NPR Series: Roadside Attractions https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5187513 Consider before booking your next vacation: Hotspots that boast monsters, mermaids and a big ball of twine. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Mon, 14 Apr 2025 22:10:05 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: Roadside Attractions https://www.npr.org/series/5187513/roadside-attractions Building 'The World' Off the Coast of Dubai An ambitious new project just offshore from the United Arab Emirates capital city of Dubai hopes to re-create the geography of the globe. The project, named "The World," consists of 300 man-made islands grouped roughly into continents and countries. Mon, 13 Jun 2005 11:52:51 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2005/06/13/4700950/building-the-world-off-the-coast-of-dubai https://www.npr.org/2005/06/13/4700950/building-the-world-off-the-coast-of-dubai An ambitious new project just offshore from the United Arab Emirates capital city of Dubai hopes to re-create the geography of the globe. The project, named "The World," consists of 300 man-made islands grouped roughly into continents and countries.

]]> Eric Weiner Unraveling the Story Behind a Big Ball of Twine Cawker City, Kans., boasts one of America's great roadside attractions: the world's largest ball of sisal twine. Is the claim really true? NPR's Steve Inskeep investigates in a conversation with Kay Thull of the Cawker City Community Club. Mon, 29 Nov 2004 10:52:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2004/11/29/4189959/unraveling-the-story-behind-a-big-ball-of-twine https://www.npr.org/2004/11/29/4189959/unraveling-the-story-behind-a-big-ball-of-twine Cawker City, Kans., boasts one of America's great roadside attractions: the world's largest ball of sisal twine. Is the claim really true? NPR's Steve Inskeep investigates in a conversation with Kay Thull of the Cawker City Community Club.

]]> Steve Inskeep Weeki Wachee Springs Fifty years ago, a limestone cavern at Weeki Wachee Springs, Fla., entered the realm of American kitsch when a group of ladies donned mermaid suits and swam for audiences in an underwater ballet. Today, the show is still drawing tourists. Sun, 10 Aug 1997 18:32:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/1997/08/10/5187522/weeki-wachee-springs https://www.npr.org/1997/08/10/5187522/weeki-wachee-springs

Fifty years ago, a limestone cavern at Weeki Wachee Springs, Fla., entered the realm of American kitsch when a group of ladies donned mermaid suits and swam for audiences in an underwater ballet. Today, the show is still drawing tourists.

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