Outland Adventures

 Roadside Oddities with Outland Adventures There’s something about the open road that makes you start noticing things you’d swear shouldn’t exist—but absolutely do. Giant boots sitting in parking lots. A 40-foot-long hot dog outside a gas station. A concrete cow staring you down like it knows your secrets. And honestly? That’s the magic of it. Welcome to Roadside Oddities 🤪 —where the map is more of a suggestion and curiosity always wins over “we should probably keep driving.” Out here in Wildebeest (our 1990 Ford E350 Shuttle Bus conversion), we’ve learned that the best travel days aren’t always about the destination. Sometimes they’re about the moment Chris slams the brakes because there’s a 20-foot-tall fiberglass squirrel pointing at a bait shop and Amanda is already halfway out the door with a camera. Because yes—we are absolutely stopping for that. 🛣️ The Beauty of “What IS That?” Roadside oddities are the universe’s way of saying, “Hey, you were getting a little too...

  Hidden Gems of the Midwest Tuesday, March 3 – Outland Adventures When most people think about travel, they think beaches, mountains, or big cities with skylines that scrape the clouds. But some of our favorite places? They don’t make the brochures. They’re tucked between cornfields. Sitting quietly along two-lane highways. Blink-and-you-miss-it towns with one gas station, one diner, and one really weird statue no one can quite explain. The Midwest is full of hidden gems — and we live for finding them. The Towns You Almost Drive Past You know the kind. Population: 642. One flashing stoplight. A mural on the side of a brick building that hasn’t changed since 1978. And somehow? It ends up being the highlight of the week. These towns aren’t trying to impress anyone. They’re just… themselves. Local cafés where the pie is homemade. Antique stores packed floor to ceiling. A barber shop that still uses a striped pole out front. We’ve learned that if something makes us ...

  How We Find Interesting Stops Between Destinations Finding hidden gems is one of our favorite parts of traveling. Some of the best memories come from unplanned stops, quirky roadside attractions, or charming little towns we stumble upon. Over the years, we’ve developed a few tools, tricks, and habits that help us uncover local treasures between destinations—and we’re excited to share them with you! 1. Use Apps Beyond GPS While Google Maps is great for getting from point A to point B, we often dive deeper with apps like Roadtrippers , Atlas Obscura , and TripAdvisor . These platforms highlight unusual attractions, local landmarks, and even small-town festivals you might otherwise miss. One more that I think gets easily missed and we use often- Facebook Events . We've found local library book sales, festivals, field days, etc just checking on Facebook. 2. Follow Local Recommendations We love checking out local visitor centers , small-town newspapers , and community bulletin ...

  Odd Museums and Local History Stops That Are Actually Fun Not all museums are the kind where you shuffle quietly from one display to the next. Some surprise you, make you laugh, and even leave you wondering how you didn’t know about them before. On our travels, we’ve discovered that the quirkiest museums often end up being the most memorable—and surprisingly fun. Take the car museums we’ve stumbled upon along the way. From classic muscle cars to rare vintage models, these stops weren’t just about looking at shiny vehicles—they were mini time machines. Walking among cars that once roared down old highways, reading their backstories, and spotting unique oddities like cars with unconventional designs or quirky modifications made the experience both fun and fascinating. Even if you’re not a car fanatic, the passion and creativity behind these collections are hard not to admire. Then there’s the Fur Trappers Museum we visited. At first glance, you might think it would be dusty an...

  Small Towns We Didn’t Expect to Love When you travel full-time, you learn something quickly: the places you circle on the map aren’t always the ones that steal your heart. Sometimes it’s not the big-name destinations or the “Top 10” travel lists that stick with you. It’s the towns you pulled into for gas. The places you planned to stay one night. The spots you almost skipped. Today we’re sharing a few kinds of small towns that completely surprised us — and why slowing down in places like these can turn a simple stop into a core memory . The “We Just Needed Groceries” Town You know the one. You’re low on snacks. The propane situation is questionable. The GPS says it’s the closest stop. You pull in expecting a basic strip mall and leave three hours later because: There’s a locally owned diner with pie that tastes like someone’s grandma made it. The hardware store still has creaky wood floors. The cashier calls you “hon” and means it. There’s a tiny mural tucke...

  5 Quirky Roadside Attractions Worth the Detour One of our favorite parts of RV travel isn’t just the campgrounds or the destinations—it’s the unexpected stops along the way. The strange museums, giant statues, oddball landmarks, and blink-and-you’ll-miss-it places that make you pull over, stretch your legs, and say, “Well… that was something.” If you’re traveling through the Southeast and Midwest like we often do, here are five quirky roadside attractions that we think are absolutely worth the detour. 1. The Lost Sea Adventure – Sweetwater, Tennessee Hidden beneath the hills of East Tennessee is America’s largest underground lake , and it feels like stepping into another world. The guided tour takes you through caverns, past underground formations, and down into a massive chamber where boats glide across still, dark water. It’s cool (literally), fascinating, and a perfect stop when you want to escape summer heat. Plus, the history of the cave—used by everyone from Cherokee ...

  Outland Adventures: Roadside Oddities RV Trip Along I-71/I-75 If you’re looking for a mix of kitschy roadside charm, quirky attractions, and RV-friendly adventure, our I-71/I-75 road trip from Cincinnati, OH, to Chattanooga, TN is perfect for a 5-day escape. From retro signs and giant horse statues to the underground marvel of the Lost Sea, this trip is all about fun stops, photo ops, and easy driving days . Day 1: Cincinnati → Lexington, KY (~80 miles, 1.5 hours) Kick off your adventure in Cincinnati, where retro meets quirky : American Sign Museum – Wander through a rainbow of vintage signs, from neon classics to quirky commercial kitsch. Perfect for your first Instagram shot of the trip. Newport Aquarium Oddities – Just across the river in Newport, KY, the tunnels and unusual aquatic exhibits make a fun roadside detour. Big Bone Lick State Park – Travel back in time with fossilized mammoths and bison. The quirky name and historic vibes make for a unique photo ...

  “Roadside Oddities of the Year: Our Favorite Finds of 2025” 2025 was full of backroads, quirky stops, and little surprises tucked into towns and landscapes across the Midwest and Appalachia. From Indiana cornfields to the hills of Tennessee and Kentucky, we chased scenic views, unique attractions, and small-town charm. Here’s our roundup of the most memorable stops this year. 1. Kankakee, IL – Bison Viewing at Kankakee Sands One of our favorite stops this year was the Kankakee Sands preserve . Seeing bison roaming freely across the tallgrass prairie was unforgettable. The wide-open vistas made us feel like we had stepped back in time, and the wildlife viewing trails are perfect for a quiet morning hike. 2. DeMotte & Roselawn, IN – Prairie Trails & Windmill Views In northwest Indiana, we loved wandering along the prairie trails near DeMotte and Roselawn. The small-town charm and old-fashioned windmills made for peaceful stops, perfect for stretching our legs and s...