I haven't been to much of Canada either, but I love where I have been, much of it where you've been, too. Did you go to the Sticky Bun Shop in Shediac? To. Die. For! Prince Edward Island is my absolute favorite.

And, driving through Maine to get there once, my mother and I took each other's pictures in front of a statue of Paul Bunyan, how's that for big?

Canada is home to sooooooooooooo many of the world's largest things too Laurie. Largest Easter Egg, Largest Hocky Stick and Puck (naturally), Largest Pierogie. . . I could go on for ages. Also, go looking for Butter Tarts when up you're up there. Sticky sweet and ohmigod good.

I love, love, love me some Banff. Also, gays can get married there. Yay Canada!

Also, how is it that it's only Laurie Ann, Marg B and me that don't feel the slightest issue with using the bag of one store in another store. Fine. I'm the weird one.

DH and I went to Canada for our 10th anniv last year; we stayed in a tiny little cabin on Lake Erie in Leamington, Ontario, and took a ferry boat to Pelee Island where they've got an AWESOME vineyard and winery (read: multiple wine tastings hee). We rented a tandom bike and rode all the way around the island; I think it's only 9 miles. Anyway Yay, Canada ay!

:) Yes, you'd fit in up here just fine.

Thanks for loving my country, Laurie! I love it too and wouldn't change it for anything. I haven't visited as far east as you've been, having grown up in Edmonton and then moved to Montreal for university. I moved to Vancouver after I graduated in 1993 and have been here ever since. I was going to mention the world's largest easter egg but see someone beat me to it (it's in Vegreville, Alberta btw).

Of course, you have to mention West Edmonton Mall! Having grown up in Edmonton, that was our biggest draw for tourism and I lived within walking distance of it in my teenage years...spent a lot of time in there scoping for boys with my giant 80s hair. I haven't been to Edmonton in 3 years but I'm going for a week starting this Sunday and I'm excited to see my friends (and of course go shopping at THE mall).

Ooo, my favorites are the World's Largest Prairie Chicken in Rothsay, MN and the World's Largest Otter in Fergus Falls, MN and the giant heifer in North Dakota on the drive to Montana. Minnesota and North Dakota are another great place to find giant stuff!

OK, Laurie, this is a challenge. Get in yer Jeep & get yerself up here. I live in a suburb of Vancouver, work in the big city itself (for a large Cdn White Guys in Ties type of entity), quilt, knit, and am the mother of a knitblogger (http://shaxophile.blogspot.com/), who was the one who directed me to your own crazy self in the first place.

We have a spare room. We have cats (notice the plural). We used to live in Nova Scotia, I grew up in Ontario, my husband's family is from Prince Edward Island, so we can tell you all sorts of great places in Canada to plan visits. The suburb we live in is a friendly small village. From our kitchen window you can see a U.S. mountain in case you get homesick, and from our backyard you can see Canadian mountains.

We love to cook and enuf people love to come to our house to eat, that we believe we're pretty good at it. We have a healthy attitude towards food & physical activity, which means that we enjoy the table. We drink (heck, Shaxophile's summer job is slinging beer). We read a lot. We know where all the really good yarn stores are.

I'm serious. You've got a room if you want it, for a visit. Seriously. Email me.

I too am a displaced Southern gal (Ohio) and I wondered if you had run into this problem at restaurants when you left the South.

To waitress: "I'd like to order a coke". Southern response: "What kind, hon? We have Mello Yello, Dr. Pepper, Big Red and Pepsi". Northern response: Waitress brings a Coca-cola.

Also, love them Canadians!

How could you not have been to Vancouver??? We're just a short plane ride away!! Come on up, you can stay in the spare room! We'll clean it out just for you- promise.

My dear, Moose Jaw? Okay, I'm a bit biased (I grew up in the "big city" closest to Moose Jaw and have a "big city" attitude towards it) but seriously? Moose Jaw?

