Mitchell Corn Palace - RVing with Rex

10 Amazing Places to RV in August 2025

If you’re dreaming of where to travel to experience it all, here are my picks for the best places to RV in August

Not all those who wander are lost.

—J.R.R. Tolkien

This snippet of lyrical verse is the second line in a poem included in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. The line has been adopted by adventurous travelers the world over who have perhaps never read the poem in its entirety: “All that is gold does not glitter / Not all those who wander are lost / The old that is strong does not wither / Deep roots are not reached by the frost.”

Taken as a whole, the poem suggests that there is great value in nurturing deep roots—that those who understand their origins will be more likely to persevere through adversity. This is certainly a theme that echoes throughout Tolkien’s stories as his characters suffer their trials and burdens. It suggests that the interesting question is not whether we wander, but how.

Where and how will you wander this month? The best places to RV in August allow you to enjoy a relaxing summer getaway without the swarming crowds. Throughout the month, weather is warm and there’s plenty of sunshine to be had making it a pleasant time to hit the road. But traveling during August also requires strategy: You’ll want to avoid long lines and hard-to-get reservations.

This August, I’ll not lament the fleeting days of summer. No, I will embrace it: There is still much to see and do—and places to travel in an RV. August is a time for lazy exploration and taking advantage of the last drops of the season while recharging for the months ahead. There are routes to be taken, mountains to climb, seafood to be eaten, and lakes to discover. Get out there and make the most of it.

Planning an RV trip for a different time of year? Check out my monthly travel recommendations for the best places to travel in June and July. Also check out my recommendations from August 2024 and September 2024.

Bisbee *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

1. Bisbee

Tucked into the Mule Mountains near the Mexico border, Bisbee is a former mining town turned creative enclave with awe-inspiring scenic surroundings. The steep hillsides and old staircases offer built-in hiking routes with views of colorful historic buildings and sweeping mountain backdrops.

Just outside of town, the trails wind through high desert terrain offering peace and elevation. One favorite for nature lovers is the Juniper Flats Loop where nature enthusiasts often spot mule deer and hawks.

Bisbee’s location makes it a great base for scenic drives. The nearby Sky Island Scenic Byway reveals dramatic elevation changes and lush microclimates. For those into geology, the Lavender Pit is both fascinating and starkly beautiful. The surrounding hills also bloom with wildflowers in spring adding color to the rugged terrain. With cooler temperatures than most of southern Arizona and easy access to hiking, Bisbee is an offbeat but rewarding nature escape.

Cumberland Island *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

2. Cumberland Island

Accessible only by ferry or private boat, Cumberland Island is one of the most scenic places on the East Coast. Wild horses, historic ruins, long stretches of untouched beaches, marshes, and maritime forests can be found on the 9,800 acres of Congressionally-designated wilderness.

Its remoteness and sheer beauty were no doubt two of the reasons John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy held their wedding there in 1996. If you want the full scoop on the island’s history, book a spot on the Lands and Legacies tour that kicks off right after the 9 am ferry arrives on the island.

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Grand Canyon National Park *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

3. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

If you’ve never seen Grand Canyon National Park, it’s high time you did! This national park is easily one of the most notable of them all and the vastness and beauty of the canyon simply cannot be put into words.

The south rim is the most popular point of interest at the Grand Canyon with dozens of viewpoints and many that offer views of the canyon’s heart: the Colorado River. Those looking for a more rugged experience will enjoy visiting the West Rim where visitors will find a more desert landscape, along with opportunities for helicopter tours and views from the famous glass “Skywalk” bridge.

You will definitely want to enjoy at least one hike while checking out the Grand Canyon! I also recommend checking out the ranger-led activities especially if you have kids in tow. The park has many places for RV camping including campgrounds with full hookups.

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12 Tribes Casino RV Park, Omak *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

4. Small town charm

Located in the foothills of the Okanagan Highlands in North Central Washington, Omak (population: 4,774) has a famous tourist stop for photographing the balanced Omak Rock. Adjacent to Omak Lake, the rock will set you in the right direction for outdoor adventure fun.

Pack a picnic from produce found at the Okanogan Valley Farmers Market (Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m., June through October) combined with coffees and baked goods from The Breadline Cafe and then enjoy a leisurely day on the lake or along the Okanagan River. If you prefer land adventures take a scenic hike along the trails of the Okanagan-Wenatchee National Forest.

For a fun family outing, bookmark your August calendars for the annual Omak Stampede (91st annual; August 7-10, 2025). This local celebration combines stampede events with rodeo dances, art shows, and more. Or treat the family to your own horseback adventure with a visit to Pine Stump Farms.

For a relaxing time, book a stay at 12 Tribes Resort Casino RV Park, a full-service resort with 72-foot long x 42-foot wide pull-through sites.

Shrimping boat *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

5. Get on Deck for 73 Years of Shrimp!

The Town of Delcambre, Louisiana, located about 20 miles southwest of Lafayette, is home to one of the area’s most productive shrimp fleets. The town devotes an entire weekend to honor this economic lifeblood. The Delcambre Shrimp Festival invites you to Iberia Parish for the 70th year August 13-17, 2025.

The festival has gained its popularity by providing a variety of delicious dishes and top-notch entertainment including national recording artists. Enjoy signature shrimp dishes like boiled shrimp, fried shrimp, shrimp sauce piquante, shrimp salad, and many more. Each and every shrimp dish consumed at the festival is prepared by volunteer members of the festival association.

Keystone *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

6. Keystone

At first glance, Keystone might be a turn-off as its year-round population of around 200 people evokes ghost town vibes. However, this serenity is one of the reasons the town is perfect for a weekend retreat away from the chaos. The other reason is its proximity to Mount Rushmore National Monument, one of America’s most iconic attractions. This monument alone is worth a visit to Keystone to see the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt engraved into a mountain.

Besides this monument, however, Keystone surprisingly has dozens of other thrilling attractions to delight travelers. Rush Mountain Adventure Park is one of these attractions featuring the Rushmore Cave, a mountain coaster, a zipline, a challenge course, and a gemstone mining area.

Keystone also hosts the National Presidential Wax Museum, home to over 100 realistic wax figures including every US President.

Mitchell Corn Palace *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

7. Mitchell

The town of Mitchell puts its name on the global map for hosting the World’s Only Corn Palace. This attraction alone is worth a weekend in Mitchell if you love creativity and the arts. Interestingly, this Corn Palace takes a different theme each year and is usually designed with up to 12 different colors of locally grown corn. Even more interesting, the Corn Palace serves as a venue for concerts, exhibits, and other community events and it hosts an annual corn festival (August 20-24, 2025).

Additionally, Mitchell is home to the Dakota Discovery Museum, a great place to learn about the lives of the Plains Indians, the Fur Trade, and the Dakota Territory. Visitors can check out this museum and then head to the Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village to learn about the first people who inhabited the region more than a thousand years ago.

Nearby, Lake Mitchell is a great place to cool off with exciting activities like paddling and fishing. The area around the lake also has trails for hiking and biking, and a campground for extended stays.

Dead Horse Point State Point *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

8. Dead Horse Point

Often overshadowed by nearby Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Dead Horse Point offers equally jaw-dropping views without the crowds. The overlook of the Colorado River, winding 2,000 feet below, is one of the most iconic vistas in the Southwest. The park’s trails lead across red rock cliffs, piñon-juniper woodlands, and high-desert mesas with panoramic views in every direction that glow gold and orange at sunrise or sunset.

Despite its proximity to some of Utah’s busiest attractions, Dead Horse Point feels surprisingly peaceful. A well-maintained trail system loops past multiple scenic viewpoints and the park is a designated International Dark Sky Park making it ideal for stargazing after a day of hiking. It’s a perfect base for travelers who want classic red rock scenery in a quieter setting.

The Wharf, Gulf Shores *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

9. Gulf Shores, Alabama

Away from the mountains, you’ll find Gulf Shores, Alabama—a stunning seaside destination perfect for RVers. Gulf Shores is the ideal vacation spot for families and beach lovers with miles of beautiful sandy beaches, delicious seafood, and plenty of fun attractions nearby.

