When you want a once-in-a-lifetime trip, you need a special place. Somewhere you can say, “Well, we won’t find that anywhere else” and know it’s 100% true. What you’re looking for is one of these weird travel destinations.
Biggest Roadside Attractions
Go big before you go home.
Chatty Belle, World’s Largest Talking Cow — Neillsville, Wisconsin
A cow sculpture that’s seven times larger than the real thing is cool, but we really love her naming origin story. Grassland Dairy and Central Wisconsin Broadcasting held a contest in 1967 called (predictably) “Name The Giant Talking Cow.” First grader Jody Hartl was the lucky winner. Not only did she earn bragging rights as one who bless Chatty Belle with her new moniker, but the wee Wisconsinite also took home 100 pounds of butter for her creativity.
World's Largest Buffalo Monument — Jamestown, North Dakota
From big cows to big buffalo, our next stop is in North Dakota, home of Dakota Thunder. The 60-ton concrete buffalo is also the site of the North American Bison Discovery Center, Frontier Village, and a live herd.
Betsy the Giant Lobster — Islamorada, Florida
The Florida Keys take their seafood seriously, so you shouldn’t be surprised that they’re paying homage to the Caribbean spiny lobster. Betsy the Giant Lobster is an anatomically correct model that measures 30 feet high and 40 feet long. She’s believed to be the world’s largest lobster sculpture.
Dole Plantation’s World’s Longest Plant Maze — Wahiawa, Hawaii
Midwesterners know the corn maze as a staple fall activity. In Hawaii, they have pineapple garden mazes, and the Dole Plantation’s is known as the largest. Located near the Disney Aulani Resort on Oahu, the Dole Plantation also serves up famous Dole Whips.
World’s Largest Shuttlecocks — Kansas City, Missouri
Strewn across the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum are four shuttlecocks, or birdies, measuring 18 feet long. Why? Because it’s art. What was once considered ridiculous is now a favorite for photos and events in need of some fun and whimsy.
Weirdest Museums in the U.S. and Beyond
It doesn’t have to make sense to be worth visiting.
Gopher Hole Museum — Torrington, Alberta, Canada
See stuffed gophers dressed in tiny clothes and posed in dioramas doing human things like going to the barbershop, serving in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and curling (because it’s Canada, after all).
International Mermaid Museum — Aberdeen, Washington
Oceanography meets mythology at the Mermaid Museum. Explore all things underwater — real and make believe — at a steal of a deal. Admission is just $3 (as of June 2024). The museum shares space with the Westport Winery and Ocean’s Daughter Distillery.
International Cryptozoology Museum — Maine
With two Maine locations — Portland and Bangor — you have double the opportunity to explore this study of hidden animals (AKA cryptozoology). The museum claims to have actual hair from the abominable snowman and Bigfoot, and fecal matter from a yeti, collected in 1959. How can you say no to that?
Hammer Museum — Haines, Alaska
Not to be confused with UCLA’s Hammer Museum for art, Alaska’s Hammer Museum houses thousands of literal hammers from thousands of years. The museum’s goal is to show human progress through this common tool.
Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat Museum — San Antonio, Texas
This isn’t just some crappy roadside attraction. The Toilet Seat Museum shows off more than 1,000 pieces of artwork, all painted on toilet seat lids. And it’s free to see.
Tastiest Food Roadside Attractions
Feed your hunger for travel at these tasty roadside attractions in the U.S.
Idaho Potato Museum — Blackfoot, Idaho
We don’t even want to imagine a world without potatoes. Spend your day thinking about all spuds all the time with this museum, potato lab (where you can do “fun experiments”), and cafe.
PEZ Visitor Center — Orange, Connecticut
They call it a visitor center, but it’s so much more. See the massive collection of PEZ dispensers, hang out in the viewing area where you can see the candy being made, and learn more than you thought possible about this sugary part of history.
The SPAM Museum — Austin, Minnesota
Regardless of how you feel about this canned meat, there’s no denying it’s indelible impact on American history. The SPAM Museum reveals all, often while poking a bit of fun at itself. Be sure to stop at the gift shop for SPAM-branded goodies and flavors you probably can’t find in your grocery store at home.
