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Quirky Americana & Iconic Destinations
On New Year’s Day in 2019, Todd and I embarked on the ultimate road trip adventure… We left our old hometown in Northern California, headed for our new hometown in Indiana.
While spending our last night with family, my brother-in-law introduced us to the Roadside America app. After all, looking ahead to a multi-day, nearly 3,000 mile road trip, we were bound to want some distraction.
Little did we know at that time, we would refer to the app for years to come, anytime we went somewhere new, and recommend it to friends when talk of their road trips came up.
According to the app’s developers, you can “discover unusual and funny places along the highway,” including:
- “World’s Largest” and smallest sights
- Strange museums, graves, statues, Muffler Men
- Bizarre architecture, obscure history
- Route 66 sights, tourist traps, odd theme parks
- Mystery spots, gravity hills, caves, unnatural wonders
We made more than 30 stops along our way, indeed discovering all of the above and more. Sooooo…
Let’s take a drive!
[Click on images to enlarge]
We’ve outlined our cross-country road trip below (day-by-day), including several quirky americana stops along the way. Bold locations designate Roadside America stops we visited… Our “been there” list. Use this guide as a starting point for your own cross-country road trip adventure.
Day 1 | California
Just like Lucy and Ethel, we just needed a each other, a full tank of gas – oh, and some snacks! – and we were off. Since it was winter, we decided to take the southern route (I-40) across the U.S. Our first stop was for lunch at the iconic road trip rest stop, Pea Soup Andersen’s (Santa Nella, CA).
Day 2 | Arizona
Day two had us heading through Southern California’s Mojave Desert and into Arizona along Interstate 40. Seemingly in the middle of nowhere is Pisgah Crater (Newberry Springs, CA), an extinct volcano. We tried to stop and check it out, but hit a (literal) road block after driving down a rough dirt road. We can say we’ve “been there,” but it was from a distance, so it turned into a “stretch our legs and let the boys pee” break (did I mention we were traveling with our two cats who were less than thrilled with the idea of a road trip and the need to be on leashes when we stopped?!).
Next up, crossing the Colorado River into Arizona, then the Golf Ball House (Yucca, AZ), followed by a stop in Kingman, AZ, to make friends with the Sit-on-Me Chuckwalla and run with a rabbit. We also had our first Route 66 sightings.
Day 3 | Arizona
What trip to Arizona would be complete without a stop at the Grand Canyon? This is a must-see destination! It is a bit of a detour off I-40 (about an hour one way), but well worth the time.
Grand Canyon National Park is beautiful any time of year, but in winter it is stunning! There are several lookout points, as well as a path leading from the south rim of the canyon to Grand Canyon Village where you can sit and have lunch.
Then, in true random road trip fashion, we made a quick stop at Bedrock City and Raptor Ranch (Williams, AZ) to say hi to Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble before getting back on track. I think it’s safe to say that I had more fun reliving memories from my childhood than Todd did. Haha!
From Bedrock City and Raptor Ranch, head back to I-40, then east toward Flagstaff. The road takes you through some beautiful country as you continue climbing up through the San Francisco Peaks mountain range and Coconino National Forest.
Flagstaff is a great place to stop – for a food and stretch break, or stay overnight and do a bit of exploring. There’s a lot to see an do in Flagstaff, including:
- Walk along Historic Route 66
- Take the gondola to the top of Agassiz Peak at Snowbowl ski resort
- Explore the Lowell Observatory
Day 4 | Arizona
First stop of the day was Standin’ on a Corner in Winslow, Arizona. Eagles fans will remember it from the song Take it Easy, “Well, I’m standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, and such a fine sight to see…”
Take a walk on Route 66 and grab a latte and breakfast at the corner diner before getting back on the road.
Other Roadside America sites to see in Arizona include:
- Twin Arrows ruins (Twin Arrows, AZ)
- The official ”Here it is” sign at Jackrabbit Trading Post (Joseph City, AZ)
- A quirky woman-eating dinosaur
- And, on a more somber note, the 9-11 Remembrance Garden (Winslow, AZ)
The scenery was snow-covered desert all the way – very pretty, but road trip rough with temperatures hovering in the teens and 20s, freezing all the water pipes and closing all the restrooms!
