A maturing couple who believe getting old is all in the mind!
Big Ole, located in the small town of Alexandria, Minnesota, is the purportedly the World’s largest Viking. Ole was built in 1965 as an exhibit for the New York World’s Fair. When completed Ole stood 28 feet tall with the words, “Alexandria, Birthplace of America” emblazoned on his shield.
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“Sandy”, the 40ft high statue of the Sandhill Crane at Steele, North Dakota stands in a little park adjacent to the Cobblestone Inn. This monument is a celebration of this elegant bird that is found on the plains, in fields and wetlands across the United States.
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Many years ago on a family road trip across the USA, I had set out in search of Otto, the world’s largest otter, located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. This detour almost resulted in the end of our marriage. Fast-forward 12 years, armed with Google and smartphones we successfully located Otto!
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One of my quirky interests, as I have travelled around the United States, is to try and see as many “roadside” attractions as I can. Many of these are next to highways, but occasionally we have had to head off the beaten track. During a road trip that passed through Minnesota along I-94, we were lucky to come across one such attraction in the city of Rothsay, the Prairie Chicken capital of Minnesota
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If you should visit the small town of Darwin, Minnesota (pop. 350) you will find, located inside a specially constructed gazebo, a local oddity that has become a well-known roadside attraction – a nine-ton ball of twine that was rolled by one man, Francis A Johnson. This is the largest ball of twine in the World rolled by an individual. Weird yes – but fascinating!
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Located in New Salem, North Dakota, Salem Sue stands a mighty 38 feet (12 m) high and 50 feet (15 m) long and can be viewed from several miles around. (Roadside Attraction / USA / United States)
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Having spent time earlier in the day on a tour of the St Louis #1 cemetery I thought I would carry on the macabre theme and visit the Museum of Death on Dauphine Street in New Orleans French Quarter. This small museum made up of three or four rooms provides a breadth of uncompromising materials and displays on this often taboo subject.
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It might not be everyone’s idea of a great time but I have long wanted to visit one of the historic graveyards in New Orleans, so I booked myself on a walking tour of the St. Louis Cemetery #1.
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Located in Wisconsin’s Dane County, not too far from the State Capital of Madison, Mount Horeb is a small village with around 8000 people. It has become known at the troll capital of the world
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After an unsuccessful hunt for the largest otter in Fergus falls we set out to find Pelican Pete – the world’s largest Pelican. This time our hunt was successful!
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The roads across the mid west of America are long, straight and flat. I am sure you are familiar with this from all the movies! So, coming across a interesting place to pull in and break the monotony is most welcome. (Roadside Attraction / United States / USA)
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The Enchanted Highway, is a 32 mile stretch of highway designed to draw in tourists to the town of Regent. It features some of the world’s largest scrap metal sculptures. (Roadside Attraction / United States / USA)
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Mitchell is home of the world’s only Corn Palace. The original version of the Corn Palace was established in 1892 as a place for the community to congregate. As Mitchell grew it outstripped the capacity of the Corn Palace which was subsequently rebuilt, bigger and better, twice more with the current building being completed in 1921. In the 1930’s the building was remodeled to capture the essential spirit and decorative features of the first palace, with the minarets and Moorish design elements we see today being added.
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As you travel around America, especially the mid-west you’ll come across billboards advertising the Wall Drug Store. These billboards are located, in some cases, hundreds of miles from the store itself mostly along a 650 mile stretch of I-90. Apparently, there are more than 300 paid for billboards, some located internationally, and a whole load more unofficial billboards.
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Having heard about Dr Evermor’s Sculpture Park we just had to visit. It turned out to be a real adventure. (Roadside Attraction / USA / United States)
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