Spring is just around the corner and for many people that means one thing: vacation.
If you’ve ever traveled the United States by car you might be familiar with kitschy sites popular with road weary travelers like the giant ball of twine in Kansas or the Mitchell Corn Palace in South Dakota. These destinations are mere specks on the map of unusual reasons for travel and are often reserved for unique restroom stops on the way to somewhere else. There are a myriad of quirky destinations that appeal to a very specific and niche group of travelers. Here's a list of 5 off-beat travel destinations you might want to consider for your next vacation itinerary.
1. If you’re a ventriloquism enthusiast, your dream vacation might be to visit the Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky; the world’s only museum dedicated to the art of Ventriloquism. Mark your calendar for mid-July when the museum hosts its annual Vent Haven ConVENTion. Producer Zach Nugent and I have been practicing our vent skills and are hoping to raise funds to attend a workshop.
2. If ice cream, specifically the Ben & Jerry’s brand, is your passion, you might enjoy a trip to the Flavor Graveyard in Waterbury, VT. It’s located just behind the company’s factory so you can drown your sorrows over the loss of the beloved White Russian flavor with a scoop of the flavor of the day. (I didn't even know there WAS a White Russian flavor!)
3. This list is not limited to unusual roadside attractions; a recent spate of stratospheric events has inspired some new and bizarre travel destinations. If comets are your thing, look no further than a chartered flight for you and eighty-seven of your closest astronomically-inclined friends. A travel agency in Germany is selling tickets for a flight that will take passengers eleven thousand meters high to take a closer look at comet “Pan-Starrs” on March 16th as it passes through the solar system.
4. If you can’t get enough of the meteor madness out of Russia, fret not, regional officials in Chelyabinsk, the industrial city in the Ural Mountains that was hit by a ten ton meteor last month, are planning to cash in on the frenzy. A “Meteor Disneyland” has been discussed, as well as a giant, pyramid-shaped flaming monument to mark the spot where the largest fragment hit.
5. Finally, when it comes to travel, one person’s paradise can definitely be another’s nightmare. Chewing gum aficionados this one’s for you! However, if you’re a germaphobe, the famous “gum wall” might not be on your list of must see’s when visiting Seattle. In 1993, patrons of a local theater began sticking their used gum on a brick wall in the alley. Workers scraped the gum away twice, before giving up...today, on some parts of the wall; the gum is several inches thick. Yuck!
We want to hear from you, what’s the strangest place you’ve ever visited on vacation?