Although the beach gets all the attention, you’ll find plenty of family-friendly activities in Gulf Shores. With over a dozen golf courses nearby, you can easily take your pick, all offering gorgeous greens and challenging play. If your crew is new to the game, Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf is another fun way to enjoy time with family. Whether riding the Ferris wheel at The Wharf or learning how to build unique creations at Sand Castle University, fun is never far away.

Santa Fe *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

10. The City Different

Santa Fe, New Mexico, is famously known as “The City Different,” a nickname that reflects its unique blend of cultures, architecture, and history. Established in 1607, Santa Fe is the third oldest city founded by European colonists in the U.S. and the oldest capital city in the country, serving under five different governments: Spain, Tewa Puebloans, Mexico, the Confederate States of America, and the United States.

The city’s rich cultural heritage is evident in its adobe-style architecture which is preserved through strict regulations that require new buildings in historic districts to reflect the region’s traditional adobe construction.

Santa Fe is also renowned for its vibrant arts scene with over 250 art galleries, 14 unique museums, and a thriving community of artists, musicians, and writers. The city’s cultural diversity is a result of the blending of Native American, Spanish, and Anglo traditions creating a distinctive and historic atmosphere.

Additionally, Santa Fe is known for its exceptional climate with 325 days of sunshine per year and its status as the highest altitude capital city in the U.S. situated at 7,199 feet. The city’s history is further enriched by landmarks such as the Palace of the Governors, the oldest government building in the country and the San Miguel Mission, the oldest church in the continental U.S.

Plus, several RV parks are nearby making it a convenient place to visit in your RV.

There you have it, folks, ten of the best places to travel in your RV in August. An RV road trip allows you to escape the monotony of everyday life and truly immerse yourself in nature’s beauty. So pack up the RV and get ready to explore. There’s no doubt that these places will provide a one-of-a-kind experience for you and your loved ones.

Worth Pondering…

It’s a sure sign of summer if the chair gets up when you do.

—Walter Winchell

The Complete Guide to Mitchell, South Dakota

The town of Mitchell puts its name on the global map for hosting the World’s Only Corn Palace

Mitchell is a small city in South Dakota. With a population of 15,660 residents as per the latest US Census, Mitchell is the state’s sixth-most populous city. The area is home to the rich archaeological history of the indigenous people who inhabited the region. In addition, Mitchell offers several recreational activities all year long attracting over 500,000 tourists annually.

Geography and climate of Mitchell

Humid continental climate with cold winters and warm sometimes humid summers

Mitchell is located approximately 70 miles west of Sioux Falls. Mitchell covers a total area of 12.297 sq. mi. (7,870 acres) of which 11.2 sq. mi. (7,168 acres) is occupied by land and 1.05 sq. mi. (672 acres) of water. The city is located along the south flowing James River, a tributary of the Missouri River. Mitchell is placed just south of the shores of Lake Mitchell, an man-made reservoir. The area is well-equipped with biking and hiking trails that span around the lake as well as within the city.

According to the Koppen Climate Classification, Mitchell experiences a humid continental climate with hot, humid summers and cold winters. The winters are especially cold with the average high in January being 26°F and an average low at 4°F. The year’s hottest month is July with an average daily high of 86°F and a low of 62°F.

The city receives maximum precipitation during the summer months with an average precipitation being 3.52 inches during June—the rainiest month and only 0.47 inches during January—the driest month. The city receives about 40.6 inches of snowfall.

Due to Mitchell’s location in Tornado Alley, the city faces thunderstorms which often create tornadoes.

History of Mitchell

Mitchell’s development was influenced by its location on the James River and the arrival of the railroad

The city of Mitchell was formally incorporated as a village in 1881 although settlers arrived in the area years before that around 1872-73 in anticipation of a railroad that would be built there at the meeting of the James River and Firesteel Creek.

Before that, the region was occupied by the Sioux and Arikara Native Americans from roughly 1600-1750. Even before them, Native American farmer-hunters known as the Pre-Mandan occupied the area but left after exhausting the local supply of lumber, according to archaeological research. The Pre-Mandan were there from 1000 A.D to 1100 A.D. and are believed to be the first ones who settled along the banks of the Firesteel Creek.

In fact, the original settlement now known as Mitchell was first called Firesteel but the location was later discovered to be a flood risk causing the town site to be moved a mile to the west of the riverbanks. It was then re-named Mitchell after Alexander Mitchell, the President of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad (Milwaukee Road).

The railroad was completed in 1880 which established Mitchell as a stop that was connected to the rest of the United States. This caused the population to grow from the original 320 settlers to 1,000 just three years later. Today, the population is over 15,000 people.

Attractions in Mitchell

Corn Palace

Unique architectural landmark

The world’s only Corn Palace is an attraction that was established in Mitchell in 1892 and continues to retain popularity to this day with half a million annual visitors coming in from across the country to witness the corn murals. The site offers free guided tours with fun facts about the place’s history and information explaining how the corn is grown. There are also carnival rides, vendors, live entertainment, and a farmer’s market.

The Palace is redecorated each year with naturally colored corn and other grains and native grasses. They currently use 12 different colors or shades of corn to decorate the Corn Palace: red, brown, black, blue, white, orange, calico, yellow, and now they have green corn! A different theme is chosen each year and murals are designed to reflect that theme. Ear by ear the corn is nailed to the Corn Palace to create a scene.

The decorating process usually starts in late May with the removal of the rye and dock. The corn murals are stripped at the end of August and the new ones are completed by the first of October. Just like South Dakota Agriculture, growing condition can affect production of the decorating materials and may delay the decorating process.

Address: 604 North Main Street, Mitchell, SD 57301
Admission: Free admission
Summer hours: 8 am-9 pm daily
Phone: 605-995-8430

Mitchell Prehistoric Indigenous Archaeological Site

An educational and cultural destination

The Mitchell Prehistoric Indigenous Archaeological Site, a National Historic Landmark site, is the only active archaeological site in South Dakota that is open to the public.

Explore the ancient secrets while walking in the footsteps of a people who lived 1,000 years ago. The Mitchell Prehistoric Indigenous Archaeological Site is your opportunity to travel back to the time of the ancestors of the Mandan, the tribe Lewis & Clark encountered in the winter of 1804. Investigate the shelter construction, innovative hunting tools, and agricultural techniques of these resourceful people.

Special events like live digs, story tellers, Archeology Days, and more are scheduled throughout the summer. The picturesque grounds are perfect for picnics, birdwatching, and lakefront biking and hikes. The gift shop features books, Native American made jewelry, pottery, art, and more.

Address: 3200 Indian Village Road, Mitchell, SD 57301 (located on the Dakota Wesleyan Campus)
Admission: $10; seniors (60+), $5; students (ages 18+ with valid ID), $4; children 17 and under, free
Hours: 8 am-7 pm, Monday to Saturday; 10 am-5 pm, Sunday
Phone: 605-996-5473

Dakota Discovery Museum

Explores the region’s history and culture

Located on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU), the Dakota Discovery Museum offers a rich exploration of the region’s history and culture. It showcases exhibits covering the lives of the Plains Indians, the Fur Trade, Dakota Territory, Railroading, Farming and Ranching, and the 1930’s Great Depression.

Visitors can learn about the history of the Middle Border Region, which includes North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of adjoining states, through various artifacts, murals, clothing, tools, and memories that illustrate the shared journey of the people in the region

Additionally, the Dakota Discovery Historic Village includes an expanded railroad history of local rail operations of the Milwaukee Railroad and features restored buildings such as the 1886 Beckwith House, an 1885 one-room schoolhouse, a 1900 railroad depot, and a 1909 church.

