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22 Most Bizarre Tourist Attractions in the World

If you enjoy the offbeat, creepy and weird, or are just bored with the usual theme parks and tourist traps, you might want to consider including one of these rather bizarre attractions on your next travel itinerary. From a collection of phallic specimens to an island filled with decomposing baby dolls, these spots are sure to provide some rather unforgettable memories.

Island of the Dolls, Mexico

Isla de las Munecas, just south of Mexico City set between the canals of Xochimilco, is a small island and long-abandoned hideout of Don Julian Santana, who was ostracized here from the mainland because of his alcohol problem. Legend has it that a little girl drowned in the nearby canal and Don felt haunted by her spirit so he began trading his vegetables for old dolls, which he placed throughout the island to appease her spirit. A reputable psychic medium has said that he was actually seeing an evil spirit that caused the girl to drown. Believe it, or not. Today, it’s populated by hundreds of decrepit, decomposing baby dolls that hang from trees. Some say they possess the soul of the girl. While it was never meant to be a tourist attraction, the creepiness of the island has attracted so many that it’s now open for tours on the weekend.

Temple of Rats - Deshnok, India

Karni Mata Temple, better known as the Temple of Rats, is literally a temple of rats. It was named for the Goddess Karni who believed her family members wouldn’t ever die, but instead would be reincarnated as rats. The town’s residents firmly believe this legend, and that the population of more than 20,000 rats are in fact, members of Karni goddess’ family. The rats are considered sacred and are provided with food and refuge in the temple. If you’ve got a fear of rodents, it might help you to know that they’re said to be quite friendly.

Iceland's Phallus Museum - Reykjavík, Iceland

This interesting museum is one of Reykjavik’s most unique tourist attractions. Colloquially known as the Penis Museum, it hosts a collection of more than 200 phallic specimens representing almost every mammal in the country. So, if you ever wanted to see what a whale penis looks like, this is where you can do it. Although, it is in a jar, of course. The museum located on the city’s busiest shopping street consists of one large room boasting shelves and glass cases filled with animals’ penises raging in size from a hamster to a whale, all preserved in formaldehyde. In case you were wondering, there is reportedly a vagina exhibition in Rotterdam, Netherlands known as the Museum of Vaginal Imagination.

World's Largest Chest of Drawers - High Point, North Carolina

The World’s Largest Chest of Drawers was constructed in 1926 by the High Point Chamber of Commerce in an attempt to prove that the town of High Point was the “Home Furniture Capital of the World.” The originally 20-foot tall building served as the local “bureau of information.” In 1996, the structure was totally renovated and converted into a 39-foot tall Goddard-Townsend block front chest with a real chest used as a prototype. To add to the visual impact, two ginormous socks were hung from one of its drawers. The chest has been featured on MTV and numerous shows featuring America’s largest man-made attractions.

Electric Ladyland - Amsterdam, Netherland

Electric Ladyland claims to be the world’s first museum of fluorescent art. You’ve got to remove your shoes and put on special slippers before you can descend downstairs to get a look at owner Nick Padalino’s psychedelic sculpture work, cases of naturally luminescent rocks and man-made glowing objects. Upstairs you can check out his art gallery with works that burst into color under UV light as the Beatles and Jim Hendrix tunes are played in the background. If you want a more enlightened experience, you might want to stop in one of the city’s renowned “coffee shops – it may have been designed just for that purpose.

Prada in the Desert - Valentine, Texas

Apparently some shopping enthusiasts couldn’t understand why the state of Texas, considered how big it is, didn’t have a Prada store. Berlin artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset went to work on an interesting solution, of sorts. With the blessing of Miuccia Prada herself, the store that sits on an empty stretch of U.S. 90 outside of the tiny town of Valentine, some 150 miles from El Paso, was built. Unfortunately, high-end shoppers are out of luck. This bizarre store has no door though its front windows which display 20 left-foot shoes and six purses. The structure is permanently locked up and there are very few signs of life – unless you count the increasing population of moths.

Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum - Ikeda, Osaka, Japan

Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum pays tribute to Cup Noodles founder and creator Momofuku Ando. If you’d like to say thanks to all those super-cheap instant noodles that prevented you from starving back in college, this is your chance. Here you can see a reproduction of the shack where the man himself first invented Chicken Ramen, view an exhibition about instant noodles across the globe and visit a tasting room with a variety of products, including the chance to sample flavors that you’ve probably never tried before.

Old Operating Theatre Museum And Herb Garret - London, England

This fascinating theater is actually an operating room used during the 19th century. Located in the attic of a church on the original site of St. Thomas’ Hospital, it was once a place where surgeons demonstrated medical procedures to students. The oldest surviving operating theatre in existence, it dates from 1822, before the use of anesthetics and antiseptic surgery. The room has been restored with 19th-century furniture and equipment – by climbing the stairs, you can see what operations were like back then.

Rumah Terbalik Upside Down House - Kota Kinabalu, East Malaysia

The upside-down house in one of only a few like it in the world. Others can be found in China, Japan, Russia, Poland, Germany and Austria. The Rumah Terbalick upside-down house was opened in 2012, specifically as a tourist attraction. While it’s definitely strange, most people just ask, “Why?” It seems to defy all reasoning. This unusual house was recently entered in the Malaysian book of records as the only structure of its kind in Malaysia. Tours are available if you’d like to experience walking on the ceiling as furniture and household appliances hover above your head. In the garage, a car is parked upside down. You can even pick up a souvenir at the gift shop.

Inveraray Jail - Inveraray, Scotland

Ever want to know what it might be like to spend time in jail? You can do just that without committing a crime in Scotland’s Inveraray Jail. This former prison dates back to 1820 and today, it’s a popular tourist attraction where visitors are drawn by the chance to immerse themselves in 19th-century life in the penitentiary, along with its harsh realities. With the help of characters dressed in authentic garb, you can discover early justice techniques like branding with a hot iron, public whipping and torturous thumbscrews. Listen in on sensational courtroom trials, and, if you’re up for it, you can even get thrown into a barren prison cell and work up a sweat trying your hand at a variety of bizarre punishments.

Wang Saen Suk Hell Garden - Saen Suk, Thailand

Visit this very different sculpture garden and you’ll be greeted with a brightly colored sign that reads, “Welcome to Hell.” Take a few more steps into the garden where you’ll see a sign that states: “If you meet the devil in this life, don’t postpone merit-making which will help you to defeat him in the next life.” The hell garden depicts, in vulgar detail, punishments that might be in store for those that transgress in life, with statues representing disemboweling, impaling and transfiguration. Two larges figures stand high above the tortured souls, possibly, the “hungry ghosts” of Thai folklore.

The Gnome Reserve - West Putford, England

There are plenty of wildlife reserves out there, but have you ever seen a gnome reserve? The Gnome Reserve is a one-of-a-kind, with more than 1,000 gnomes and pixies spread throughout a natural outdoor habitat on four acres, along with over 250 labeled species of wildflowers. An on-site museum also holds a collection of antique gnomes. If you’re up for it, you can even pose for pictures with the interesting lawn ornaments, using the provided gnome hats and fishing rods that are provided for free to help you blend in and not “embarrass the gnomes.”

Market Theater Gum Wall - Seattle, Washington

The Market Theater Gum Wall was named the second “germiest” tourist attraction in the world by TripAdvisor – it’s been collecting germs, and gum, for more than two decades. This local landmark in downtown Seattle in Post Alley under Pike Place Market was started when theatergoers waiting in line at the Market Theater box office started sticking their gum on the wall – some even molding their discarded, chewed product into sculptures. It was constantly cleaned, but the gum kept coming back so eventually, the gum on the wall was embraced, and even celebrated by turning it into an official attraction.

Fremont Troll - Seattle, Washington

Also in the Emerald City, underneath the Aurora Bridge in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, lurks a giant, 18-foot one-eyed troll clutching a Volkswagen Bug. Some say that trolls have been sighted here since around 1932, but this particular two-ton sculpture was created in 1990 by a team of local artists, Steve Badanes, Ross Whitehead, Will Martin, and Donna Walter, as part of a competition promoting urban renewal. While the judging committee dismissed the hideous fiend, locals loved it. The troll won the popular vote and the right to haunt the space under the bridge for all eternity. The community pays tribute to the troll every Halloween with a mobile “Troll-o-ween” party that starts under the bridge and wanders to other funky art sites and events throughout the neighborhood.

