List of largest roadside attractions facts for kids

Have you ever seen something so big or so unusual on the side of the road that it made you stop and stare? These amazing sights are called roadside attractions! They are often giant statues, unique buildings, or quirky landmarks designed to catch your eye and make your journey more fun. This article explores some of the most famous and interesting roadside attractions from around the world.

Amazing Roadside Sights in Asia

The incredible three-headed elephant at the Erawan Museum in Thailand.

Thailand's Giant Wonders

Thailand is home to some truly magnificent roadside attractions. One of the most famous is the Great Buddha of Thailand. This enormous golden statue is one of the tallest in the world, standing proudly and inspiring awe in everyone who sees it.

Europe's Unique Roadside Stops

Belgium's Atomium: A Giant Crystal!

In Brussels, Belgium, you can find the Atomium. This amazing structure looks like a giant model of an iron crystal, magnified 165 billion times! It was built for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair and is now a popular museum and landmark. You can even go inside its spheres and walk through the connecting tubes!

North America's Fantastic Roadside Attractions

North America is famous for its many "big things" that capture the imagination of travelers. From giant animals to oversized everyday objects, these attractions make road trips unforgettable.

Canada: Land of Giants!

Canada has a special love for giant roadside attractions, often called "Giants of the Prairies." These huge sculptures celebrate local culture, history, or even just something fun! You can find many of them across the country.

The Big Nickel in Sudbury, Ontario, is a huge replica of a Canadian coin.

Alberta's Awesome Attractions

The province of Alberta is home to several impressive roadside giants:

• The World's Largest Dinosaur in Drumheller, Alberta, is a huge T-Rex that you can even climb inside! It's a perfect stop in an area famous for dinosaur fossils.
• The Vegreville egg is a beautiful Ukrainian Easter egg, known as a Pysanky. This giant, colorful egg in Vegreville, Alberta, celebrates the region's Ukrainian heritage.
• In Glendon, Alberta, you'll find the World's Largest Perogy, a giant replica of a delicious dumpling, honoring local traditions.
• The Saamis Teepee in Medicine Hat, Alberta, is one of the tallest teepees in the world, celebrating Indigenous culture and history.

New Brunswick's Big Sights

New Brunswick offers its own collection of oversized wonders:

• The World's largest axe stands tall in Nackawic-Millville, New Brunswick, a nod to the area's forestry history.
• In Shediac, New Brunswick, you can see The World's Largest Lobster, a giant tribute to the region's famous seafood.
• Shep, a large sculpture of a Semipalmated sandpiper, can be found in Dorchester, New Brunswick, celebrating local wildlife.
• The Big Potato Man in Maugerville is a fun, quirky statue celebrating the importance of potatoes in the area.

Ontario's Iconic Roadside Stops

Ontario also has some memorable attractions:

• The Big Apple in Cramahe, Ontario, is a huge apple-shaped building where you can buy apple treats and even climb to the top for a view!
• The Big Nickel in Sudbury, Ontario, is a massive replica of a Canadian five-cent coin, standing 9 meters (about 30 feet) tall. It's a symbol of Sudbury's mining heritage.

Manitoba's Unique Landmark

• In Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, you can spot The World's Coke Can, a giant replica of a soda can, adding a fun twist to the landscape.

United States: A Land of Quirky Wonders!

The United States is famous for its diverse and often humorous roadside attractions. Many towns compete to have the "world's largest" version of something, making road trips full of surprises.

The Bottle, built in 1924 in Alabama, was an early "world's largest" roadside attraction.

Alabama's Giant Chair

• In Anniston, Alabama, you can see the World's Largest Office Chair. It's a fun, oversized piece of furniture that makes for a great photo opportunity.

California's Coolest Curiosities

California, known for its long roads, has some truly unique stops:

• The World's Largest Hammer in Eureka, California, is a giant tool that stands out in the landscape.
• In Riverside, California, you might find the World's largest paper cup, a surprisingly big everyday item.
• The World's Tallest Thermometer in Baker, California, is a towering structure that actually works, showing the temperature in a very hot desert region.

Georgia's Big Chicken

• The Big Chicken in Marietta, Georgia, is a famous landmark. It's a giant chicken structure that sits atop a fast-food restaurant and even moves its eyes and beak!

Illinois's Incredible Collection

Illinois is home to a town called Casey, which has made it its mission to collect many "world's largest" items!

• The Brooks Catsup Bottle water tower in Collinsville, Illinois, is a water tower shaped like a giant bottle of ketchup – a truly unique sight!
• In Casey, Illinois, you can find an amazing collection of giant items, including the World's Largest Clogs, World's Largest Crochet Hook, World's Largest Golf Tee, World's Largest Knitting Needles, World's Largest Mailbox, World's Largest Pitchfork, World's Largest Rocking Chair, and the World's largest windchime. It's like a scavenger hunt for giant things!
• Metropolis, Illinois, proudly displays the World's Largest Superman Statue, celebrating the famous superhero.

Indiana's Painted Ball

• In Alexandria, Indiana, you can discover the World’s Largest Ball of Paint. It's a regular baseball that has been covered with thousands of layers of paint over many years, making it grow into a huge, colorful sphere.

Kansas's Quirky Creations

Kansas offers some truly memorable roadside stops:

• The Biggest ball of twine in Cawker City, Kansas, is a massive ball of sisal twine, created by many people adding to it over decades.
• The World’s Largest Easel in Goodland, Kansas, holds a giant replica of a famous painting, making art visible from afar.

