Road trips aren’t just about point A & point B; it’s about the journey. The highways of America are filled with unique roadside attractions that divert your attention when traveling to your roadside attraction. Instead of driving past these attractions, let’s examine the best. 

CABAZON DINOSAURS

     You may recognize these roadside dinosaurs from the movie “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.” These two giant concrete dinosaurs named Dinny the Dinosaur and Mr. Rex are located in Cabazon, CA. You can find these behemoths just West of Palm Springs, California on the 10 freeway. Dinny and Apatosaurus measure 150 feet and Mr. Rex a Tyrannosaurus Rex is 65 feet. You can even make your way inside the T-Rex’s head!

Sadly, the original owners sold the roadside attraction in the mid-90s and the new owners put a Creationist museum on the property. 

CARHENGE

     Head to Alliance, Nebraska next time you are driving through the heartland of America and stop by Carhenge. It’s the full-scale replica of Stonehenge in England… but made with junker cars. Artist Jim Reinders studied the original sculpture while living in England and came home to make the statue as a memorial to his recently deceased father. Made with 39 cars, which were upended and dug into the ground.

PENNDOT ROAD SIGN SCULPTURE GARDEN

     A small art school in Pennsylvania came up with the brilliant idea to repurpose old street signs and turn them into a wonderful piece of roadside art. Allegheny College sponsored the attraction and students created all the art. The art spans a quarter-mile stretch of Smock Highway just southwest of Meadville, PA. If you are traveling through Pennsylvania this summer, stop by.

CADILLAC RANCH

     If you are driving through Texas, chances are you are cruising Interstate 40, which drives through Amarillo. This is where you’ll find Cadillac Ranch, a huge art installation made by three hippies from San Francisco, CA. They took a bunch of old Cadillacs and buried them hood first into the ground, then covered them with graffiti.

PORTER SCULPTURE PARK

     When driving through the barren wasteland of South Dakota on Interstate 90, around 25-miles West of Sioux Falls, you’ll stumble upon the Porter Sculpture Park. Imagine huge metal sculptures in a wide-open field and the only backdrop is Mt. Rushmore off in the distance. You’ll find over 50 huge sculptures on the 10-acre park. The biggest piece of art is easily the giant bull’s head, which measures 60-feet-tall, which just happens to be the same size as the face on Mount Rushmore.

     There is nothing quite like hitting the beach. Some of our big cities are home to some of the best beaches in the world… you really just need to be in the know. Without further ado, put on that sunscreen (we recommend Doc Block), grab your largest sun hat, comfiest beach towel, and plenty of water to enjoy a day (or night) at these big-city beaches.

Miami Beach, Miami
     This is an obvious first choice for the list. Miami is one of the few cities where you consider the beach before you think about the rest of the place. No matter what you’re looking for you can find it at the beautiful Miami Beach. You can party amongst your peers or enjoy a beach that is buzzing with energy. Or you can head up to the north side where you can really stretch your legs out and have some more space to yourself. Miami Beach is iconic – once you see it you’ll understand why. Miami is definitely a special city.

Waikiki Beach, Honolulu
     Honolulu is a big city… but this beach happens to be in Hawaii. The beach here is known as Waikiki and it brings in tourists from all around the world. You can surf, paddleboard, or just relax on the sand all up and down this marvelous coast. Hanging out can tend to get a bit crowded since this beach is so popular but it is so magnificent. You will hardly notice all the people. Honolulu is a super fun city as well, but again, don’t forget to stop by Waikiki.

Santa Monica State Beach, Los Angeles
     Everyone knows this beach because of the remarkable Santa Monica Pier. The Ferris Wheel is iconic… there’s no question about it. Nothing compares. Tourists and locals alike flock to Santa Monica State Beach to enjoy the waves and all the fun family games located on the pier. If you get bored on the beach then you’re only a short walk away from awesome shopping at the 3rd Street Promenade.

Revere Beach, Boston
     Named after Paul Revere, the Revere Beach has a history to match the great American icon. This sandy spot is the oldest public beach in the country, so maybe this is where Paul Revere, Ben Franklin, and friends would hang-ten. This beach is not usually over-crowded so you can really enjoy the Atlantic here as well as exploring the history. Bring a metal detector and who knows, you might find one of Benjamin Franklin’s beer steins. 

     If adventure is what you seek, there is no greater way to see your vacation destinations than by helicopter. Imagine yourself flying amongst the clouds as you glide through the sky in a helicopter – the mind blown by the incredible views. There is no better way to enjoy attractions then up a couple of thousand feet in a rotary-winged machine. They may be loud but a helicopter ride will easily be the most memorable experience from any vacation. Check out the best destinations to take a helicopter ride and see things from a truly unique vantage point. 

Las Vegas

     Las Vegas is one of the busiest helicopter tour destinations, with plenty to see in a short ride. From the Vegas strip to the Hoover Dam to the granddaddy of them all, the Grand Canyon. A helicopter is the only way to see the Grand Canyon in all its glory and majesty. The Grand Canyon is over 270 miles long and can be 15 miles across; something that grand needs a copter to see it fully.

Niagara Falls

     Most people will tell you the best view of Niagara Falls is from a boat in the water beneath the falls, but that’s not true, obviously, the best view is from a helicopter. Niagara Falls is just a massive sight to see and with all the tourists that jam the site, it can be difficult to have a perfect vantage point. If you really want an amazing view that is unforgettable, you must see the falls from a helicopter. Imagine the immense beauty of something so powerful as Niagara Falls seen from above in the peace of a smoothly flying helicopter.

Kauai, Hawaii

     If you have seen the beginning scene of Jurassic Park then you know that in Kauai there are waterfalls only accessible by helicopter. Kauai is known as the garden island because it’s so lush and only 20% of the island is accessible by car. The island has many amazing sights that have to be seen by helicopter to understand how massive they are. The Na Pali Coast is the Western side of the Island and is characterized by the huge, steep mountains covered in green ferns. The entire side of the island is unreachable by car and a helicopter is the only way to see it or you can traverse the 17 miles up and down over a two-day hike. The Waimea Canyon is called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific as its massive and beautiful. Plus there are a dozen or so mega waterfalls you have to see from a helicopter.

New York City

     New York City is the mega-metropolis city that we all love and never have enough time to see it all when we visit. If you want to really understand how huge NYC is, you have to see it from a helicopter. Imagine flying between the skyscrapers, above the central park and around the Statue of Liberty. New York is such an expansive city it’s nearly impossible to catch it all in one trip, but a great way to check it out is a few hundred feet up, in a whirlybird.