However, if you're dead set on it, do a cross-Canada trip via the Trans-Canada and you can hit Toronto, Winnepeg, Moose Jaw and Vancouver along with, Regina, Calgary and Banff (among other things). Edmonton would have to be a side trip though. It's some 3 hours north of the Trans-Canada.

Liza {who'd be happy to be your local guide in Calgary & Banff}

My Mom and Dad roadtrip to different places just to take pictures of the local "World's Largest..." stuff.

There's a coffee table book out that has pictures of all of those things; it's pretty cool, actually. (Don't know the name of it, unfortunately.)

along with cinnamon buns, you have to try Nanaimo Bars, they are to die for!!! What lovely things to say about us!!!!

You must put Montreal on your list too! I've been there twice (once this spring - you can see a few pix on my blog) and it's absolutely my favorite city in the world. I'm trying to convince my daughter she wants to go to college there (actually she's thinking about it all on her own.) I swear I would move there in a heartbeat.

Hi Laurie, glad you love our country. Anytime you want to visit you'd be welcome. I agree with you on the store bag thing; just yesterday I encountered that exact situation. Don't forget to visit Victoria when you're up here!

Never been to Oh Canada. Boo Hoo
So many places so little time.

That lobster is just asking for it...YUM!

I would totally drive to Winnipeg to see you. Even though it's a 6 hour drive and would make far more sense to hop on a plane and take a weekend in L.A. But I'm crampy and crazy so I can make weird declarations in your comments, I guess. I think the Trans-Canada idea sounds marvelous. I love train travel!!! Save up for the sleeper compartment. It is such the perfect way to travel.

Oh, and the biggest ball of twine (not technically yarn, but what they hey) is in Minnesota. So, you'd have to come visit us here in fly-over land. :D

Hi Laurie,

Long time lurker here, but now that I know you love my country well, how could I not stop in and say "hi". In all the places you said you'd like to visit, there was no mention of the Great White North. We live in Dawson City, Yukon. Home of the gold rush. You should check it out on a map. Way better than Vancouver or Edmonton, and I should know, I lived in both cities.

ps. LOVE your blog and congrats on your book.

Kerri: So true!! When I moved from the Midwest to the South, they laughed at me for calling it Pop. It took a couple months for me to figure out how many different types of Coke there truly are. And most aren't made by Coke. Oooo and Big Red. I love me some Big Red.

Oh. Apparently there is some CONTROVERSY about where exactly the biggest ball of twine is. But come see the one in Minnesota.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/MNDARtwine.html

Not that you could knit with it...

I think you should write a proposal to the travel channel. "Crazy Aunt Purls Worlds Biggest Travel Show" . Travel around seeing the worlds biggest... and let them pay you for it.

Laurie, I love you more everyday. You mentioned Moose Jaw!! I just got married at th mineral spa there on May 12th. Do you watch the comedy called Corner Gas? the had a whole show where the fictional little town in Saskatchewan (very close to Moose Jaw actually) was trying to decide what "World's Biggest" thing they could build to attract people. They wanted a large farming implement of some sort, covered with soil to represent their proud farming heritage. They eventually chose....a big, dirty hoe. Hee hee! Potty humour!!
Anyway, thanks for the shout out. If you ever make it to Moose Jaw I hope you let us know about it.

p.s. - what *does* tump over mean?!?!

I second Vicky in Vancouver's offer Laurie. Visit her then take a ferry over here to Victoria . We also have a spare room, lotsa wool/yarn and my fiance is a cook! He specializes in breakfasts and only cooks at home now since he changed careers.
We have the cutest puppy in the world in residence as well!
Ohhh if you could do it for June 9th we gotta fibrefest going on and the YarnHarlot herself will be here...or maybe that's when you'll be doing some promo for your book?

