Vacations Blog

Photo: World's Biggest Dinosaurs Website

Do you like Jesus and Dinosaurs?  Then do I have the place for you!

Most likely the only reason you would ever be in Cabazon, California is to drive through it on the I-10 corridor at 70mph.  Sure, there are some pretty decent outlet stores and it’s close to the Coachelle Festival and the resorts and golf of Palm Springs, but it isn’t exactly a destination, per se.

However, it is home to one of America’s more popular roadside attractions, which any parent worth their family truckster salt knows is a staple to a good road-trip vacation. It’s in-between destinations where the real memories are made. The fact that we’re talking about dinosaurs, namely The World’s Biggest Dinosaurs, makes stopping a must for anyone that has a kid (of any age) in the car.

This is the scared part...

Dinny the apatosaurus (the dino formerly known as brontosaurus) and Mr. Rex the obvious, respectively, are fantastic.  They’re huge and awesome and the kids will be awed, excited or scared shitless.  Sometimes all three.

Here’s the twist that will have you scratching your head.  The attraction is under (fairly) new ownership and in addition to letting you climb inside really cool dinosaurs for a $5.00 fee they’ll also throw their religious beliefs on you at no extra charge!  What a deal!

You see, the owners believe in Creationism and they want you to, too.  The gift shop plays videos preaching the belief and there are signs throughout the dinosaurs promoting their views and contradicting science- not to mention discrediting everything you just told your kid about dinosaurs.

These aren’t your Pee-Wee’s dinosaurs.  Well, not anymore.

There is a restaurant adjacent to the property and easy access to Interstate 10 should you need to flee treacherous jaws or opposing viewpoints.  Please do so in an orderly fashion.

Taming the wild beast...

unless otherwise credited all photos property of Whit Honea

Architecture is an important part of travel.  It is the postcard out your window that lets you know you are here.  You’ve arrived.  You know you are in Russia when surrounded by onion domes, New York when you can only see skyscrapers and Seattle when you can’t see anything because there is rain in your eyes.  That’s the role of architecture, and to a lesser extent, weather.

Here is a group of ten fantastic, incredible and weirdly, wonderful buildings in the U.S. that are worthy of a visit if you are on vacation or just happen to be in the neighborhood.  More than one of them make me think of Star Wars.

Longaberager corporate Headquarters is a picnic basket.

1. Let’s start with my favorite which is found in Newark, Ohio, the picnic basket aka Longaberger corporate headquarters. This fanciful creation was the dream of the Longaberger Basket company’s founder Dave Longaberger.  It is said, most people (employees, bankers, architects and builders) didn’t take him seriously at the time.  I wonder why.

Kansas City Public Library

2. This was designed by Dimensional Innovations and it camouflages the parking garage. The fantastic book titles were suggested by Kansas City residents. See the building and read the classics!  Photo courtesy of: ChicagoEye.

Robert Bruno

3. This award winning home in Lubbock, Texas took 28 years to complete and is designed by Robert Bruno. It doesn’t really say “come in and take your shoes off,” though, does it? But it is engaging and I do want a peek inside.

Aqua Building, Chicago, Illinois

4.  The Aqua Building was on a list from Syed Mobin Architects.  It is scheduled to be finished in 2009 and is in Chicago, Illinois. Design is from Studio Gang Architects.

Kettle House, Texas

5. Kettle House, in Galveston, Texas – I wonder, when the wind comes sweeping ‘cross the plains, does it whistle?

Shoe House, Hallam, Pennsylvania

6. Shoe House in Hallam, Pennsylvania was not built by an old woman but was built by a shoe millionaire and it is a real house.  No word on the number of children, if any, that reside in it.

Air Force Academy Chapel

7. This chapel falls into the wonderful category.  Its stark beauty could soothe a soldier’s soul.  It is located in the US Air Force Academy in Colorado.

Oakley Headquarters

8. This awesome futuristic building is the corporate headquarters for Oakley.  What do you think?  I love the description, “Oakley’s design bunker is where inventions are conceived, developed, perfected and manufactured. In addition to the hidden catacombs of research labs and proving grounds, the architectural design of Oakley President Colin Baden includes an NBA basketball court, a 400-seat amphitheater, and absolutely no adult supervision.”  I wonder if they’re hiring.

Story Book House in Ollala, Washington

9. Built in Ollala, Washington, this looks like it belongs in a Grimm’s fairy tale (or Disneyland) . Photo courtesy of Unusuallife.com

Coit Tower, San Francisco

10. My final choice from all the weirdness of American architecture is Coit Tower in the beautiful city of San Francisco. They say this San Francisco icon isn’t a fire hose nozzle, but those of us who know the story think otherwise. The story is told a need-to-know basis. Beautiful photo courtesy of http2007.

So what did you think?  Pretty cool, right?  If you have any weirdly, wonderful buildings that you think we should add to our travel itineraries, let us know.  Just leave a suggestion in the comments.