Ho! Ho! Ho! The Jolly Green Giant statue in Blue Earth, Minnesota towers over the county fairgrounds to welcome travellers as they pass through town! He's 55.5 feet tall and he wears size 78 shoes! Even his feet are six feet long! There was, at one time, a canning plant owned by Green Giant but another company now owns the plant.
Downtown Chicago Riverwalk is an all-day adventure and tours for any personality type are available. Foodies can join the Chicago Riverwalk Food Tour where you get a sampling of the Windy City's most interesting refreshment spots. Millenials can participate in the Segway Tour where you can glide through the city on those two-wheeled contraptions. Or, just do it the old-fashioned way and meander along the river with your honey.
Around the driving circle in Fruita, Colorado lurks a giant green T-Rex. The town park is dedicated to the dinosaur. You can also grab lunch at the Dinosaur Cafe which is close to the park for a satisfying lunch.
Cruise by this ranch style home in Norco and you'll be greeted by oversized Gumby and Pokey statues--the handiwork of the home owner.
A cheerful, bright green building is where traditional soul food is cooked up. Popular among locals, Weaver D's has plenty of tourists who make the pilgrimage to taste his dishes. Dexter Weaver's home-cooked comfort food has always been a hit, but it sure didn't hurt when R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe asked him permission to use "Automatic for the People" as the title for their 1992 album which achieved platinum status.
Reminiscent of the giant sculptures on Easter Island this green larger-than-life head was fashioned out of metal, wood, Styrofoam, and chicken wire. It was created in 2004 by New Jersey-native, Gregg Arnold who is also the owner of the A-frame house standing nearby that has ants crawling up the side.
Edna Harper really did not like the shrubbery surrounding her Mission Hills estate. She also didn't like the idea of tearing the plants out so she trimmed them into pleasing shapes. One of the plaques in the garden reads "Edna Scissorhands" which is the best description of this determined woman. Some of the leafy denizens include pyramids, dinosaurs, Buddha, a surfer, and animals of many species. She and her husband are even generous enough to give visitors a free tour of the grounds.
The first and third Thursday of every month is reserved for the famous Turtle Racing event. The bar was established in 1972 but the turtles have been racing since 1974. When they're not racing they're living the turtle life at the Turtle Club Med (a habitat set aside for them). Any time you choose to come you have a variety of beverages to choose from as well as appetizers and meals.
It's a simple rectangular townhouse complex, the one on the end being called the "Watermelon House." Apparently, the owners wanted to pain the house red but the color turned out to be more of a pinkish-red. Instead of repainting it the color they desired, they instead added a green curving swatch on the side to represent a rind and black oval splotches for the seeds. Hopefully the neighbors like the watermelon paint job as much as the owners seem to like it!
Angelenos love a well-manicured pooch, evidenced by this giant poodle topiary at Plummer and Hayworth.
This is where the aliens go when they're hopping around solar systems. Outside the inn a cute group of green extraterrestrials and their saucer are getting ready for take off. Inside you'll find utilitarian rooms and decor perfect for humans and humanoids that just need a place to do laundry, take a shower, and sleep before launching again.
Maybe it's just a coincidence but the fireworks shop in front of which this giant dragon stands caught fire in 2011. Hand-built and bright green, this dragon with the tiny wings and T-Rex-like arms has been a fixture in this area since the '80s. Even with his maw full of sharp teeth, he's friendly enough to take a picture with.
The oldest topiary garden in the U.S. is located in the smallest state. Also the northernmost topiary garden, this little Eden has an emerald menagerie of teddy bears, a giraffe, an ostrich, unicorn, and pineapples. The Victorian house is used as a museum where vintage toys and furniture are displayed.
This little museum pays homage to Jim Henson and his most memorable creation - that green amphibian with the distinctive, muddy voice. A real Kermit puppet and other Muppets friends are on display here which will be quite nostalgic for those over 40 years old. You'll learn a lot of Muppets trivia here such as the little-known fact that Kermit was supposed to be a lizard originally!
Set in Korea, shot in Calabasas, the iconic TV series M*A*S*H lives on in the hearts of fans as well as this lovingly reconstructed set where the original once stood. Alas, the famed mobile army surgical compound set was destroyed by a fire during the filming of the final episode in 1982.
The photo op of photo ops. Where else can you get a view of the lush and majestic Namolokama mountain range bedecked with several sparkling waterfalls, all behind a patchwork quilt of gloriously green, water-fillled “kalo” (taro-root) fields? Get out your cameras and capture the splendor of the Hanalei Valley from this perfectly positioned vantage point.
Founded in 1964 the Jurupa Mountains Discovery Centers is easily located by the giant mammoth sculpture that stands sentry on a hill. What it guards is a treasure trove of sculptures and knowledge. Some of it is free, some of it has a fee attached. Go and decide if the paid part is worth exploring. Don't forget to see the gift shop where you can walk away with a bag full of trinkets at a reasonable price.
To see the home of the Green Bay Packers might set you back a pretty penny but it's guaranteed to please - even if you're not a Packers fan. Along with seeing loads of football memorabilia, you'll walk in the same footsteps as some of the greatest NFL players ever. Go through the players' tunnel, see the team's locker room, or splurge on a tour with a Packers' alumni. This is your chance to see a football stadium tour in a state where the sport is treasured.