Ten Wacky Places to Visit for Vacation

Tired of spending time on a Bahamas vacation? Don't want to endure another Disney cruise?Bored with art at the Metropolitan Museum? Are you looking for something different, something more off the beaten path? Why not visit a toilet lid museum or perhaps a re-interpretation of Stonehenge using cars instead of stones? If those don't strike your fancy perhaps a Pez museum or seeing the biggest ball of twine in the world is more your alley. I think what is amazing is that there are people who actually started these endeavors and I say more power to them. These eccentric souls make it possible for us to look at things in a different light. TripAdvisor has put together this list of ten wacky tourist spots in the United States according to its travelers and editors.

The top slot for wackiest place to visit goes to the Toilet Seat Museum in Alamo Heights, Texas. This museum was started and maintained by Barney Smith who houses over 700 decorated toilet covers in his oversized garage. His museum has over 1000 visitors annually...but no bathroom.

Another place to visit is Carhenge; Nebraska's answer to Stonehenge in Britain. It's basically a bunch of cars that have been arranged and spray painted in a stone color to look like Stonehenge. Amazingly enough, if I'm ever near the town of Alliance I would want to see this wonder. Why look for cheap flights to Europe when Alliance, Nebraska is so close.

The other place that I would like to visit is the Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia in Burlingame, California. Pez is that candy dispenser that gives you a pellet-sized sugary treat and I am always a sucker for the most current Pez head. If you look at all the Pez dispensers that have ever been produced it's probably a good indicator of American zeitgeist. The museum also has the largest Pez dispenser in the world which measures 7 feet tall. Your kids might not have as much fun as on a Celebrity cruise but they will probably find all those dispensers fascinating,

The other seven wacky places to see are:

Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas

It's an interactive place where you are invited to spray paint your own work of art on any of the ten graffiti-covered Cadillacs sticking out of the ground with trunks in the air.

Gatorland, Orlando, Florida

For those who really love reptiles, this place has over 1,000 alligators--try to find that at a Disney World vacation! You can feed a gator with a hot dog and even ride on its back, if you dare.

The Paris Texas Eiffel Tower, Paris, Texas

The Texas tower measures around 65 feet tall but--it has a cowboy hat on top.

House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin

It sits on a 60-foot-tall rock filled with eclectic stuff from a large collection of coin-operated musical instruments to a large collection of Santa Claus figures. Enough said.

Stonehenge II, Kerrville, Texas

This place has a replica of Stonehenge and if that's not enough to catch your fancy, it also displays a replica of the massive statues of Easter Island.

Extraterrestrial Highway, Rachel, Nevada

A part of Nevada State Route 375 was named the Extraterrestrial Highway because of all the weird UFO sightings and other stories; aliens must like the scenery. If you're driving though,bring a videocam!

Minnesota Twine Ball, Darwin, Minnesota

It's huge, weighs 17,400 pounds and measures 12 feet in diameter, furthermore this ginormous ball of twine is conveniently housed in a gazebo. It is probably THE wonder of Darwin.

So hit the road and see one of these unusual sights.  Who knows, it might influence you to start on a project that might eventually get you on the list of 10 wacky places to visit.