Address: 1200 W University Avenue, Mitchell, SD 57301
Admission: $7; seniors, $6; students (ages 6-17), $3
Hours: 9 am-5 pm, Monday to Friday; 10 am-2 pm, Saturday; closed Sunday
Contact: 605-996-2122

Carnegie Resource Center

Features a permanent collection of Corn Palace memorabilia

The Carnegie Resource Center is a historic building originally constructed in 1903 as a library with funding from Andrew Carnegie. It now serves as a hub for preserving Mitchell’s history and genealogy, housing the Mitchell Area Historical Society and the Mitchell Area Genealogical Society

The Carnegie Resource Center is within walking distance of the Corn Palace and an excellent compliment to your Corn Palace tour. The center houses a permanent collection of Corn Palace memorabilia as well as a number of changing exhibits pertaining to Mitchell area history and genealogy. You can view the mural “Sun and Clouds and Rain Over Hills” in the dome of the Carnegie Resource Center painted by the Dakota Yanktonai artist Oscar Howe.

Address: 119 West 3rd Avenue, Mitchell, SD 57301
Admission: Free admission
Hours: 1-5 pm, Monday to Saturday; closed Sunday
Phone: 605-996-3209

Lake Mitchell

A focal point for community activities

A great place to cool off and let the kids burn off road-trip energy, this scenic lake a mile and a half from the Corn Palace offers sandy beaches, picnic areas, places for boating and fishing, and wooded trails for hiking and biking.

Initally, the lake served as a primary water supply for the city of Mitchell before the city transitioned to a Missouri River pipeline, relegating the lake to a recreational role and backup water supply.

Now, the area is used as a park and recreation area with trails and other amenities such as 7 recreation facilities, 29 lakeside parks, 14 city parks, a campground, and other access areas.

Address: north side of town, Mitchell, SD 57301
Phone: 605-995-8450

Farm Life Creamery

Family friendly farm experience

They handcraft small batch artisan cheese on-farm using Grade A milk from their family’s Holstein herd in Ethan, South Dakota. They are also the only small, licensed Grade A bottling plant in South Dakota.

Buy their handcrafted cheese, bottled milk, and ice cream on-site at the Farm Store. Enjoy a FREE creamery tour and learn more about cheesemaking and milk bottling. Enjoy an ice cream cone.

Plan to attend rhe 2nd annual Farm Life Creamery Cheese Fest, June 21, 2025.

Address: 41053 265th Street, Ethan, SD 57334
Summer hours: 10 am-7 pm. Monday to Saturday; 10 am-3 pm, Sunday; call for winter hours
Contact: 605-999-9824

Looking for more South Dakota RV travel adventures?

Dakota Campground © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved

Where to camp in Mitchell

Lake Mitchell Campground

This is the premier spot for camping near Mitchell, located right on the shores of Lake Mitchell. It offers 48 RV campsites with full hookups (water, sewer, electricity) and 9 tent sites making it ideal for both RV and tent campers. The campground is open year-round though water and some facilities are seasonally limited in winter. Its lakeside location provides beautiful natural surroundings and easy access to outdoor activities like fishing, boating, and hiking.

The first-come, first-served policy for some sites offers flexibility for spontaneous trips while online reservations are available for planning ahead. The main advantage here is the authentic outdoor camping experience with essential amenities; however, it may be less suited for those seeking luxury or extensive on-site entertainment.

Address: 2611 North Main Street, Mitchell, SD 57301
Phone: 605-299-0999

Mitchell KOA

For campers who want a bit more comfort and family-friendly amenities, Mitchell KOA is a great choice. It features conveniences like electric vehicle charging, laundry facilities, a children’s playground, mini golf, and even bicycle rentals. This campground caters well to families and those who prefer a campground with more activities and services on-site. The KOA’s pet-friendly policy and WiFi access add to its appeal.

While it may lack the direct lakeside setting of Lake Mitchell Campground, it compensates with a broader range of amenities and entertainment options, making it perfect for longer stays or group camping.

Address: 41255 South Dakota Highway 38, Mitchell, SD 57301
Phone: 605-996-1131

Dakota Campground

Dakota Campground is highly rated for its spacious sites with good separation, plenty of trees providing shade and privacy, and a clean, inviting atmosphere. It features a pool which adds a nice recreational option during warmer months though weather can affect its use. The campground is pet-friendly and offers free parking and WiFi making it convenient for modern campers who want to stay connected.

Its location within Mitchell is accessible, making it easy to explore local attractions while enjoying a quiet camping experience. The main advantage is its balance of natural setting and practical amenities with a reputation for cleanliness and excellent service. It’s especially suitable for those who want a relaxed, small campground feel rather than a large commercial site.

Located off I-90 Exit 330, Dakota Campground features 52 sites including 11 pull-throughs, one camping cabin, full hookups, dump station, pool, game room, Laundromat, and Wi-Fi.

Address: 1800 W. Spruce, Mitchell, SD 57301 (2 miles straight west of Cabela’s)
Phone: 605-996-9432 and 855-996-9432 (toll free)

Mitchell, South Dakota, stands as a vibrant testament to small-town America blending rich history, cultural charm, and modern vitality. From the iconic Corn Palace to the scenic beauty of Lake Mitchell, the city offers a unique mix of attractions that captivate visitors.

Its strong community spirit, thriving local businesses, and commitment to preserving its heritage make Mitchell a hidden gem in the heart of the Midwest. Whether you’re drawn to its annual festivals, outdoor adventures, or welcoming atmosphere, Mitchell invites all to experience its enduring appeal and discover why it remains a cherished destination.

Worth Pondering…

This is one of the few places I have ever seen where the night was friendlier than the day. And I can easily see how people are driven back to the Badlands. In the night the Badlands had become the Good Lands. I can’t explain it. That’s how it was.

—John Steinbeck

The Weirdest Roadside Attractions

The stories behind these American road trip pit stops are as curious as the attractions themselves

America is dotted with random nonsense but not all roadside attractions are created equal. For every Mystery Spot or trippy theme park, there are hundreds of oversized things and fossil farms waiting to lure you off the beaten path. These are the true gems, the paragons of off-highway kitsch and wonder. Point the GPS in their direction, and your road trip automatically becomes more interesting. Or at least your photography will.

With wanderlust and weirdness in mind, we road-tripped across the country and found the oddest, most wonderful, and most puzzling roadside attractions where least expected. Better stock up on boudin and pork cracklins, kolache and doughnuts, and other snack foods: there are going to be many, many detours in your future.

You’ll also want to read my articles on roadside attractions:

INSIDER TIP: For the deepest dive, jump off the interstate and wander the local or back roads instead.

Wall Drug *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Mother of All Roadside Attractions

One of (if not the) the most prominent tourist traps has to be Wall Drug. The first time you see one of the charming, hand-painted Wall Drug signs on the highway leading to South Dakota, you’ll be charmed. By the 100^th time, you’ll be confused, maybe swearing off visiting out of principle. But Wall Drug cannot be avoided if you’re on I-90, largely because it’s the last stop for fuel before/after the Badlands.

Spotted Lake

The natural world has many wonders. One of the most remarkable is that of Spotted Lake near Osoyoos in the southern interior of British Columbia. It is a polka-dotted body of water that looks so bizarre you could be forgiven for thinking you were on an alien planet. During the summer the lake undergoes a remarkable transformation becoming spotted with different colors and the waters that resemble a polka-dot design. This lake is also an important spiritual site for the local First Nation Peoples.

World’s Only Corn Palace

This corn crazed prairie town in South Dakota is home to the high school sports teams the Kernels, local radio station KORN, and the architectural showplace of the world known as the Mitchell Corn Palace. Its czarist-Russia exterior and intricate murals are made entirely out of local corn and grains (it’s refurbished annually), and the onion domes and minarets make it the world’s only corn palace, but would the world really need more than one of these?

Mundare Sausage *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

World’s Largest Sausage

Mundare, Alberta, is known for its Ukrainian Home-Made Style Sausage produced by Stawnichy’s Meat Processing, a sausage factory famous for its kobasa. It is also the home of the world’s largest sausage replica (42 feet high and 6 tons) built by the Stawnichy family.

Started in 1959, the Stawnichy family, father and son, started smoking meat. Edward took over from his father in 1971 and now his daughter, Cheryl Zeleny, mixes all the spices. This immense Ukrainian sausage is the tallest piece of meat anywhere in the world.