Oh, I love me some Canadians, too! The hub and I got married in British Columbia - Salt Spring Island to be exact. We've been back a few times to the island and Vancouver and I just love Canada - everything about it rocks. We live in NW Ohio so are close to Ontario and go to Windsor sometimes. We actually just got back from a week in Goderich on Lake Huron - it was fantastic. My 8 month old daughter has a passport to make crossing the boarder easier! We are hoping to make it to Summerland, BC in the next few years and do a orca-watching kayaking excursion off the coast BC sometime.

My hub's fav thing about Canada? The Beer Store.
(also, Nanaimo Bars are from heaven!)

I love Canada too! If I could move out of my teeny little county here in Oregon I'd so move there. But for now I have to go for visiting every now and then.

Also, my family and I TENTED through Banff a couple of time whe I was growing up. There are bears and elk and mountain sheep there. We were brave.

Oh, I love me some Canadians, too! The hub and I got married in British Columbia - Salt Spring Island to be exact. We've been back a few times to the island and Vancouver and I just love Canada - everything about it rocks. We live in NW Ohio so are close to Ontario and go to Windsor sometimes. We actually just got back from a week in Goderich on Lake Huron - it was fantastic. My 8 month old daughter has a passport to make crossing the boarder easier! We are hoping to make it to Summerland, BC in the next few years and do a orca-watching kayaking excursion off the coast BC sometime.

My hub's fav thing about Canada? The Beer Store.
(also, Nanaimo Bars are from heaven!)

These are really nice pictures! I always read your posts and I am happy that there are other people like me.

There are a whole bunch of places in Canada I want to visit, but I've never, ever been there. Not even a tiny bit. Laurie, were you an "Anne of Green Gables" reader? If so, did you ever read the last book in the series, which was about the Canadian home front during WWI?

Oh, and the bag thing? I will sometimes force myself to just use the darn bag when I have the "wrong" one with me in the car, but I feel acutely embarrassed while doing it. There's a small healthy-food-and-stuff chain here called Vitamin Cottage, and they have these great recycled pop-bottle bags that they sell for 99 cents ... and I just feel bad using them at Whole Foods. And Faith? I know it's stupid, but I still feel that way.

I was born in Moose Jaw! Not much to see there, seriously.

And "One of the reasons I love Canadians is because they are Southerners but from the North and with cute accents." That's how I feel about you Southerners: "One of the reasons I love Southerners is because they are Canadians but from the South and with cute accents!" Hee. Come to Toronto! We could then go to Montreal or Ottawa!

YAY for Canada. Let us know when you get that Jeep and come on up. I am about an hour away from Vancouver and living it up in the country. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else :)

one more thing... Wiki on "World's Largest" and you will get a pretty comprehensive list of the World's Largest things, such as the largest brick in Troy AL, the largest raison box in Kingsburg, CA and the largest pooper scooper in Grand Rapids, MI!

Hi Laurie!
I just found your blog and have been poking through the archives. I have to say that I have such a soft spot for your Soba as I also have a tortoise sheel who has face colourings that for years made her look like she was constantly pissed at everyone :) But I thought I'd delurk for the first time because I have never met anyone from the US express a burning desire to come to Winnipeg, my city. I read about your earlier obsession with Manitoba from a past penpal. I like it here, but it's an especially nice place to visit in July (avoid our winters if you know what's good for you!). For such a relatively small city we have so many cool festivals in the summer. Send my love to your kitties who completely have a new fan and if you do come by Winnipeg ever, we only have one yarn store Rams Wool, so you can't miss it.

I love those World's Largest statues too. Driving back from Kansas City in March my colleagues and I stopped in Metropolis to see the giant Superman statue but the glory of it was more than my memory card could handle and the whole thing died, Superman pictures and all.

Some friends of mine from Newfoundland traveled to Vidalia Georgia a few years ago and went around asking the locals how to get to the giant onion. Imagine their disappointment when they learned that Vidalia doesn't have a giant onion. For shame.

