Sometimes life can be amazing. Other times it can be bizarre.
And the best way to marry these two elements is to go on a road trip through the U.S. where you can see the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls…and the world’s largest garden gnome.
Yup, you read that right. Between America's amber waves of grain and purple mountain majesties are some pretty whacky and GIGANTIC roadside attractions.
Why people decided to erect a behemoth bottle of catsup or honor a husky pecan is beyond us, but they sure are fun things to check out between trips to Yellowstone Park and the Florida Everglades.
If you find these roadside diamonds-in-the-rough as gem-like as we do, make sure to SHARE these priceless pictures with everyone you treasure!
Mitchell, South Dakota
Yup. It's a palace covered in grain! Murals are swapped out on a regular basis, though no murals were swapped in 2006 due to a severe drought.
Chicago, Illinois: World's Biggest Rubber Band Ball
This world's largest rubber band ball is located in Chicago, IL and weighs 4,000 pounds due to its 175,000 bands.
Cleveland, Ohio: A Robust Rubber Stamp
This massive rubber stamp in Cleveland, OH is apparently "free" to use. If only we had a giant ink pad…and a gnat.
Seattle, Washington: Colossal Cowboy Boots
Folks from Seattle, WA will recognize this well-known landmark. It was originally part of a cowboy-themed gas station built in 1954 named "Premium Tex."
Seattle, Washington: Humungoua Cowboy Hat
This 19-feet-tall and 44-feet-wide hat sat next to the above boots at Premium Tex. Now both reside in a Seattle park after the gas station closed and local skateboarders cracked the brim of the hat doing stunts.
Ottawa Lake, Michigan: Jumbo Uncle Sam
This 42-feet-tall Uncle Sam stands in front of a gas station in Ottawa Lake, MI that sells fireworks. U-S-A!
Cawker City, Kansas: World's Largest Ball of Twine
This ball of twine in Cawker City, KS originally weighed 5,000 pounds and was 8-feet high. Each August a twine-a-thon is held in which people add additional twine, keeping this ream supreme.
Groom, Texas: A Crazy-Tall Cross
This 190-foot-tall free standing cross in Groom, TX can be seen from 20 miles away.
Newark, Ohio: The Worlds Largest Basket
At 7 stories tall this behemoth basket is located in Newark, OH and not Jellystone Park where Yogi Bear could have a pic-a-nic with it.
Hayward, Wisconsin: World's Largest Fish Statue
This monster muskie swims in midair in front of the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, WI and is big enough to swallow a bus full of Great Whites. Sharknado be damned!
Burlington, Vermont: A Tower of Cabinets
This 38-foot-tall tower of of cabinets is located in Burlington, VT and is every Container Store-addict's dream come true.
Chester, West Virginia: World's Largest Teapot
This mammoth tea pot in Chester, WV is 12-feet high, 4- feet wide, and was originally built as a huge keg by Hires Root Beer.
Knoxville, Tennesse: World's Largest Rubik's Cube
The world's biggest and most impossible puzzle to solve sits pretty in a Knoxville, TN Holiday Inn.
Denver, Colorado: Denver International Airport's 'Blue Mustang'
The creator of this immense statue, Luis Jimenez, was crushed by the horse during its construction and died.
Westminster, Colorado: A Monster Can of Mushrooms
This Westminster, CO water tower was painted with the classic Savery Savory Mushrooms label in 1925 by the owner of a surrounding mushroom farm and cannery.
Kerhonkson, New York: The World's Largest Garden Gnom
This Guinness World Record holding, 13'6-foot tall garden gnome in Kerhonkson, NY is impossible to steal and take photos of during road trip prank…unless you're Paul Bunyan.
Portland, Oregon: An Enormous Paul Bunyon
This Paul Bunyan statue is a 31-feet tall and is located in the Kenton neighborhood of Portland, OR.
Woodstock, New York: The World's Largest Axe
Though this giant ax is located in Canada it was created in 1991 by a company in Woodstock, NY. There is also a time capsule embedded in the head of the blade.
Baker, California: The World's Largest Thermometer
The world's largest thermometer is located in Baker, CA. It is 134-feet-tall monument that honors the record high temperature in the US, which was 134 degrees fahrenheit in 1913 in nearby Death Valley.
Hamer, South Carolina: The World's Tallest Man Wearing a Sombero
The 97-foot "Pedro," who stands at the entrance of Hamer, SC's boarder attraction, South of the Boarder, weighs 77 tons and is made of solid clay. You can also drive your car through the legs.
Collinsville, Illinois: The World's Largest Catsup Bottle
The 170-foot-tall water tower in Collinsville, IL was built in 1949 and holds nothing but ketchup. Just kidding! It holds catsup. Just kidding! It holds water, people. Just water.
Seguin, Texas: The World's Biggest Pecan
The world's largest pecan is a source of pride for Seguin, TX, a town that apparently has no residents with nut allergies, and sits in front of its city hall. The 1,000 pound pecan is 5-feet long and 2.5-feet wide.
Did we miss any? Sound off in the comments!!
