4 Places in Iowa I Wouldn’t Take My Worst Enemy

I love a road trip. Hitting the open highway with my favorite people and a playlist of car karaoke-worthy songs is something I'm always up for. But when it comes to making stops along the way, I can be picky. Especially in a place like Iowa that loves a good roadside attraction, there are just a handful I wouldn't put on my next roadtrip itinerary. You'll notice right away that each of these four places is a "world's largest" something. These are things I often think are a waste of time, and for some reason, Iowa has a lot of them. So I suppose you could call me a "world's largest" hater, even if I will always make a pit stop to see Albert the world's largest bull.

1. Iowa 80 - The World's Largest Truck Stop

As the kind of person who finds a stop at Bucc-ee's to be overwhelming, Iowa 80 is definitely not the place for me. This is the world's largest truck stop, so don't be surprised to find a giant truck accessory showroom, food court, a massive gift shop, and a lot more. It's a collaboration between a glorified shopping center and a truck stop. If you're looking for a quick break off the highway, go somewhere else. To me, it seemed more like the world's largest tourist trap than a place to visit again.

2. World's Largest Popcorn Ball

So often, the world's largest roadside items are deeply underwhelming. Sometimes, however, they're also just bizarre. And a 9,000-pound giant popcorn ball definitely fits the latter description. It's cool, though it's one of those things where you'd probably get just as much from seeing it in a photo as you would from visiting it in person. Unless you're a popcorn ball enthusiast, this stop just isn't worth it.

3. The World's Largest Golden Spike

No shade to the Union Pacific Railroad or the incredible history of the country's railroad industry, but the world's largest golden spike is hardly something to write home about. Unless you're already in Council Bluffs, Iowa, anyway, don't go out of your way to visit this. It sort of resembles the Washington Monument in a much smaller, less ivory hue. The statue is a 56-foot, golden-ish colored railroad spike that was installed in 1939 in conjunction with the premiere of the film Pacific Union. If you want to see some incredible railroad history, check out the Union Pacific Railroad Museum instead.

4. The World's Largest Strawberry

At least Iowa's world's largest Cheeto is the real thing. However, it makes the world's largest strawberry even more of a letdown because it's a statue. I will concede that it is a clever icon for a town named Strawberry Point, though I don't think it's worth traveling into Iowa to see—this is just me being berry honest.