Bush’s Visitor Center — Dandridge, Tennessee
I stumbled across this delightful museum on a road trip, and don’t regret for a minute spontaneously making a detour to visit. There’s way more history behind the bean, canning, and the can opener than you probably realized. Don’t leave without visiting the cafe.
Egg Basket of the Midwest — Mentone, Indiana
More than one American city claims to have the world’s largest egg. Mentone, Indiana, is one vying for the title. This landmark is special for its lack of sense. It’s a 3,000-pound concrete chicken egg. In a bank parking lot. Built in 1946 to promote an egg festival, which still takes place every spring.
Most Surprising Replicas of Famous Landmarks
You’ve heard of destination dupes. Now how about these replica tourist attractions?
Sagrada Familia — Nikko, Japan
There aren’t just one or two replicas at Tobu World Square but many! This Japanese theme park has re-created the world’s greatest structures, including Spain’s Sagrada Familia, England’s Westminster Abbey, the U.S.’s Empire State Building, the Sphynx in Egypt, the Tokyo Dome, and more ... all at 1/25 scale.
Parthenon — Nashville, Tennessee
The Nashville Parthenon is the only full-scale replica of Athens’s Parthenon in the world. The Tennesse version is primarily an art museum with programs that bring music, painting, and other creative opportunities to the Nashville community.
Carhenge — Alliance, Nebraska
England has Stonehenge, and Nebraska has Carhenge. As the name implies, cars are stacked to imitate the mysterious stones. There’s also car art and other roadside quirkiness.
Leaning Tower of Niles — Niles, Illinois
Half the size of the original Leaning Tower in Pisa in Italy, the Illinois replica was built as part of a city park in the 1920s. Niles is now a sister city to Pisa, and the U.S. government added the Illinois Leaning Tower to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019.
Statue of Liberty — Paris, France
Of course, the original Statue of Liberty is in New York City, but you can find pint-sized replicas all over the world — Birmingham, Alabama; County Donegal, Ireland; Durango, Mexico. I’ve even seen one that’s about human sized in a tiny French village so small and out-of-place that I don’t even remember the name of it. One of the grander State of Liberty replicas is right on the Seine in Paris.
Most Unique Airbnbs
Sweet dreams start with these special vacation rentals.
Barbie’s Malibu Dream House — Malibu, California
Airbnb’s Icon experiences include stays in (if we’re honest) gimmicky but fun vacation rentals based on pop culture. The most popular one might be Barbie’s Malibu Dream House. It’s all pink and beachy and comes with a fully stocked clothes closet. Ken made sure you’ll have rollerblades, too.
Glass Cottage — Santa Barbara, California
When vacation goals include just disappearing, book this illusion of a glass cottage. From the outside, it looks like mirrors reflecting the forest around it. From the inside, you’re in a glass cube. You share the property with other guests, but your invisible bungalow lets you fade into your surroundings.
Bookshop Bungalow at Plot Twist Books — Charleston, West Virginia
Book lovers, this one’s for you. This one-bedroom Airbnb doubles as a bookshop experience. You get to see behind the scenes as a bookstore owner while staying on-site in a cozy little rental house. Guests also get a 20% discount and credits to use on used books at the shop.
Big Idaho Potato Hotel — Boise, Idaho
For nearly a decade, the Idaho Potato Commission hauled a six-ton potato around the country. Because why not. Today that special spud is a vacation rental house for two. It’s totally private, except for a resident cow named Dolly.
Missile Silo/Bunker — Roswell, New Mexico
It was originally a launch control center and 186-foot-deep missile silo. Now it’s your bedroom. With everything underground, the control center has been converted to a private apartment. It might not exactly be the lap of luxury, but a tour is included in your stay, and it’s certainly an experience to remember.
Travel Differently
When you’re looking for vacation ideas, it can help to think outside the box. Find more inspiration at the Seven Corners blog.