If you drive through Kansas on the way to Canada, you can visit the World's Largest Ball of Twine (it's the closest thing I could find to yarn).
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Cawker/twine.html

Dude, c'mon up (er, and over) to Toronto. Love to have you. The Lettuce Knit SnB on a Wednesday night? Friendliest place on earth. Seriously.

or you can go to Alabama to go hug Monster Pig!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_Pig

Love Ya Laurie - but Nova Scotia isn't an island, it is attached to New Brunswick.

Sorry

I'll look for Whale's Cove. We're spending 10 days in Nova Scotia, starting next week! We love New Brunswick, Jasper National Park and Montreal, too.

And I love public radio, so thanks for the tip about Canada's version.

I don't take a bag from a competing store into others to shop, either. I'm originally from Kansas, where a teeny bit of Southern habits leaked over into us.

I love it that you write...'tump over'. I don't get it, who doesn't know 'tump over'!

Laurie we'd love to have you live in "Idyllic, oceany and small" Nova Scotia, we love our province. However, there's one thing you need to know, and I hope it doesn't make you change your mind. Nova Scotia, well, look closely, and you'll see it's not an island. I'm so sorry to have to be the one to break this to you, and I hope it doesn't make you love Canada any less!

Ohio is home to both the world's largest ball of cheese AND the world's largest cukoo clock. Coincidence? I think not.

I say we all pool our butter and go after the lobster. It won't stand a chance.

I second (or third) the Nanimo bars.... pure sin, those treats.

Victoria is a great stop, as is Vancouver. Get your scarves on up in Whistler, Edmonton is cool (though all the streets are laid out in a grid - its wild). I've seen the largest easter egg east of there too.

Toronto is VERY cool. Haven't made it up the NE side, but Canadians are very cool, even the Quebequios (sp?) who are French and only French thankyouverymuch.

only bad thing? Being so north means dark winters. But vice versa in the summers.

As a fellow Southerner, I am also a fellow Canada-lover. And it was a trip to Nova Scotia that did it to me, too. Living less than an hour from the border (in the only state in the US where you can drive *south* and end up in Canada - woohoo! - which really does kind of make them southerners to me, at least the ones in Windsor, Ontario!) means I come in contact with a lot of Canadians, and I love them all. (Unfortunately, it has not meant that I just jet on over to Canada whenever the mood strikes me. Though I should.)

I never thought about Canadians being like Southerners, but I believe you're right. Except maybe they're a wee bit more low-key and not as loud. At least compared to my relatives.

Oh, and to Kerri (displaced southerner in the Midwest, like me) - I totally feel your pain. In the south when you say, "Bring me a coupla cokes," the correct response is: "What kind and how many?"

Living in Detroit, I am just a short hop away from lots o' Canada. My brother lives in Ontario, so we travel there several times a year. Canada is cool. And I can eat all the Peanut Butter Kit Kats I want!!!!

Toronto is VERY FABULOUS - and lot's o knittin going on there...I believe that's where knitty is based....

Alison, now that I think on it... you're so right! we DROVE to Nova Scotia!! hee

I am very bad at remembering. I really thought it was islandy in nature :)

Jodi, I'm a native Georgian (from the Atlanta area) but my grandparents lived in Vidalia, GA for almost 20 years so I spent a lot of summer vacation time there when I was growing up. Sadly, there is no World's Largest Onion there, but I think my grandmother used attempt to have the World's Largest Supply of Onions. She had more onions in their house than one person could ever know what to do with. Also, Vidalia may win some award for World's Largest Number of Square Miles of Boringness. There is nothing to do there.

When your publicist is choosing stops for your book tour, just tell them you won't go anywhere that doesn't have a really big something. By then they'll be used to you, and maybe with all the pre-orders, they'll oblige!

Hi Laurie,
I came onto the comments to correct your NS error, but I see my pal Alison has already done it. We promise not to hold it against you, it's a common mistake. And if you ever come back to our lovely province, let us know, we'd love for you to join our rambunctious knitting group...we call it "Knitting Out Loud" for a reason.