The Peachoid *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

A Peach of a Water Tower

You can’t miss it as you drive down I-85 in South Carolina. The Peachoid, as it’s called, is a massive peach-shaped water tower. In Gaffney, the Peachoid is more than a water tower. According to official literature, the Peachoid boldly “sets the record straight about which state is the biggest peach producer in the South. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT Georgia.”

Without a doubt, the best known, most photographed water tank in America. It is painted to match the kind of peaches grown in the area using 20 colors and 50 gallons of paint.

Tombstone *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Town Too Tough To Die

Live out all of your Wild West dreams in Tombstone, Arizona, the location of the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Cowboys, cowgirls, and wannabes fill up the town’s saloons and the O.K. Corral museum puts on reenactments of Wyatt Earp’s 1881 shootout. The buildings are so well maintained and the townsfolk so authentic that at times it’s easy to think you’ve landed on a John Wayne movie set.

Paisano Pete

There’s a really big roadrunner in Texas. His name is Paisano Pete and he wants to welcome you to the town of Fort Stockton (he is their mascot, after all). An off-beat roadside attraction, Paisano Pete has been a fixture in this West Texas town since 1979.

Paisano Pete was for many years the World’s Largest Roadrunner. In 1993, Pete lost his world’s largest title to an enormous statue in Las Cruces, New Mexico, but this hasn’t dimmed his appeal nor stopped him from becoming Fort Stockton’s most photographed resident. And at 22 feet long and 11 feet tall, he’s still pretty big.

World’s Largest Roadrunner *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

An Encounter with the World’s Largest Roadrunner

The Roadrunner is the official state bird of New Mexico. A giant recycled roadrunner—20 feet tall and 40 feet long—has been an icon of Las Cruces ever since artist Olin Calk built it in 1993. It was made exclusively of items salvaged from the landfill. In early 2001, Olin stripped off the old junk, replaced it with new junk, and moved the roadrunner to a rest stop along Interstate 10, just west of the city.

Signs around the sculpture warned of rattlesnakes, but when we stopped by to visit people were blissfully trudging out to the big bird anyway, to pose for snapshots or examine the junk (We did, too).

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum

Nestled in the scenic hills of Desert Hot Springs, a Hopi-inspired pueblo sits against a hillside. Not just any pueblo but one built with natural materials collected throughout the desert. Yerxa’s Pueblo is a four-story, 5,000-square-foot structure. It has 160 windows, 65 doors, 30 rooflines, and 35 rooms. When homesteader Yerxa Cabot settled in Desert Hot Springs, he used re-purposed materials and a little ingenuity to build a home so unique it remains a preserved museum to this day.

Wigwam Motel *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Sleep in a Wigwam

Have you slept in a wigwam lately? In the arid Arizona desert, the Wigwam Village Motel in Holbrook still provides Route 66 aficionados the opportunity to “Sleep in a Wigwam!”

Fifteen concrete and steel freestanding teepees are arranged in a semi-circle around the motel office.

Each teepee is 21 feet wide at the base and 28 feet high. The teepees are painted white with a red zigzag above the doorway. If you were to focus on the front door, ignoring the quirky architecture that drew you here in the first place, you might think you’re entering a Hobbit hole. Vintage automobiles are permanently parked throughout the property, including a Studebaker.

Worth Pondering…

Because the greatest part of a road trip isn’t arriving at your destination. It’s all the wild stuff that happens along the way.

—Emma Chase

10 Unusual and Unique Places to Visit in Your RV This Summer

Don’t just retreat to major tourist spots; spend your summer travel days in a unique, crowd-free locale

Have you thought about where the road will lead you this camping season?

Popular destinations such as the Grand Canyon, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Arches National Park top the must-see list for many RVers. But if you’re on the hunt for hidden gems to add an interesting twist to your travels this year, RVing with Rex has compiled a list of 10 unusual attractions that may fit the bill.

Helen *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

1. Helen, Georgia

The South holds its own in terms of small towns packing more than their weight in charm—but Helen, Georgia, really hammers that point home. With around 550 residents and only 2.1 square miles, it’s undoubtedly tiny. But the steeply pitched roofs, quaint cross-gables, and colorful half-timbering make the authentic Bavarian village enchanting. It looks straight out of our fairytale dreams and sits in the mountains of northern Georgia.

The Bavarian options go beyond golden German brews and bratwurst. (Though, that duo never disappoints.) You’ll find the most noticeable among the many cultural spots in the center of town.

Though reborn into its German style in the late 1960s, Helen was originally the home of the Cherokee Native Americans before its time as a gold rush town, then logging town.

Camping around Helen means you’re close to the best spots. Just a few minutes away you might find yourself hiking to the top of Yonah Mountain, tubing down the Chattahoochee River, or witnessing the geographical peculiarity of Raven Cliff Falls.

Roswell *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

2. Roswell, New Mexico

Roswell, New Mexico, is famous for being the location of an alleged UFO crash in 1947. There are many things to do in Roswell including the International UFO Museum & Research Center, the Roswell UFO Spacewalk and Gallery, and the annual UFO Festival (June 30-July2, 2013). If alien-themed activities aren’t your jam, check out attractions like the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, Roswell Museum and Arts Center, Pecos Flavors Winery, and Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Be prepared for hot weather in the summer while winters tend to be short, snowy, windy, and chilly. There are several RV parks to choose from in the area.

>> Get more tips for visiting Roswell

3. Tombstone, Arizona

A visit to Tombstone, Arizona is like stepping back into history. Otherwise known as the Town Too Tough to Die, Tombstone is the home of the infamous Gunfight at the OK Corral, Bird Cage Theater, Boothill Graveyard, Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Site, and the World’s Largest Rose Bush. Tombstone boasts a mild year-round climate, many wonderful shops, gunfight shows, re-enactments, and museums.

Tombstone is a living town with a colorful past that is celebrated throughout the year with many different events that bring Tombstone’s unique history to life. There are several RV parks in the area and boondocking is also popular in this region.

>> Get more tips for visiting Tombstone

Woodford Reserve Distillery *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

4. Bourbon Trail, Kentucky

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a collection of bourbon whiskey distilleries located in Kentucky. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail began in 1999 as a way to bring tourism to Kentucky. Touring the Bourbon Trail gives visitors an up-close look at how bourbon is distilled, the history behind the crafting of bourbon, and the art behind the perfect bourbon tasting.

Currently, there are eighteen bourbon labels that are a part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Each of these bourbon distilleries must be a member of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association which requires paying a fee. Our favorite bourbon distillers include Woodford Reserve, Makers Mark, Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, and Heaven Hill.

Wild Turkey Distillery *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

There are many more distilleries you can visit in Kentucky that are not part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. One of these is the famous Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, the state capital.

Whispering Hills RV Park in Georgetown and My Old Kentucky Home State Park campground will position you at either end of the trail and give you easy day trip access.

>> Get more tips for visiting Bourbon Country

Castle in the Clouds *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

5. Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough, New Hampshire

Castle in the Clouds is home to Lucknow, an Arts and Crafts-style 16-room mansion built in the Ossipee Mountains in 1914. The 135-acre estate provides one of the most stunning views of Lake Winnipesauke, surrounding mountains, and over 5,500 acres of conserved land.

Enjoy self-guided tours of the mansion and guided tours of its basement. The on-site Carriage House offers dining in its highly-acclaimed restaurant in vintage horse stalls and amidst panoramic lakeside views on the terrace. You can also spend time walking or hiking along 28 miles of trail managed by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust taking in the beauty while weaving along brooks and streams and exploring seven different waterfalls. For those that prefer horseback, Riding in the Clouds offers trail rides, carriage rides, and pony rides.

6. Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, Desert Hot Springs, California

Nestled in the scenic hills of Desert Hot Springs, a Hopi-inspired pueblo sits against a hillside. Not just any pueblo but one built with natural materials collected throughout the desert. Yerxa’s pueblo is a four-story, 5,000 square foot structure. It has 160 windows, 65 doors, 30 rooflines, and 35 rooms. When homesteader Yerxa Cabot settled in Desert Hot Springs, he used re-purposed materials and a little ingenuity to build a home so unique it remains a preserved museum to this day.