Cockroach Hall of Fame - Plano, Texas

The “Queen of Quirky,” as they call it, the Cockroach Hall of Fame was opened by pest control specialist Michael Bodhan who decided he wanted to put an interesting twist on the creepy, crawly creatures, making people smile instead of scream when they saw a cockroach. The museum features cockroach corpses donning costumes, posed inside tiny elaborate sets like the “Liberoachi,” in which one of the critters plays the piano, “David Letteroach,” “The Combates Motel,” and “Marilyn Monroach.” You’ll even find dried roach-larvae barbecue-flavored snacks if you happen to get hungry while you’re here.

Soviet Bunker Tour - Vilnius, Lithuania

If you’re fascinated with the Cold War, this formerly secret government bunker is a place where people pay good money to experience terror from the era. You’ll have to sign a waiver acknowledging that you’re okay with physical and/or psychological punishments in case you decide to be disobedient. Once done, you’ll also have to give up your cell phone and any connections to the present as you head inside the bunker. After you’ve been converted into a Soviet citizen, circa 1984, you’ll be subjected to interrogation by KGB officers, portrayed by actors, complete with dogs, who serve as police canines in real life. You’ll wear a gas mask and learn the USSR national anthem. During the intense reenactment scenes and interrogations, it’s not uncommon for visitors to pass out.

Paris Sewer Museum - Paris, France

In this very offbeat underground tour, you’ll get to explore the 19th century Paris sewers to experience the underside of the city from ancient times through the era of Belgrand, the engineer who designed the sewer system in its current form. While strolling through the underground tunnels, you’ll learn about the water cycle and all the work of the French capital’s sewer workers. While history buffs are likely to be fascinated, everyone else is probably going to be at least a little weirded out. You may need to hold your nose too, as expected, the smell isn’t exactly like French perfume.

Carhenge - Alliance, Nebraska

Of course, this monument has nothing to do with the druids or ancient people. And, there really is no mystery surrounding it. We know who built Carhenge, it was artist Jim Reinders and his family who put together this quirky attraction in a farm field north of Alliance, Nebraska under the supervision of a farmer and engineer as a memorial to his dad. This Stonehenge replica is made up of 39 classic cars which were painted gray and arranged in the same proportions as the original. Dedicated on the summer solstice in 1987, since that time, a number of other car artworks have been added in an adjacent “Car Art Reserve,” including “The Ford Seasons”, inspired by Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and “The Carnastoga Wagon”.

Gruselkabinett - Berlin, Germany

Gruselkabinett, which even offers to host your next birthday party, is the only permanently opened World War II-era air-raid shelter in Berlin. This bizarre place has actually tripled the terror by transforming the bunker into three levels of frights. On the ground floor, you’ll find creepy mannequins that reenact the amputations and barbaric medical treatments performed during the war, while the top floor features a haunted house with a bunker maze and costumed actors popping out from dark corners at unsuspecting visitors. The basement is pretty tame, filled with historical exhibitions that reveal what it was like here during combat. This attraction is one that you’re unlikely to ever forget, just beware that if you subject your kids to this while on vacation, they may need years of expensive therapy in the future.

Medieval Crime Museum - Rothenburg Ob Der Tauber, Germany

The only museum of its kind in Europe, the Medieval Crime Museum is housed in a structure that was originally built in 1395 for the Order of the Johanniter. The current building was redone in the baroque style in 1718 and features some rather gruesome exhibits. Its four floors offer an insight into the life, laws and punishments back in medieval times. You’ll see torture instruments, including a cage devised for bakers who baked bread to smell, a shame flute for bad musicians, chastity belts and execution instruments, like a wheel that was used to crush the convicted to death as well as “penalties of honor,” including a mask of shame.

Capuchin Catacombs - Palermo, Italy

Be wary of this one, although it’s definitely fascinating, if you’re prone to nightmares, being trapped inside catacombs is probably not something you want to ever dream about. Back in the late 16th century, Capachuin monastery monks found that a body of one of their own which was put to rest in the catacombs had become naturally mummified. After the discovery, the catacombs became the trendy spot for dead bodies. They were dressed in some of their finest attire and placed in poses in the catacombs. Today there are some 8,000 very well-preserved mummies that line the walls. Sorry to disappoint, but you can’t pose with a corpse and take a selfie as there are iron bars in front of them to prevent contact.

The Mindfield - Brownsville, Tennessee

The Mindfield is the life work of Brownsville, Tennessee artist Billy Trip. Using salvaged metal he constructed what’s known today as the largest outdoor sculpture in the state. The tangle of steel trellises and girders spread across more than an acre and reach 125 into the sky at the tallest point. His work begins in 1989, and it’s said to represent his emotions, personal growth and his significant life events. One of the largest additions to the sculpture is a water tower that was added after the death of his father in 2002. He says he’ll keep on adding to it until he dies – and then, he wishes to be buried within it.

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25 Of The Weirdest Tourist Attractions In America

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7 Small Colorado Towns Like Breckenridge, But Better

This is washington's most charming small town for winter, 8 hidden places in national parks worth visiting.

Tourists come from far and wide to take in the vastness of the Grand Canyon, the majestic snow-caps of the Rocky Mountains, the soaring architecture of Chicago, the glistening skyline of New York City, and the sleek styles of Rodeo Drive.

However, for as many seals as there are in the San Francisco Wharf (there's a lot) that make passersby stop to squeal with excitement (really, barking seals suntanning is pure joy), there's even more destinations that you wouldn't believe someone would go out of their way to get a glimpse of (or pay to see, for that matter).

You've heard of the world's largest ball of twine just off the interstate. But what about the world's largest chest of drawers? From a museum that is solely dedicated to bad art (but charges admission as though it was a fine gallery) to an unconventional motel with a doggy twist, we dug up twenty-five of the weirdest tourist attractions in America. Of course, our list wouldn't be complete without an enormous eating utensil and a mechanical ride that will make you do a double take.

Keep scrolling to see that the old adage of one man's junk is another man's treasure is alive and well in America. You can make a tourist attraction out of anything, and we've got the proof.

25 The World's Largest Chest Of Drawers Is Just An Exit Away

What could you possibly need a thirty-eight foot tall chest of US Colonial drawers for, you ask? Why, to hold gigantic socks, of course.

At the intersection of Westwood and Hamilton Streets in High Point, North Carolina (aka the Home Furnishings Capital of the World, according to Roadside America), sits the world's largest chest of drawers. What started out as a nod to the business in 1926 is now a roadside attraction rated as "major fun" by Roadside America.

24 The Price Is High, The Lines Are Long, And The Art Is Bad

The Museum of Modern Art. The Museum of Fine Art. The Museum of Bad Art. Wait. What?

Yep, MOBA (as it is commonly referred to) has been confusing people in Somerville, Massachusetts since 1994. According to Atlas Obscura, the first-ever piece was an awful painting found in a garbage can. That inspired a local gallery owner to look for more bad art, which he successfully found to the point that the collection now takes up two buildings.

According to the Museum's website, the art is so bad that it's good. You can see for yourself by paying the $5 admission charge.

23 Saddle Up For A Spin On An Unconventional Ride

You have no doubt either seen someone mount a mechanical bull and watched them fall off one second later after the first spin or done this yourself (no judgments).

The more family friendly version of this (typically) adult drinking game is the Pronto Pup ride in Rockaway Beach, Oregon. Home to the original corn dog (so they say), Pronto Pup has a mechanical corn dog out front lovingly known as "Bucking Pup". According to Roadside America, you can saddle up the corn dog for just a quarter.

22 No Forking Way Could This Be Any Bigger

Sometimes a little healthy competition can be a good thing. For example, the biggest fork in America resides in Colorado because someone in that state wanted to make a bigger one than the previously-held record fork in Missouri. Bragging rights for the win.

According to Roadside America, the aluminum fork in Creede, Colorado at the Cascada Bar and Grill is forty feet long and weighs over six-hundred pounds. That's some heavy lifting just for one bite!

21 We've Gathered Here Today To Pay Our Last Respects

The Ben & Jerry's factory tour in Waterbury, Vermont includes a look at the machines (and people) that make the magic happen, free ice cream samples (obviously the best part), and a history lesson about the two guys that are the brains behind it all. The tour also includes a somber stroll through the Flavor Graveyard.