Okay honey, what you have to do is cash in on the popularity of your blog and travel the world taking advantage of all your fans. I see you've offers for a bed or three in Canada, well, we've got one in New Zealand for you. (We have no cats but my four year old has decided she's a kitten and currently only speaks in meiows - so you're covered on the Crazy too!)
New Zealand hasn't got a lot of World's Biggest, but we do have a giant carrot and a giant slice of kiwifruit. And if you're heading this way you can go via Australia which specialises in Giant statues of odd things (just don't miss the Big Banana!)
And I'm so with you on the grocery bag thing - I've even found myself apologising to store clerks (much to their bemusement) when I accidentally take the wrong bag. I think this is a NZ thing too, so you'd probably feel at home. One of our little quirks that I adore is that everyone says thank you to the bus driver as they get off the bus here - everyone. You get a line of twenty people all getting off, and every single person pauses to say 'Thank you driver' - and I bet all those people worry about the grocery shop's feeling too! :)

there is very cute song about canadian girls by this very cute American band that I know of:

http://www.myspace.com/omargoodnessmusic

I also have to give props to Montreal. I love love love it there so much-- great food (poutin!), very fine music scene, decent knitting scene. I think I might relocate there, if I could only just learn enough French to teach at the Universite...

Laurie, it's no surprise to me that you like Canada. You just *seem* Canadian. I never made the connection though before to southerner style and the Canadian way. You might be correct there, except for the politics and the religion thing. But absolutely it would be entirely rude to take other store bags to the grocery...that's why I have different ones for each store!
I hope you do make it to Toronto. If you like, I'll personally show you the "World's Biggest Bookstore" (it isn't really but that is the name), we can listen to the CBC (our public radio) and then go up the world's largest free-standing building, the CN Tower (although it might not be anymore...damn you Kuala Lampur!)

I too was struck by that comment and the apparent similarity between Canadian and Southern. I've been on two vacations and lots of business trips to Canada, but not since the kids were born. I'd move there except New England is quite cold enough.

Canada's great, but c-c-c-cold in the winter. Perfect summer trip!

Sorry, I have no clue what "tump over" means. Maybe because I went to school in Montreal? Because I'm from New York? I lived for 2 years in Galveston, oughtn't I have learned it then? Well, I didn't. WHAT IS IT??? Please enlighten us!

I [heart] Canada. I'm from Michigan, and our neighbors across the border just seem so sane compared to the U.S.

Anyhoo, I [heart] Canada even more since I learned about the french fries with gravy and cheese curds (aka "poutine"). Note to self -- must get to Quebec and eat me some poutine! My, that sounds almost dirty, doesn't it. /blush

You may enjoy this website: http://www.roadsideattractions.ca/

:) By all means, c'mon up!

Just don't go there wearing an Anaheim Ducks jersey. They don't like Californians winning in hockey.

I used to live in Upstate NY about an hour from Montreal...now that's a fun city!

If you don't take Vicky in Vancouver (and others) up on her (their) offer(s), you are indeed crazy. I'll even throw out an offer to go for you, ya' know, if you're too busy .....

Has anyone mentioned that we here in Ohio have the World's Largest Basket? :)

Some advice for Canadian destinations from a girl (at heart) who was born and raised in Canada, lived on the Atlantic coast, Pacific coast and locations in between---
Skip Toronto and see VANCOUVER...
Skip Edmonton and see CALGARY - home to the world's LARGEST outdoor rodeo!!!!
You won't be disappointed!

Wow, I also attended the "Festival du Homard" in Shediac years ago. Wonderful lobsters! And I have visited the World's Largest Ukranian Easter Egg in Vegreville AB. What a blast Canada is! And can I say more about their provincial and national parks! Fabulous. Merveilleux!

I think the book Pickles & Dimes mentioned may be:

Roadside Giants by Brian & Sarah Butko

But if not, just go to Amazon and keyword "roadside attractions" and wade through the dozens of funky books available.

