We were on our way back from a couple nights at the Cape May Inn, a Christmas present from our children and decided to mosey back along the shore. We skipped the Wildwoods but went through Stone Harbor, Avalon and stopped for lunch at Mike’s Seafood in Sea Isle. Right by the parking lot was this mounted lobster.
Sea Isle Lobster
We were in Los Angeles visiting Julia and Dan and took some special time with Calvin by going to the LA Zoo. While there we ran across this Big Snake. He seemed pretty harmless and let me pet him.
Big LA Zoo Snake
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 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
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
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
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
Here is a butterfly we spotted on the way to Sunday brunch at Café Madeleine in Tower Grove Park in St. Louis. A great park with a number of gazebos to rent for your party. The brunch was wonderful. Afterward we stopped at the Brightside garden at 4646 Shenandoah Ave. to get this photo. A nice pocket park sponsored by the Missouri DNR.
St. Louis Butterfly
Ran across this Big Rubber Duck at the Broad Ripple Farmer’s Market advertising the Rubber Duck race in the canal. This is the same canal the Colt’s Pro-Bowl punter, Pat McAfee jumped into late one night a few years ago. Caused quite a stir at the time.
Broad Ripple Rubber Duck
Indianapolis Flower Show booth showing a larger than life (I hope) pest that can be found in your garden. The folks in the booth were very friendly and helpful.
Heartland Invader
No trip to Cincinnati, like the one we made for the Brain Tumor Walk, would be complete without a stop at Jungle Jim’s. I have a number of Big Things shot at Jungle Jim’s, however this time we spotted this Big Snail next door. Almost drove by since we wanted to get back home but stopped long enough to grab this image. Jungle Jim’s is unlike any grocery store you’ve been in, a must see.
Jungle Jim Snail
We went down to Cincinnati to support a friend by walking in a Brain Tumor Walk. While we’ve been to Cincinnati before I’m always looking for new Big Things. I found this Big Pig on Roadside America. The pig stands out front of the Sugar and Spice Restaurant on Reading Road. I wish we would have been there for breakfast, it looks like my kind of place.
Sugar and Spice Pig