According to Atlas Obscura, the "dearly de-pinted" includes thirty-five flavors that just didn't reach the expected sales mark like White Russian, Turtle Soup, Fossil Fuel, and Wavy Gravy.

20 No Vacancy For Months On End At This Dog House

Sweet Willy might not fetch or greet you when you come home, but he will provide a cozy place to lay your head for a night or two.

The thirty foot tall beagle in Cottonwood, Idaho is actually a Bed & Breakfast. According to Atlas Obscura, it is known as Dog Bark Park Inn and was designed by a dog-loving couple. You'll have to wait awhile to snag a reservation and the price might be a little out of your road trip budget, but the opportunity to forever tell stories about the time you slept in a loft in the belly of a beagle is priceless.

19 A Tourist Haven And Resting Place For Forgotten Neon Signs

When Las Vegas hotels and other mainstays cease to exist (read: are imploded), a small piece of them remains. Not far from the Strip, abandoned neon signs that previously adorned these treasured buildings (rest in peace, Stardust) are preserved in a museum.

Founded in 1996, the Neon Museum allows visitors to take an educational stroll through old Las Vegas. According to TripAdvisor, the oldest sign in the collection dates back to the 1930s.

Travelers rate the experience as excellent on TripAdvisor and recommend going at night to see the signs fully illuminated. Watch your step though, part of the ambiance is the broken glass and rusted metal.

18 If The Shoe Fits, Grab A Buddy And Sit On It

LL Bean is a sacred store in Freeport, Maine. And, as a rite of passage, everyone in Freeport needs to have a photo with the giant boot in front of the flagship store.

According to Roadside America, the Bean boot is a whopping sixteen feet tall, complete with a rubber sole just like a real pair. As a Bean bonus, visitors can now see a pair of mock boots after the second sixteen-foot boot was stolen a few decades ago and mysteriously returned earlier this year.

17 Dinosaurs Survived Extinction At This Attraction

Amid the palm trees and desert climate of Palm Springs, two long necks can clearly be seen from the highway peaking curiously toward passing cars. Upon closer inspection, the long necks belong to a pair of dinosaurs.

According to Roadside America, the dinos were built just off Interstate 10 by a dinosaur-aficionado and local businessman in the 1980s. They have been attracting visitors ever since.

Wander the prehistoric grounds for free or cough up some cash to explore the museum inside Dinny the Dinosaur's stomach.

16 Billboards Are So Last Year In This Tiny Town

Excuse the Wizard of Oz reference, but you will know you're not in Kansas anymore when the over-sized Van Gogh painting is no longer visible in your rear view mirror.

As you pass through Goodland, Kansas, your eyes will be drawn to a beautiful work of art. Where any other town would have an advertising billboard, the citizens of Goodland raised the $150,000 necessary to commission a replica of Van Gogh's famous sunflower painting.

According to Roadside America, the easel the painting sits on is made of steel, weighs 45,000 pounds, and is eighty feet tall. The painting itself is nearly eight-hundred square feet, making Goodland home to one of the best (and largest) welcome signs.

15 Tall Tales And A Taller Blue Ox On Display

If you thought a live stream of the pandas at the San Diego Zoo was fascinating, wait until you view the cameras pointed at an 18 foot tall, two ton statue of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox in Bemidji, Minnesota. Spoiler alert: they don't move.

According to the New York Times, Minnesotans hold a special place in their heart for Paul and Babe. So special, in fact, that the pair are memorialized in some way in nearly every town in the state. The police even wear a patch in their honor.

So, the next time you're in Bemidji (or Brainerd or Akeley), take a moment to give our favorite lumberjack a little wave.

14 The Giant jackalope At Wall's One Stop Shop

What was once just a pharmacy in the small town of Wall, South Dakota has burgeoned into a sprawling mall and an oasis for the imagination.

Wall Drug sits in a town of only about 900 people, the majority of which work at the shop. Despite its small size, according to Roadside America, the town receives nearly one million visitors per year. Everyone that comes is eager to stroll the grounds of Wall Drug to do their souvenir shopping and take a picture atop the giant jackalope.

13 I Know Why The Caged Tourist Sings

One man's mission to bring business back to the small town of Casey, Illinois ended up doing much more than that.

After years of hard work, tourists are now veering off the path to see enormous replicas of everyday things like wind chimes, a rocking chair, an ear of corn, and a mailbox. A crowd favorite is the walk-in bird cage, complete with a swing for that perfect photo of a tourist looking like a canary.

According to Roadtripper, the locals can even take part in workshops to learn how the replicas were crafted and try their own hand at woodworking, pipe fitting, and steel cutting.

12 The Grass Is Always Greener And The Coffee Always Hotter On The Other Side

The aptly named The Coffee Pot has been posing for pictures since its construction in 1927. Even though the coffee isn't flowing anymore, Roadside America still rates it as worth a detour to its destination in Bedford, Pennsylvania.

The Coffee Pot is one of the last remaining pieces of an architectural style known as programmatic architecture in which buildings were designed based on what was to be sold inside (think along the lines of a big cowboy hat shaped building for a hat shop or a building shaped like a bowl of chili if the inside was a diner).

11 The Golden Arches Speak To Passersby

Even locals will tell you there isn't much to do in Sunbury, Ohio, but you've got to make it there at least once on your way to Columbus to try to figure out why there is Ronald McDonald statue in the middle of a field.

According to Cleveland Scene, nobody seems to know the reason. Whatever it may be, your vacation photos can include a full happy meal set complete with a smiling hamburger and french fries.

10 A Chance To Sit With A Popcorn Legend

We owe it to the King of Popcorn for our favorite movie time snack. Thanks to the ingenuity of a group of people in Valparaiso, Indiana, we can sit next to him as we think about that buttery goodness.

Orville Redenbacher made a name for himself in Valparaiso after he pitched the idea of popped corn. A statue of him (a little too lifelike if you ask us) sits on a bench in Lincoln Park. There's plenty of room for two, so everyone cozies up to Orville for a snapshot.

However, there is no mention of popcorn anywhere near the statue (due to the likeness of his image being purchased by a company, according to Roadside America) so you'll just have to look for the bronze guy and maybe help other tourists locate him, too.

9 There Once Was A Troll Under A Bridge That Everyone Wanted To See

Underneath a dark bridge in Seattle, Washington lives a Volkswagen car-crushing, hubcap-for-an-eyeball staring troll. The eighteen-foot Fremont Troll was sculpted on Halloween in 1990 and has been the epicenter of folklore ever since.

According to Roadside America, weird things have been happening in the vicinity of the Fremont Troll from its beginning. So, go at your own risk to get your photo next to the troll (or dare your friends to go and then spook them).

8 It's All Fun And Games At South Of The Border

South of the Border is not actually south of the border you're thinking of. Rather, it's a rest stop turned kitschy amusement park and hotel in Dillon, South Carolina. You can, however, still enjoy a stopover in the shade of a giant sombrero or dine on the South Carolinian version of Mexican food.

According to Roadside America, South of the Border also offers one of the best selections of fireworks in the whole state. You know, if you want to liven up your road trip.

7 If You See The Giant Buffalo, You're Headed In The Right Direction

When a new interstate was being built in Jamestown, North Dakota, construction crews had to work around the world's largest buffalo that had already staked a claim on the land.

According to Roadside America, the concrete buffalo weighs sixty tons, is twenty-six feet tall, and measures forty-six feet long. On its fiftieth birthday, the buffalo was named Dakota Thunder and he is the unofficial welcome to the town of Jamestown.

6 Good Fortunes Come To Those That Ask

The 1988 Tom Hanks movie, "Big", centers on a thirteen year old boy that makes a wish on a fortune telling machine to grow up. A wish that he realizes was granted when he wakes up the next day as an adult. The machine, known as Zoltar, sprang into popular culture after the release of the film.

Though there are many replicas, according to Lohud the original from the film was located at Playland, an amusement park in Rye, New York. You won't be able to catch it there still, but we can almost guarantee any amusement park will have a Zoltar that can at least listen to your wishes.

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10 of the World's Most Unusual Attractions

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Most tourist attractions are popular for obvious reasons. They are defined by superlatives — the biggest, oldest, most beautiful — or they benefit from heavy promotion by a city or country's tourism stakeholders. And then there are those attractions that have gained fame for less obvious reasons.