Really the only part of Canada I've been to is Regina, Saskatchewan (I may have spelled that wrong...). I do some business up there, and on a business trip I kept saying "ru-gee-nuh" instead of "ru-jie-nuh." The rep from the company I was considering hiring then told that "Regina" rhymes with "fun."

I hired them.

I de-lurked to say "yay, Nova Scotia!", but Alison and Lesley beat me to it. (All of the NS knitters read you, you know. If we could afford it, we would fly to LA and stalk you more properly. I have binoculars.)

Hey, come to Halifax. We have a guest room - and to sweeten the deal, a golden retriever who insists on sleeping with visitors. We have 3 LYS's in HRM. And at least 2 more within an hour's drive....we drink a lot of beer/wine...Just sayin'.

NS is pretty close to being an island, a peninsula in fact. I mean, with this global warming and all we COULD be an island sooner or later. So you are not necessarily wrong, I think you are just forward-thinking.

Hello-

Being a native maratimer, I'm glad to see that you enjoy my neck of the woods! That Lobster scares the crap out of me, especially at night time. Thanks for calling our accents cute!

For all ya'll northerners, tump is a verb

VERB (tr): To overturn. Often used with over: You're about to tump that thing over.

VERB (intr): To fall over. Often used with over: Is that wheelbarrow going to tump over?

Hee, hee

Hey, I live in Nova Scotia. You could come visit and join our yarn group. (I know Terra who commented above).

I have to say -- my island blunder aside -- Nova Scotia is one of my favorite places on earth. Halifax is gorgeous and people are friendly and I drove the whole perimeter and every inch was so pretty and it just has a zen calm to it, like people seem really at peace and basically happy and I loved every minute of it.

I should go back! Someone email the publicist and request a tour stop ;) hee.

But still, I do feel like an idjit for calling it an island!!!

Oh, and yes -- I definitely had that "coke" problem when I first moved to California. Also, I was watching my weight (gah) and so I would order tea, unsweetened. People out here looked at me like I was crazeeee.

And don't forget the worlds largest turtle on a snowmobile, in Bottinaeu, ND.... it's a site to see!

Oh, and I forgot to say... that's right on the Canadian border, by the Peace Gardens!

Well duh of COURSE you feel a bond of kinship in Canada... where you think all dem nice cajuns done come to Loosana from, cher? :)

And we love you too! (she says, speaking on behalf of her country) Anytime you're in Toronto, I'm sure the local knitters here will show you a great time! Maybe you'll be doing a book tour...?

Thank you Kerri, for that awesome grammar explanation!!!!

Hey Y'all! What about the homeland? The world's largest pecan is in Seguin, Texas! Visiting there was one of the highlights of my life (so far).

I am sooo with you on the lobster! YUMMMM

Ellen, I need to make a pilgrimage to see that pecan. I *have* seen the world's largest roadrunner, it's in Fort Stockton, Texas (they also have a barbed wire museum. Yup. I have SO been to the barbed wire museum). I love me some Southern crazy.

LAURIE!! I LIVE 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM SHEDIAC!
I can't believe you've been to my neck of the woods!

my favorite thing about canada are the bi-lingual labels on everything.

Trust me, this place gets old real quick.

But if you ever want to set up an exchange program... New Brunswick for Cali?

- PG
(also 20 minutes from Shediac)

Edmonton rocks! I spent my first vacation in 18 years there a while back and loved it - they have a replica of a whale inside the West Edmonton Mall - the mall you can see from *space*!

(Get yourself to Edmonton and have a great time, and not just because I want to be a Canuck, too!)

See BOTH Toronto and Vancouver -- they're both delightful but very, very different.

