Nothing To See Here

March 11, 2007 1:36 PM

Nothing To See HereA guide to "some of the world's lesser-signposted places to go - attractions that may not be all that attractive; coastal towns they forgot to close down; high streets that haven't been homogenised; oddities and one-offs."
posted by chrismear (31 comments total)

I'm pretty sure I've been to that Wall Drug place. My parents used to drive past it on our way up to Canada during the summers.
posted by inconsequentialist at 1:42 PM on March 11, 2007

some of the world's lesser-signposted places to go . . . No Been There, Done That, Bought The T-Shirt kind of places here

And yet they have an entry for Wall Drug. Nothing wrong with Wall Drug, of course, but it's the most-excessively-signposted tourist attraction in America!
posted by otio at 1:54 PM on March 11, 2007

Big stone phallus greets you at the top of the page.

This is sorely missing the Ghost City of Cyprus.
posted by Burhanistan at 2:00 PM on March 11, 2007 [3 favorites has favorites]

Very interesting site. I like the content, but can't stand the miniscule 8 pixel verdana style text. Why do people do that?
posted by Rhomboid at 2:02 PM on March 11, 2007

next stop, Centralia, PA!
posted by exlotuseater at 2:06 PM on March 11, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Very interesting site. I like the content, but can't stand the miniscule 8 pixel verdana style text. Why do people do that?

It's a known designer disease. I have it myself and have to actively watch for it in my stuff.
posted by maxwelton at 2:19 PM on March 11, 2007

Hey, that lunchbox museum is in driving distance. Hmm.
posted by JHarris at 2:21 PM on March 11, 2007

Nothing wrong with Wall Drug, of course, but it's the most-excessively-signposted tourist attraction in America!

Más que South of the Border?
posted by oaf at 2:30 PM on March 11, 2007

Looks like a fine blog, but I can also attest that Wall Drug is the definitively signposted American Attraction. Along with Rock City/Ruby Falls, it set the standard for pulling in hapless victims of the road. You approach it only after driving for nigh on four hours across vast, grassy prairie. The signage is so relentless and the landscape so featureless that, by the time you get the exit, you really have no human choice but to go. Fortunately, it's well worth it. An icon of American marketing and road culture, it lives up to its reputation. The 5-cent donuts and coffee are not to be missed. The wax museum is entertaining. And an array of stores will furnish your home beautifully with many a wagon-wheel themed accessory.
posted by Miko at 2:52 PM on March 11, 2007

coastal towns they forgot to close down

Excellent Morrissey reference.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 2:55 PM on March 11, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

I had a Philly cheesesteak from the place they recommended in Reading Terminal Market for breakfast this very morning. Didn't pass through Grand Central or the East Village on the way home though.
posted by nowonmai at 3:23 PM on March 11, 2007

If I could nuke one place from orbit, it would be Wall Drugs. The obsessive signposting, the flood of fat bus tourists, a shit stain of consumerism on the Black Hills... so many reasons.
posted by docgonzo at 3:24 PM on March 11, 2007

What a lovely site!
posted by soundofsuburbia at 3:42 PM on March 11, 2007

Cute lunchbox museum. More pics of WallDrug.

Ghost towns, abandoned villages and historical sites in the USA and Canada.
posted by nickyskye at 4:08 PM on March 11, 2007

The cheesy/obscure tourist attractions of America totally rock my world. Half the fun of giving people tours of LA used to be sharing the wacky or little-known sights around the City that most people miss. I just LOVE that stuff!!! :D

Speaking of which, I live half a mile from a Pez Museum now. Still haven't been to it, maybe I should go...
posted by miss lynnster at 4:23 PM on March 11, 2007

Rhomboid: You *do* realize that you can hold down Ctrl and roll your mouse's scroll wheel to adjust text-size in most good browsers?

Did *not* mean that to sound as snarky as it does.
posted by OneOliveShort at 4:32 PM on March 11, 2007

My stepmom's father actually knows the people who run Wall Drug. He used to like out in that area. Apparently the last time her brother was visiting, he happened to drop his dad's name and found himself with a free meal.

My only personal memory of Wall Drug was the 25 cent cowboy hanging machine. Drop in a quarter, watch his neck stretch. Good times.
posted by caution live frogs at 4:38 PM on March 11, 2007

(like = live. Damn.)
posted by caution live frogs at 4:39 PM on March 11, 2007

Fun site. Thanks for the post.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:03 PM on March 11, 2007

I love sites like this, thanks!
posted by amyms at 7:15 PM on March 11, 2007

Great site. Only it makes me lament that I can't travel as freely as I used to. (children)
posted by fungible at 7:30 PM on March 11, 2007

Neat stuff, thanks!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 8:06 PM on March 11, 2007

Didn't Tuptim have her head chopped off?
posted by brujita at 10:14 PM on March 11, 2007

Great site! I hope I remember this for the next time I visit England.

LA is full of such attractions. A nice and easy one is The Fisher House from Six Feet Under. It's so satisfying to check out after you've done time with that family in the DVD's.

As for the Bradbury Building - I hate those motherfuckers. Those goddamned bastard security guard pieces of shit won't even let you take a comfortable and harmless look around. It's one of the most frustrating attractions I know of.
posted by redteam at 12:41 AM on March 12, 2007

Big stone phallus greets you at the top of the page.

It sure does. It sure does.

That's a very cool blog, which will have a happy home in my Google Reader from here on. Thanks a bunch, chrismear!
posted by Emardhi at 1:41 AM on March 12, 2007

That's very cool, thanks for posting! (Not least because I do indeed walk my parents' dogs on Greenham Common over the nuclear bunkers.)
posted by patricio at 3:42 AM on March 12, 2007

Eeeeh, Shipley Glen. It looked like it would kill people in the seventies so I'm not surprised it's official policy for the place now.
posted by vbfg at 3:50 AM on March 12, 2007

otio writes "Nothing wrong with Wall Drug, of course, but it's the most-excessively-signposted tourist attraction in America!"

Really? What about South of the Border? I'm surprised it didn't make it to the linked site...
posted by clevershark at 8:50 AM on March 12, 2007

Wall Drug makes South of the Border's ads look sick.
posted by Miko at 8:40 PM on March 12, 2007

Wall Drug makes South of the Border's ads look sick.
posted by Miko at 8:40 PM on March 12, 2007

Hi, this is my site. Thanks for mentioning it and also for the kind words. Burhanistan you're right - it *is* sorely missing the Ghost City of Cyprus. I was there on holiday and it's perfect material but I don't feel I know enough about it to write a whole piece yet. Plus I have a huge list of other places to add.

It's a collaborative site so if you have suggestions or would like to add an article please do. Thanks for the other comments - good and bad. Noted.
posted by I like at 7:52 AM on March 14, 2007