14 Roadside Attractions That Are Worth the Detour
On a road trip, every stop is a piece of a puzzle, and every bend means a new adventure. Some travelers race down highways without thought, but most know the journey is as magical as the destination. It’s the quirky surprises that make any trip more memorable.
Whether it’s giant statues, natural oddities, or anything in between—these roadside wonders tend to leave travelers (and travel photographers) something to speak about far after the trip comes to its close.
Santa Cruz, California – The Mystery Spot
It has baffled visitors for decades. The Mystery Spot is tilted, featuring a house with an off-kilter gravitational pull. People grow or shrink, and balls roll uphill. It’s a cool thing that makes you question the laws of physics and your sense of balance.
Amarillo, Texas – Cadillac Ranch
Public art installation and Texas Icon, Cadillac Ranch is composed of ten half-buried, nose-first-in-the-ground, Cadillacs which make a surreal display and are open to interpretation. The best part? Grab a spray can and add your own touch of graffiti to this ever-changing piece of art. You’re welcome.
Centreville, Virginia – Foamhenge
Why go all the way to England to see Stonehenge when you can stop at Foamhenge? Yes, it’s a full-size replica of the famous stone circle made entirely from foam. Foamhenge is oddly impressive, despite its lightweight construction, and has garnered much attention and fans.
Carhenge – Alliance, Nebraska
Carhenge is a Stonehenge replica made from cars. These classic cars are painted in a matte grey to resemble stone and in the exact layout of Stonehenge. It’s part art installation, part car graveyard, all parts quirky fun.
Cawker City, Kansas – World’s Largest Ball of Twine
Tightly wound, this small-town pride and world record ambition, is a huge ball of twine that weighs in at around 20,000 pounds. The giant twine ball of Cawker City is an ongoing wonder as many can still add twine to the growing ball. Every August, locals come to add more twine, keeping the title alive and well. Come by and see how the community spirit grows this giant ball.
Mitchell, South Dakota – Corn Palace
There is no other building like the Corn Palace. Made out of corn, wheat, and native grass murals, it is a fun mix of local pride and agricultural artistry, part community hall, part art installation. Every year, new designs are created and every visit feels different.
Middlegate, Nevada – The Shoe Tree
If you run into a lone tree in the middle of nowhere, along a stretch of Nevada highway, covered in hundreds of old shoes, then you are looking at The Shoe Tree. The result of spontaneous human whimsy. The collection is expanded by travelers tossing a pair of their own shoes up into the branches, creating a strange but charming roadside art piece.
Margate City, New Jersey – Lucy the Elephant
Since 1881, this six story elephant statue has been a tourist favorite. Lucy was designed to lure real estate buyers, but she’s since been transformed into a beloved landmark. She’s cheerful, and generations of tourists have climbed into her belly for views of the surrounding beach town.
Fremont Troll – Seattle, Washington
A giant, mischievous sculpture catches a real Volkswagen Beetle down in the Fremont Troll who lives underneath the Aurora Bridge. It’s grown into a selfie mecca and Fre mont neighborhood symbol. Adults like him for the bit of mystery he brings to the city, and kids love to climb on him.
Catoosa, Oklahoma – The Blue Whale of Catoosa
The Blue Whale of Catoosa was originally built as an anniversary gift, and is now a roadside staple. This 20 foot tall blue whale sits by a pond and welcomes visitors to climb inside. It’s a fun, family friendly stop that’s a little bit whimsy, a little bit nostalgia, especially if you grew up swimming here.
Regent, North Dakota – The Enchanted Highway
The Enchanted Highway is a collection of massive metal sculptures made by local artist Gary Greff along a 32 mile stretch of road. These sculptures take giant grasshoppers and giant fish and put them to life along one of prairie’s more quiet stretches. There’s a parking area for each sculpture so you can take pictures and marvel at the scale of these works.
Dillon, South Carolina – South of the Border
A visit to the South of the Border is a must on any road trip through the Southeast. It includes souvenir shops, restaurants, and a sombrero-shaped observation tower over the roadside complex. This kitschy spot is known for its pun-filled billboards — cheesy charm with a heaping dose of retro Americana. It’s one of the destination’s favorite draws for travelers.
White Post, Virginia, Dinosaur Land
Venture back in time to when dinosaurs roamed! Over 50 life-sized dinosaur statues make up Dinosaur Land. These colorful giants are a great stop for a little prehistoric fun on a modern road trip, and families and kids of all ages enjoy wandering among them.
Blue Earth, Minnesota – The Jolly Green Giant
The Jolly Green Giant statue is an unmissable 55-foot icon. This oversized homage to the famous vegetable mascot welcomes all highway drivers with a giant smile. take a photo with him, and even hum along to the Green Giant jingle.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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Even if you’ve been on a safari in the past, an African photo safari is something you want to experience or at the very list add to the top of your bucket list.
But first, what is a photo safari? The phrase “photo safari” is not a common sentence structure but its meaning can be deduced easily. An African photo safari in general context means going on an adventure with the sole purpose of taking high-quality pictures.
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