A religious, cultural, or artistic fan might find a lot to enjoy about Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, Alabama, but most people won’t have a lot to enjoy. It’s full of tiny replicas of famous religious structures, built by one Brother Joseph in the early 20th century.
Some call the replicas too small, without enough detail to make them truly awe-inspiring. You’ll get some more photos on your phone, you might find one or two models you find interesting, and you might learn some history, but other than that, it’s just not worth the trip.
From Iowa to Space
Captain James T. Kirk is one of Star Trek – and science fiction's – most famous names, and you'd never guess he was born in one of the smaller states of the union. At one point, series creator Gene Roddenberry decided the town was Riverside, and fans began to flock. But there's only a single monument, stating it's the future birthplace of a fictional character.
It might not even be correct: a town mayor basically pushed Roddenberry to make Riverside the origin of this famous character, which makes it nothing more than a cash-grab from frenzied fans.
Oh Boy! Twine!
If you really, really, really, really, really like twine, we have the destination for you. Cawker City, Kansas has the WORLD'S BIGGEST BALL OF TWINE! And yeah, it's pretty big, and it's been around for a while – since the 1950s – and even got its start as a community project, with citizens adding more and more.
It's practically a poster child for silly tourist attractions to stop at if you're driving cross-country. Like a lot of the places on this list, it's a nice place to stretch your legs and snap a pic, but don't plan a trip around it.
There Are No Diamonds in This Rough
Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas sounds like a treasure hunter's dream come true. If you do dream of sparkly items, or maybe you're a budding archaeologist, it might seem like fun, but the park has been open for more than a hundred years – if there were ever diamonds here, they're certainly almost all gone by now.
Now it's little more than a large empty field full of people. There's plenty of dirt, lots of trees, and even some old cabins, but unless you like unearthing lots of, well, earth, you might be better off trying your luck elsewhere.
Skip the Grave, Go for the Museum
Colorado's biggest funeral was for one Buffalo Bill, who is sometimes called the original superstar. During the period of the Old West, he dazzled audiences with riding tricks, expert scouting, and performance tours.
Unfortunately, his gravesite is a bit underwhelming. There's a headstone, a flag, and a plot surrounded by a large fence, so if you're a grave fan, go nuts. If you aren't, the Buffalo Bill Museum is sure to be a little more interesting, since it features photos, artifacts, and plenty of historical information on this Old West hero and celebrity.