Some of these offbeat places are so odd or unusual that you can't help but want to see them. Social media has certainly helped their causes, but Facebook and Instagram aren't the only influencers. The popularity of many strange and unexpected attractions predates the rise of YouTube and Facebook when promotion consisted of word of mouth, physical guidebooks, and perhaps the occasional feature in a magazine or newspaper.

Here are 10 of the world's most-unexpected attractions.

Nicolas Cage's Tomb

Star of both acclaimed films and box-office flops, Nicolas Cage is known for his eccentric behavior away from the screen. One of the more noticeable examples of his quirks is his tomb in New Orleans. Back in 2010, the year that he turned 50, Cage purchased two plots in the famed St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans. He used the space to build a white, 9-foot-tall pyramid. Cage fans might recognize the Latin phrase on the front of the structure: "Omnia Ab Uno" ("Everything from One"). The words were featured in his action movie, "National Treasure."

The grave was a popular attraction in the cemetery, which is one of the most crowded burial grounds in the city, until authorities restricted access to the area in 2015. If you don't have a family member interred in the cemetery, you need to join a guided tour to visit. Theories about the tomb abound: that Cage hid money from the IRS inside, that he is counteracting a voodoo curse, or that the grave is somehow connected to the Illuminati.

Fremont Troll

The Troll Under the Bridge, more popularly known as the Fremont Troll , is an intimidating-looking sculpture in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, under the Aurora Bridge. There have been numerous "troll sightings" under the bridge since the 1930s, when the span opened, and the artists who sculpted the monster in 1990 chose the subject after local residents overwhelmingly voted for it.

The troll is 15 feet tall and made from concrete. It is a popular spot for visitors who take selfies, and it gained notoriety among tourists after being featured in the 1999 movie, "10 Things I Hate about You." Seattle residents also like the troll. Some celebrate Trolloween on Oct. 31. During this event, people in troll-inspired costumes meet at the statue before walking through Fremont, past other art installations and street performances . Another reason the troll is attractive to tourists and locals is that you can climb on it. The concrete material is durable, and there is space behind the troll to scramble up for an elevated picture.

Bude Tunnel

The Bude Tunnel is in its namesake town in Cornwall, England. This acrylic glass tunnel is next to Bude's Sainsbury's supermarket. The 70-meter (229-foot) passage is transparent, so people can see the town as they walk along the street while protected from the elements. Its purpose is to keep customers dry as they walk between the supermarket entrance and its parking lot, so you would not expect it to be the main attraction in this pretty Cornish seaside destination.

However, when the Bude Tunnel was rated as Bude's No. 1 attraction on TripAdvisor, the U.K. media took notice, and the site earned a fair amount of viral attention. Perhaps the attraction is due to the length and transparency of the tunnel or its holiday lights show. During the holidays, the long corridor is lit with LED lights that change in rhythm with holiday music.

Haserot Angel

Cleveland's Lake View Cemetery is an historic site that has the tombs of some of America's most famous industrial-age figures as well as the grave of U.S. President James Garfield. One of the most-well-known figures here, however, is the Haserot Angel . It is a statue that marks the burial place of food industry mogul Francis Haserot. The dramatic, life-size bronze figure, created by artist Herman Matzen in 1923, is officially titled the Angel of Death Victorious. The angel is seated, and its hands rest on an extinguished torch.

The most unusual feature of this melancholy-but-thought-provoking statue is that it appears like it has "tears" running down its cheeks and onto its neck. The tears are not actually liquid; they are a discoloration caused by the aging of the bronze material that Matzen used to make the statue. The cemetery is open daily, though groups of more than 12 people need permission before entering.

Seattle's Gum Wall

The Gum Wall is in Post Alley, a lane under Seattle's Pike Place Market. The tradition of sticking gum on the wall here started in the 1990s when patrons of a local theater stuck their gum on the wall while waiting to get inside. At first, theater workers scrapped off the gum, but they gave up after people persisted with the practice. Eventually, the colorful additions stretched up and down the alley. Pike Place Market officials even started calling the strange decorations a tourist attraction, and Washington's governor, Jay Inslee, once said the spot was one of his "favorite things about Seattle."

City officials scrapped the wall and steam-cleaned it in 2015 because they were concerned about the gum eroding the old brick structure. During the cleaning, they removed more than 2,000 pounds of gum. Almost immediately after they finished, people began adding new gum.

Island of the Dolls

Isla de las Munecas , the Island of the Dolls, seems like it should be in a hidden, remote location. It is actually in the Mexico City metro area, not far from the famous Estadio Azteca soccer stadium. This unusual, undeniably-spooky place is defined by hundreds of dolls. The dolls (many of which have been disfigured by weathering) hang from the trees around the island, which is within a labyrinthine network of canals in the Xochimilco district. The property, now run by the family of the original owner, is a major tourist attraction for people who cruise the canals.

The story of Isla de las Munecas is disturbing or tragic depending on your viewpoint. When a man named Don Julian Santana Barrera moved to the island to live as a hermit, he found a girl who had recently drowned in a nearby canal. Barrera felt haunted by the experience and began hanging scavenged dolls in the trees as a kind of memorial meant to appease the drowning victim's spirit. Barrera lived on the island for 50 years, collecting and hanging dolls the whole time. When he passed away (some say he drowned in the same spot as the girl he discovered 50 years earlier), members of his family opened the island as a tourist attraction.

Hell, Michigan

Hell, Michigan, has embraced its strange name and the attention that has come along with it. The town's official website has clever catchphrases such as, "More people tell you to go to our town than anywhere else on Earth." A large number of tourists descended on the southern Michigan village on June 6, 2006 (6-6-06), the date that reminded many of the biblical "sign of the beast." Others come when they are in the area, not far from Ann Arbor, so that they can say that they have been to Hell.

Actually, the name "Hell" may not refer to the place of eternal damnation. Some theories about the origin of Hell, Michigan, contend that early German settlers in the area described it as "hell," which means "bright" or "light" in German. ("Hell" in German is "Hölle.") Others say that the name refers to the English word "hell" because early residents had to contend with extensive wetlands, numerous mosquitoes and generally harsh conditions. The name is now embraced for tourism purposes, but the U.S. Post Office uses the name of neighboring Pinckney for addresses.

Hin Ta and Hin Yai Rocks

The Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks are on the popular Lamai Beach on Samui Island, Thailand. If you did not know what you were looking for, chances are you would miss these rocks, which are located amidst other formations on the shoreline. The names of these two particular formations, which translate from Thai as "Grandpa Grandma rocks," come from the fact that they resemble, somewhat vaguely, male and female sex organs.

This might seem like a good site for a chuckle, but it is actually one of the most popular places on Samui, which is one of Thailand's most popular island destinations. The popularity might have more to do with the central location of the beach and the great views of the sea and neighboring islands from the area near Hin Ta and Hin Yai. Locals have embraced the interest, even placing a board explaining the legend of how the rocks came to be known by their names. According to the story, an old man and his wife were traveling to a neighboring island to finalize marriage plans for their son when they drowned after their boat capsized. They were swept to the shore, where they turned into rocks. The over-sized genitalia was supposedly a sign to tell their families to go ahead with the wedding.

World's Largest Catsup Bottle

The World's Largest Catsup Bottle , in Collinsville, Illinois, does not actually contain ketchup (or catsup). It was built to provide water for a nearby ketchup plant in the late 1940s. The water tower eventually became a landmark in this southern Illinois town. Actually, it became so well-known among locals that when the company that owned the factory decided to sell the tower, a group of people came together to save it. They were even able to raise money for renovations and a fresh paint job.

In 2002, the tower earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Collinsville is along historic Route 66, so the bottle is a landmark for people taking that road trip. The tower even has its own fan club and annual festival , which takes place in June. (Ketchup bottles are hardly the only culinary-related roadside attraction. From doughnuts to bananas, apples to hot dogs, buildings that look like food can be found all over the country.)

Fairy Glen is on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. This fairy tale-like landscape is above a small village called Uig. The area consists of gentle green hills with round tops that rise up in between small ponds. There is even a rock formation on the top of one of the hills that resembles the ruins of a castle, though it is actually just a rock formation. Some visitors think that if you press coins into the rocks in a small cave near the castle, you will enjoy good luck in the future.

The odd thing about this site is that it has absolutely no connections whatsoever to fairies or fairy legends. Though the Isle of Skye has some legends involving fairies, none are related to this particular place. Tourists simply decided that this area was "Fairy Glen" and the idea took off. Tour guides have apparently added stories about various rituals involving making spiral shapes with rocks and placing coins in the middle (also for good luck). Again, these rituals have no connection to traditional legends (and locals frown on the practice and remove the rock spirals).