I don't know if he's the world's biggest, but there is an enormous Jesus in along the highway in Southern Ohio. There is also a song about it by Heywood Banks called Big Butter Jesus because he looks like one of those ginormous state farm butter sculptures.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/OHMONjesus.html

When I moved from NY to SF I decided to drive and see all the eccentric things the US has to offer. I didn't see any large balls of yarn, but my fave sight was the World's Largest Ball of Paint, about 40 minutes north of Indianapolis. I painted it purple. :) Here's a pic: http://akruaxcroadtrip.blogspot.com/2005/08/day-3-we-slept-in-this-morning.html

Nova Scotia isn't actually an island, but you're still welcome to come back anytime!

You can listen to Canadian public radio at: http://www.cbc.ca/listen/index.html

:-)

No, no. You have to stay with me in Guelph Ontario (yes, a city pronounced Gwelf). Canadians have such a great reputation - thanks for mentioning us! We are a kind and gentle folk in Guelph - home of the University of Guelph, three stream recyling, Sleeman Brewery, Our Ladys church and lovely shops and restaurants. Come visit...my door is always open.

We love you too!

Some giant stuff in Ontario:
Goose in Wawa
Nickel in Sudbury
Tomato in Leamington.

And out in Vulcan, Alberta they have the USS Enterprise!

Don't forget the wine. We do up some mighty fine wine.

Also we have the world's largest nickel (Sudbury, ON), world's largest mosquito (Komarno, MB), world's largest grasshopper (Wilke, SK), world's largest bee (Falher, AB) world's largest moose [Moose Jaw (imagine that), SK] and so many more it's a little frightening how much we love the oddly oversized statues.

Susan! I live in Guelph too!

If you ever happen to be at the Shediac lobster festival again, don't buy the lobster! It's insanely overpriced! Get it from Sobeys instead.

We love you, too!

Canada loves you too. :)

When I was a teenager, I had this fantasy of having enough space to have a collection of all of the different big statutes used as advertising symbols - from the Los Angeles area -(that is where I lived when I was younger). I wanted a Bob's Big Boy, the muffler guy with the axe, oh gosh, now I can't remember any more of them. . . . WOW. Fortunately, especially since I can't remember them, I no longer have this fantasy.

And don't forget Newfoundland! (Have you read The Shipping News or seen the movie? Awesome!)

I just like Canada because I can get my prescriptions cheaper from there. (Shhhhhhhhh...).

If you like the biggest things... start saving up to hit Australia. Seriously the biggest everything. Bill Bryson has some funny words re: biggest roadside attractions in his book In a Sunburned Country.

Laurie,

OK,

I thought I was the only one that wanted to road trip to see the hokey tourist attractions - must be a Southern thing!

Here in Kansas, you can see the world's largest ball of twine: http://www.worldslargestthings.com/kansas/cawkercity.htm (made by a community - to distinguish it from the one in MN) as well as the World's Largest Electric Shovel: http://www.worldslargestthings.com/kansas/bigbrutus.htm. I've seen pictures of people standing inside the scoop on Big Brutus.

There's also the World's Largest Stained Glass Flag, right here in Lawrence. And the world's largest cow hairball in Garden City, but we'll just skip that one.

And, added bonus, you can visit both the Geographic (http://www.worldslargestthings.com/kansas/geographic.htm) and Geodetic (http://www.worldslargestthings.com/kansas/geodetic.htm) centers of the US.

I agree that Canada is a fine fine place. I've only traveled to Victoria, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec. We were very happy being in all those places - they are beautiful and the people seemed very proud of their country and kind and thoughtful. You are right about the peace-niceness. I soo want to visit NS, I've dreamt about it since 5th grade - sheesh, guess it is time to go? I say bibs and butter and up to NS!

I think you should visit Minnesota! As someone else already mentioned, we have a lot of "World's Largest" whatevers and we can be a lot like Canadians. I grew up about 10 minutes from the MN Twine Ball which we feel doesn't cheat as it is the largest ball of real twine made by one man. We didn't add to a man's lifelong mission of a big ball of twine after his death.