>> Get more tips for visiting Cabot’s Pueblo Museum

Carlsbad Caverns *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

7. Carlsbad Caverns, Carlsbad, New Mexico

New Mexico’s Carlsbad Caverns welcomes visitors with a unique spectacle: the Bat Flight Program where thousands of bats swarm the night sky. The free event begins in the evening with ranger-led narration about the science behind the spectacle. During the program, visitors watch the park’s large colony of Brazilian free-tailed bats exit the caverns to hunt for insects.

No reservations are required for this program that occurs every evening from Memorial Day weekend through October. The program takes place at the Bat Flight Amphitheater located at the Natural Entrance to Carlsbad Cavern. The start time for the program changes as the summer progresses and sunset times change.

To explore the cavern visitors can choose between the steep paved trail making its way down into the cave or the elevator directly down to the Big Room Trail. The 1.25-mile long Natural Entrance Trail is steep (it gains or loses) around 750 feet in elevation. This is equivalent to walking up a 75-story building. It takes about an hour to complete. Once down in the caves, the Big Room Trail is leading to the popular Big Room.

>> Get more tips for visiting Carlsbad Caverns

Museum of Appalachia *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

8. Museum of Appalachia, Clinton, Tennessee

The Museum of Appalachia is a living history museum, a unique collection of historic pioneer buildings and artifacts assembled for over a half-century. The Museum portrays an authentic mountain farm and pioneer village with some three dozen historic log structures, several exhibit buildings filled with thousands of authentic Appalachian artifacts, multiple gardens, and free-range farm animals, all set in a picturesque venue and surrounded by split-rail fences.

Strolling through the village, it’s easy to imagine we’re living in Appalachia of yesteryear cutting firewood, tending livestock, mending a quilt, or simply rocking on the porch, enjoying the glorious views.

>> Get more tips for visiting Museum of Appalachia

9. Corn Palace, Mitchell, South Dakota

Looking for something corny to do? The Corn Palace’s multi-purpose building in Mitchell, South Dakota is redecorated every year with fresh murals made of corn, native grasses, and other grains.

Mitchell built its first Corn Palace in 1892, then a replacement in 1905. The current Palace opened in 1921. Onion domes and cone-topped castle turrets were added in 1937 then updated to sleeker, LED-enhanced towers in 2015. Through all of its iterations, pennants and flags have fluttered from multiple poles on the roof.

Don’t miss the Corn Palace Festival from August 23-27, 2023. This annual event celebrates the redecorating of the building and features a carnival, musical entertainment, specialty vendors, and more. There are over half a dozen RV parks in the area including Dakota Campground.

>> Get more tips for visiting the Corn Palace

Texas Quilt Museum *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Texas Quilt Museum, La Grande, Texas

In downtown La Grange, quilts are doing what quilts have always done. They’re bringing people together. But instead of women huddling for a quilting bee or gathering at a quilt guild or children snuggling under a grandmother’s creation, visitors—quilters and non-quilters alike—come to the Texas Quilt Museum to view the common and uncommon artistry of handmade quilts from around the world.

The museum opened in November 2011 in adjacent 19^th-century buildings that had been extensively renovated into three galleries totaling more than 10,000 square feet. Rotating displays are assembled every several months.

As you take in the sights in your RV this summer, consider adding one or more of these unusual—and sometimes quirky—attractions to your itinerary.

Worth Pondering…

Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.

—Miriam Beard

Show Me the Weird

Say goodbye to boring road trips

One of the reasons people travel in RVs is to see things. They see epic places like The Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and the Black Hills of South Dakota. On the way to the big stuff, there are plenty of small sites that capture the public’s attention, too, like the World’s Largest Roadrunner, historical markers, and that corny attraction in Mitchell, South Dakota.

With wanderlust and weirdness in mind, we road-tripped across the country and found the oddest, most wonderful, and most puzzling roadside attractions where we least expected. Better stock up on boudin and pork cracklins, kolache and doughnuts, and other snack foods: there are going to be many, many detours in your future.

Basically Everything in Roswell

Is it fair to call an entire town a roadside attraction? Probably not! But the sheer number of alien-related stuff populating the streets of Roswell makes it unavoidable. There are makeshift spaceships you can tour. Straight-up UFO “museums.” A fake-ass alien autopsy site. Gift shops galore. If there are actual aliens tucked away in Roswell, they pulled the ingenious move of hiding in plain sight, surrounded by every kind of gaudy, over-the-top kitsch as possible. Well played Martians.

Mother of All Tourist Traps

One of (if not the) the most prominent tourist traps has to be Wall Drug. You can’t miss it: Not only because it’s massive, but because you’ll see hundreds of hand-painted signs across multiple states, luring tourists in with the promise of free ice water and $.05 coffee (the ice water’s great, the coffee not so much).

Related article: 10 Unusual Roadside Attractions to Stop For

And even if you wish to avoid it, you kind of can’t: At the intersection of East and West, North and South, it’s one of the last places to get gas for a while, regardless of where you’re going. Just grab a “where the heck is Wall Drug” bumper sticker, eat a donut, and soak in the Americana.

Prehistoric sculpture *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Monsters in the Desert

Something prehistoric. Something mythical. Something otherworldly. Here, in the middle of the desert, is a magical array of free-standing sculptures that will astound you. Imagine driving along Borrego Springs Road and something catches your attention—a dark form in the desert landscape. You spy a horse as it rears off to the side of the road. You look again and it is big, but it doesn’t seem to be moving. Then you look again and you realize it is a huge sculpture that has captured your attention.

Prehistoric sculptors *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Then, rising out of the flat desert landscape, an elephant appears. Alarmingly close by, a T-Rex bears its maw chasing a saber-tooth tiger. From the corners of your eyes, these large structures can be deceptively realistic. This is not a mirage but the gifts of visionary benefactor Dennis Avery (now deceased) and the craft of artist/welder Ricardo Breceda.

Hole N” The Rock

You’re driving down US Highway 191 south of Moab, thinking vaguely of finding a place to pull over and stretch, maybe get some snacks, when you see, in the distance: a massive red rock face with blazing white detailing. You drive closer. “HOLE N” THE ROCK”.

Is it … literally a hole in the rock? It is, kinda, yes. Hole N” The Rock is a 5,000-square-foot home carved into the rock where you’ll also find a trading post, general store, art collection, and petting zoo—camels, zebras, albino raccoons. You are wondering whether you can feed them, yes you can.

“WE ARE NOT YOUR DESTINATION:” explains/yells the Hole N” The Rock website, “WE ARE AN AMAZING STOP ALONG THE WAY.”

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum

Nestled in the scenic hills of Desert Hot Springs, a Hopi-inspired pueblo sits against a hillside. Not just any pueblo but one built with natural materials collected throughout the desert. Yerxa’s pueblo is a four-story, 5,000-square-foot structure. It has 160 windows, 65 doors, 30 rooflines, and 35 rooms. When homesteader Yerxa Cabot settled in Desert Hot Springs, he used re-purposed materials and a little ingenuity to build a home so unique it remains a preserved museum to this day.

World’s Only Corn Palace

This corn crazed prairie town in South Dakota is home to the high school sports teams the Kernels, local radio station KORN, and the “architectural showplace of the world” known as the Mitchell Corn Palace. Its czarist-Russia exterior and intricate murals are made entirely out of local corn and grains (it’s refurbished annually), and the onion domes and minarets make it the world’s only corn palace, but would the world really need more than one of these?

World’s Largest Pistachio *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

One Really Big Nut

One of the largest pistachio tree grooves in New Mexico, PistachioLand is a destination that can be enjoyed by all ages. Located in the Tularosa Basin outside of Alamogordo it’s an easy day trips from Las Cruces and can be combined with a visit to White Sands National Park.

PistachioLand is the home of the World’s Largest Pistachio, Pistachio Tree Ranch, McGinn’s Country Store, and Arena Blanca Winery.