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10 Weird Tourist Attractions

City Breaks Multi Destination

There are some really strange tourist attractions out there, so we have decided to compile a list of weird tourist attractions  for those of you who enjoy the surprising and unconventional – places where it’s acceptable to stick gum on the walls, where rats are worshiped, and if you enjoy noodles, there’s even a spa where you can swim in a massive bowl of Ramen!

Here is our selection of the most bizarre must- sees  attractions :

1. Hakone Kowakien Yunessun, Japan

At this spa themed park in Hakone, Japan, visitors can enjoy an interesting combination of hot springs , ranging from traditional European, Japanese and even more unusual and unique creations such as the “Noodle Bar”, where you can swim in a bowl of Ramen. It might smell yummy, but remember, it’s probably best to keep your mouth closed!

2. Bubblegum Alley, California, USA

In San Luis Obispo, California , there is an entire wall covering a stretch of over 20 meters full of used bubble gum! Though some might find it disgusting, the alley has become a popular local landmark that keeps attracting many curious tourists.

3. Karni Mata Temple, India

Found in Rajasthan, India, the Karni Mata Temple is famous for its unusual inhabitants. Rats! While in other places these animals might be unwanted guests, here they are being worshiped and given shelter in tribute to the female Hindu sage Karni Mata, also known as the rat goddess.  The over 20,000 rats that have made this their home continue to attract an increasing number of visitors each year… what an unusually wild attraction !

4. Dead Vlei, Namibia

Dead Vlei, or “Dead Marsh” is essentially a forest frozen in time. The absence of water and the intense heat has scorched all the vegetation in this valley, leaving behind black skeleton-like trees that cannot decompose because the land is too dry.  This unique, yet odd natural landscape has captured the interest of many, particularly photographers.

5. The Paper House, Massachusetts, USA

The name is a dead giveaway! Yes, it is in fact a house made entirely out of paper, including the furniture inside. Located north of Boston, Massachusetts, this house was built by Elis F. Stenman in the 1920’s to serve as a two room summer home for him and his family. It took him over 20 years and 100,000 newspapers to complete! Surely a sight worth seeing, just make sure to keep all things flammable far, far way.

6. Toilet Theme Park, Suwon, South Korea

Let’s talk about weird tourist attractions… In Suwon, South Korea, tourists can visit a theme park built around the history and culture of toilets ! This place was built in memory of the city’s former mayor, a man who sparked a toilet revolution of sorts, dedicating a lot of time and resources to improve Suwon’s public toilets. The park has started to attract a lot of ‘toilet themed’ art, and even hosts the locally renowned Golden Poop Festival!

7. Cappadocia Cave Hotel, Turkey

This hotel in Turkey is not so much bizarre as it is incredibly creative. The rooms and suites are incorporated inside local cave dwellings from Roman and Byzantine periods, combining very well the history, the modern and luxurious. An amazing Turkish experience that you don’t come across every day!

8. Inveraray Jail, Scotland, UK

This jail is a living museum, where visitors can see prisoners in jails, watch courtroom trials, and even speak to the warden. The jail is also open at night time, and tourists can sign up to participate in paranormal investigations and ghost hunting activities. A peculiar, and yet popular Scottish weird tourist attraction !

9. World’s Largest Ball of Paint, Indiana, USA

Mike Carmichael and his wife Glenda own the largest ball of paint in the world! This object started out as a baseball covered in paint by their 3 year old son; 30 years later, the blob has over 25,000 layers! Not only has this attracted the attention of record books such as the Guinness World Book of Records , but it makes more and more visitors want to come and add their own coat of paint to this monstrosity.

10. Valle de la Prehistoria, Cuba

The construction of this bizarre prehistoric themed park in the Santiago de Cuba province was carried out by the inmates of a nearby prison; the park includes more than 200 life size creature and human statues, from the brontosaurus to the cave man. We wonder what the creators of Jurassic Park would have to say about this!

Which of these weird tourist attractions is your favorite? What other bizarre places have you heard of or seen?

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6 of the world's most ridiculous tourist attractions

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written by Mike MacEacheran

updated 10.11.2020

Not every place has the looks of the Taj Mahal , the majesty of the Grand Canyon , or the intrigue of Angkor Wat . Some wow from the first glimpse, others fail miserably and some, well, just bemuse.

1. Washlet Museum, Kitakyushu, Japan

2. the gum wall, seattle, usa, 3. the big things, australia, 4. four corners monument, new mexico, usa, 5. giant ferris wheel, dudley, england, 6. hell, michigan, usa.

If you’re willing to make the effort, here’s our rundown of the most ridiculous attractions to visit around the world.

Eccentric museums are nothing new. Turkey has one about hair, San Francisco has a gallery dedicated to vibrators, while Reykjavík prides itself on a collection of odd-shaped phalluses. England , meanwhile, has a dog collar museum and the nuttily-brilliant British Lawnmower Museum.

But Japan’s latest blows them all away, with a museum dedicated to one of the country’s most celebrated inventions: the robotic toilet. Opened in December, to celebrate the centennial of Toto, the innovator behind the Washlet, this £40 million museum charts the birth of the Japanese crapper from antique ceramic potty-bowl to bidet-splashing, cheek-warming, cranny-washing triumph. When nature calls, you’ll never look at the humble loo the same way again.

© Lane V. Erickson/Shutterstock

Described as the ‘germiest’ place on Earth, this notorious dead zone at the back of Pike Place Market was never intended as an attraction. But for the past 20 years, lazy tourists and chewing gum vandals have left cloggy dollops behind on the alley as a memento, sticking more than one million blobs of goo to the walls – that’s more than 150 pieces of gum per brick.

Despite a heavy-duty steam-clean last November, the wall continues to be redecorated by hardcore fans in a rainbow spray of bubblegum. Some say its crowd-sourced art, others say it’s Jackson Pollock for idiots. Grit your teeth and dive right on in. If you’ve come this far, you deserve no sympathy.

It started in 1963 with the Big Scotsman, a five-metre-tall novelty Highlander in a kilt and puke-green jacket plonked on top of Scotty’s Motel in Medindie, Adelaide . The fact it was nonsense didn’t matter: it was soon followed by the Big Dinosaur in Somersby and the Big Banana at Coffs Harbour.

Then things got really silly: Queensland rolled out a whole supermarket shelf’s worth of super-sized kitsch – the Big Pie, the Big Peanut, the Big Paperclip – while Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and Robertson in New South Wales hit all-time lows. For that, look no further than the Big Dustbin or the Big Potato.

Some deluded travellers see ticking off all 150 as a worthy lifetime challenge – but those in the real world choose to see Australia’s other Big Things, the Great Barrier Reef , Red Centre and Uluru.

If you’re still curious, consider this: Kiama in New South Wales is the proud home of the Big Poo.

© frerd/Shutterstock

Plenty of places have tacky signs proclaiming a town as the most extreme point on the compass. Others have bouncy castles dedicated to pointless geographic quirks. But few can claim a site that touches the corner of four different US states.

That’s the so-good-it’s-bad highlight at Shiprock, a town on the brink of New Mexico, Colorado , Utah and Arizona . The crosshair point is marked by a second-rate brass LP-shaped disc, but what really makes it worthwhile is it’s in the wrong spot – an error worthy of a comedy klaxon horn honk.

The right point, according to locals, is 600m away. Located in the sweltering heat of the badlands desert, it’s since become a sweaty pilgrimage for hundreds of misled tourists each year.

Gigantic observation wheels have been in vogue since London launched the Eye prior to the Millennium. Paris has one, as does Beijing , Birmingham , Orlando, Sharjah… the list goes on.

But jumping on the bandwagon isn’t always a good idea. Just ask Dudley about its “Dudl-Eye”.

For £4.50 a spin, it was possible to get a bird’s eye view of the Black Country town’s skyline. Cue a 35m-high ride past an abandoned bingo hall, the town centre car park, and several close-ups of grey, concrete misery.

When it opened in March for a month-long stint it was lampooned as the worst tourist attraction in the UK.

© UAV 4/Shutterstock

Jean-Paul Sartre said “hell is other people”. But he clearly hadn’t been to this small town in the Midwest where eternal suffering can be found in attempts to wring every last innuendo and witticism from the town’s name.

