Thursday 3 October 2013

6 Unusual Texas Attractions

When planning your trip to Texas, you’ll no doubt want to see some of the most famous attractions such as The Alamo. However, you can also go off the beaten path to see some quirky conversation-starting sites. When planning your trip to Texas, start by identifying the region you most want to visit. Then look up attractions in the area — from the most popular to the most unusual. Watch for billboards while you’re on the road, too. Sometimes they’ll point you to great places no one seems to know about. Here are six attractions to get you started.

Cathedral of Junk in Austin, Texas

The Cathedral is a three-story building constructed of thrown-away items. The building structure includes more than 700 bicycles. Vince Hannemann is the Cathedral’s constructor and claims he started building the structure for fun. However, if you’re climbing around in a structure like this one, it might be a good idea to pack a first aid kit and invest in some short-term Texas medical insurance for your visit. That way, if you fall, you won’t incur a bunch of expensive medical bills.

Eiffel Tower of Paris, Texas

The Eiffel Tower in Texas is a 65-foot replica of the original. When it was no longer considered the tallest, locals added a giant red cowboy hat to the top to give it a bit of Texas flair. If you can’t make it to Paris, go to Texas instead.

Old Rip in Eastland, Texas

A horned lizard was once encased in a courthouse cornerstone to see if it would survive. When the courthouse was torn down, it apparently had. The lizard toured the country for a while, but it died shortly after. Its body was preserved and is on display in a tiny casket in the current courthouse.

The Orange Show in Houston, Texas

The Orange Show is a monument to oranges and was built by Jeff McKissack. It is an extravagant complex of stairways and passages filled with strange objects and signs praising oranges. If you love oranges, this should definitely be on your list of places to visit.

Toilet Seat Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas

The Toilet Seat Art Museum contains more than 700 toilet seats. Each is painted or engraved by artist Barney Smith, who houses them in his garage. Subject matter for the artwork includes random objects and events in his daily life — ranging from his wife’s gallstone surgery to Japanese currency.

Britten Leaning Water Tower in Groom, Texas

The structure was originally a functioning water tower. It was eventually bought by Ralph Britten and installed at his truck stop to encourage tourists to stop and investigate. Even though the truck stop no longer exists, the tower is an attraction by itself. It only has two legs in the ground!

While you’re visiting Texas, don’t forget to check out the more popular sites even though you’ll be distracted by the Toilet Seat Art Museum or by the tiny dead lizard in the courthouse. By spicing up your trip with these fun attractions, you’ll be sure to create memories that’ll last a lifetime.

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