5 Attractions Worth Pulling Over For
Discover 5 whimsical roadside stops across California—from secret passages to unexpected public art.
California’s wonders go far beyond coastal beauty and mountain tree lines. The state is filled with unexpected whimsy right off the side of the road, from secret passages for road-hopping toads to quirky public art. Here are five fun stops that will have you tapping the brakes.•
This roundup appears in Issue 32 of Alta Journal. SUBSCRIBE
THE GRANDFATHER TREE, PIERCY
A 24-foot-wide beast that’s one of the easiest-to-access big trees we know, the Grandfather is also Humboldt’s unofficial welcome sign. Pull off the 101 to stand at the base of this awe-inspiring redwood—and make a stop at the gift shop, too, for Bigfoot paraphernalia.
TOAD HOLLOW, DAVIS
A charming tunnel built to help toads safely cross a busy road has expanded into a tiny village, with wee cottages, proper signage, (fake) solar panels, and assorted tchotchkes.
OSTRICHLAND, SOLVANG
Nestled in Central Coast wine country is a family-friendly stop where kiddos can feed more than 150 ostriches and emus. Up close, the big birds are impressive, and they’re incredibly active, making the whole thing an unexpected thrill—for little ones, especially.
BUNNYHENGE, NEWPORT BEACH
Center yourself in a ring of giant, wide-eyed concrete bunnies or let the kids climb all over them. The fanciful outdoor artwork, built in 2013 in a small, well-kept park, is unsettling fun.
CARDIFF KOOK AND SCRIPPS TURD STATUES, SAN DIEGO COUNTY
The Cardiff Kook (real name: Magic Carpet Ride), on the coast, is a wonky ode to surfing, with bad footwork and form. Which may explain why locals playfully dress him up. Okeanos, the abstract sculpture that was first located on the grounds of Scripps Green Hospital, is a chunky headache so hated, it was moved nearly out of sight and has been nicknamed the Scripps Turd.
Farley Elliott is the senior editor at Eater LA and the author of Los Angeles Street Food: A History from Tamaleros to Taco Trucks.
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