South of the Border

So, you're tooling along, crossing the North Carolina/South Carolina border on I-95, just minding your own business, when suddenly...on the horizon...you spot...a 97-foot ceramic, garishly painted man named Pedro?!?! Yep, you've found it - South of the Border!

To be fair, it would be hard to miss, what with the advertising for 200 miles in each direction, but the hype is well deserved. Stop off for a spin on the Carolina and Upper Mexico Railroad, dine in any of six different restaurants, pick up some fireworks, or pose for a few pictures with Pedro. You can even find a hotel, claim a spot on the campground...or yes, get married.

This is one stop not to miss. Did I mention the giant gorilla?

I-95, US 301-501, Dillion, South Carolina, 29536.

Precious Moments Chapel

Sam Butcher, Precious Moments creator (and, some may say, perhaps a man with a little too much time on his hands), counts this Chapel - part of the Precious Moments Inspiration Park (yes, really) as the jewel in his procelein crown. The Chapel features dozens and dozens of stained glass window and painted mural depictions of Bible stories, with Precious Moments figurines playing the characters. The centerpiece of the Chapel is mural Hallelujah Square. The mural shows a Precious Moment figuring, Timmy Angel, ascending to heaven and being greeted by Jesus. Outside of the chapel, visitors may pose to get their photo taken with Timmy Angel.

As if that weren't enough, visitors can stay on-site, at the Precious Moments Hotel or Chubby Bear's RV Park. Watch for the Fountain of Angels show, featuring music by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Planning a wedding? Hop on over the Wedding Island, for a tour of the Precious Moments Wedding Chapel.

And yes, there are plenty of gift shops.

U.S. 71, South of Carthage, Missouri. Open every day, 9am - 5pm.

World's Largest Ball of Stamps

For those who have ever wondered how Father Flanigan kept his troubled Boys Town youth off the streets and out of trouble - at last, an answer. During the 1950s, the inhabitants of Boys Town devoted 6 months to constructing this 600lb ball of stamps, on display in the Leon Myers Stamp Center in the heart of Boys Town (well, ok, in the heart of the now politically correctly named Boys and Girls Town). And while it's true that idle hands are the devil's tools, don't think about slapping a stamp of your own down on this USPO monument. The last addition was in 1986, when the 4 cent commemorative Father Flanigan stamp joined the party, and a sign warns visitors: "Don't Stick Stamps on Ball."

Myers Stamp Center, Flanigan Blvd (in Boys Town), Omaha, Nebraska.
(402) 498-1143

Marsh's Free Museum

Marsh's Free Museum is a place filled with "stuff" - and most of the stuff is stuffed. The most famous attraction here is Jake, the Alligator Man (that's a replica Jake in the picture there, keeping a watch on passing traffic). I can't quite say what Jake is, except to tell you that he has the head of a man, a scaly body, and a tail that looks more than capable of knocking you into the local swamp for feeding time. And he's stuffed. Obviously.