Roadside Americana

Everyday I count my lucky stars that I am fortunate enough to have been born and live in a place in which we have such roadside attraction gems as the International Banana Museum. What a wonderful world. Twice. TWICE! That's how many times I've stopped at the World Famous International ...

You can find the world's tallest Uncle Sam in Danbury, Connecticut on the grounds of the Danbury RailWay Museum. The fiberglass giant stands 38 feet tall!Danbury RailWay Museum120 White StDanbury, CT 06810 Sometimes you're just riding around minding your own business and you accidentally visit the World's Tallest Uncle Sam ...

As of 2018, there is a new guy in town, the Joshua Tree Muffler Man - Big Josh. In December of 2016, I traveled south along Route 111 on my way towards Salvation Mountain near the town of Mecca, California. At the time, the only thing on my mind was ...

In the town of Joshua Tree, California at the gateway of the National Park, sits another glorious American institution - the World Famous Crochet Museum. While on a riding trip in January of 2020, I stopped in for a visit. A what...? you might ask. Well, have a look: Nestled ...

Wouldn't you know it? I had myself another run-in with a member of the Giant Chicken Army. At the end of January, I flew to California to do a little ride about. While cruising along Route 66 for a spell, I decided to stop in to the museum that now ...

There's a new yarn-bombed tree on Long Island! The gorgeous crochet-covered tree is on the grounds of the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook. It joins several other yarn-bombed trees on the campus. While I encourage supporting the museum, it is visible without entering. Between the pattern, the coverage, and ...

The TePee, Cherry Valley, NY's famous roadside attraction has been around since 1950. It's made up of a pinch of giftshop, a dash of Americana, and a whole heap of awesomeness. I'd stopped there once before years prior, but I was hot and miserable. The experience wasn't especially pleasant. Thankfully, ...

Ready for a fab Long Island roadside attraction? You came to the right place! Pink Flying Pig of Miller Place, NY Taking up residence front and center at the Flying Pig Cafe in Miller Place, this adorable piggy is sure to fly out of the cafe and into your heart ...

Seeing Haring's public sculptures is always a treat for me. They hold a special place in my heart and imagination. His oft-whimsical and colorful forms tap into a place in my imagination that feels child-like. He perfected saying so much with so little, leaving your imagination to do the rest ...

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, Butts Corner! Butts Corner, NY Majestic AF ...

Serendipity to the rescue. Again. Do you know what ZacMax is? I didn't. Even though we'd crossed paths. Sometimes the planets align just right and deliver an answer to a question that you may have long since forgotten to keep asking. I love it when that happens. While scrolling through ...

Hunting for Newburg Ghost Ads The town of Newburgh, New York isn't exactly what you'd call a motorcycle destination. At least not for pleasure riding, anyway. It's a once-grand city that languished for decades in decline and now has an ember of resurrection starting to glow. Cities like Newburgh, whose ...

Don't forget to bring a friend for some extra excitement! My How To guide for meeting tall, handsome men while riding your motorcycle. Step One: Have a Motorcycle OMG, seriously? You already have a motorcycle? Well then, you're already part of the way there! Go you. Step Two: Navigate to ...

Honk if you love roadside attractions! My surprise encounter with the Mother Goose House in Hazard, Kentucky further supports my opinion that America has the greatest roadside attractions in the world! Often people ask me how I find funky stuff while out on the road. One of my favorite ways ...

In the fall of October 2018, I rode through the city of Richmond, Virginia on a Sunday morning. City riding isn't so great, generally. But being on a motorcycle gives you the opportunity to pull over, squeeze into tight spots for a few minutes and to park and snap pictures ...

After visiting the White's Tire Muffler Man on Hines Street in Wilson, North Carolina, I navigated my over to visit Vollis Simpson's Whirligig Park. As I turned the corner the park came into view. It was a riotous explosion of color and motion set against the backdrop of old buildings ...

Much like the Spanish Inquisition, no one expects a religious experience.  It's just one of those things that sneak up you when you aren't lookin'. If not the sight of Saint Pete at the gates or Archangel Michael eating tacos, what could you attribute the expression on this guy's face ...

While riding in North Carolina and Tennessee last fall, I saw three See Rock City barns - one of which was entirely serendipitous. Isn't it funny how that happens? Something becomes of interest to you and it begins to show itself in unexpected places - sometimes on a path which ...

In October of 2018, I spent some time bumming around on the Bonneville. My meandering route took me down through Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky before I started making my way back east to New York through West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Not having a set route or a ...

While navigating my way around York, Pennsylvania to look for murals and ghost signs, I rode passed a metal garden which had giant flowers made out of gears and things. Something about the Gear Garden felt reminiscent of the PennDOT Sculpture Garden in Meadville, Pa. - another great stop. Perhaps ...

Pennsylvania's leg of the Lincoln Highway has some interesting sights peppered along the route. For reasons unknown to even me, I especially love riding along it's western half. The Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor established a group of 5 roadside attractions called Roadside Giants for people to stop at and enjoy ...

Don't sleep on the Giant Chicken Army. I've warned you all before but it's the same old story. No one does anything until it's too late. While heading towards the Dragon in October, I encountered another mobilized soldier, but this time the scaly legged critter was in uniform. Or... disguise ...

I'm pretty sure I became aware of this ghost sign in York, Pennsylvania from reading Wendyvee's great blog, Roadside Wonders. It's been pinned on my Google Map for years. When I pulled up to take pictures, a man across the street stood and watched me with a big smile on ...

A Beautiful Harley-Davidson Mural York, Pennsylvania is home to many wonderful murals scattered around the city. One, in particular, caught my eye. The mural is called The Harley-Davidson Tradition and was painted by Michael Svob in 1996. As you can imagine any public art related to motorcycling tugs at my ...

Just a hop, skip and a jump up the road from Pennsylvania's great welcome sign, I serendipitously saw a double Mail Pouch barn. Aside from the two visible sides in the picture, the small barn also had a Mail Pouch ad on the side facing the big barn. I seem ...