Superstition Mountain Museum *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

The Lost Dutchman

Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum is the keeper and purveyor of the colorful tales of bygone days, both true and mythical. Located on the Apache Trail (Arizona Highway 88), the museum is comprised of numerous outdoor structures including the Apacheland Barn and the Elvis Chapel, the last surviving structures from Apacheland Movie Ranch, a huge working 20-stamp gold mill, a historical model railroad, Western storefronts, an exhibit hall and gift shop/bookstore, and nature trail.

An Encounter with the World’s Largest Roadrunner

In early 2001, Olin stripped off the old junk, replaced it with new junk, and moved the roadrunner to a rest stop along Interstate 10, just west of the city. Signs around the sculpture warned of rattlesnakes, but when we stopped by to visit people were blissfully trudging out to the big bird anyway, to pose for snapshots or examine the junk (We did, too).

Worth Pondering…

Because the greatest part of a road trip isn’t arriving at your destination. It’s all the wild stuff that happens along the way.

—Emma Chase

10 Unusual Roadside Attractions to Stop For

Fun for every age!

Instead of a road trip to visit all the US national parks or one that will take you to the best leaf-peeping spots in the country, why not get in the RV and see some of America’s coolest roadside attractions?

There are so many fun and quirky roadside attractions in the US—like Wall Drug in South Dakota or the Peachoid in South Carolina—that building an entire road trip around them is a breeze.

Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Summer is the perfect time for a road trip and America has no shortage of epic roadside attractions to keep travelers excited, even along some of the most mundane stretches of highway. We rounded up 10 of the most compelling landmarks across the country that should be locked into any traveler’s GPS.

INSIDER TIP: For the deepest dive, jump off the interstate and wander the local or back roads instead.

Corny Attraction

Remember the story of the Three Little Pigs, specifically the portly porker who made his house out of straw? Perhaps he’d have been better protected if he’d used a stronger material, maybe something along the lines of corn and grain. Or maybe he should have just hired the architectural crew that built the “World’s Only Corn Palace.”

The Mitchell Corn Palace, in Mitchell, South Dakota, is truly a spectacle. The massive building is comprised entirely of corn and local grains. This includes the structure, decorations, and even some impressive corn murals. The palace is so famous in the area that it plays host to a variety of events. You can even book and host your event.

Sleep in a Wigwam

Have you slept in a wigwam lately? In the arid Arizona desert, the Wigwam Village Motel in Holbrook still provides Route 66 aficionados the opportunity to “Sleep in a Wigwam!”

Fifteen concrete and steel freestanding teepees are arranged in a semi-circle around the motel office.

Each teepee is 21 feet wide at the base and 28 feet high. The teepees are painted white with a red zigzag above the doorway. If you were to focus on the front door, ignoring the quirky architecture that drew you here in the first place, you might think you’re entering a Hobbit-hole. Vintage automobiles are permanently parked throughout the property, including a Studebaker.

Roswell UFO Museum *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Basically Everything in Roswell

Hole N” The Rock

Hole N” The Rock is a 5,000-square-foot home carved into the rock where you’ll also find a trading post, general store, art collection, and petting zoo—camels, zebras, albino raccoons. You are wondering whether you can feed them, yes you can.

“WE ARE NOT YOUR DESTINATION:” explains/yells the Hole N” The Rock website, “WE ARE AN AMAZING STOP ALONG THE WAY.”

One Really Big Nut

The World’s Largest Pistachio was built in honor of PistachioLand’s founder, Thomas McGinn. After his passing in 2008, his son, Timothy McGinn erected the 30-foot sculpture in memory of his father. Tim wanted everyone who passed by PistachioLand to take note of what his dad created, a 111-acre pistachio orchard and vineyard started from bare desert land in 1980. From the first trees planted to today, PistachioLand now is home to over 12,000 pistachio trees and 14 acres of wine grapes.

A bronze plaque at the base of the nut states that, “Tom dreamed big, expected big, and accomplished big things. He would have said the monument is not big enough!”

Town Too Tough To Die

Wall Drug

Wall Drug is the roadside attraction to end all roadside attractions rising out of the prehistoric landscape preceding the Badlands. It’s a city-sized paragon of Western kitsch, a necessary pit stop in the middle of capital-N Nowhere. An actual drug store where you can get a prescription filled and also see a gigantic animatronic dinosaur or cowboy band, peruse Native American art, eat an open-face turkey sandwich, play in a shooting gallery, or snap a photo with a jackalope.

A Peach of a Water Tower

You can’t miss it as you drive down I-85 in South Carolina. The Peachoid, as it’s called, is a massive peach-shape water tower. In Gaffney, the Peachoid is more than a water tower. According to official literature, the Peachoid boldly “sets the record straight about which state is the biggest peach producer in the South. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT Georgia.”

Without a doubt, the best known, most photographed water tank in America. It is painted to match the kind of peaches grown in the area using 20 colors and 50 gallons of paint.

Paisano Pete

World’s Largest Sausage

Mundare, Alberta, is known for its Ukrainian Home-Made Style Sausage produced by Stawnichy’s Meat Processing, a sausage factory famous for its kobasa.. It is also the home of the world’s largest sausage replica (42 feet high and 6 tons) built by the Stawnichy family.

Worth Pondering…

Because the greatest part of a road trip isn’t arriving at your destination. It’s all the wild stuff that happens along the way.

—Emma Chase

10 Cool Buildings for a Cross-country Road Trip

Consider this list your reason for an epic cross-country road trip

As we travel around the United States, we observe fantastic buildings that adorn the country’s cities and towns. These incredible structures all have a story to tell and have been built to honor culture, challenge mankind’s abilities, and represent a time and place that is meaningful to its residents.

The Breakers © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

You learn a lot about a society from its buildings. Are they beautiful? Do they serve the people who live in them? Do they last? You could ask the same questions of civilization.

Vanderbilt Mansion © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

By those measures, the British Empire fares well. The English, like them or not, planted pretty buildings around the world. It may be the most unusual thing they did. Certainly, no one has done it since. Not only are these buildings interesting to look at, but they’re also full of fascinating history. Most cities (including Washington) haven’t constructed a graceful building in over 50 years. It makes me wonder about our civilization.

We’ve rounded up the most interesting structures in a variety of states. Let’s take a cross-country road trip as we explore nine of the coolest buildings in America.

Chapel of the Holy Cross © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

Arizona – Chapel of the Holy Cross

This cool chapel was designed by one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s students—Marguerite Brunswig Staude. The Chapel of the Holy Cross is 4 miles south of Sedona. It juts out from the colorful red cliffs and the large stained-glass windows overlook the Verde Valley.

Jekyll Island Club © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

Georgia – Jekyll Island Club

The Club officially opened in 1888, quickly becoming a retreat for families that represented one-sixth of the world’s wealth including the Vanderbilts, Morgans, Pulitzers, and Rockefellers. Over time the Clubhouse with its elegant spire expanded to include the Annex and accommodations for the Member’s Guests, or “Strangers” as they were affectionately called, and a few Members even built their own Cottage.

Related: 8 U.S. Towns Stuck in Time

Boone Tavern Hotel © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

Kentucky – Boone Tavern Hotel

A historic Berea hotel, Boone Tavern was built in 1909 at the suggestion of Nellie Frost, the wife of the College president, William G. Frost. Boone Tavern Hotel—named for Appalachian hero Daniel Boone—has been hosting visitors of Berea ever since including the Dalai Lama, Henry Ford, President Calvin Coolidge, Eleanor Roosevelt, Maya Angelou, and Robert Frost.

Cathedral of St. Helena © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

Montana – Cathedral of St. Helena

The Cathedral of Saint Helena was modeled by architect A.O. Von Herbulis after Vienna’s neo-Gothic church, Votivkirche. Construction began in 1908 and the church held its first mass in 1914. The impressive spires rise 230 feet above the street and can be seen from all parts of Helena. The stained-glass windows were made in Bavaria and shipped to Helena.

