For some reason, human beings have a fascination with all destinations strange and unusual. In fact, heading to destinations such as these can often make for the best US road trips! While many of these landmarks are more on the weird side than the unusual side (then again, a giant boot is pretty unusual... ), they still make for great stories to tell and perfect spots to stop off during a trip. Who wouldn't love seeing the world's largest thermometer up close and personal?
It's amazing how many US landmarks actually hold world records for their sheer size or for being the only one of their kind, and the best part? They're pretty easy to find. Some of these are natural wonders while others are completely man-made, but they're each impressive in their own way, nevertheless.
The World's Biggest Thermometer In Death Valley
In Baker, California, visitors can stop off to take a peek at the world's largest temperature-taking device. The sight to behold was built by Willis Herron, who was commissioned to craft the towering structure after Death Valley saw a record temperature of 134-degrees, making it a fairly dangerous destination for tourists. The thermometer has been standing tall - at a total of 134 feet - since 1991, and now even has a gift shop attached to it. How expensive is it to keep a piece of work like this running every month? Roughly $8,000.
The World's Biggest Boot In Minnesota
There was a children's story that followed a narrative similar to this with a woman living in a shoe and funny enough, this boot is probably big enough to allow that. This massive piece of footwear is by none other than the Red Wing Shoe Company, and it sits in their showroom as a symbol of their skill and talent when it comes to making genuine leather shoes. While visitors can't go in the boot (then again, why would anyone want to?), they can get pretty up close and personal with it and its genuine leather scent.
Carhenge In Nebraska
Since the US couldn't have Stonehenge, it was decided that Carhenge would be good enough. The creative structure was built by Jim Reinders in his father's honor, and it serves as a memorial to him. It was first constructed in 1987 and consists of 38 cars, all American vintage, arranged in the same manner as the original Stonehenge. Visiting this fun site can be done free of charge, and there's also a gift shop next door.
Devils Garden In Utah
This natural landscape consists of over 2,000 stone arches, each of which was created by Mother Nature herself. It can be found in Arches National Park, and with hikes of varying difficulty, this park is accessible to all experience levels.
The Delicate Arch, in particular, leads hikers three miles to one of the most popular viewpoints in the park. While the arches are definitely intriguing to see, the entire park is full of interesting sights and vistas that make a longer hike worth it - just be sure to hydrate, as the sun can be brutal in these parts.
The Dole Plantation Pineapple Maze In Hawaii
Hawaii holds a secret, and it comes in the form of the largest plant maze in the world. At the Dole Plantation, visitors can attempt to complete this maze, which spans over two miles, with 14,000 types of plant life.
The maze is located in Oahu, and the best record at this point in time? Roughly 7 minutes to navigate the entire maze from start to finish.