America is definitely a tourist attraction in and of itself. But we’ve found some wild places you didn’t imagine existed on the roadside. Whether you’re looking for some illusions or interactive art installations, we’ve got your back. Check out these five tourist attractions and be sure to add them to your list:
1. The Wild Zebras Of Beverly Hills
I’m not talking about zebra prints, and I’m not talking about Beverly Hills. I am, however, talking about the dazzle (yes, a group of zebras is called a dazzle) of zebras roaming free in the California desert. But how did they get there? You guessed it: Another rich white man released one of his menagerie pets into the wild, and they are thriving! Currently, you can see them off of Highway 1 herded in the Hearst Ranch.
2. The Desert Oasis Prada Boutique
There’s not much to see on Route 90 in Marfa, Texas. But there is a bit of an illusion standing today: Prada. This Prada Boutique won’t have a bathroom or fashion items for sale, but it sure is a sight to see! It was created in 2005 by a couple of German artists to bring art to the long Texan highway. If you get the chance to see it, take a look at the bottomless handbags and all of the right-footed shoes.
3. Wild Donkeys In Arizona
There are many ghost towns off of Route 66. But did you know there’s one that’s now home to a drove of donkeys? They were originally brought there by prospectors digging for gold in the nearby mountains, but they were shut down around 1942. The surrounding shops sell “burro food” for local children and tourists to feed the donkeys in passing.
4. Cadillac Ranch Amarillo TX
There are ten Cadillacs standing along Interstate 40 — yes, standing upright — for visitors to stop and add their own marks to. This unique roadside art installation encourages viewers to interact with a new coat of paint and has gone through numerous makeovers over the years. Some locals say roadtrippers have treated the area like a rite of passage, intrigued by the artistic dedication some people still have to this day.
5. Wild Ponies Of DelMarVa
The wild ponies of the Delaware-Maryland-Virginia coastline are not nearly as wild and majestic as they were 100 years ago. But they are definitely still beautiful and worth seeing at least once in a lifetime. At the end of every July, the “saltwater cowboys” corral, count, and care for the ponies of the Assateague Island peninsula and swim them over to Chincoteague Island for an annual festival. Some may be auctioned off for population control as part of an annual carnival.
On your next cross-country road trip be sure to add at least one of these tourist attractions to your list of stops. From wild zebras to Cadillacs, bring your popcorn and keep the windows up.
Let us know if you’ve seen any of these tourist attractions before. We’d love to hear about it!
Featured image via Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels
