With school starting many Americans hope to take advantage of the last days of summer by traveling the country and getting in some last minute relaxation. There is a side of America that doesn’t usually mingle with the resorts and theme park atmospheres. It is a side that lies along the road and off the beaten path.
Number 5: The Wee’l Turtle
In Dunseith, North Dakota, an 18-foot turtle, made of 2,000 used tire rims, is a tribute to the local Turtle Mountain State Park, according to Travel and Leisure. Local businessman George Gottbreht built the Wee’l Turtle in 1982. It serves as a restaurant, convenience store, and motel. Come by during Christmas to see the turtle wearing a giant Santa Claus hat!
Number 4: The Fremont Troll
In 1990 Seattle locals Steve Badanes, Ross Whitehead, Wil Martin, and Donna Walter created a two-ton sculpture of a giant one-eyed troll grasping a Volkswagen Beetle. The troll haunts an overpass in the Fremont area of Seattle, Washington, according to Trip Advisor. The 1990 project came to life as an urban renewal competition. Unfortunately, the creature didn’t win the contest. But, locals fell in love with the misunderstood fellow, earning its place in the neighborhood.
Number 3: UFO Landing Port
No, it’s not in Roswell, New Mexico, rather in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Actually, it’s just east of Green Bay on Highway 29. Standing 42 feet tall and made from an empty fuel tank and scrap metal, the port wears strange satellite dishes and star shapes and an alien holding a sign that says: “We’re not the only ones,” according to Roadsideamerica.com.
Number 2: World’s Largest Ball of Twine
Moviegoers probably assumed Chevy Chase was joking in the movie National Lampoon’s: Family Vacation when he nearly took his family to see the nation’s second largest ball of twine. Now, 40 feet in diameter and weighing nine tons, it’s the world’s largest ball of twine and is in Cawker City, Kansas. It will exceed your expectations, according to KansasTravel.org.
Number 1: Cadillac Ranch
In Amarillo, Texas, the ranch features the backends of ten Cadillacs sticking out of the ground. The auto ranch spans the Cadillac production line from 1949 to 1963 and pays homage to the glory days of tail fins as well as the rise and fall of the American auto industry. The ranch welcomes graffiti, so bring your paint and markers!
