Road Trip to Virginia (and North Carolina): Day 1

This morning I took off on my road trip to Virginia (and North Carolina) and here’s the lesson of the day: while I try to be a good driver who follows the rules of the road there are times that I will break those rules. Like when there is a sign that says no passing for the next seven miles and I am behind a guy driving a horse and buggy at negative five miles an hour.

I woke up this morning at 7am, showered, packed up the car, got a large Caribou Coffee white mocha and hit the road towards Virginia…

Virginia/North Carolia Road Trip
Flopsy the Jackalope and I hitting the road on our road trip from Illinois to Virginia.

What I saw on day one of my road trip to Virginia.

Ace Hardware Muffler Man in Elkhart, Indiana

Ace Hardware Muffler Man in Elkhart, Indiana - Indiana Road Trip
Ace Hardware Muffler Man in Elkhart, Indiana

My first stop of the day was a muffler man outside of an Ace Hardware in Elkhart, Indiana.

A man outside told me that someone tried to steal this roadside attraction once. How the heck does anyone steal something that big?

A couple of hours later I made it to the world’s biggest can of tomato soup outside of the Campbell’s factory in Ohio. There was really nowhere to pull over though and the car behind me was riding my bumper so I had to just admire it from my car window as I drove by. “Next time,” I always say.

Horse and Buggy ATM in Wellington, Ohio

Horse and Buggy ATM in Wellington, Ohio - Ohio Roadside Attractions
Horse and Buggy ATM in Wellington, Ohio

After that I tracked down the horse and buggy ATM machine in Wellington, Ohio

Giant Rocking Chair in Austinburg, Ohio

Giant Rocking Chair in Austinburg, Ohio.
Giant Rocking Chair in Austinburg, Ohio.

And then a giant rocking chair in Austinburg, Ohio….

…and then passed about 20 actual horse and buggies…

World’s Largest Hose and Buggy in Mesopotamia, Ohio

World's Largest Amish Horse and Buggy in Mesopotamia, Ohio - Ohio Roadside Attractions
World’s Largest Amish Horse and Buggy in Mesopotamia, Ohio

…and then found the world’s LARGEST horse and buggy in Mesopotamia, Ohio!

Mars, Pennsylvania

Flying Saucer in Mars, Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania Roadside Attractions
Flying Saucer in Mars, Pennsylvania

My final stop on the first night of my road trip to Virginia was to Mars. Mars, Pennsylvania that is!

And now I am sitting in a hotel room just outside of Pittsburgh, prepping for tomorrow, and eating french fries and chocolate shake. As you do on a road trip.

Find out what I did on the rest of my road trip to Virginia and North Carolina

Valerie Bromann

Founder & ROad Trip Expert

Valerie Bromann is a a website manager, content creator, and writer from Chicago, Illinois (currently living in Dallas, Texas). As an avid road tripper who has visited hundreds of roadside attractions, Val always pull over for a world’s largest thing. Founder of Silly America and author of The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book, she visits, photographs, and writes about all the weird tourist destinations she visits and offers road trip planning advice and inspiration based on her own travels so you can hit the road for yourself.

World's Largest Mailbox in Casey, Illinois roadside attraction

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Last modified: November 13, 2023
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The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book - Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip! By Valerie Bromann

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

BY Valerie Bromann

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.