Next to the Big Valvoline Guy was another inflatable – this dog. This made it a two-fer! When we were getting this image a nice young man working at the Valvoline Instant Oil Change business came out and offered to take our photo together. I appreciated the offer.
Valvoline Big Dog
We were in Reading PA for a Gordon Lightfoot concert and the next day we stayed in town visiting the Berk’s County Heritage Center where this Distlefink is located. It was created in 1984 and given to the park by artist Ramon Lago.
Berk’s County Distlefink
On our way out of Kitty Hawk with all the vacationers ending their vacation on Saturday morning we spotted a couple of Big Things at the Mill Farms roadside stand. Had to pull over and get this Big Strawberry and Big Chicken. It was good to take a little break from the non-stop traffic heading back home from their vacation.
Mill Farms Strawberry
Mill Farms Chicken
On our way out of Columbia, NC, after we captured the image at the Vineyards on the Scuppernong, what should we find? Another unexpected Big Thing, this time a Very Large Shrimp (can there be such a thing?) This was a nicely handcrafted metal shrimp in front of the Full Circle Crab Company. They look like they wholesale various types of seafood from this location on Elm Street in Mantes, NC.
Full Circle Crab Company
Along US-17 we spotted this chicken standing in a field. After making a quick U-turn we found that it represents the Go Chicken Coop activity center. Located in Winnabow, NC at the corner of Bell Swamp Connection and US-17 the Go Chicken Coop offers activities for the family to share. They would like people to set their devices down and spend time interacting with one another. Sounds like a good plan, I hope they make it.
Go Chicken Coop
This toad is in front of Pacific Superstore along US-17 in Myrtle Beach. Again, I don’t understand, why stores have something in front that don’t relate to the concept of the store. If you are selling beachwear, why is there a toad in front of the store? Not to mention it is on the east coast. Why not Atlantic Superstore? Go figure!
Myrtle Beach Toad
Jaws Resort Wear has this eye-catching entrance. I didn’t go inside despite their advertised “Live Sharks” sign. Located on Kings Highway (US-17) in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina I’m sure they get a lot of visitors just because of this entrance.
Jaws Resort Wear Shark
While at the Charleston Tea Plantation I noticed this frog which seemed to be a sibling to the frog at our hotel in Charleston. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a teacup for my hand but I did the best I could. Later I found another smaller frog in a shop and was told it and others were created by a local artist. Maybe his name was Kermit, or maybe not.
Tea Plantation Frog
We arrived in Charleston after viewing the eclipse in Columbia and when checking into the hotel I noticed this frog on a bench in the courtyard. I couldn’t miss out on this opportunity.
Doubletree Frog
OK, there are several descriptions for this big bird. I am calling it a Gamecock, after all we were in Columbia, SC the site of the University of South Carolina. What else would it be?
Columbia Gamecock
On our way to find a Big Comb in Roanoke, VA we passed by this Big Dog standing in front of the Roanoke Fire-EMS Station #7 at the corner of Denniston & Memorial Ave. The comb was not to be found but we stopped at the fire station to get this big dog. It’s a one of a kind and obviously hand made.
Roanoke Dog
I have a Turkey Hill Cow already (see below) but it was a traveling cow on a trailer. That is what I expected to find here. Instead I found a much larger version of the cow. Much like the many cows we’ve found elsewhere. The Turkey Hill Experience is an admission charge museum type venue located in Columbia, Pennsylvania just off US-30.
Turkey Hill Experience Cow
Our last Spring Break trip to Philadelphia found us taking Nate to the Garden State Discovery Museum. We’d been here before but did not get this photo of the Big Bug standing over the entrance.
Discovery Museum Bug
A Sunday after Christmas at the Philadelphia Zoo with Nate, Ben and Annie. The Chief Photographer grabbed this image in the primate house. This gorilla is made from corrugated cardboard, kind of like industrial papier-mâché.
Philly Zoo Gorilla
Unexpected find close to my sister’s house in Missouri. Over breakfast on Thanksgiving Dave and Dale spoke about a giraffe nearby. Was it larger than life? Would it count? We piled into Bob’s new F-150, 4×4, with a crew cab and went in search. We found it on N. Geyer, a few blocks south of Clayton. It’s across from the Old Des Peres Church, one of the oldest churches west of the Mississippi. Dave and Bob, avid geo-cachers, immediately went back home and created a cache to place under the watchful of Geoffrey. The giraffe is actually sitting in front of a private home.
Des Peres Giraffe
While we were in Grand Rapids visiting with our niece Erica, we stopped at the Meijer’s Gardens and Sculpture Park. A great place. We knew about this Big Horse. Here is what they say about this piece. “A monument to creativity, The American Horse was created by famed animaliere or animal sculptor, Nina Akamu. The work was inspired, in part, by a work created by Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci for the Duke of Milan in the late 15th century.”
Meijer Garden and Sculpture Park Horse
After breakfast with our niece Erica we headed into Grand Rapids to grab some Big Things images and have lunch at Founders Brewery. The first item on our agenda was this Big Loch Ness monster at the John Ball Zoological Garden on West Fulton Street.
Grand Rapids Nessie
On our way to Saugatuck for our Fall Break trip, purchase physician we stopped by the Sherman Dairy Bar in South Haven to grab this image of Blue Moo and Baby Moo located on top of the business. We had a big breakfast in Kokomo a couple hours earlier or I might have dropped in for a strawberry cone.
Blue Moo and Baby Blue
Gosh, there are so many of these Big Chickens scattered around the country I don’t know why there is not a web site dedicated to them. There’s several sites for Muffler Men, none for chickens. Maybe someone will create a Big Chicken Site.
Rise-N-Shine Cafe Chicken
After brunch in Tower Grove Park we couldn’t pass up the chance to shop at Gringo Jones, 4468 Shaw Blvd in St. Louis. If you are in the area this is a very interesting shop to visit. The place is crammed with items. Antiques in the basement, cement lawn statues, and much, much more. This chicken was on the curb out front.
Gringo Jones Chicken
