Roadside America

What exactly is a “Muffler Man,” and where is the World’s Largest Sassafras Tree? You’ll find answers to these questions and more at Roadside America (www.roadsideamerica.com). The site’s owners/authors Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, and Mike Wilkins, continuously update the site, which is loaded with features that will guide you to every roadside attraction under the sun. Click the US Map link to access The Electric Map of the United States of

America, which makes it easy for you to find unique attractions in every state of the Union. Just click any state on the map and see what you find. (At random, we decided to see what attractions South Dakota had to offer. We were delighted to discover the International Vinegar Museum, located in Roslyn.) The Electric Map also includes links to video, globally significant attractions, a who’s who of roadside attraction creators, and a guide to, uh, dead animals (“America’s greatest animals, buried, mounted, and stuffed”).

In the What’s New section, you’ll find up-to-date reviews of the most recent discoveries made by the Roadside America editors. Each review contains a lengthy description of the attraction, pictures, directions, business hours, phone numbers, and other pertinent information. (FYI: If you’re planning your long-awaited trip to the Mystery Hole in Ansted, W.Va., be sure you wait until April. The Hole is closed from November through March.) You’ll also find a list of nearby communities; click the name of a town to find a list of hotels and motels. After you return from your trip, go to the Latest Tips section and submit any fun facts or annoying experiences you had at a specific roadside attraction. Let other travelers know why the best time to visit the aptly named Antler Arches of

Jackson, Wyo., is between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and why visitors to the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument near Kearney, Neb., shouldn’t pull over on I-80 to take pictures.