# Tourist Attractions I'll Bet You're Sorry You Missed **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 9, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069 "2003-08-09T19:20:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/21 "2003-08-10T12:00:39Z")
[www.squished.com](http://www.squished.com) - The Museum for Squished Pennies located right here in Washington DC. Lady Chance and I just did a long weekend (out 10th anniversary) driving around West Virginia seeing roadside attractions. It’s way better than Disney. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/22 "2003-08-10T15:49:27Z")
I’ve always had a secret urge to **See Rock City** ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/23 "2003-08-10T16:21:41Z")
[Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota](http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/MNDARtwine.html) ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/24 "2003-08-10T17:12:26Z")
…has the WORLD’s LARGEST CHAIR! Admission free! ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/25 "2003-08-10T17:18:02Z")
The Walter Reed Medical Museum in Washington DC. I enjoyed it, but it’s not for the squeamish. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/26 "2003-08-10T17:23:47Z")
There is a shrine to Amy Carter in my closet, but it is not open to the public at this time. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/27 "2003-08-10T17:48:58Z")
Not a real museum, but a funny story (to me and one other person, at least): **Jess** , **quixotic78** , **Kyla** and I were on our way to Chidope from **quix** ’s place in Columbus, OH. As we were starting out drive, **Kyla** noted that when we got to Indiana we could go to The Larry Bird Museum. “This Larry Bird was a refrigerator salesman,” **quix** said in a voice I can only describe as amusingly mocking (amusing to me. I don’t think **Kyla** was similarly amused), and continued. “This Larry Bird was a submarine repairman.” **Kyla** butted in: “Submarine repairman? That’s so random!” Now at this point **quix** and I just lost it. Completely lost it. Howling laughter. **Kyla** was NOT amused, which only made it funnier to us two:D Kyla demanded to know what was so funny, so **quix** composed himself (because at that point I sure couldn’t) long enough to explain: “Submarine repairman was random, but refrigerator salesman wasn’t?” Kyla tried to qualify her statement by saying “Well, they were _both_ random, but …” No dice. Howling laughter ensued any time anyone said anything like “that’s so random”. After we got to Indiana, only two of us were doing that and it was still hilarious. I think I still use that line on **Kyla**. One of these days she’s going to roll her eyes so hard she hurts herself:D ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/28 "2003-08-10T18:06:10Z")
Norwich, Englan boasts Colemans Museum of Mustard. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/29 "2003-08-11T01:40:43Z")
I want to go to the American Sanitary Plumbing Museum in Worcester, MA. [quote] ([http://www.eworcester.com/entertainment/curios.html](http://www.eworcester.com/entertainment/curios.html)) > [@](#): > > A Shrine to Sanitation may not be at the top of your vacation itinerary, and certainly not the place to escort potential paramours - yet an essential fact of life for everyone. Ever wonder about the history and evolution of … plumbing: the toilet, the faucet, the urinal, even the dishwasher? Ever wonder how we got along before them? Here’s the place to find out. You’ll see all things unmentionable beautifully showcased in this fascinating gallery of the art of water acquisition and disposal. Wander through rows of toilets and urinals displayed like fine statuary. Contemplate an array of shower heads blooming like sunflowers … ---
**Author:** ![Tinkertoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@Tinkertoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinkertoy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2003, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/30 "2003-08-11T02:32:28Z")
Well if you’re in northern Idaho don’t miss [The Bordello Museum](http://www.planetware.com/photos/US/IDWAL.HTM). The town of Wallace has five museums but this is IMHO the best. Also the town is where they filmed Dante’s Peak. In Southern Idaho be sure to see [The Potato Museum](http://www.viamagazine.com/weekenders/potatomuseum00.asp). Hey a free baked potato for every customer. ---
