Green Giant Museum and Statue

 In 1928 the Minnesota Valley Canning Company began growing a large variety of peas and created their mascot - a giant holding a pea pod. This first giant was neither green or jolly but by 1950, when the company was renamed Green Giant Company, he was the friendly guy we know today. 

                          

The small museum has showcases filled with memorabilia and interesting facts on the history of the company, for instance, at one point they canned corn on the cob - a dozen in a can! We thought that most of the US vegetable production was in Mexico and other countries but corn and peas are grown in the valley and canned in Blue Earth where the museum and statue are located.

The museum is accessible. A paved path leads to the statue. A set of stair behind the statue allows visitors to stand under the giant's legs.

RVs will fit in the lot if backed up over the grass or parked across the spaces.  Museum  43.65161, -94.09607

 

Dinah the Pink Dinosaur

Dinah, a 40 foot fiberglass dinosaur, was built in 1958 for the Dine-A-Ville Motel. She now stands on the east end of Vernal, Utah welcoming everyone to the town. She's such an iconic figure for the area that we expected a parking lot or a pull off to get a closer look, but nope, if fact the nearby businesses have No Trespassing signs in their lots. The only way to see Dinah is by driving by or  parking in the businesses on the other side US 40 and crossing the four lane highway without the benefit of a crosswalk and traffic light. Dinah 40.4559, -109.5115

Casa Grande Neon Sign Park

 A very nice collection of restored neon signs from defunct Casa Grande businesses have been erected in a landscaped lot donated by the owners of the local newspaper. The neon shows up nicely at dusk. We stayed later for the full night effect but I'm not very good at taking night photos.

The site is accessible with paved paths circling around all  of the signs.

The main lot is gravel without a ramp to the paths but there are three paved lots and street parking that can be used. I recommend the lot behind the Covenant Church for easy wheelchair access and RV parking. Vehicles longer than 40' should be parked in the gravel lot. Park   32.87821, -111.75401 

Hattiesburg Pocket Museum

I didn't know what a pocket museum was and looking at the website wasn't very helpful but I did figure out that it was a very small museum located in an alley. That was intriguing enough for us to seek it out.

What we found was a magical little alley way filled with paintings and tiny figures perched on pipes, electrical boxes, and narrow crevices. They're hard to spot a first but once you find one you'll start seeing them everywhere. The art changes and, this close to the holidays, it was Christmas themed. 

The alley is accessible. A few pieces of the art are too high to be seen. There's also a too-high window to peek in and watch a short film but almost everything else is easily viewed.

 Parking is on Main Street. Museum  31.32663, -89.28999  

Providence Canyon State Park

The canyon tells a tale of greed and carelessness. In the early 1800s three cotton plantations were located in the vicinity of the park. The  loose, sandy soil, over 100 feet deep, was deposited by millions of years of constantly changing rivers, streams, and seas. It was easy to plow up and down the rolling hills rather than along the contours which allowed rainwater to run down the plow lines. By the 1850s the low ground had became ditches three to five feet deep which eroded more with every rainfall. Farming became impossible. Deep canyons had formed by the 1890s. To stop some of the erosion the Civilian Conservation Corp planted trees in the 1930s. The county purchased a portion of land to make a park which became a popular picnicking spot, then, when Jimmy Carter was governor, the canyon was bought by the state to form the park. 

Even with that sad environmental history, it's impossible not to marvel at the beauty of the canyons. It looks like a mini version of the red rock canyons of Utah. A 2.5 mile loop trail circles the canyons with spur trails going down into each of the nine canyons. There also a seven mile backcountry trail with camping spots for backpackers. A small gift shop/visitor center has a few exhibits. 

The visitor center is accessible but very little of the park is. A path at the picnic area is surfaced with large gravel and leads to an overlook. The gravel makes a rough trail but the overlook is one of the best. We attempted to follow the trail along the fairly level edge of the canyon but ran into very rough ground and roots. The canyon is worth the trip if you're in the area but most wheelchair users will need assistance to see the canyon views. Park  

The visitor center parking lot has long RV spaces. Parking at the picnic area is along the road. Park  32.06719, -84.90388

Mister Ed's Elephant Museum and Candy Store

Mister Ed's is a family business now being run by the third generation of Gotwalts. Changes over the years included a complete rebuilding after a devastating fire in 2011. Hundreds of volunteers came to clean the elephant collection. Although some were destroyed, thousands survived and are on display in the museum.

 

And then there's the candy! Handmade fudge and chocolates, loose candy by the pound, jelly bellies, Pez candy and dispensers, and nostalgic candy bars, plus nuts and souvenirs. 

Don't miss the small garden featuring animal statues, a fountain, and a teapot collection. 

 

     The museum is accessible. The garden path is rough in spots and the arched bridge is steep. Wheelchair users may need assistance. 

The parking lot is large enough for RVs. It's surfaced with gravel and the store entrance is uphill so wheelchair users may need assistance. Museum/Store  39.89827, -77.43027