Wise guy entrepreneurs have set up a fake college – Damnation University, of course – the high street store issues death certificates and scorched postcards, and its themed mini-golf course is modelled on Satan’s fiery abode of the damned.

Want more? Drop in to hokey gelato parlour Scream’s Ice Cream where they serve scoops in miniature coffins.

Compare flights , find tours , book hostels and hotels for your trip, and don’t forget to buy travel insurance before you go.

Top image: The big lobster, Australia © Ninefiver Media/Shutterstock

Mike MacEacheran is a travel journalist & guidebook author based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He has reported from 108 countries for National Geographic, Conde Nast Traveller, The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Observer, The Sunday Times, The Wall Street Journal, Mail on Sunday, The Independent, Evening Standard, The Sun, The Globe and Mail, Scotland on Sunday, The National and South China Morning Post. Follow him on Twitter @MikeMacEacheran

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11 Strangest Tourist Attractions in the World

New Zealand's Steepest Street

Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, is home to one of the most photogenic optical illusions in the world: when photos of houses on the street are taken on a specific angle, it creates the illusion that all are sinking. At just 1,150 feet long, Baldwin is at a 19-degree slope, and is the Guinness World Record holder of the world's steepest street. Still, despite its trick on the eyes and mind, the street may be most famous for the annual Cadbury Jaffa Race, where thousands of colored chocolates are released down the hill to raise money for charity.

California’s Life-Size Dinosaurs

With just two life-size residents, the World’s Biggest Dinosaurs don’t exactly rival Jurassic Park . But if you ever wanted a T. Rex’s-eye-view of California, climb up into Mr. Rex—all four stories—and gaze through his teeth to the world beyond. Mr. Rex’s counterpart is Ms. Dinny, a 150-foot-long, 150-ton model of an Apatosaurus. Claude K. Bell designed the pair, and since his death in 1988, the World’s Biggest Dinosaurs have been taken over by a religious group who also set up a Creationist museum at the site.

England’s Gnome Reserve

There’s no place like the Gnome Reserve: Fans of the cheeky lawn ornaments can travel here to see more than 1,000 gnomes and pixies in their natural outdoor habitat. (There are also more than 250 labeled species of wildflowers.) The Reserve hosts an on-site museum with a collection of antique statues. The dress code? Pointed hats and fishing rods are loaned out to visitors for free, “so you don’t embarrass the gnomes.”

Nebraska’s Carhenge

No one knows who built Stonehenge, or why, but we do know who built Carhenge (artist Jim Reinders and his family) and why (as a tribute to his father, and because it’s cool). The Stonehenge replica uses 38 classic cars, all painted gray and arranged in the same proportions as the original. Since the dedication of Carhenge—on the summer solstice in 1987—other works of car art have been added to the site, including Reinders’ Ford Seasons , inspired by Vivaldi’s Four Seasons .

China’s Upside-Down House

If you’ve ever felt like dancing on the ceiling, head to the China Folk Painting Village in Fengjing Ancient Town, just south of Shanghai. Once inside, you’ll have to look up to see the furniture; everything from a kitchen table set for dinner to a child’s bedroom is arranged in a way that appears to defy gravity.

Japan’s Ramen Museum

Those inexpensive instant noodles got you through those college all-nighters—surely they’re worthy of their own museum, right? The Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum pays tribute to the Cup Noodles founder and his creations. Visitors can see a reproduction of the shack where Momofuku Ando first invented chicken ramen, explore an exhibition about instant noodles all over the world , and, of course, visit a tasting room of different Nissin products, giving visitors a sampling of flavors that might not be sold in their region.

Australia’s Big Lobster

Australia has its fair share of giant kitschy monuments —including an oversized park bench that holds eight people and a huge tennis racket honoring player Evonne Goolagong Cawley. But none have as much personality as Larry, the Big Lobster. (How big? About 56 feet.) Larry was built in 1979 to promote the region’s seafood, wine, cheese , and timber industries. At its base is a tourist complex, complete with restaurant and gift shop.

Iceland’s Phallus Museum

It’s “members only” here: The Icelandic Phallological Museum hosts a collection of more than 200 phallic specimens representing almost every mammal in the country. Simply put, if you ever wanted to see a whale penis in a jar, this is the place to do it. The museum is currently the subject of a documentary, The Final Member, about two (brave?) souls competing to be the first human specimen.

South Africa’s Big Pineapple

There’s no better place to look out over the Eastern Cape’s pineapple industry than from the top-floor observation deck of this nearly 55-foot-high fiberglass pineapple. After checking out the 360-degree view, visitors can watch a film about the area’s agriculture, or head to the ground floor to buy pineapple jam and chutney.

England’s Petrifying Well

Legend has it that Mother Shipton was a witch with the power of prophecy, predicting many events, including the Great Fire of London in 1666. At Mother Shipton’s Cave, you’ll discover her stony dwellings as well as the Petrifying Well, also said to have magical properties. Early on, some claimed the waters had healing powers; others feared that touching the cascade would turn you into a rock. Today, science may have demystified the petrifaction process, but that doesn’t make the cave any less fun. The cheeky Brits have tied up everyday objects in the stream, waiting for them to turn to stone.

Thailand’s Hell Garden

The sign that greets visitors entering this sculpture garden pretty much says it all: “Welcome to Hell.” The Wang Saen Suk’s “hell garden” depicts, in garish detail, the punishments in store for those who transgress in life. If the statues are to be believed—with impaling, transfiguration, and disemboweling all represented—the tortures for sinners are pretty gruesome, so you might want to bank a few good deeds before you visit.

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19 weird landmarks in the U.S. that are worth a visit

Plan a trip to these quirky sites because this kind of travel can't go wrong

The Statue of Liberty , the Golden Gate Bridge  and the Grand Canyon . Sure, these U.S. landmarks are cool and all, but have you ever seen hundreds of mustard brands at the National Mustard Museum? Or witnessed the world's largest collection of ventriloquist dummies? How about visiting a building hosting an incredible number of large objects?

Well, in America, you can have it all.

If you're the kind of traveler who's always down for a funky road trip stop, this list of weird landmarks in the U.S. is for you. What's so bizarre about them? Think shrunken heads and wax movie monsters at the Museum of the Weird in Austin to a collection of 140 human skulls at the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia , each of these destinations is bucket-list worthy in the most untraditional of sense. 

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Famous weird landmarks in the U.S.

1.   big fish set | jackson lake island, al.

Just outside of Montgomery on the Alabama River, you’ll find a Tim Burton wonderland on a privately owned island. The production company behind the movie Big Fish  built the fictitious town of Spectre here back in the early 2000s and decided to leave it up after filming. For a small fee, visitors to Jackson Lake Island can follow Ewan McGregor’s footsteps through the town square to the rundown church, to the remaining styrofoam trees from the haunted forest and even hang a pair of shoes off the clothesline. Best part? Goats roam the island, too.

2.  La Brea Tar Pits | Los Angeles, CA

• Natural history
• Miracle Mile

At the La Brea Tar Pits in L.A., see where animals of yore ambled over—and became stuck, forever, in tar. Their predators would see them struggling, come over to partake in the easy feast, and become stuck themselves. It’s actually pretty awful to contemplate, yet fascinating. Paleontologists have recovered around 1 million bones from the tar pit, including from a mammoth, dire wolves, saber tooth cats and one unlucky woman. Walk the outdoor park to sniff the signature sulphuric smell and see pits that are still being excavated, then head into the Page Museum to check out the incredible collection of items found in the pits.

3.  World Erotic Art Museum | Miami, FL

• Things to do
• Cultural centers
• South Beach

Don’t bring the family to this Miami museum devoted to all kinds of X-rated art (it's only open to 18+). Billed as the only institution that exclusively shows fine erotic art in the entire country, the World Erotic Art Museum has a renowned collection of antique sex toys, carved phalluses and nudes by Picasso and Rembrandt. Just thinking about exploring the 12,000-square-foot space is enough to make you blush. 

4.  The World's Only Corn Palace | Mitchell, SD

Corn is quite important in the Midwest, so it rightfully deserves a palace in its honor. The aptly named World's Only Corn Palace —designed with 13 different colors and shades of corn—has been charming visitors for the past century. During the day, tourists stop by to snap selfies with the building, including the six-foot-tall ear of corn named Cornelius (because why not?). At night, color-changing domes illuminate the town. While the exterior of the building is an attraction in itself, the building has a lot going on inside, too, hosting basketball games and concerts throughout the year. 

