If you really want to enjoy an overseas holiday and you have the time, then hire a car and travel down some of the iconic highways that criss-cross the USA. Your journey will be enlivened by some of the strangest sights you’ll probably ever see as you drive through this panoramic and diverse country. Here, road trip expert Rob Heart tells us about his favourite quirky attractions…

Beer cans as a sculpture in Houston, Texas

One of the more unusual sights in the USA is a house constructed from beer cans in Houston. The house owner was bored with mowing his lawn so he covered the grass with rock and marble and then plastered 50,000 beer cans on to the side of his home. This edifice certainly gives a new meaning to recycling!

Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo

If you’re travelling down Interstate 40, close to Amarillo, then you cannot miss the stunning Cadillac Ranch. This extraordinary installation is made up of 10 Cadillacs placed nose downwards and forming a line across the desert. The cars are brightly painted and covered with graffiti after being originally constructed in 1974.

Robots in Vermont

The east of the USA is no less interesting than the south. For example, Vermont is home to the 20-foot tall giant robot sitting just beside Route 7. Originally used as an advertising model for a local steelworks, the steel robot looks quite at home resting beside the highway.

The blue whale on Route 66

Countless songs have been recorded about Route 66, but none of them mention the giant 80-foot long blue whale that lives by the road in Catoosa Oklahoma! The whale was erected in the 1970s as an anniversary present from a husband to his wife and there it has remained as a, rather unusual, testament to love.

Driller in Tulsa, Oklahoma

The desert may cause sculptors to think big and the 22 ton, 76 foot Golden Driller situated just outside Tulsa is no exception to this rule. He was erected in honour of the petroleum industry and constructed in 1953.

Before you go…

Before you take a road trip to the states, it is important that you make sure you get everything at home sorted. Financing your trip could be a big concern so you’ll want to make sure things like property ownership and bills are sorted during your absence. If you’re in the process of downsizing or relocating then McCarthy & Stone’s guide to buying retirement homes is a great resource and can help you move into a new, secure property before departing on your trip.