Tacky Tourist Photos

SUBMITTED BY: Bill Malie  LOCATION: Niagara Falls, Ontario (2011) In the grand tradition of Eating Big Things (“Golden Gate Appetizer,” “World’s Largest Popcorn” ), Bill takes a chunk out of Canada’s Largest Candy Bar in front of the Hershey Store near the Falls. Does ANYONE eat the candy bar with the wrapper still on? (Bill [...]

SUBMITTED BY: David Meerman Scott LOCATION: Nantucket, Massachusetts (2011) The big question unanswered at the Nantucket Cranberry Festival: What’s underneath the red tide? Do cranberry farmers swish around the wet bogs in their bare feet, giving the juice that extra special bite? (Marketing strategist David Meerman Scott, who blogs at Web Ink Now, most recently [...]

SUBMITTED BY: Brian Henderson   LOCATION: Houston, Texas (2011) The shiny mascot of Goode’s Armadillo Palace — a local BBQ and music joint — looks sweet and innocent by day. But after nightfall, it turns evil. Be forewarned! (Brian Henderson is a photojournalist with an appetite as huge as the Golden Gate Bridge.)

SUBMITTED BY: The Heater Family   LOCATION: Kensington, PEI (2011) If there were such a thing as lobster filmmakers, there would be plenty of human-themed horror movies. We pluck these creatures from their homes, boil them alive and then suck out their insides. At the Prince Edward Island Lobster Festival, it was time for a little [...]

SUBMITTED BY: Ari Garnick   LOCATION: Salem, NH (2011) Imagine what this box would cost at the movies, where we just shelled out $7 for a large (free refills didn’t ease the pain)! Does Canobie Lake Park boast the World’s Largest Box of Popcorn? We filed an official inquiry with the Popcorn Board, the industry trade [...]

SUBMITTED BY: David C.    LOCATION: Fairfield, California (2010) Ronald Reagan took on the Soviet Union with a sweet tooth. We can’t wait to see the Jimmy Carter peanut mosaic, the Bill Clinton “Big Mac” montage and the Barack Obama cigarette sculpture! (The Jelly Belly Factory Tour also includes jelly bean portraits of Elvis, John Wayne, [...]

SUBMITTED BY: Kerry Byrne   LOCATION: Freising, Germany (2010) You know what it takes to stay in business for a THOUSAND YEARS? Not being chintzy on the serving sizes. At the historic Weihenstephan Brewery, founded in 1040, there is no such thing as a small! (Kerry Byrne, aka “The Beer Traveler,” is visiting the World’s [...]

SUBMITTED BY: Peter K. LOCATION: Boston, Massachusetts (2010) When you’re tracing the footsteps of Paul Revere, Ben Franklin, Sam Adams and John Hancock, seeing a giant Mac & Cheese noodle just seems natural. Looks like it’s now the official comfort food of the American Revolution. And, also the official comfort food of the Windy City: [...]

SUBMITTED BY: Tacky Tourist Photos    LOCATION: Hopkinton County Fair, New Hampshire (2009) We have no problems using burly cigar-smoking guys and intimidation to sell popcorn. Just please change the sign!

SUBMITTED BY: Darren Garnick    LOCATION: O’Leary, Prince Edward Island (2009) Home of Canada’s largest artificial potato, the PEI Potato Museum respectfully honors potato pin-up models, potato guns and even Mr. Potato Head.  But perhaps its most meaningful contribution to Canadian culture is its mournful documentation of diseases and pests that are deadly to the potato [...]

SUBMITTED BY: Paul Lehman PICTURED: John Oakes, Jr. LOCATION: Jell-O Museum, LeRoy, NY According to Salon Magazine, Jell-O is now the official feel-good food for this horrific economy. What better way to boost America’s spirits than by updating the classic Jell-O Girl, too? (John Oakes and Paul Lehman explore America’s backroads with the Nash Car [...]

SUBMITTED BY: Pam O’Meara   LOCATION: York Beach, Maine (2009) Somebody call Ralph Nader. This is one of the most insidious examples of product placement imaginable. Mere steps away from the frozen banana bicycle cart at York’s Wild Kingdom Zoo is an invitation for children to fantasize about being smothered in chocolate and rainbow ice cream [...]