Washington is home to all kinds of weird attractions. Some of the strangest places in our state are man made, and others are all natural. Either way, these 11 unusual spots in the Northwest will definitely make you do a double take:
1. Sharky's, Ocean Shores
Driving by, you might wonder why there's a huge shark coming out of this building. But if you head inside, there's a unique shop to explore with a wide selection of gifts like t-shirts, hats, shot glasses and more. Located in Ocean Shores by the coast, the shark theme fits right in.
2. Temple of Power, near North Cascades Visitor Center
Inspired by the Pantheon in Greece, this public gazebo was created from recycled bits of giant circuit breakers for its columns. The futuristic work was made in honor of the small town of Newhalem, which has a long history of providing electricity to Seattle.
3. Nutty Narrows Bridge, Longview
You may not be able to drive over this bridge, but it's still incredibly adorable to look at. Before it was built, squirrels had to avoid traffic by running across the street to eat their nuts at an office building, and then back again to a park with huge trees. After seeing many squirrels not survive the trip, a local resident designed "The World's Narrowest Bridge" over Olympia Way by the Civic Center - with a total cost of only about $1,000.
4. Dick and Jane's Spot, Ellensburg
On the corner of 1st & Pearl Street you can find this one-of-a-kind home with incredible detail. The house, fence and yard are covered with thousands of bicycle wheel reflector sculptures, bottle caps and more. The inside's not currently open to the public, however you can still view pretty much all of the art from the sidewalk.
5. Fremont Troll, Seattle
This huge sculpture underneath the Aurora Bridge in Fremont is certainly one of the most peculiar spots in Seattle. The hidden landmark is made of steel rebar, wire, and concrete and can be seen clutching an actual Volkswagen beetle.
6. Elephant Rock, Tunnel Island
Elephant Rock is a stunning rock formation among a group of sea stacks and arches at the south end of Tunnel Island. Since it's located on the Quinault Indian Reservation, it's currently only open to tribal members - but simply just looking at photos of this gem makes you want to look twice to spot the shape.
7. Twin Sisters, near Touchet
Science suggests these pillars were formed from erosion thousands of years ago, but there's a local Native American legend that claims otherwise. According to the
Washington Trails Association , the legend states that they were formed when an animal spirit fell in love with three sisters, but later became jealous of them and turned two into stone & the third into a cave. Regardless of how they were formed, it's definitely a striking feature to see while hiking along the Wallula Gap by the Columbia River.
8. Stonehenge, Maryhill
Built by Sam Hill, this full-scale replica of the monument in England will definitely grab your attention. It was the nation’s first WWI memorial, dedicated in 1918 to the servicemen of Klickitat County who died in the service during the Great War.
9. Rosie, Sekiu
How could you not do a double take at a walking fish wearing a pink bra, skirt and tennis shoes?? This strange wooden statue is named Rosie, and you can find it right next to the "Sekiu Welcomes You" sign along Highway 112.
10. Beacon Rock, Columbia River Gorge
If you're up for a challenge, the hike up this monolith along the Columbia River Gorge is open year-round. The trail's gradual and features railings all the way up across several bridges and switchbacks - but once you get to the top the panoramic view is extraordinary.
11. Hobbit Hut, The Brothers Greenhouses, Port Orchard
This adorable Hobbit-inspired house can be found in The Brother's Greenhouses garden center. During business hours, you can take a trip inside their little earthen building, take photos, and even sign the guest book!
Have you been to any of these strange places in Washington? Where are some other unusual spots in our state? Share them with us below!
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