Looking for something a little bit different this year in terms of family vacation destinations? Theme parks have all been visited and tourist attraction offerings come with the “been there, done that” response? Consider a road trip to visit some of these quirky attractions. We guarantee these oddities will provide for some good conversation once you’re back at camp.
The Mütter Museum in Philadelphia bills itself as museum of medical history and has all kinds of specimens (the human kind) that are guaranteed to leave you awestruck. Consider a body cast of conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker, who rose to fame in the 1800s. Or the skeletons of Harry and Carol – both of whom had the disease Fibrodisplaysia Ossificans Progessiva, which caused the body to grow bone where it shouldn’t. There are plenty of other interesting things to see here. Visit muttermuseum.org for details and hours of admission. Choose from Scotrun RV Campground, Timothy Lake Campground, or PA Dutch Country Campground to be close to Philadelphia.
Do mermaids exist? Of course they do and the opportunity to see them in their element exists with a visit to Weeki Watchee Springs State Park in Florida. To be close to the mermaid adventure, book a stay at Topics RV Resort, which is just 10 minutes away, or Orlando RV Resort if you still want to do theme parks, too! The mermaid shows have been fascinating visitors since 1947 as they swim about in the natural springs here. For tickets and more information about Weeki Watchee’s other attractions, visit weekiwatchee.com.
There’s nothing like bathroom humor to get a laugh, so think about how much laughter will abound when you visit Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat Art Museum in The Colony, Texas (about an hour’s drive from Bay Landing RV Campground). The museum, formerly located in San Antonio, showcases more than 1400 pieces of “art” created by the Barney Smith, who creatively found a new use for old toilet seats. The museum is located in the Truck Yard, which is worth a trip in itself. For information visit truckyardthecolony.com/toilet-seat-museum.
Speaking of art – we all know there are plenty of fabulous art museums in the U.S. which are home to masterpieces of all genres. But what about a museum that is dedicated to some of the not so good stuff? The Museum of Bad Art, or MOBA, in Boston, Massachusetts, has some really interesting pieces. Dedicated to “bringing the best bad art to the widest of audiences”, the museum’s first piece was found in a trash can. The collection grew through finds at thrift stores and other non-traditional places for art procurement and today’s works include collections such as “Doppelhangers,” “Poor Traits,” and “Unlikely Landscapes.” Consider a stay at Sturbridge RV Campground or Gateway to Cape Cod RV Campground, both about an hour’s drive away, when taking in the amazing works found at MOBA. For more information, visit museumofbadart.org.
A more frightful experience can be found with a visit to Zak Bagan’s Haunted Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada. Voted the “Number One Best Haunted Attraction in America” by USA Today readers in 2020, the museum has more than 30 rooms full of the just plain creepy, which Zagan began collecting at the ripe old age of 10! Too much detail here would spoil the fun so we’ll direct you to the website at thehauntedmuseum.com for more information about the exhibits and museum’s hours. Book a stay at Thousand Trails Las Vegas RV Resort and get ready for a hauntingly good time.
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- Up your roadside attraction list in a big way with these quirky pit stops.
- Our partnership with American Forests continues to bloom.
- Find more campgrounds at ThousandTrails.com.