5.  Madonna Inn | San Luis Obispo, CA

The Madonna Inn on the central California coast is the epitome of kitsch. Built by Alex and Phyllis Madonna in 1958, the hotel supposedly has a Swiss Alps theme, but in reality, it seems dedicated to all things over the top. Each of the 110 rooms is decorated in a unique theme—the Caveman has faux rock walls and a waterfall shower while the Pony Room has bright red carpets and prominently features a carousel horse statue. You certainly won’t forget a stay here.

6.  Dole Plantation Maze | Oahu, HI

One of the world’s largest plant mazes is located on the Dole Pineapple Plantation on the north shore of Oahu. More than two miles of paths wind through the hedges of 14,000 colorful Hawaiian plants such as hibiscus, heliconia and pineapples, of course. The maze itself from the air includes a pineapple shape. Most people complete the maze in about an hour, but this couple did it in five minutes, sprinting. 

7.  Mystery Spot | Santa Cruz, CA

Whether you believe the tour guide’s schtick about the supposed “gravitational anomaly” at work at this roadside attraction, the tilted cabin seemingly defying the laws of physics is still fun to visit. Even skeptics will have a blast exploring the curious shack that is the Mystery Spot where balls appear to roll uphill and chairs seem to sit on walls. Not convinced? See if you can puzzle out the reason behind this optical illusion for bonus points. 

8.  The world’s largest objects | Casey, IL

This small town in Illinois is home to not one, not two, but 12 of the world’s largest objects, including a rocking chair, mailbox, gavel, wind chime and golf tee, plus a slew of really big things. Resident Jim Bolin installed the first piece, the wind chime, in 2011 and things snowballed from there. Bolin thought a  public art installation (titled Big Things in a Small Town ) might help bring in some tourists. His theory seems to be working, and the attractions are all free to visit. 

9.  Witch House | Salem, MA

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• Historic buildings and sites

This New England town’s dark past draws urban witches and history buffs from all over the country. Learn about the  infamous Witch Trials of 1692 with a visit to the Witch House . This 17th-century home was owned by James Corwin, a local merchant who presided over many witchcraft examinations. The self-guided tours offer a great primer on both the country’s largest witch hunt and early colonial life.

10.  Busy Beaver Button Co. | Chicago, IL

• Logan Square

The Busy Beaver Button Co. has produced tens of millions of shiny pins and buttons since it opened in 1995. They’ll still gladly make you any design you desire, but shopping isn't the only reason to visit the Chicago store. Art lovers and culture vultures will also want to check out the eponymous museum. Scope out the collection of more than 9,000 historical pin-back buttons, including concert memorabilia and political campaign collateral.

11.  The Mapparium | Boston, MA

• Libraries, archives and foundations
• Fenway/Kenmore

You’ll find another of the world’s largest items inside the Mary Baker Eddy Library in Boston: The world’s largest walk-in globe. The Mapparium is a three-story spherical model of a globe built to scale out of brightly-hued stained glass. Stand at one edge of the glass bridge that bisects the globe's interior and whisper something to a friend at the other end. Since the glass walls amplify sound, they’ll be able to hear you loud and clear. Built in 1935 and representing the world at that time, it has some outdated country names, so this registers as a historical artifact as well.

12.  Area 51 | Lincoln County, NV

Deep in the middle of the barren Nevada desert, you’ll find Area 51 , the top-secret installation that has been shrouded in mystery for decades. Little is known about what goes on inside, except that the military developed and tested spy planes at the base during the Cold War—this is the site of a U.S. Air Force base specializing in experimental aircraft, after all. The secrecy, combined with strange sightings leaving Area 51, led to countless rumors of UFO sightings, alien abductions, and other extraterrestrial activities over the years. Curious visitors and alien enthusiasts should check out the Alien Research Center.

13.  Tony Packo's | Toledo, OH

If you're planning a coast-to-coast road trip and have decided to incorporate Route 66 , you'll want to make this one weird and wonderful pit stop:  Tony Packo's  authentic Hungarian restaurant. Why? Because every wall of the eatery's interior is covered with autographed hot dog buns. Burt Reynolds signed the first one, and now there are more than 1,500, all in display cases. Everyone from Debbie Reynolds to Stevie Nicks and Steve Martin has somehow, at some time, visited this obscure restaurant and signed one.

14.  Mütter Museum | Philadelphia, PA

• Science and technology
• Center City West

If you’re the squeamish type, you better avoid the Mütter Museum . It’s jampacked with human specimens, stomach-churning medical objects and more bones than you could imagine. Think you can handle it? Don’t miss the slices of Albert Einstein’s brain, the Hyrtl Skull Collection of 139 human heads, or the corset skeleton, which shows what Victorian corsetry may have done to ribcages.

15.  National Mustard Museum | Middleton, WI

They may not be wrong when they say there's a museum for anything. At the National Mustard Museum in Wisconsin, you'll find the widest selection of quality mustards in the world. Admissions are free, so browse away—and enjoy some high-quality mustard from around the globe at home. You can also peruse the vast displays of mustard memorabilia, including over 6,000 jars, bottles, and tins from all 50 states and more than 70 countries.

16.  Museum of the Weird | Austin, TX

• Congress Ave District

In the tradition of old-school curio museums, the Museum of the Weird celebrates oddities like shrunken heads, wax movie monsters and the Minnesota Iceman, a carnival exhibit of a “caveman” trapped in a block of ice. The museum also added a photograph of the infamous Cottingley Fairies to its collection in recent years. It’s only fitting that such a museum would be in Austin—the city’s unofficial slogan (predating Portland by a year!) is “Keep Austin Weird,” after all.

17.  Vent Haven Museum | Fort Mitchell, KY

The stuff of nightmares or a cool ode to an interesting American entertainment act? You choose. The Vent Haven Museum claims to be the only museum in the world dedicated to the act of ventriloquism, ventriloquism, a stagecraft technique where the performer speaks as if your voice is coming from a "dummy" puppet. Housing more than 1,100 dummies used by ventriloquists throughout the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, this museum is only available to view by appointment only. 

18.  Dinosaur Drive | Granger, WA

Not far from Yakima, you’ll find the city of Granger with the tagline, “Where dinosaurs roam.” Its Dinosaur Drive welcomes you to drive around town and see various dinosaurs. Fittingly, the first dinosaur was a baby brontosaurus and now there are 33 dinosaurs, typically constructed and painted by the community at a “Dino-n-a-Day” work day at Hisey Park. Catch the plesiosaurus in the park’s pond or the nearby dimetrodon, see the apatosaurus positioned by a tree to “eat” its greenery, or thrill at the sight of a T-Rex busting through the side of a building. Strong bonus: in the park, you can see volcanoes that once used to spew smoke (they house non-operational bathrooms).

19.  Gravity Hill | New Paris, PA

Just outside of Pittsburgh in McCandless Township, you can experience this wild road that defies gravity. At a particular intersection, you’ll stop at a stop sign and put your car into neutral and then wait for your skin to crawl. Because instead of your car rolling forward, downhill, as it should, it will start to move backward, up the hill. Why? How? We don't know, but check your rearview mirror before doing this, or the anomaly could become an accident. Watch this video to see Gravity Hill in action. More weirdness? There is also water that flows the wrong way.

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Are These the 20 Weirdest Places in America?

From unique natural phenomena to human-created peculiarities, we’ve assembled 20 utterly unforgettable stops to add to your next road trip.

Plan a Visit You'll Never Forget

As the legendary oceanographer Don Walsh once said, “Exploration is curiosity put into action.” In his case, that meant going where no one had gone before. In this case, we’ve pulled together fanciful, beautiful and just plain unusual places to indulge your curiosity — and we strongly suggest you follow in our footsteps. (If you experience coulrophobia , or fear of clowns, go ahead and skip Nevada’s Clown Motel , pictured above. But you get our drift.) Read on for an itinerary that’s truly one-of-a-kind.

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The Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot, Idaho

This spud-centric destination offers much more than the inevitable backdrop for your next holiday-card photo. Home to the world’s largest potato chip (or crisp, if we’re being technical, since it’s a Pringle), a cafe serving every potato-related delicacy you can imagine (and many you surely haven’t), a Potato Lab teeming with hands-on science experiments and all the history you can dig, the Idaho Potato Museum is the single-subject stop you didn’t know you needed.

