while downing an "out of this world" burger. The motto says it all, "Earthlings always welcome."

• Gem Field: On Highway 95, two to three miles north of Goldfield, Nevada, there's a small sign pointing to a dirt road that reads "GEM FIELD." This is the easiest site to find five different colors of agate and two colors of jasper including "Nevada Jade." Travel west off the highway, follow the road, then stay left at the forks. You will come to a sign and a trailor. The area behind the trailor is maked with small signs marking each rock bed. The area is a pay site, on your honor, and you leave one dollar per pound of rock that you collect. You almost always see wild burros on the hills around the dirt road. As you pass through Goldfield, you will see an abandoned hotel that's said to be haunted.

New Jersey

• Lucy the Margate Elephant: This 65-foot high wooden elephant has stood on the Jersey shores since about 1881. For a mere $6, guests are welcome to take a tour inside Lucy, which takes them to the very top of the howdah.

South Carolina

• South of the Border: With signs for miles in both directions along I-95 leading to South of the Border, it is a destination that many people cannot resist. Games, rides, food, souvenirs, fireworks, and even a camping ground and motel are available at this amusement park.

South Dakota

• The Corn Palace: During harvest every August through September, the exterior walls of this building are covered in thousands of bushels of corn and grain in intricate patterns that create a different mural each year. The inside of the palace holds events, and features paintings of Native American history. It's free to enter.

• Wall Drug: For more than 70 years, people have started to salivate at the mention of Wall Drug. The shop originally began by offering free water to road-weary travelers on billboards from miles away. Today, visitors can still wet their whistles for free, but they'll also find a mall of souvenirs, dinosaurs, tacky photo ops, and eats. It's free to enter and explore.

Washington

• World Famous Bob's Java Jive: This coffee-pot shaped bar and lounge is the only one of its kind left in existence. Today, visitors come to grab a cold brew, sing karaoke, search for famous signatures in the benches, and hear tales of the past from the owner's daughter who was once a go-go dancer in the joint. The eclectic and lively history of Java Jive is well worth a stop.

Wisconsin

• The House on the Rock: What began as one man's pursuit to build a home to display his eclectic collections has now become a favorite attraction in Wisconsin. Guests will be wowed by the working indoor life-sized carousel that has not one horse, the life-sized pyramid of elephants, or the Infinity Room that juts out over the forest with nothing holding it in place. Not to mention, the wind-powered music boxes that feature full orchestras.

Florida

"The Senator" a 3,500 year old giant of a tree at 118 feet!! It and its companion "Lady Liberty" can be found at Big Tree Park in Seminole County between Sanford and Orlando. It is accessible by US 17-92, CR 427, General Hutchison Parkway, and SR 419. Look for the signs directing you where to go. A taste of the massive redwoods right here on the East Coast!!

International

Australia

• Australia's Big Things: Throughout Australia, there are over 100 big roadside sculptures, unrelated to one another except in their size. Arguably the most famous is the Big Banana. Wikipedia maintains a list and map of all the big things.