Loretto Chapel © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

New Mexico – Loretto Chapel

The visitor is drawn to Loretto Chapel to see the spiral staircase that leads to the choir loft. The chapel’s small-sized made access to the loft possible only by ladder. When none of the local carpenters could build a staircase that wouldn’t encroach on the limited floor space, the Sisters prayed to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters.

Soon a mysterious stranger arrived, looking for work, and built an elegant spiral staircase. The staircase—with two 360-degree turns, no visible means of support, and without the benefit of nails—has been called the Miraculous Staircase.

New York – Vanderbilt Mansion

By any standard, past or present, this property—with a magnificent view of the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains—would be considered prime real estate. A series of fine homes have stood on the tract since about 1764, and in 1847 the estate was called “one of the finest specimens of the modern style of Landscape Gardening in America.”

Vanderbilt Mansion gardens © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

Such superlatives attracted the attention of Frederick Vanderbilt, the grandson of Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt, who had built a fortune from shipping, ferries, and the New York Central Railroad. One of Frederick’s brothers, George Washington Vanderbilt, is perhaps best-known for his Biltmore Estate near Ashville, North Carolina. The Vanderbilts were known as the richest—and the most powerful—family in America in the late 1800s.

South Dakota – The World’s Only Corn Palace

The World’s Only Corn Palace or the Mitchell Corn Palace is a quirky, but cool multi-purpose arena in Mitchell. It was built in the Moorish Revival style and is adorned with crop art made from corn and other grain that features a constantly-evolving design.

The Corn Palace hosts concerts, sports events, exhibits, and other community events like the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo in July and the Corn Palace Polka Festival in September.

Mission San Jose © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

Texas – Mission San Jose

If you visit Texas, expect to see a lot of missions. But if you want to see the coolest one, check out the “queen” of all the San Antonio missions—Mission San Jose. Once the heart of a vibrant Spanish community founded in the early 18th century, San Jose attracted people from all over the area. The church, which still stands, was built in 1768.

New Hampshire – Castle in the Clouds

Built on a mountainside overlooking New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, the Moultonborough mansion originally named Lucknow has aptly been called Castle in the Clouds since it opened to the public in 1957. The beautiful Arts and Crafts–style home was built in 1913 as the luxury Ossipee Mountain retreat of Thomas Plant, a millionaire shoe-manufacturing mogul.

Rhode Island – The Breakers

There doesn’t seem to be a shortage of mega-mansions in Newport. The coolest of the over-the-top palatial “summer cottages” is the Breakers. This home symbolizes the social and financial preeminence of the Vanderbilt family who built the mansion.

Architects were tasked with designing an Italian Renaissance-style palace inspired by the 16th-century palazzos of Genoa and Turin. The manor was completed in 1895 and after the death of the last remaining Vanderbilt associated with the Breakers, it’s now in the hands of the Preservation Society and is the most visited attraction in Rhode Island.

Worth Pondering…

Traveling is almost like talking with men of other centuries.

—René Descartes

12 Must-See Roadside Attractions for the Perfect Road Trip

All manner of strange and interesting roadside attractions are found across the country

Road trips are an unpredictable and intimate method of exploring a place. Foregoing the long-distance leaps between airports, traveling via RV presents an opportunity to view the world on a micro-level by exploring the well-traveled and off-the-beaten-path attractions.

With wanderlust and weirdness in mind, we road-tripped across the country and found the oddest, most wonderful, and puzzling roadside attractions where least expected. Better stock up on boudin and pork cracklins, kolache and doughnuts, and other snack foods: there are going to be many, many detours in your future.

Sleep in a Wigwam

Have you slept in a wigwam lately? In the arid Arizona desert, the Wigwam Village Motel in Holbrook still provides Route 66 aficionados the opportunity to “Sleep in a Wigwam!”

Fifteen concrete and steel freestanding teepees are arranged in a semi-circle around the motel office. Each teepee is 21 feet wide at the base and 28 feet high. The teepees are painted white with a red zigzag above the doorway. If you were to focus on the front door, ignoring the quirky architecture that drew you here in the first place, you might think you’re entering a Hobbit-hole. Vintage automobiles are permanently parked throughout the property, including a Studebaker.

Anza-Borrego sculptors © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

Pre-historic Creatures Stalk the Desert

The landscape of the Anga-Borrego Desert has been changed forever by the appearance of prehistoric creatures that pop up alongside the roadside: Prehistoric elephants. A saber-tooth cat. An ancient camel.

A T. rex and a giant bird of prey. Not the flesh-and-blood kind, but remarkable art pieces—sometimes whimsical, sometimes haunting—are the one-of-a-kind works of sculptor Ricardo Breceda whose creations delight and surprise drivers near the town of Borrego Springs in southeastern California.

One Really Big Nut

One of the largest pistachio tree grooves in New Mexico, PistachioLand is the home of the World’s Largest Pistachio, Pistachio Tree Ranch, McGinn’s Country Store, and Arena Blanca Winery.

Savannah © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

Ghosts and Gravestones

Restless spirits have plenty of reasons to stalk the living, and regardless of personal beliefs about the afterlife, people out there are convinced they’ve seen these ghostly apparitions with their own eyes. No matter your destination, there’s bound to be someplace haunted along the way. Board the Trolley of the Doomed and hear about Savannah’s most haunted venues.

Wall Drug

An Encounter with the World’s Largest Roadrunner

The roadrunner is the official state bird of New Mexico. A giant recycled roadrunner—20 feet tall and 40 feet long—has been an icon of Las Cruces ever since artist Olin Calk built it in 1993. It was made exclusively of items salvaged from the landfill.

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum

Nestled in the scenic hills of Desert Hot Springs, a Hopi-inspired pueblo sits against a hillside. Not just any pueblo but one built with natural materials collected throughout the desert. Yerxa’s pueblo is a four-story, 5,000 square foot structure. It has 160 windows, 65 doors, 30 rooflines, and 35 rooms. When homesteader Yerxa Cabot settled in Desert Hot Springs, he used re-purposed materials and a little ingenuity to build a home so unique it remains a preserved museum to this day.

Sundial Bridge

Designed by Santiago Calatrava the Sundial Bridge is an architectural marvel. The glass decked, cable-stayed cantilever suspension bridge reaches 217 feet into the sky and, spans 710 feet across the Sacramento River, and is one of the world’s largest working sundials.

As an environmentally-conscious structure, Sundial Bridge was intentionally constructed without river footings to leave the salmon-spawning habitat below undisturbed. The deck is surfaced with translucent glass which is illuminated from beneath and glows aquamarine at night. Sundial Bridge also inspires onlookers with its “bird in flight” design, symbolizing overcoming adversity.

More Than a Potty Stop

You’re driving down US Highway 191 (south of Moab, Utah) thinking vaguely of finding a place to pull over and stretch, maybe get some snacks, when you see, in the distance: a massive red rock face with blazing white detailing. Then you drive closer. “HOLE N” THE ROCK”. Is it literally a hole in the rock? Kinda, like yes!

“WE ARE NOT YOUR DESTINATION:” explains/yells the Hole N” The Rock website, “WE ARE AN AMAZING STOP ALONG THE WAY.”

The Lost Dutchman

Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum is the keeper and purveyor of the colorful tales of bygone days, both true and mythical, regarding the area. Located on the Apache Trail (Arizona Highway 88), the museum is comprised of numerous outdoor structures including the Apacheland Barn and the Elvis Chapel, the last surviving structures from Apacheland Movie Ranch, a huge working 20-stamp gold mill, a historical model railroad, Western storefronts, an exhibit hall and gift shop/bookstore, and nature trail.

Peachoid © Rex Vogel, *all rights reserved*

The Giant Peach

Without a doubt, the best known, most photographed water tank in America. It is painted to resemble a giant peach.

Corny Attraction

Worth Pondering…

Because the greatest part of a road trip isn’t arriving at your destination. It’s all the wild stuff that happens along the way.

