June 2, 2009

Hidden Travel Gems

Joe Cerniglia's Guide To Strange Roadside Tourist Traps

As many of you begin planning your travels before u.s. roadways turn to molten tar in the summer sun, I would like to offer an alternative to tossing your hard earned cash to some moron in mouse ears...The humble tourist trap.

A wonderland of warped roadside attractions await motorists brave enough to pull the winnebago over for a stellar photo op. Made by average people (for the most part) with a wonderfully odd idea these roadside attractions have something for everyone. 50 foot Lincoln statues, Gigantic cattle skulls, replicas of stonehenge made from refrigerators, and even a replica of the Flintstones hometown "Bedrock". But like snack food around Kirstie Ally they're disappearing fast so here's a few to catch before they become yet another parking lot:

Winchester Mystery House

San Jose, Ca

http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com


160 rooms, 30 staircases, 40 staircases, 161,818 acres, and plenty of weird to keep even the most ADD afflicted kid entertained. This creepy mansion is a maze of weird corridors, staircases that go to nowhere, doors that open into walls, etc. It was built by Sarah Winchester to confuse the ghosts killed by her husband's lethal invention for a cool $5,500,000 and was meing added on to until her death in 1922. The tours through the mansion are cool but I'd suggest going on halloween where you can take a flashlight tour through the pitch dark mansion (and some say it's haunted)

The Jerome Grand Hotel

Jerome, Az

http://www.jeromegrandhotel.net


Formerly the United Verde Hospital this hotel's one big claim to fame is ghosts ...and lots of em. If you book your stay at this hotel you'd better be a sound sleeper cause creepy little noises and odd events can happen almost anywhere. Another good one to check out around halloween.

Shady Dell RV park

Bisbee, Az

http://www.theshadydell.com


Fake 50's kitsch your bag? Shady Dell's got ya covered. This vintage trailer motel features trailers from the 40's and 50's furnished in nostalgic swag that would bring a tear to Pee Wee Herman's eye and best of all you can stay the night in any one of em. And after your stay you can hit Dot's diner (the smallest 50's style diner I've ever seen).

The House on the Rocks

Spring Green, Wi

http://www.thehouseontherock.com


One of the largest collections of "stuff" I think I've ever seen. Ginormous pipe organs, rooms filled with automated instruments, a full sized depiction of a battle between a whale and an octopus, and even the worlds largest indoor carousel. Too weird to miss.

For more tourist traps check out http://www.roadsideamerica.com