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.
I’ve always had a secret urge to See Rock City
…has the WORLD’s LARGEST CHAIR! Admission free!
The Walter Reed Medical Museum in Washington DC. I enjoyed it, but it’s not for the squeamish.
There is a shrine to Amy Carter in my closet, but it is not open to the public at this time.
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
Norwich, Englan boasts Colemans Museum of Mustard.
I want to go to the American Sanitary Plumbing Museum in Worcester, MA.
[quote]
(http://www.eworcester.com/entertainment/curios.html)
Well if you’re in northern Idaho don’t miss The Bordello Museum. 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. Hey a free baked potato for every customer.
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?”
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.
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.
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 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:
Er, that should be: “…I’m not sorry I didn’t miss those three tourist attractions.”
:smack:
Greensburg Indiana has the Famous Tower Tree. 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.
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! 