Travel Channel 

Sure, there are plenty of must-see, man-made monuments scattered all over the globe -- the Parthenon, Acropolis, Eiffel Tower, Christ the Redeemer statue, Giza Pyramids -- that Americans should make every effort to visit. But what about the quirky statues and shrines found at your own back door? The unusual attractions that make you scratch your head and ponder, "Hmm? What were they thinking when they built that?"

While a tour of the country's finest roadside attractions may not make for the most educational vacation, at least the next time someone asks, "Who here has visited the world's only corn palace?" at a social gathering, you can raise your hand with pride.

World's Biggest Ball of Twine
Darwin, Minnesota
The center of the small township of Darwin, population 300, revolves around its pride and joy: the world's largest ball of twine. Thirteen feet in diameter and weighing in at 17,400 pounds, the project started when Minnesota native Francis A. Johnson became obsessed and wrapped string for four hours a day for 23 weeks straight (some might call it borderline psychotic). The outcome of Johnson's toil is housed in a gazebo on Main Street and is honored each August on Twine Day.

Carhenge
Alliance, Nebraska
Why fly all the way to England to see a big pile of rocks arranged in an annular formation when you can witness a similar visual constructed out of auto parts somewhere in the High Plains? Carhenge features 38 vintage American cars planted in the ground or stacked upon each other, spray-painted gray and positioned in a circle 96 feet in diameter. Geologist Jim Reinders first suggested the project during a family reunion following Reinders' father's funeral in 1982. Five years later in June 1987, roughly 35 relatives met in rural Nebraska and went to work. The end product was dedicated weeks later on the summer solstice of that year as a memorial to Reinders' dad. The artist himself formerly resided in England, where he spent much time studying the purpose and design of Stonehenge. The number of cars matches the number of boulders that form the English monument, and the circle is arranged in direct relation to it, as well.

Jolly Green Giant
Blue Earth, Minnesota
As if sporting the world's biggest ball of twine weren't enough, Minnesota's set on stealing all the glory, by boasting a mega-statue of the Jolly Green Giant himself. In 1978, a 55-foot fiberglass replica of the pea promoter was erected to commemorate the linking of the east and west parts of Interstate 90 -- 3,028 miles worth of road, from Boston to Seattle. The giant arrived via flatbed truck, and it took a 65-foot crane to hoist him to his new resting place. And the jovial lad came at a pretty penny, too: Blue Earth paid $43,000 to induct him into their town. He receives one bath a year by the City of Blue Earth, as well as festive garnishes during holiday months.

World's Largest Catsup Bottle
Collinsville, Illinois
The towering 170-foot-tall water tower shaped as a bottle of catsup has been in existence since 1949. Strangely enough, this odd monstrosity does hold some historical significance. In 1891, a canning company was born, changed management many times over the years and successfully survived the Great Depression. One of the company's best sellers was "Brooks Old Original Tangy Catsup" -- the product was well-promoted and at one time, the top seller nationwide among tangy catsups. When the town realized the need for a water tower, the president of the bottling company suggested they build it in the shape of one of his distinctive-shaped catsup containers. Amused, the town agreed, not knowing that more than 50 years later, the monument would be "famous." The Catsup Bottle Preservation Group -- yes, apparently, there is such a thing -- then saved it from an untimely demolition in 1995 and fully restored it later that year. The monument even has its own website and fan club.

Corn Palace
Mitchell, South Dakota
You've visited Cinderella's Castle at Disney World and Queen Elizabeth's home, Buckingham, in London, so the next logical progression is to make a pit stop at the world's only palace built out of corn. A prime example of South Dakota's agricultural strengths, the original palace, the Corn Belt Exposition, was established in 1892 to showcase the area's rich soil and encourage people to settle there. The current building -- and the third to occupy the spot -- has been around since 1921; its Moorish domes and minarets were added in 1937. Each year, the city spends $130,000 to strip down the old designs and redecorate the palace with murals made from corn and other grains. The "Corn Crib," as it's also called, now plays host to concerts, sports events and other community gatherings. More than 500,000 people visit it annually.