—Emma Chase

The Ultimate South Dakota Road Trip Itinerary

Discover Mount Rushmore, Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, Sioux Falls, and more on a road trip through South Dakota

South Dakota was made for road trips: There are scenic, paved roads that lead to national treasures, natural anomalies, perfectly preserved Wild West towns, and quirky attractions. Whether you’re a history buff, foodie, or nature lover, this Midwest state delivers. Read on for the ultimate South Dakota road trip itinerary including where to stop, what to do, and more.

Mitchell Corn Palace

Any drive through the Midwest will bring you face-to-face with cornstalks taller than you can imagine. The Mitchell Corn Palace in South Dakota celebrates all things corn—starting with this prairie town in the middle of nowhere. A pair of rounded turrets and two massive domes thrust into the sky capping off walls adorned in six different types of native grass and multi-story murals depicting famous South Dakota sights. A marquee reading “South Dakota Home Grown” stands over the main entrance. All of it is made from multi-colored ears of corn.

Wall Drug Store

Nestled in the town of Wall in the western part of the state, Wall Drug has grown from its humble beginnings in 1931 to a thriving oasis. Wall Drug offers dining, activities, gifts and souvenirs, visitor information and, of course, free ice water. Many road-worn travelers stop at Wall Drug and leave awake and refreshed just like they did more than 80 years ago.

But it wasn’t always a thriving business attracting 2 million visitors each year to the small town of Wall. Ted and Dorothy Hustead struggled to make Wall Drug successful in the early days. But the story of Wall Drug was a story of success because one simple idea took root: Offering travelers free ice water. Soon travelers would make a point to stop at Wall Drug to enjoy a refreshing break and they haven’t stopped coming to Wall Drug since. Stop at Wall Drug and see what the excitement is all about.

Badlands National Park

At first blush, it doesn’t sound like the best place to go. After all, it’s called Badlands! But it’s gorgeous with towering, striated red-and-gray rock formations. Not to mention all the wildlife visitors can see here—big-horned sheep, bison, pronghorns, burrowing owls, and whole towns of adorable prairie dogs. Native Lakota people named this 400-square-mile maze of buttes, canyons, pinnacles, and spires “Mako Sica” or “Bad Land.” Nowadays, it is usually tagged as “surreal” or “otherworldly.” State Route 240—also known as the Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway—leads visitors on a 38-mile odyssey through the center of the park. The route features 16 scenic overlooks and eight trails, ranging from handicapped-accessible quarter-mile boardwalks to a 10-mile-long trek.

Custer State Park

Nearly 1,300 magnificent bison wander the park’s 71,000 acres which they share with the swift pronghorn, shy elk, sure-footed mountain goats, and a band of curious burros. Visitors often enjoy close encounters with these permanent residents along the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road that winds around the southern edge of the park. Slender granite formations nicknamed “the needles” dominate the skyline, and grassy meadows fill the valleys. Visitors can explore the park via trail rides, scenic drives, mountain bikes, paddle-boats, hay rides, and even safari tours.

Needles Highway

The Needles Highway is more than a 14-mile road—it’s a spectacular drive through pine and spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen, and rugged granite mountains. The road’s name comes from the needlelike granite formations that seem to pierce the horizon along the highway. Visitors traveling the highway pass Sylvan Lake and a unique rock formation called the Needle’s Eye, so named for the opening created by wind, rain, freezing, and thawing.

Sylvan Lake *© Rex Vogel, all rights reserved*

Midway along this route, a turnout called The Cathedral Spires offers stunning views of the rocky outcroppings juxtaposed with Harney Peak, the highest point between the Rockies and the Alps.

Mount Rushmore

It’s finally time to see the Founding Fathers’ faces carved into the mountain—the enormity of the sculpture is truly a sight to see. Each year, approximately three million tourists from all over the world visit Mount Rushmore to experience this patriotic site. Today, the wonder of the mountain reverberates through every visitor. The four “great faces” of the Presidents tower 5,725 feet above sea level and are scaled to men who would stand 465 feet tall. The park includes a half-mile walking trail, museum, gift shop and dining room.

Worth Pondering…

Let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and rain alone shall wear them away.

—Gutzon Borglum, Mount Rushmore Sculptor, 1930

a-MAIZ-ing Corn-fused Roadside Attraction

The Corn Palace is an a-maiz-ing marvel of agricultural innovation

A two-story mural of Willie Nelson is made completely of corn. The high school team is called the Kernels. Their mascot is Cornelius. You gotta embrace it! Mitchell may well be the corniest city in America. No city is as singularly associated with a building as Mitchell is with its iconic arena/community center’s 43,000-square-foot piece of folk art known as the Corn Palace. And the people lean into it. Hard!

Paris has the Eiffel Tower and Mitchell has the icon of innovation—the amazing Corn Palace. The Mitchell Corn Palace is the only corn palace in the world, a fact you’ll see on varied billboards lining Interstate 90 as you speed through South Dakota. As curiosity lures you off the highway, you’ll pull onto Mitchell’s small-town Main Street and find a bright-gold behemoth that looks like a tornado hit Moscow and dropped part of the Kremlin on the prairie.

A pair of rounded turrets and two massive domes thrust into the sky capping off walls adorned in six different types of native grass and multi-story murals depicting famous South Dakota sights. A marquee reading “South Dakota Home Grown” stands over the main entrance. All of it is made from multi-colored ears of corn.

Any drive through the Midwest will bring you face-to-face with cornstalks taller than you can imagine. The Mitchell Corn Palace in South Dakota celebrates all things corn—starting with this prairie town in the middle of nowhere. This “palace” looks like something straight out of Russia, built in 1892 to showcase South Dakota’s bountiful harvests.

And though it might be tempting to write off the Corn Palace as yet another kitschy South Dakota roadside attraction, its origins far predate the interstate. Or even the automobile.

The first corn palace was built in 1892, but back then it wasn’t the only one in the world. Or even in the state. There were several of them throughout South Dakota and into Nebraska and Iowa. Stroll past the Corn-cession stand in the main concourse. Everything around us smells like popcorn. It was a celebration for the farmers, for all their hard work on the harvest. They wanted to pay homage to agriculture. And over time for whatever reason those communities did not maintain their corn palace and Mitchell thought, ‘hey, this is a cool thing. We’re going to keep going’.

And keep going they did: Through 128 years and three different locations until settling on the current one at 604 North Main Street in 1920. Though the building’s longevity is impressive, what’s perhaps most astounding is that Mitchell redoes the entire thing every year. Before spring planting, the city decides on the theme for the murals that will adorn the Corn Palace for the coming year. This year’s, for example, is “South Dakota Home Grown.” Once the theme is established, a team of students from Dakota Wesleyan University designs the murals. Based on the color scheme, a single local farmer then grows over 375,000 ears of corn in 12 different varieties to match the motif.

Once harvest comes—typically in late September—the corn is soaked in giant water buckets to make it pliable. Giant tar paper outlines are plastered on the Corn Palace walls with color coded sections determining which corn goes where. Workers then air-nail the corn to the tar paper in a sort of paint-by-numbers game until the entire palace is covered. Typically it’s ready by the beginning of December but all of that is weather-dependent. They’re not going to have people decorating when it’s 20 below and a blizzard is blowing.

The grass is generally replaced in June or July when it shines the brightest green. So if you want to see the Corn Palace in its full Technicolor glory early summer is probably the best time to visit. The entire project costs about $175,000 which is a small investment for something that draws half a million visitors annually.

Of course, droughts or floods can affect the crop. So some years there’s not enough corn to redo the whole thing and murals stay up for two years or more. Though the corn doesn’t rot, it fades, and birds pick off parts of the building.

Though you’ll never find a shortage of roadside gawkers wandering the corn-cob concourses of the Corn Palace and the gift shop that occupies the arena floor, it has practical uses too. It hosts 335 events a year including high school and Dakota Wesleyan athletics, concerts, and festivals.

Worth Pondering…

Corn is not just corn―there are many different types. The kind people eat on the cob is known as sweet corn (Zea mays convar. saccharata var. rugosa). The corn that dominates most American farms is known as field corn (Zea mays indentata). And if you’re looking for popcorn, that’s a whole different kind of corn, too. This kind of corn is simply called popcorn (Zea mays everta). Corn is not just corn.