Roadside Americana

Roadside America is the online mother-load of weird and wonderful kitschy destinations. Categorized by state, the website can help you punctuate a ride or a trip with some super funky spots to stop at along the way. If this isn't your first time reading this blog then you are probably ...

There is just something that I love about old gas stations and gas pumps. There was often a stylish craftsmanship that we generally don't see in the new all business, efficient stations of today. Beautiful looking gasoline pumps, decorative building elements, a person manning the station who does more than ...

At first glance nothing really seems out of place here in this photo. It's nothing more than a road stretching out over a hill. Why would anyone take a photo of something so ordinary? Well, if you happen to zoom in,  my darlings - you'd see that strange things are ...

While out playing Tag-O-Rama last night, I saw this amazing truck. The advertising is one thing, but the bones of the truck itself are awesome! click to enlargeIt had no badging anywhere on it so I have no idea what it is. Surely one of you sexy people must so, ...

Fun Things to do on Long Island One of the best things to do while visiting our shores is check out our Long Island Roadside Attractions! Many people know Long Island as home to beautiful beaches, the glamour of the Hamptons, quaint walkable towns, and wonderful wineries. But we are ...

Okay, everybody. Let's give a nice warm welcome to Mr. Millennium! "Hiiiiii, Mister Millennium." He stands ever-smiling, braving the elements in front of North Sea Auto Radiator. Hmm. Auto radiators... yea, that seems like a likely place for a 20ft snowman. When I pulled over on the shoulder to take ...

If you're looking for a 1-2 punch of good riding and interesting roadside attractions, Maine has a lot to offer. Just a hop skip and a jump from a 3 story outhouse, a giant butterfly sculpture and down the road a piece from Rumford's Paul Bunyan Muffler Man is the ...

When I first found RoadsideWonders.net it was like discovering a long lost road sister; another woman motorcyclist who is crazy about muffler men, giant chickens and roadside treasures that the kooks of the world put on display. Since then, I've been hooked on Roadside Wonders. There is always something fabulously ...

Most people know Nipper as the mascot for RCA, usually shown listening to his master's voice on the phonograph. But any Long Islander who has passed through the Village of Babylon will also tell you that a 6ft Nipper is also well known for standing outside of Plesser's Appliance store ...

This former East Setauket post office building was built in the 1880s. It used to stand on Main St. next to Setauket's downtown rubber factory. The post office building moved to it's current location on Shore Rd. in the 1920's. Historical Photos from The Setaukets, Old Field, and Poquott By ...

Many people who have attended Americade or have passed through Lake George, NY will recognize the world's tallest Uncle Sam. He stands outside of the Magic Forest amusement park just south of town. We last saw him when we attended motorcycle ice racing on a cold February day. I thought ...

The town of Setauket (seh-taw-ket) sits on the north shore of Long Island. First settled in the 1650's, Setauket has a large number of historical buildings interspersed with its more modern residences. Often as you ride through some of the town's small shady lanes, you get the distinct feeling that ...

You can really learn a lot about a place by playing Tag-O-Rama on ADVRider. The local knowledge and diverse interests of the players can really make for some interesting tag locations. What is Tag-O-Rama? Tag-O-Rama is a photo-tag game played in the regional forums on ADVRider.com. The first rider rides ...

This beautifully decorated 1976 Bedford truck is part of the Smithsonian's permanent collection. It was originally painted in 2002 during the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The painting theme is the Silk Road. We were fortunate enough to see it parked on the National Mall in the summer of 2006. Just awesome~ ...

Golly, is this not the most dejected stop sign, ever? Poor thing. Just look at the way it's leaning and acting all frowny. Maybe one day he'll grow up to be a nice triangle-shaped yield sign or something. In the meantime, cheer up little stop sign. Things just aren't that ...

Not long ago, I realized that I had a handful of pictures of Long Island's windmills. Following that post, on a lazy Sunday I decided to head over to Shelter Island to see if I could spot the Shelter Island Windmill. Built in 1810 by Nathaniel Dominy Jr., the mill ...

Spotted: A great pair of painted, non-working gas pumps outside of Olson Gallery on North Ferry Rd., Shelter Island ...

No trip to another state is complete without checking to see if there is a Muffler Man in the vicinity. You can never be sure if you'll pass that way again, so stopping is a must! Our recent trip to Birmingham, Alabama was no different. We stopped in to see "Stan" ...

The village of Sag Harbor on Long Island's south shore is a popular destination for motorcycle riders to pass through. With it's quaint main street America feel and windmill chamber of commerce, Sag Harbor has an interesting mix of upscale restaurants, a beautiful vintage cinema and a fabulous five and ...

On my way back to Greenport from Shelter Island, I spotted this kick-ass Fiat 500 parked at the North Ferry. It looks like it would be a blast to drive. I can totally see myself heading along a winding road, pedal mashed to the floor with a Prada pump. An ...

I love this message: The Purpose of Life is a Life of Purpose. This sign is found on Route 25 in Greenport, NY. Their signs are consistently entertaining. Some of my favorite Church Signs were: Looking for a sign from God? This might be it. Only Turkeys Don't Give Thanks ...

Over the weekend, I spotted another STOP sign that had been sticker-bombed. This one is my favorite, I think: In Memory of Lance - The Purple and White Sticker The purple and white "Look Twice" stickers were created by Kathy & Patrick Malone in memory of their son Lance, 25 ...

Long Island is home to several notable, historical windmills. Most of the mills are in the smock style and reside on the eastern end of the island. While going through some of the photos I've collected in my travels, I did a little digging to find out about their history ...

A few years back, while coming home one night on the bike I saw something that haunts me to this day. It was about 11pm when Kenny and I pulled up to the last traffic light on our route home. Under the hum of the street lamp the two of ...

During summer evenings, the parking lot at McNulty's is packed with families out for ice cream. Sticky-faced children mill around the patio leaving trails of drips and drops in their wake. When I passed by last week there was still snow on the ground and not a car in the ...