**Author:** ![summerbreeze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@summerbreeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/summerbreeze)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/31 "2003-08-12T02:33:24Z")
Oh, **Polycarp**! I know where you live! Have you ever actually pulled over into the area on US85, just south of the NC line, where you are welcome to “View the Giant Peach?” ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/32 "2003-08-12T04:53:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, this isn’t bizarre or strange, but I think it’s neat–and one of these days I’ll get off my butt and go! It’s the A.C. Gilbert’s Children’s Museum in Salem, OR. Several Victorian-era houses from around the city have been moved to the riverfront to make the “Discovery Village.” Remember a year or two back when there was a fuss over Raggedy Ann would be added to the “Toy Hall of Fame”? The Hall of Fame is at the Discovery Village. And who was A.C. Gilbert? Why, he was only the inventor of the erector set and many other educational toys. See? Neat stuff, and only a few miles from my home. I’ll go one of these days. I live near Salem and used to go there all the time. When I was a kid, it was just two houses, but now they’ve expanded it a lot, built a playground, all this stuff, apparently. I should go back there someday–I have so many fond memories. It’s really a neat place. They had this big water room where you could blow huge bubbles, a place for people to put on plays, a big ol’ model train set-up in one room, and an arts n’ crafts room upstairs… not to mention the faux-Chinese dining room and the musical instruments… ahh, memories. Looking at the website, it seems to have changed a lot. ---
**Author:** ![deb2world](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/33 "2003-08-12T06:15:19Z")
In SLO (San Luis Obispo, CA for all you who never lived there) is a wall of bubblegum. Actually it is an alley where people have over the years deposited their ABC gum. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/34 "2003-08-12T07:54:56Z")
I’ll second **Daowajan** ’s nomination for The House on the Rock. I’ll highly recommend it to Dopers of all ages, shapes, and sizes. I can’t find a link for it, but I remember as a kid taking a tour of the House of the Future (not the Disneyland one, I’m not that old). I don’t remember what state it was in, but I remember that it was a series of interconnecting white domes made from some high tech sprayed on foam. You simply used a chainsaw if you wanted another window or for an entrance if you wished to add on another dome room. The master bedroom bed was shaped like a toadstool (central column supporting a round bed that slowly spun around so you could view the many television screens mounted on the walls). Don’t know if this place exists any more but it reminded me of The House on the Rock. [Ruby Falls](http://www.rubyfalls.com/) inside Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee. As caves go it’s actually kind of average until towards the end of the tour when you see the waterfall just as it is in the picture on my link. The coolest thing, though, is this little spiel when the guide is talking about the history of the cave when it was first found (adlibbed): “… and this is what the explorers saw when they first found the waterfall…” and then _they turn out the lights!_ All of a sudden you’re in utter darkness (you really have to be in an unlit cave to appreciate that kind of dark) and your only sensation is the deafening roar of the falls (well, and my mom nearly squeezing my arm off in fear). It almost feels like floating. Okay, I’m not sorry I missed those three tourist attractions, but so far every year I’ve managed to miss Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I will get there some day. Worst tourist attraction ever: A small gas station in the middle of nowhere. As we gas up I notice a large sign out front saying “See the Baby Rattlers around back”. I took a chance and headed there. I cautiously approach a large wooden box with wire mesh across the top and front. Inside were three baby rattles. I didn’t get the joke at first so I peered into the corners to see where the snakes were. Then I got it. At least it was free. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/35 "2003-08-12T08:00:26Z")
Er, that should be: “…I’m not sorry I _didn’t miss_ those three tourist attractions.” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/36 "2003-08-12T11:56:51Z")
Greensburg Indiana has the [Famous Tower Tree](http://www.cityofgreensburg.com/). It’s tree, see? And it grows right out of the top of the courthouse tower? That’s it. They also use the FTT as the logo on their police cars. Just don’t go on a Sunday. Everything’s closed so you can’t get FTT souveniers. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2003, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069/37 "2003-08-12T12:10:08Z")
I have seen the FTT **Rue** speaks of. I have a picture of it somewhere. In south GA you can: Visit Baconton, GA - birthplace of the papershell pecan industry! Visit Warwick, GA in April - for the National Grits Festival! Visit Calvary, GA the first Saturday in November - for Mule Day! See mules dressed up and on parade! Visit Smithville, GA in September - for the Chicken Pie Festival! Visit Whigham, GA in January - for the Rattlesnake Roundup! Visit Ashburn, GA in March - for the National Fire Ant Festival! Be sure to see the big peanut statue on the interstate while you’re there. Visit Sylvester, GA (Peanut capitol of the world) in September - for the National Peanut Festival! Visit Cordele, GA (Watermelon capitol of the world) in July - for the Watermelon Festival. The seed spitting contest is held immediately following the crowning of Watermelon Queen! And people wonder why I choose to live here. Why, the excitement never ends! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tourist-attractions-ill-bet-youre-sorry-you-missed/194069.md?page=1)