Best Stops for Summer Road Trips

With pleasant temperatures, clear roads and no snow storms ahead of us, right now is good time to take off on four wheels for a weekend getaway. The journey and what you see along the way is what makes weekend road trips so much fun. Some places are more fun than others so we’ve put together a list of places from around the country that are worth a stop.

Northeast If you’re traveling in the northeast and you catch yourself somewhere between Buffalo, NY and Manchester, NH, make sure to stop in Oneida, NY to see the world’s smallest church. The Cross Island Church is about 28 square feet and it sits in the middle of a pond. You can only get to it by boat and it only seats two so it’s about the coziest place of worship you may ever come across.

West If you’re driving up the California coast, a stop in Carlsbad can keep you entertained anywhere from an hour to a few days — there’s quite a bit to see and do. Carlsbad Caverns is a dazzling geological display for adults while Lego Land can keep the kids entertained. Older travelers may be interested tasting the magical spring water that people once believed had healing powers. People still flock to the Carlsbad Mineral Water Spa to fill empty jugs to bring home.

Midwest If you’re traveling in the midwest you have a lot of corn fields to pass on the way to your destination, but you can break up the stalks with a stop at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, OH. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a big collection of all types of signs that tells the story of our country in a unique way. The signs come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and materials to illustrate our history and culture. If the museum isn’t quite stimulating enough, on your way out of town stop off at Skyline for chili on a Coney, 3-Way, 4-Way or 5-Way.

Southwest Texas is a big state to drive through with only a few stops to relieve you from the heat and dust along the way. But what stops there are would be worth it even in greener states. There are two things to draw you to Amarillo which is about halfway between Oklahoma City, OK and Albuquerque, NM. Cadillac Ranch sits along Route 66. It’s open-air art made up of colorful Cadillacs buried up to their noses. These pieces have been there for the last 40 years and welcome graffiti to add to the art. On your way out of Amarillo, make sure to stop the other ranch the town is famous for: Big Texan Steak Ranch. If you can eat a 4 ½ lb steak in an hour or less, you don’t have to pay for it.

Northwest Just about halfway between Olympia, WA and Portland, OR, you’ll find a place where squirrels are put on a pedestal or, in this case, a bridge. In Longview, WA, just outside the public library is Nutty Narrows — it’s a bridge made for squirrels to cross what was once a dangerous street for these delightful rodents. It’s a suspension bridge that’s about 60 feet long with two sister bridges nearby. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places as well as the Washington Heritage Register. If you want to stop for a bite to eat as you continue on your journey, Stuffy’s II serves cinnamon rolls the size of dinner plates.
Now you know where to go, all you need to do is pack your bag! The Lakeside Collection has everything you need for your journey.