Road Stops To See in America

Attraction: Griffith Park
Location: Los Angeles, CA
What To See: Take a hike, a horseback ride or a stroll through the zoo at Griffith Park, an urban oasis in Los Angeles that is perhaps most famously known (and portrayed in movies) as home to the Griffith Observatory. But in addition to being home to the observatory, Los Angeles Zoo and the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage, the park is also home to the famous ‘Hollywood’ sign.

Attraction: Bronner's
Location: Frankenmuth, MI
What To See: It’s Christmas year-round at Bronner’s the winter wonderland that’s full of zillions of holiday lights, ornaments, trees, stockings, yard art and just about anything one could need or want. There’s even a chapel for meditating, or perhaps escaping from the merry madness.



Attraction: Corn Palace
Location: Mitchell, SD
What To See: It’s never the same place twice -- literally. Each year since the turn of the last century, more than 275-thousand ears of corn and dozens of other crops are fashioned into an elaborate design on the exterior of the Corn Palace. It was the best way the local farmers could show off the fruits of their harvest -- rye, corn, wild oats and more. There’s also a doll museum, prehistoric Indian village and a history museum in Mitchell.



Attraction: Mall of America
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Details: It’s shopping nirvana for her, an amusement park for the kids, and Dad? Well, he just gets to pay for it all. Just kidding -- he can hang in the more than 14 sporting goods stores, the 20 sit-down restaurants or join the kiddies on the roller coaster. With 4.2 million square feet of shopping, dining and entertainment, boredom is impossible.



Attraction: Spam Museum
Location: Austin, MN
What To See: 16,500 square feet of SPAM, glorious SPAM, from SPAMburgers in the cafe to sculptures in the exhibit area. Learn fun facts – like the astonishing news that Hawaiians buy 6.7 million cans of the ham-and-whatever-it-is canned meat annually. Why? That’s one question that’s not answered at the museum.



Attraction: Golden Gate Bridge National Park
Location: San Francisco, CA
What To See: The views are astonishing, the bridge a marvel of engineering – and it’s a must-stop if you’re within 50 miles in any direction. There are beaches and hiking, the country’s most infamous prison-- Alcatraz. For the most rugged and least crowded experience, try the abandoned armories along the coastline. But The Rock isn't the only place worth visiting. Try the Muir Woods monument for a bit of peace and quiet among the redwoods trees; the historic Presidio for a step back into time (and through an amazing cemetary); and Land's End, the rocky headlands best for a bit of hiking.

By SALLY WALKER DAVIES