Michigan's Marvelous Monuments

Michigan has some impressive and musical attractions:

• The Uniroyal Giant Tire in Allen Park, Michigan, is a huge tire that once served as a Ferris wheel at the 1964 New York World's Fair. Now it's a static landmark.
• The Grand Haven Musical Fountain in Grand Haven, Michigan, is a spectacular water and light show synchronized to music, performed nightly during warmer months.

The 55-foot (17 m) fiberglass statue of the Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth, Minnesota.

Minnesota's Memorable Figures

Minnesota is home to several iconic statues and unique places:

• The Biggest ball of twine (made by one man) in Darwin, Minnesota, is another impressive twine ball, created by one dedicated person.
• The Iron Man in Chisholm, Minnesota, is a large statue honoring the iron miners of the region.
• Pelican Pete in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, is a giant pelican statue, a friendly welcome to the town.
• The Nevis Tiger Muskie in Nevis, Minnesota, is a huge fish sculpture, celebrating the area's fishing heritage.
• Soudan Underground Mine State Park in Soudan, Minnesota, allows visitors to go deep underground into Minnesota's oldest iron ore mine, offering a unique historical experience.

Missouri's Giant Games and Animals

Missouri boasts a variety of oversized attractions, from games to animals:

• The World's Largest Chess Piece in St. Louis, Missouri, is a huge chess piece, fitting for a city with a strong chess tradition.
• The World's Largest Fork in Springfield, Missouri, is a giant utensil that makes for a quirky photo stop.
• In Sumner, Missouri, you can find the World's Largest Goose Sculpture, a tribute to the local wildlife.
• Branson, Missouri, is home to the World's Largest Roll of Toilet Paper and the World's Largest Rooster Sculpture, adding humor and charm to the entertainment city.
• The World's Largest 8 Ball in Tipton, Missouri, is a giant pool ball, a fun and unexpected sight.

New Jersey's Famous Elephant

Lucy the Elephant, a historic six-story elephant-shaped building in Margate, New Jersey.

• The Union Watersphere in Union Township, Union County, New Jersey, is a unique water tower, though its "world's largest" claim is sometimes debated.
• Lucy the Elephant in Margate City, New Jersey, is a six-story elephant-shaped building built in 1881. You can even go inside this historic landmark!

New Mexico's Giant Nut

• In Alamogordo, New Mexico, you can see the World's Largest Pistachio, a huge, colorful sculpture celebrating the local pistachio farms.

New York's Big Duck

• The Big Duck in Flanders, New York, is a famous building shaped like a giant duck. It was built in 1931 and is a great example of "novelty architecture."

North Dakota's Enchanting Art

North Dakota offers a unique artistic journey:

• The Enchanted Highway is a collection of amazing "world's largest" scrap-metal sculptures. These giant artworks, like grasshoppers and pheasants, are spread along a scenic route, making for an unforgettable drive.
• Salem Sue in New Salem, North Dakota, is the World's Largest Holstein Cow, a huge statue celebrating the dairy industry.
• The World's Largest Buffalo in Jamestown, North Dakota, is a massive buffalo sculpture, honoring the history of the American West.
• In Steele, North Dakota, you can find the World's Largest Sandhill Crane, a graceful giant bird sculpture.

Ohio's Basket Building

The former Longaberger Company headquarters in Newark, Ohio, shaped like a giant basket.

• In Newark, Ohio, you can see a building shaped like a giant picnic basket! It was once the headquarters of a basket-making company and is a truly unique piece of architecture.

Rhode Island's Big Blue Bug

• The Big Blue Bug in Providence, Rhode Island, is a giant blue termite statue that sits on top of a pest control building. It's a memorable and slightly quirky landmark.

Washington's Hat and Boots

• Hat 'n' Boots in Seattle, is a fun, oversized cowboy hat and boots structure that was originally part of a gas station. It's now a beloved piece of public art.

West Virginia's Teapot

• The Chester teapot in Chester, West Virginia, is a giant teapot-shaped building. It was built in 1938 and is a charming example of roadside novelty architecture.

Wisconsin's Giant Fish and Clock

The World's Largest Musky, a giant fish sculpture at the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wisconsin.

• The World's Largest Musky is located at the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wisconsin. This enormous fish sculpture is so big you can even go inside its mouth!
• The Tallest Grandfather Clock in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, is a towering timepiece that stands out in the town.

Oceania's Big Wonders

Oceania, particularly Australia and New Zealand, also loves its "big things." These giant sculptures and structures celebrate local produce, animals, or unique aspects of their regions.

Australia's Famous "Big Things"

Australia is especially known for its collection of "Big Things," which are giant replicas of everyday objects, fruits, animals, or other items. You can find out more about them in the article Australia's big things.

New Zealand's Unique Giants

New Zealand also has its own set of impressive "big things" that capture the spirit of its towns and landscapes. Discover more about them in the List of New Zealand's big things.

Explore More Amazing Sights!

If you enjoyed learning about roadside attractions, you might also like to explore:

• "Giants of the Prairies": This is a fun polka song by the Kubasonics that celebrates Canada's giant roadside attractions.
• List of gravity hills: These are places where it looks like cars roll uphill on their own – a real optical illusion!
• Novelty architecture: This refers to buildings designed in unusual shapes, often to look like the products or services they offer, just like some of the roadside attractions we've seen.