This week’s assignment from the League asks us to plot out the ultimate pop culture road trip. When it comes to road trips and vacations in general, I’m somewhat akin to Clarke W. Griswold, in that I tend to go overboard and want to do everything. I don’t go on vacation to relax, that’s what work is for! The list of pop culture places I want to visit is endless, but I’ve whittled the list down to less than ten. So without further ado, let’s hop in the Wagon Queen Family Truckster and get rolling!
King Kong!
I can’t think of a better way to start the ultimate road trip than to swing by Dinosaur Land in nearby White Post, Virginia to snap a few pictures of this guy. I love kitschy things–the bigger the better–and there aren’t many things bigger and kitschier than the King!
World’s Longest Yard Sale
Every year in August, the Route 127 corridor stretching from Michigan to Alabama is transformed into one loooong yard sale. If you’re new here, you might not know that yard sales are kind of my thing, and the idea of a 620-mile long stretch of yard sales is enough to literally blow my mind. I would have to rent a very large truck.
Field of Dreams
One place I have always “dreamed” of visiting is the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, where I would play catch with my sons on the baseball diamond, just like the Kinsellas. Standing on the edge of the playing field and facing the field of corn would be an eerie, magical experience, and I’m not sure I would be brave enough to step into the corn!
The Super Museum
It would be worth visiting the Super Museum in Metropolis, Illinois just to have my photo taken in front of the giant Superman statue that stands outside. I have a pretty good collection of vintage Superman items going, but it would be fun to see what items I may have missed and need to track down on eBay.
Antique Archaeology
I’d love to visit the Antique Archaeology shop in LeClaire, Wisconsin. With any luck, Danielle would be minding the store that day. I’ve seen pretty much every episode of American Pickers and it would be fun to see some of the items that Mike and Frank found on the show.
Toy and Action Figure Museum
The next stop on the trip would be the Toy and Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. this place has been on my radar for years, and I can only hope that it has grown even larger in that time span. The photos and 360 tour on their site make me want to hit the road tomorrow.
Booked Up
Next, I would visit Booked Up in Archer City, TX. This shop is owned and operated by one of my favorite authors, Larry McMurtry, and hopefully, he would be hanging around the shop on the day of my visit. I’m a huge fan of McMurtry’s westerns but his book Cadillac Jack, about an antique scout, almost inspired me to drop everything and become an American Picker long before Mike and Frank ever hit the road. Archer City is also the filming location for the Last Picture Show, which was based on one of McMurtry’s novels, so there would certainly be some great photo ops.
The Alamo Cinema and Draft House
The Alamo Cinema and Draft House in Austin, Texas is the birthplace of Mondo, and it would be an incredible experience to take in one of their special features, and maybe come home with a signed Drew Struzan poster! Mondo’s Justin Ishmael is a fellow collector, and it would be fun to visit his new gallery and talk about Mondo’s posters and vintage toys.
Gold Silver Pawn
Pawn Stars is another show that I watch somewhat religiously and visiting the Gold & Silver Pawn shop in Las Vegas would be pretty cool. It’s weird, but I almost feel like I would know my way around the store having seen it so much on the show.
Rose Bowl Flea Market
Ever since watching John Larroquette’s show, The Incurable Collector, years ago, I have wanted to visit the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, California. One segment of the show had collectibles expert, Harry Rinker, wandering around the market and asking people, “Whatcha got?” and he would then proceed to appraise the item for them, usually telling them that they made an excellent purchase. I miss that show.
And of course, while we’re in California, we might as well hit Walley World!
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This is the latest post in response to the weekly blog challenge presented by the League of Extraordinary Bloggers. I’m not the only one hitting the road. Check out the itinerary of fellow League members Good Will Hunting 4 Geeks, Rediscover the 80’s, Shezcrafti, and Branded in the 80’s.
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Good choices, Brian. I too want to go to Metropolis. And that yard sale is in my old neck of the woods but I never went. The action figure museum place looks awesome.
I’d love to hear from someone who’s actually been to that action figure museum. It looks great, but is it worth he trip?
Hey there! I would like to join the League. I finally have started a blog after reading everyone else´s forever! http://monstercafesaltillo.blogspot.mx/
I would email this in but when I click on to email you it goes to Outlook without giving me your email address and I use Yahoo as my email. I have never set up my Outlook account. Thanks so much!
Consider yourself the newest member of the League. 😉
That was quick! Thanks so much! Just add me in the member´s section por favor. Can´t wait for my first assignment!
I would love to see that Toy and Action Figure Museum….sigh someday.
I’ll swing by and pick you up in the morning. Bring coffee. 😉
Metropolis, IL is very close to my hometown. Been there several times.
Sounds like an expensive road trip! You’d probably be dropping tons of cash at almost every one of these places.
No doubt. I better start up the ol’ road trip fund jar.
I saw something on TV about the Action Figure museum, and it does indeed seem to be just as crazy cool as the pictures on the web-site suggest. I think my major crtitque for them would be to focus a little more on the Museum aspect. I see they have a few focused displays on such things as TMNT, etc… but I’d like that place to be a full walk-through encyclopedia of action figures. The big play-displaky is spectacular, but some finely tuned dioramas featuring specific collections with info on each line would be even more interesting as a scholar of action figurology.
I started watching a few episodes of Pawn Stars here or there, but the guys all just skeeze me out too much. I’ve never caught a sinlge ep. of Pickers, but I’d definitely like to see it some time. and of course, any flea markets or giant yard sales of repute are interesting to me, as we are sorely lacking in those up here in Maine (we have yardsales, but not a ton, and I never have luck with them it seems).
Excellent trip!
Really cool collection of locations. I love the look of that yard sale. And that toy museum looks awesome too.
This topic is wonderful! I am learning about so many great places to go visit!! Thanks everyone for sharing!!