Remember when you were young and the family would pile into the station wagon and go on the proverbial summertime road trip? Stopping along the way to witness the various balls of twine, corn palaces, and prehistoric forests? Me neither, my parents were far too annoyed at themselves for thinking that a 3,000 mile cross-country road trip with 4 hyperactive boys would somehow be enjoyable. There was no doing anything that might prolong the journey. With that in mind here is a list of some roadside attractions and tourist traps in the PNW that you can do now that your folks aren’t calling the shots.
Prehistoric Garden
36848 US-101,
Port Orford, OR 97465
http://www.prehistoricgardens.com
Nestled amongst the ancient growth of old rainforest near the city of Bandon, OR is the Prehistoric Garden. Home to over 20 life-sized and incredibly cheesy dinosaurs! Walking paths take you through a section of rainforest that hides many terrifying prehistoric monsters rendered in colorful and (probably) inaccurate detail. Prehistoric Gardens is fun, outdoors, goofy, and educational! Definitely hit up the gift shop and bring the children or the child in you.
The Oregon Vortex
4303 Sardine Creek Left Fork Road
Gold Hill, Oregon 97525-9732
+1 (541) 855-1543
The Oregon vortex is a collection of optical illusions that the proprietors insist are magical phenomena, so you know it’s great. This is from the website: “The Oregon Vortex is a glimpse of a strange world where the improbable is the commonplace and everyday physical facts are reversed. It is an area of naturally occurring visual and perceptual phenomena, which can be captured on film. No matter your education or profession you will find a challenge to all your accepted theories.”
How can you resist THAT!? On top of that, it is the inspiration for the Mystery Shack from the show, “Gravity Falls”. Watch the following incredibly corny video from the 90’s. Rad.
Next week we will talk about Jake the Alligator man and the Ghost towns of Washington! Spooky