Road trip tip: Plan your gas stops and bathroom breaks wisely. Some stretches can be pretty long.
Day 5 | Texas
Three states, 500 miles and ten random attractions later you might find:
- Dot’s Mini Museum and Cowboy Boot Tree (Vegas, TX)
- Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo, TX). Don’t forget to bring a can of spray paint to add your own personal touch.
- 2nd Amendment Muffler Man (Amarillo, TX)
When in Texas, there’s an unwritten rule that you HAVE TO try out the barbecue. Not far from Cadillac Ranch you can find Big Texan Steak Ranch – a memorabilia-filled restaurant with delicious food.
TIP: When ordering, remember that everything really is bigger in Texas or you might find yourself with a to-go box or two.
Continuing the Roadside America quirky scavenger hunt:
- At the hotel next to the restaurant, you’ll find a Swimming Pool Shaped Like Texas (Amarillo, TX).
- Get back on the road and stop at the Stoner Patriot Peace Garden (Amarillo, TX) a
- Then Slug Bug Ranch (a VW knockoff of the iconic Cadillac Ranch in Conway, TX)
Day 5 | Oklahoma
Heading into Oklahoma, you start to see a strong Native American influence. Learn more about American Indian Culture on the Travel Oklahoma website. Conveniently located along I-40 in Calumet, you can stop at the Indian Trading Post & Art. There you’ll find Native American-influenced art and apparel from pottery to hand-beaded jewelry to leather goods.
Standing outside the Trading Post is the Indian Muffler Man.
Day 6 | Oklahoma
Day 6 for us could easily be split up into a couple days for a more leisurely pace. Our road trip included two long legs, totaling 452 miles across two (umm, three!) states, with six quirky Roadside America stops along the way.
You’ll drive under what used to be the World’s Largest McDonald’s (straddling the highway). Then, crossing from Oklahoma into Missouri, stop in Quapaw, OK, to Stand on Three States (Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri).
Side note: We took a short detour to Afton, OK, looking for a giant penguin. Afton turned out to be a very depressed little town and the penguin was locked inside the closed Afton Station, but our quest brightened the day of the gas station attendant next door which made it completely worthwhile. She thought we were a little crazy when we said we were looking for a penguin, then she broke out in the biggest smile when we showed her the picture and she remembered the quirky little creature.
Roadside America app for the win, spreading joy!
Being the first week in January when we made this cross-country road trip, we found not everything was open and bustling. That was especially true when we arrived in Branson, Missouri.
Regardless, we took the opportunity to take a walk through this iconic tourist town and find some more Roadside America destinations to add to the “been to” list, including:
- the World’s Largest Rooster
- a Giant Meatball and Fork
- and a Hollywood tribute to Mt. Rushmore (outside the Hollywood Wax Museum)
Day 7 | Missouri
By day seven, we were a couple of weary travelers, but we still made time for one last iconic stop – St. Louis, Missouri. And you should, too!
As you head into St. Louis, stop at Graffiti Wall to take in the artwork and get your first close-up look at the Mississippi River. Graffiti Wall is a mile-long piece of beautiful city artwork – colorful, expressive and a unique artistic welcome into the city after days of traveling through small towns.
Next, take a walk through Citygarden Sculpture Park where you’ll find some quirky and some beautiful things, including:
- an Empty Suit
- a Hollow Head
- 10-foot tall Pinocchio
- and a White Rabbit bench to sit for a bit and take in the sights and sounds of the city
Leaving Citygarden, walking toward the Mississippi River, for your first glimpse of the amazing Gateway Arch (not a Roadside America destination, but so cool and worth a stop!).
Walk through the Gateway Arch National Park and read about the city’s history, then head back downtown to Busch Stadium where you can wander around Ballpark Village and find the Announcer Jack Buck Monument.
Day 8 | Indiana
After seven days, driving 2,801 miles, and more than 30 stops to see random bits of Americana with the Roadside America app, we made it “home” to Indiana.
Taking time to wander across the U.S. was an incredible experience.
If one of your bucket list items is to visit all 50 United States – like it is mine – this trip will add eight states to your “been there” list!
And, along the way, you’ll learn some history, visit a couple must-see destinations, and laugh at just how random and quirky the world can be.