post-off: what’s your favorite roadside destination?
My little visit to the Walker Rock Garden got me thinking about those off-beat and off-the-beaten-path destinations that can add some fun to any trip. For instance, the giant Jesus statue above is rather close to my hometown, and so huge that it’s quite easy to spot from I-75 in Monroe, OH. I love perusing Roadside America, but I want to hear from you — where are the mystery spots and duck-shaped diners that you recommend visiting? –Mary T.
Photo by Lisa Bewley
http://www.carhenge.com/
Way out in the panhandle of Nebraska. Been there about 6 times, it never looses it’s charm!
Ha! The five-year-old wanted to know what the giant man was doing when we drove past it a few weeks ago : )
Love old drive-up diners but they are geting hard to find. Our fave from when we lived out East. http://www.redrabbitdrivein.com There was also a Statue of Liberty replica in the middle of the river on the drive up to the Red Rabbit.
http://www.bradley.edu/las/phy/solar_system.html
The world’s largest model of the solar system, with the sun located in Peoria, IL. It’s like a scavenger hunt to find the other planets, scattered across different buildings in Peoria, and as you get to the planets further out, you leave town and take it out on the road!
my flickr page has all of the planets and even some moons: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bloo_mountain/tags/solarsystemmodel/
when they first put this up it caused a lot of accidents from people doing a “wtf?” and driving off the road!
I live in Ohio near the giant statue you’re showing on your blog. Around here it’s referred to as “touchdown jesus.”
My husband and I used to live pretty close to Jesus as well. We affectionately called him Butter Jesus.
I was just at one of my fave diner’s yesterday in Cheynne, WY – The Luxury Diner, a couple of train cars, lots of kitschy decor + train memorabilia and all under a giant Indian motel sign with neon.
I live in CO and now hope to one day make it to the giant Jackalope also in WY. That will be cool.
When I lived in Redwood country and would travel north I loved stopping at Trees of Mystery with their giant Paul Bunyan and Babe the Ox. Great stop to tinkle and always fun having people pose for pics holding up Babe’s giant blue balls. The Paul Bunyan thing across America kills me and I found this site listing them state by state http://www.roadsideamerica.com/set/bunylist.html
And I suppose Randy’s Donuts in L. A. wasn’t a favorite since I grew up in L. A. but now that I live elsewhere I get excited when I fly back into town and have to go by it.