Planning for a trip is time-consuming. If you are trying to find something to please everyone… if you don’t want to spend too much money… or if you just want to get the most out of your time… planning can become overwhelming. After searching for free things to do, I usually search for unique attractions.
Roadside attractions can be a fun, cheap way to experience the local area. There are websites and books dedicated to roadside attractions and oddities. Some of the fun roadside attractions we have encountered include the “world’s largest” items. It is usually just a fun, quick, photo stop. It is an excellent way to get out of the car and stretch your legs. A few of our world’s largest experiences include a strawberry in Iowa, a shuttlecock in Missouri, a baseball bat in Kentucky, a fire hydrant in South Carolina, a prairie dog in South Dakota, or a lugnut in Michigan.
While in Maine, we saw the world’s largest Paul Bunyan statue in Bangor, although some argue he is not the largest but we think he is the best looking.
Roadside attractions are not always the “largest thing” stops, sometimes it is fun and quirky places such as Wall Drug Store in South Dakota. You may have heard of it or even seen the signs for free water.
Another memorable roadside stop was the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden. There are over 30 statues on the grounds in Springfield, MA.
The Jack Rabbit is a recognizable Route 66 landmark, thanks to its appearance in the Disney animated movie Cars.
It could even be a simple stop for a photo of a lighthouse.
When you are traveling look for something interesting along the road. Whatever you find, make memories.