roadside attractions of interest?

[hsmamato2]

I'm driving from Ct- Missouri this summer with the kids.....anything interesting,like roadside attractions along the way? (east-west) PA,OH,etc....stuff like giant ball of twine,etc.....corny stuff? any ideas to break the monotony?

 

[chrissyd1]

I just picked up a book from the library called - The Great American Road Trip. It shows the kind of things you are looking for. And it a very nice book with lots of pictures.

I think there is a giant cross to see in Effingham, IL.

 

[mrsklamc]

We'd need to know your route, in order to tell you. Unless you are going to base the route on the attractions.

 

[DreadpiratK]

I think you would be passing through Hershey PA, the Chocolate World attraction is fun and free. It only takes about an hour unless you really like to shop, but our kids love to stop at it when we are going that way.

 

[dblr]

I would agree that knowing which route you are taking will help alot more, if you use Rt 80 check out Knoebels a great old fashion amusement park, if you take the lower routes 78 or 76 there is the Hershey area but something free near Bedford Pa. check out gravity hill the kids will get a kick out of that.

 

[kacaju]

there is a website called roadside america (or something like that)

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

Are you into that food network show, Diners Drive Ins and Dives? We were thinking of trying to hit one of those locations as we drive from KS -NY this summer.... they are listed on food network website.

I would highly recommend the St. Louis Arch!

 

[monorailsilver]

My husband (then boyfriend) & I drove from CT to Missouri back in the late 1990's in a Fiero.

I can't remember if we stopped anywhere other then an under pass while a storm passed as a just in case a tornado came about. We were close to St. Louis at this point.

Crayola Factory in NJ/PA line. But that could take a few hours but it was fun for dh & I pre kids.

Longaberger basket & factory (2 separate areas) in Ohio somwhere. I am not sure how far off the interstate they are since that year we were stuck in Columbus for a car show.

If you are going via Indy, you can stop by the race track.

Um..have a fun trip!

 

[Majkman]

IF you go through Metropolis, IL which we do when going from DeKalb, IL to Columbia, MO. Pretty self explanatory as to why, but if with kids, it's a cool stop for pictures with the giant statue and a couple quirky shops downtown specializing in their 'native son' trinkets.

Have a Magical Day,

Andy

 

[eduk8r26]

If you belong to AAA and they still do Trip-tiks, that's a great way to find out what's along the way.

 

[beansmom]

The Brickyard Museum at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is pretty cool. Definitely do the St Louis arch...it is amazing...and if you can swing thru, I would do Hannibal, Mo, too...the birthplace of UnSinkable Molly Brown (the home she was born in is a small museum) and the Tom Sawyer caves, Lover's Leap and the Mark Twain drive in are all fun.

If they are older kids, say teens, Frank Lloyd Wright's 'Falling Water' is a very neat house...it's in far west PA.

 

[MyBuddyBaloo]

If you are sports fans, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is located right off Interstate 77 in Canton OH.

Have a nice trip!!

 

[hsmamato2]

oohh-thanks for all the replies! I will have to check that book out before i go,and I love the food network idea too....if we have time I think I'd love the crayon thing( love crayons!)
I'm not 100% sure of my route yet,though a small detour or two to see something interesting is not out of the question for me!
I'll head to AAA this week too.....getting excited,and Disney isn't even involved this time!

 

[QT Pooh]

Check out the roadsideamerica.com website for places that are kind of hokey. I was just looking on there because I am seriously in the mood for doing something like that. The do the listing by state.