Posts Tagged ‘Big Things’

The Big Pineapple

When you think about a building that is on the heritage register you probably think of everything else but a huge fiberglass pineapple.  Today the Big Pineapple was named on the heritage register in Queensland, and while many people may consider the pineapple and the fact that it now has heritage protection a bit of a joke, you must remember the pineapple has been a tourist icon of the state for some time. The Big Pineapple was built in 1971 and has attracted a huge amount of tourists over the years to not only the pineapple but also to the plantation it sits on where the Nut-Mobile ( a nut shaped train) takes tourist around the plantation of pineapples and macadamia nuts finishing up at the gift shop next to the huge plastic fruit. The Big Pinapple is located near Nambour on Queensland Sunshine Coast. Read the rest of this entry »

The Big Gumboot

The Golden Gumboot is a large boot shaped tourist attraction in the town of Tully in Queensland. Tully sits between Cairns and Townsville, so its right in the Australia’s tropics, hence the reason for the gumboot as the town’s average annual rainfall exceeds 4000mm. A bit of a rivalry exists between Tully and Innisfail and Babinda on who has the most rain with a gumboot given to the wining town each year. Tully is also know for its gumboot festival that is held each September as well as being Australia’s answer to Roswell, with more UFO sightings in the town than any other place in Australia. The Golden Gumboot stands at stands at 7.9m tall and represents the record rainfall received in 1950 at Tully, a spiral staircase leads visitors to a lookout at the top of the boot. Read the rest of this entry »

A Big Boy Restaurant

Our big donut story the other day reminded us of another restaurant we recently visited that was also parodied in the Simpson’s. Big Boy is a chain of restaurants across part of the USA who’s signature burger is a bit similar to a Big Mac. The similarities with Mc Donalds end there with big boy having table service a salad bar and even a gift shop where you can by your own small version of big boy himself. In the Simpson’s Halloween special VI Homer steals a giant donut from a character who looks just like Big Boy but is named Lard Lad, the story of the episode is titled “Attack of the 50-Foot Eyesores” as giant advertising mascots wreak havoc on Springfield after Homer upsets Lard Lad. Read the rest of this entry »

The Big Donut

Randy’s Donut is a large donut atop a donut bakery located not far from LAX at 805 West Manchester Avenue in Inglewood California. The building and its huge donut must be one of the most photographed and filmed fast food restaurants in the US and has featured in dozens of movies and music videos and was even parodied in the Simpson’s episode “Marge vs the Monorail”. The building was built in 1952 as part of the big donut drive in chain but was later sold off to the family of the current owners. Being originally part of the big donut chain there are a few other similar big donuts around LA operating under different names but Randys has become the most popular with filmmakers. By the way, we tried a few of Randys donuts when we took this photo last week, and we must say they are very, very tasty indeed. Read the rest of this entry »

The Big Chicken

We are continuing this week featuring a few of the more interesting restaurants that can be found across the USA, and they dont get much more interesting than the KFC Big Chicken. Located on the corner of Cobb Parkway and Roswell Road in Marietta, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. The chicken was built in 1963 over the top of a chicken shop that was later to become a KFC franchise. It was part of a wave of Novelty architecture that swept the States in the 60s that led to other famous buildings being built across the country shaped like big donuts, big hot dogs and big tee pees. These big structures were originally designed an advertising gimmick to get the car loving American to pull off the freeway into their business rather than the shop down the road. The gimmick worked and what some may consider a very tacky building has become a much loved part of the community. When the chicken was damaged due to a storm in 1993 KFC was forced to rebuild the chicken due to the local communities response. Read the rest of this entry »

How’s this one kids, a huge rocking horse, well it doesn’t really rock unless its pretty windy but is sure is cute. This great family attraction can be found in the Barossa Valley in South Australia’s wine country at Gumeracha about 40 minutes drive from Adelaide. After a few of those beautiful wines you might think you are seeing things but this horse is real. It is actually the outside a toy factory which manufactures a range of wonderful wooden toys. The rocking horse is a very popular attraction with thousands climbing it every week- and what’s even better you can get a certificate of achievement award for climbing this monstrous pony and the views of the rolling hills are great.

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Well in case you haven’t noticed here at Tripandom we love everything kitsch and what could be more kitsch than a giant 30ft fiberglass pineapple. This magnificent structure is on Queensland Australia’s Sunshine Coast outside the town of Caloundra. The pineapple is part of a tourist park and pineapple plantation. Here visitors can see how these tasty sweet fruits are grown on a wonderful train ride. Visitors also can join the Nutmobile to see how macadamia nuts are grown. There’s a animal park, and a number of other great family attractions on hand plus a great cafe and of course the gift shop. Read the rest of this entry »

You might have seen this giant donut in a few of the Simpson’s episodes but I’m here to tell you it is real. The donut can be found in Inglewood California a suburb of Los Angeles on Manchester Blvd. Unfortunately it isn’t made of dough but the donuts Randy’s sell are huge. Randy’s isn’t the only giant donut in the US there are quite a few others including Kiddles. It can be found at Normandie Ave Los Angeles. Kiddles sell a Texas sized glazed donut which is over 12 inches wide and full of artery hardening stuff. LA is also home to the Donut hole, this one is like a tunnel you drive in it can be found on East Amar Rd, La Puente. So if you are feeling hungry while driving around Los Angeles- you now know where to go.

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