House on the Rock in Wisconsin.

Sometimes vacationers want to visit an attraction just to be able to say that they’ve been there. Some destinations are whimsical, silly, or downright odd. Others are firmly tied to the nostalgia and history of the area in which they reside. Here’s a list of the top ten(*) “novelty” destinations to visit in the United States. Consider checking them out if you’re ever in the area!

10 -The House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Unruly architecture that engages all of the senses, complete with exhibits, gardens, and displays that flow into one another with no rhyme or reason. Schedule at least three hours to do the self-tour, because the more you look the more you’ll see.

9 – The Mitchell Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. This is the Mecca for corn enthusiasts (if there is such a thing). There is an annual festival, murals made of corn that are eaten by the local birds and replaced annually, and decor consisting of over 275,000 ears of corn. The Mitchell Corn Palace is home to area stage shows and sporting events with a year-round calendar of events.

8 – The World’s Largest Yard Sale headquartered in Jamestown, Tennessee. Also known as the “127 Corridor Sale”, this yard sale extends 675 miles from Hudson, Michigan to Gadsden, Alabama. The Sale always starts on the first Thursday in August and continues through the following Sunday.

7 – America’s Stonehenge in North Salem, New Hampshire. No one knows who built the ceremonial chambers, walls, and meeting places of this 4,000 year old complex. Oddly enough, the location also boasts a growing herd of privately owned Alpacas. Visit Stonehenge, buy an Alpaca. Makes perfect sense to me!

6 – Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood, Idaho. The inn… is shaped like a dog. A beagle, to be exact. It’s a full-service bed-and-breakfast, and pets are welcome (of course). And if you’re a fan of chainsaw art, this place will supply you with more wooden dogs than you can shake a stick at (har).

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Click the image to learn more about the cause.

When you think of a vacation in the English countryside you probably think of cottages and tea and that rapscallion Mr. Darcy.  Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Then there are those with different ideas.  In just a few days a collection of people from all corners of the world, including a couple of UpTake’s very own (Phil and Ed, respectively, who will be sharing details from their trip upon their return) are doing something that may seem a bit off the beaten path.  Keyword: path.  They are partaking in a six day walking vacation along Hadrian’s Wall (built by the Romans!).  That’s 84 miles along the border with Scotland, which covers the entire width of England.

Now before you ask if they are crazy, please allow me to say that, yes, they are.  However, that has nothing to do with this trip.

The walk is something of a causecation.  Charitcation? Vacarity? It’s a charity vacation, they are traveling to England to help a cause. A damn good one.

The Joseph Salmon Trust is a charity offering financial support to parents who have lost a child. It was founded in memorial of Joseph Salmon who died in his sleep at the age of 3.

I can’t even imagine.

One of the driving forces behind the trust and the subsequent walk(s) — yes, they’ve walked before, is one Dan Hughes, blogger extraordinaire in the aforementioned England. The man’s heart more than makes up for his awkward attempts at humor (kind of like that one).  He’s a great guy and he has championed the cause on behalf of his friends the Salmons.

If you are able to donate anything at all to support the cause please visit their website. All donations go directly into the trust.

It is a far, far better thing that they do.

The Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff, Arizona.

On the last weekend getaway that my husband and I took to Flagstaff, Arizona, we decided to stay at the Hotel Monte Vista. This historic hotel opened on January 1, 1927. It is located in the heart of downtown Flagstaff, within walking distance to much of the dining, bars, shopping, and entertainment that the mountain town has to offer. And, if you don’t feel like walking anywhere, Rendezvous and the MVLounge offer snacks, drinks, and live entertainment right on the property.

There are some things to consider about staying at the Hotel Monte Vista. It is a VERY period-centric hotel, so don’t expect top-of-the-line luxury. Our room, the very mauve Gene Tierney room on the 4th floor, had a very comfortable king bed, a table with chairs, and a dresser. There was a house phone and an alarm clock, and a flat screen television on one wall. The room’s two windows looked over the roofs of the buildings behind the hotel, but the San Francisco Peaks could be seen beyond them. The sink was located on one wall of the room, with the bathroom door right next to it. The bathroom was MAYBE six feet square, and the shower (no tub, natch) was just about the smallest one I’ve ever been in. The room was clean enough, though not what I would call pristine. The blinds on the windows definitely needed either a deep cleaning, or replacement. Still, we were comfortable enough, and amused more than inconvenienced by the hotel’s idiosyncrasies.

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Fremont is a quirky, little neighborhood in Seattle. There you will find the Space Building, the Troll and the Fremont Rocket — and in between them all is a statue of Lenin (it’s the real deal!). Also, a great gelato shop.

Photo by Whit Honea