Roadside Oddities Worth The Stop
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
There are two kinds of road trippers. The ones who drive straight through. And the ones who say, “Turn around, I think that sign said World’s Largest Something.” BigDog is usually the one who spots it.
I’m usually the one raising an eyebrow, until I remember I’m the photographer of this group. Then suddenly I’m adjusting my sunglasses and saying, “Well, we might as well check it out.” Because roadside oddities aren’t really about the oddity. They’re about staying curious. And maybe slightly amused.
When we stopped at Cadillac Ranch outside of Austin, Texas, we truly didn’t know what we were walking into. You see pictures. You’ve heard the name. But nothing quite prepares you for standing in a dusty field staring at half-buried Cadillacs covered in layers upon layers of spray paint.
It’s chaotic and colorful and unapologetically weird. People were out their spray painting like it was a community art therapy session. We didn’t spray paint anything. Didn’t know we could, because I may have just been prepared to leave our mark.
Well many were climbing up and around these master pieces. At 67 and 77, we weren’t climbing on cars in a windy field with spray cans. We respect our knees way too much. But I took pictures. Lots of pictures. And I am glad we did stop, because this was one of the last places that Jet visited with us. And I will treasury these images.
Somewhere between the dust and neon paint, I realized something. It doesn’t have to be a national park to be memorable.
Meteor Crater Natural Landmark, in Winslow, AZ was quite impressive, but it also surprised me. You pull up thinking, “How impressive can a hole in the ground really be?” Very. It’s massive. Quiet. Humbling.
You stand there looking into something created by a rock falling from space thousands of years ago, and suddenly your grocery list feels less urgent. Perspective will do that. Apparently, roadside craters can deliver perspective just as well as mountains.
The reason why we pull over is because if BigDog reads those brown highway signs like invitations. Historic. Scenic. World’s Largest. Meanwhile, I’m calculating: How far? How long? Is there walking involved? But here’s the truth. The stops break up the miles.
They give the road personality. They create stories that weren’t necessarily on the itinerary. Most of our trips are planned. We’ll look ahead and say, “That might be interesting.” But sometimes it’s spontaneous which is also part of the journey. It just means we are willing to take a chance and see what’s out there while we still can.
Because let’s be honest. Long drives and small trailers will test you. So will random detours. But oddly enough, roadside stops soften things. You step out, you laugh. You shake your head at something ridiculous and then you take a selfie together.
Suddenly you’re not two people navigating miles. You’re two people sharing a moment. That’s worth pulling over for.
As we get ready for our next adventure, we know this will be Luna’s first road trip. As she is part hound, I am sure she will try to sniff every inch of every site we park at, whether the stop is short or long, she’ll sniff. This chihuahua with her little hound ears and white-striped nose will now be part of our road trip memories. And somehow that will make it even sweeter.
Travel slows down with a dog. And slowing down is exactly the point. We don’t have to hike miles. We don’t have to climb anything.
Sometimes it’s simply parking and taking in the view. A short hike is nice, taking a photo, laughing and getting back into the car. Adventure doesn’t have to be extreme. At 67 and 77, it can be mildly dusty and slightly ridiculous. And that’s enough.
When you travel this way, a few practical things make spontaneous stops easier:
• Comfortable walking shoes
• A small cooler with water
• Sunscreen and hats
• A lightweight folding chair
• A phone tripod or compact camera
• Dog leash for Luna
• Snacks (because hunger makes everything less charming)
Being prepared but not over prepared. Curious but practical. Still curious Cadillac Ranch. Meteor Crater. Whatever the next brown sign promises.
Roadside oddities remind me that life doesn’t have to be efficient to be meaningful. Sometimes it’s a dusty field, or a crater. Or just the fact that at 67 and 77, are still willing to turn the car around and stop.
