While the nearest rest stop or fast-food chain restaurant may be the most convenient place for tired travelers searching for a reprieve from the open road, it would be remiss of road trippers to ignore the unusual roadside attractions scattered along the Arizona highways.
If life-sized cartoon characters near the Grand Canyon or exotic animals on the way to Tucson sound like better pit stops than the local gas station, you're in luck when driving in Arizona.
Here are some of the most notable Arizona roadside attractions you can check out the next time you cross the Grand Canyon state.
Bedrock City at Raptor Ranch
As if Fred Flintstone's prehistoric town had always been set in Arizona, visiting Bedrock City at Raptor Ranch will make baby boomers (and anyone else who watched reruns of the popular '60s cartoon) nostalgic for their childhood. Colorful statues of familiar characters and the iconic brontosaurus slide have been essential roadside attractions off State Route 64 in Valle.
Details: 332 S. State Route 64, Valle. 928-635-3072. www.raptor-ranch.com.
Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park
Less of a roadside attraction and more of a cool fun fact you can share, the Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park recognizes the only place in the U.S. where the borders of four states meet. After visiting, you can finally join many Southwestern residents in saying you have been in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona all at the same time.
Details: 597 NM-597, Teec Nos Pos. 928-206-2540.www.navajonationparks.org.
Meteor Crater
Over 50,000 years ago, an iron-nickel meteorite approximately 150 feet wide collided with what is now northern Arizona. According to the site's website, the impact hit the Earth with a force 150 times greater than an atomic bomb. The crater this meteor left is now the best-preserved meteorite site on Earth and a historic landmark to visit if you are driving near Flagstaff.
Details: Interstate 40, Exit 233, Winslow.928-289-5898. www.meteorcrater.com.
Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch
If you are heading south near Picacho Peak, it is hard to miss the billboards advertising Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch. Seemingly the only place you can find stingrays, donkeys, deer, parrots and dozens of ostriches in the middle of nowhere, this roadside attraction is a great spot for adults and children to make memories.
Details: 17599 E Peak Lane, Picacho. 520-466-3658.www.roostercogburn.com.
Take the scenic route: This stunning Arizona roadway was ranked most scenic drive in the US. See why
Standin' on the Corner Park
You don't have to be an Eagles groupie to be familiar with the nod to this Arizona town in one of their most popular songs, "Take it Easy." "Standin' on the corner in Winslow, Arizona ..." is a line memorialized by Winslow residents at Standin' on the Corner Park. A bronze statue of a young musician is a salute to the troubadours who put Winslow on the classic rock map.
Details: Corner of Kinsley Avenue and Second Street in Winslow. 928-289-2434.www.visitwinslow.com.
The Thing
Without spoiling the enigma that can be uncovered in Benson, The Thing is a worthy roadside attraction to consider as you head down the I-10. The various billboards that line the highway are hard to miss as you get closer to the "Mystery of the Desert." Located next to a Dairy Queen and a Shell gas station, you can take care of your hunger, gas tank and curiosity at the same time.
Details: 2631 N. Johnson Road, Benson. 520-586-2581. www.bowlinsthething.com.
Arizona's 'world's largest' roadside wonders
According to a map created byblog.batchgeo.com, more than 195 roadside attractions in the U.S. consider themselves the “world’s largest” something. These are Arizona's "world's largest" wonders and where they are located.
World's Largest Cow Skull, Amado.
World's Largest Petrified Tree, Holbrook.
World's Largest Map of Old Route 66, Meteor City.
World's Largest Kokopelli, Camp Verde.
World's Largest Kachina, Carefree.
Find out more: Arizona is home to 5 of the 'World's Largest' things — do you know what they are?
Giganticus Headicus
Art is completely subjective. To Kingman residents, Giganticus Headicus is one of the most iconic art pieces off Route 66. Created by local artist Gregg Arnold, the tiki-style head is 14 feet tall and bright green. If taking a picture isn't enough, you can further memorialize your time with the head with a miniature from the local gift shop.
Details: 9855 AZ-66, Kingman. www.antaersvisitorcenter.com.
Wigwam Village Motel
Need a place to stay overnight? Have you considered a wigwam? This quaint village off Mother Road may be just the eccentric place to spend a night while traveling through the state. Constructed in the 1950s, a night in a wigwam will make you forget why you would want to sleep anywhere else.
Details: 811 W. Hopi Drive, Holbrook. 928-524-3048. sleepinawigwam.com.
Lumberjack muffler man
A familiar face to Northern Arizona University students, the 25-foot-tall muffler man resembles the school's mascot, Louie the Lumberjack. Before being moved outside of the Skydome, the lumberjack was located outside the Lumberjack Cafe and appeared in the background of the 1969 movie "Easy Rider."
Details: 1701 S. San Francisco St., Flagstaff.
Rainbow Rock Shop Dinosaurs
If you're in search of more prehistoric creatures to gape at, stop at the Rainbow Rock Shop as you drive along Route 66. Fans of geodes and other pretty rocks will be able to admire the variety of concrete dinosaurs while searching for their next gem.
Details: 101 Navajo Blvd., Holbrook.
Dateland
Located near the Mexico border, Dateland is a necessary stop on Interstate 8. A major producer of the Medjool dates, the dry heat provides the perfect climate for cultivating the fruit. Dates are fiber-rich, sweet as candy and contain more potassium than a banana. Try Dateland's world-famous date shake when you visit.
Details: 1737 Ave. 64 E., Dateland. 928-454-2772. www.dateland.com.
London Bridge
You don't need to travel across the world to experience a little European history. As a result of a strange series of events, the London Bridge, which once crossed the River Thames, was broken down and rebuilt in Lake Havasu City by Robert P. McCulloch. This British import attracts tens of thousands of travelers every year.
Details: 1340 McCulloch Blvd. N., Lake Havasu City. 928-453-3444. www.golakehavasu.com.
Bearizona
Take a break from speeding down the highway by cruising through the ponderosa pine forest. An attraction you don't need to get out of your car to enjoy, Bearizona has over three miles of road surrounded by picturesque nature and North American animals. If your legs need a break from sitting in a cramped car, the park also has a 20-acre walk-through area.
Details: 1500 E Route 66, Williams. 928-635-2289. www.bearizona.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 18 uniquely AZ roadside attractions for your summer road trip