Gator Chateau in Jennings, Louisiana

Eco-conscious swamp tours are an excellent way to spend a day or two, but let’s be honest: Some of us just dream of holding a baby gator. For that very specific experience, head 170 miles west of New Orleans to the Jeff Davis Parish Visitor Center, where the Gator Chateau — a hands-on educational facility that collaborates with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries — raises hatchlings from the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge . (When the gators reach a length of 7 to 7.5 feet, they’re released back into the Refuge.) Visits from the public are free, and visitors can hold baby gators under the supervision of gator handlers. At present, the facility houses four hatchlings, nine alligators and Pierre, an 86-year-old alligator snapping turtle. The dream is alive.

Mill Ends Park in Portland, Oregon

Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s Smallest Dedicated Park, Mill Ends Park — which boasts a total area of 452 square inches — is located in the median strip of SW Naito Parkway in downtown Portland. The micro-recreation area was inspired by Dick Fagan, a columnist for the Oregon Journal, who wrote a popular column about the park’s “events” after World War II, and it’s been an official city park since St. Patrick’s Day 1976. Mill Ends has featured a swimming pool and diving board for butterflies, statues and a miniature Ferris wheel (“brought in by a normal-sized crane,” per the Parks and Recreation Department) and hosted concerts, picnics and rose plantings. If you’re visiting Portland and have a few minutes to spare, we would note that “I once ran 30 laps around a city park without stopping for water” is a pretty solid brag.

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Top 10 weird and wonderful USA roadside attractions

May 5, 2024 • 5 min read

Embrace your inner-artist at Cadillac Ranch © YuniqueB / Shutterstock

There is a sense of humor around every corner when you're driving in the USA . How else to explain those wacky, way-out-in-left-field roadside attractions you’ll stumble upon? Sculptures made of cars, energy vortexes and oversized household items are just the beginning. Here are our favorite offbeat stops.

1. Cadillac Ranch – Texas

In 1974, the late, local eccentric millionaire Stanley Marsh planted 10 Cadillacs (vintage 1949 to 1963) headlights down in a deserted stretch of dirt outside Amarillo – and then moved them further out in 1997 to escape town encroachment. The reason? He said he constructed what has come to be known as Cadillac Ranch (I-40 between exits 60 & 62) in a salute to Route 66, using cars he considered to represent the golden age of car travel.

The accepted practice today is to leave your own mark on the art by drawing on the cars. Bring spray paint in case other visitors haven’t left any around. Occasionally, the cars get a makeover, like when they were all painted pink in honor of breast cancer awareness. To get here, park along the south feeder road a couple of miles west of Loop 335, and walk the well-worn path. As cool as it sounds, there’s a sort of forlorn feel to the place.

2. World’s Largest Ball of Twine – Minnesota

There’s much ado about which ball of twine actually holds the record these days, but why not pay your respects to the original that started all the fuss? Behold the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Darwin, 62 miles west of Minneapolis on US 12. To be specific, it’s the “Largest Built by One Person” – Francis A Johnson wrapped the 17,400lb whopper on his farm over the course of 29 years. Gawk at it in the town gazebo. Better yet, visit the museum beside it and buy your own twine ball starter kit in the gift shop.

3. Unclaimed Baggage Center – Alabama

Head into downtown Scottsboro, Alabama, on Hwy 279 and follow the signs to the Unclaimed Baggage Center . Wait…is that your iPhone? The one you left in the seat pocket on that flight from Poughkeepsie? Probably. This Macy’s-sized retail space is the end of the line for the majority of unclaimed bags in the US. After 90 days, the airlines send your lost luggage here. It takes thrift shop-level patience, but there you'll find Tumi luggage, Kate Spade bags, Bruno Magli loafers, cameras, laptops, golf clubs – you name it – all for a fraction of retail.

4. Wall Drug Store – South Dakota

A tourist trap par excellence, this drugstore in South Dakota is famous for its roadside billboards that start advertising “free ice water” several states away, but it's a surprisingly worthy stop. They really do have 5¢ coffee, free ice water and enough diversions to warm the heart of schlock-lovers everywhere. Don’t miss the animatronic dinosaurs.

5. Coral Castle – Florida

This favored stop in Homestead is one man’s kitschy do-it-yourself testament to lost love. Latvian immigrant Ed Leedskalnin dug up over 2.2 million tons of coral rock to build this mock castle that took him nearly 30 years (1923-1951) to complete. Its engineering was once a bit of mystery, especially since the broken-hearted Romeo worked secretively at night without using any mortar. Some claim that the marvel has unusual electromagnetic properties.

6. Lucas – Kansas

“Outsider art,” meaning works created outside the bounds of traditional culture, has blossomed in tiny Lucas . Samuel Dinsmoor began it all in 1907 by filling his yard with enormous concrete sculptures espousing his eccentric philosophies. His Garden of Eden is visible from the sidewalk, but paid admission lets you hear some wonderful stories and see his remains in a glass-topped coffin.

7. Lucy the Elephant – New Jersey

Drive around the beach communities just south of Atlantic City, and something massive, gray and kitsch will stop you in your tracks: Lucy the Elephant , a 65ft-high wooden pachyderm constructed in 1881 as a developer’s truly weird scheme to attract land buyers to the area. It was variously used as a hotel, beach cottage, private mansion and last, a tavern, but rowdy patrons almost destroyed her. Now recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, Lucy is a beloved part of the city.

8. The Shoe Tree of Middlegate – Nevada

Located on the "Loneliest Road in America," the Shoe Tree of Middlegate is a testament to love. Story goes that to keep his girlfriend from leaving after an argument, a man threw the women's shoes into a tree. After cooler heads prevailed, the two reconciled and went on to live a happy life. Since then, traveling sweethearts having been throwing their shoes into the tree. The original tree was chopped down by vandals in 2010, but a second tree was selected in 2017.

9. Roswell – New Mexico

No list is complete without Roswell, New Mexico – if you believe that "The Truth is Out There,” then this is your spot. In 1947, a mysterious object crashed at a nearby ranch. No one would have skipped any sleep over it, but the military made a big to-do of hushing it up, and for a lot of folks, that sealed it: the aliens had landed!

International curiosity and local ingenuity have transformed the city into a quirky extraterrestrial-friendly zone. Bulbous white heads glow atop the downtown street lamps.

Believers and kitsch-seekers must check out the International UFO Museum & Research Center , displaying documents supporting the cover-up as well as lots of far-out art and exhibitions. The annual Roswell UFO Festival beams down over the July 4 weekend, with an otherworldly costume parade, guest speakers, workshops and concerts.

10. Meteor Crater – Arizona

The second most impressive hole in Arizona was formed by a fiery meteor that screamed into the atmosphere about 50,000 years ago, when giant sloths lived in these parts. Meteor Crater , 40 miles east of Flagstaff , is an out-of-this-world site for those with a thimbleful of imagination. Nearly a mile across and 600ft deep, there are lookout points around the crater’s edge but no hiking to the bottom. Check out the fun, informative visitor center.

Keep planning your USA road trip:

Plot your route with the best road trips in the USA Listen to the experts: I took my camper van across 48 US states. These are my 10 favorites Hit the highlights with 11 amazing experiences in the USA

This article was first published Jun 16, 2010 and updated May 5, 2024.

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Protect Your Trip »

13 unusual roadside attractions across america.

You'll want to schedule a stop at these unconventional sites, found everywhere from Texas to Hawaii.

(Getty Images) |

Make room for these quirky attractions on your next road trip.

Salvation Mountain: Niland, California

Hole N" The Rock: Moab, Utah

(Getty Image) |

Carhenge: Alliance, Nebraska

Prada Marfa: Valentine, Texas

(Courtesy of North Dakota Department of Commerce-Tourism Division) |

Enchanted Highway: North Dakota

Dinosaur Kingdom II: Natural Bridge, Virginia

Cadillac Ranch: Amarillo, Texas

Winchester Mystery House: San Jose, California

Pineapple Garden Maze: Wahiawa, Hawaii

Bubblegum Alley: San Luis Obispo, California

Wall Drug Store: Wall, South Dakota

(Courtesy of Dog Bark Park Inn) |

Dog Bark Park Inn: Cottonwood, Idaho

(Richard Maack Photography | Courtesy of Flintstone Bedrock City)

Flintstones Bedrock City: Coconino County, Arizona

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