Funky and fun destinations in the South to add to your next road trip

In 1966, residents of Point Pleasant, West Virginia saw what they described as a “man-sized bird creature.” At that moment, the legendary Mothman entered the nation’s folklore. Since then, the small town has embraced this macabre mythology, and inquisitive travelers visiting the area today can delve into the lore of this supernatural sighting at the Mothman Museum. Here you’ll find a curious collection of beastly items, including a variety of props and memorabilia from the 2002 movie The Mothman Prophecies, which was inspired by this tall tale.

New Orleans’ Mardi Gras celebration is best known for its extravagant parade floats, technicolor costumes, and festive party atmosphere. While the debaucherous event down Bourbon Street on each Fat Tuesday isn’t generally considered a family-friendly affair, travelers of all ages can get an inside look at this famous “Big Easy” spectacle at the city’s Mardi Gras World at any time during the year. Take a tour of this 300,000-square-foot working warehouse to see where floats are made and enjoy displays of thousands of props used in this lavish celebration.

Every year, more than 1.5 million airline bags go missing. But what happens to those that are never reunited with their owners? At Alabama’s Unclaimed Baggage Center, these orphaned items are given a second life. The massive facility works to repurpose and recycle these lost objects and resells any treasures they find in the mix. The result is a secondhand shopper’s paradise, as bargain hunters can comb through the shop’s 7,000 unique, highly discounted items. You can even buy the luggage itself to help haul home the rediscovered loot from your thrifting road trip.

At one of Florida’s most unique destinations, you can get up close with a mermaid. Underwater performances by these legendary creatures are a daily occurrence at Weeki Wachee Springs, though, like sightings of most mythological beings, the illusion is provided by humans. It’s the park’s highly trained swimmers who perform aquarium acrobatics for eager audiences, and the fantastic show compliments Weeki Wachee’s other attractions, such as swimming, boat rides, and kayak tours where you might just see the mermaids from ancient lore: manatees.