Heck, I too feel like I want to move to Canada. My boyfriend and I have had semi-serious discussions about moving to Toronto someday. Oh, and I also could not bring myself to bring a Trader Joe's into a Whole Foods. I think I would bring shame upon my mom for committing such a faux pas. Seriously, you and Minnesota would love each other.

We live within an hour of the world's largest muskie in Hayward, Wisconsin. He's kind of scary. There's a giant loon about two hours away in Mercer. We also have a sporting goods store nearby that has a giant jumping fish (could be walleye) parked outside. It's been difficult controlling the urge to go over and hijack it some night and put in our garden pond. We've managed to grow some pretty big goldfish in our pond, but this guy would put us on the map!

Laurie if you ever make it to Toronto, I guarantee you a yarncrawl like no other. If you need proof, visit here:

http://stashaholic.com/2007/05/27/knitters-ho.aspx

Drew came to visit me last year and I think he's still recovering (ask him about sushi pizza and bloody Caesar's one day)

Say the word and I am at your service ma'am.
(oh and I promise to say eh as much as you want eh?)

Oh and speaking of book tour ideas, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (of Yarn Harlot fame) launched her book in Toronto on Friday night. 400 knitters showed. We Take Our Knitting Seriously Here.

http://stashaholic.com/2007/05/25/dudeyoure-really-gonna-need-more-chairs.aspx

And I agree - a Lettuce Knit stopover is mandatory. As is Romni. (links in previous comment's post)

Cara! I was going to mention the ball of paint! Are they like the nicest people EVER?

That man painted the ball for me in memory of 3 of my loved ones... put their names on it, then took a picture for me! I have it here somewhere...

Laurie, I learn so much geography reading you! I feel like I'm back in school only there's no pop quizzes [THANK. YOU. GOD.]

Never been to Canada *cry* [but I've been to Mexico and haven't been able to eat a crunchy taco since. I love me some soft tacos in May-hee-co!]

That salmon has the World's Largest Stick Up Its Butt!

If you're coming to Vancouver, I'd be happy to show you around the LYSs, and to see the sights. Not sure if we have any of the world's largest objects...

Laurie should make the World's Largest Scarf... heehee...

CAP...visit Calgary!

cowboys/rodeos, mountains, lots of LYSs, knitwear appropriate seasons, an hour drive from the rockies (spas), and hour flight from the west coast, shopping galore.

no maritime quaintness tho'. or lobsters.

more friendly nice-ness that you could possibly believe.

cheers
jake

Then you have to come to New Zealand. We're a lot like Canadians and I guess Southerners by extension, and we have the world's largest trout, kiwifruit, and much much more...

Jump in your Jeep and drive North - I am sure I can talk my 3 cats into sharing their food & litter.

The sun is shining in Vancouver now, summer is here!

Other Ruth... maybe I will... maybe I will!

I love Canadians. Adore them.
There was a darling and handsome Canadian in my college choral/vocal music department that was so sweet and modest that he hardly noticed he was the object of a passionate crush of nearly every girl in the department (Hi Graham! Blushing yet?).
It was only the wiles of an equally sweet and mannered southern boy that kept me from leaving the loutish men of the LA dating scene to join my sister and her hubby in Nova Scotia to find my fortune (and a really really nice guy). Now that I'm hitched to aforementioned sweet southern boy, I just make plans to drag my hubby up there on vacation as soon as possible now. Maybe if I have a daughter someday, I'll send her up there for college to give HER the choice of nice Canadians that I never got to date?
Go North, Young Woman!

And Sarah, I can vouch for the niceness of ya'll in New Zealand too!
The Lord of the Rings folk came to Comic Con and were just the sweetest people in the whole huge room--even after making a movie so great that it would have caused any regular Hollywood dude to decide he was above talking to us mere mortal geeks.

I think that the world's largest ball of twine was at Greensburg, Kansas. I know that the largest hand-dug well was there. Unfortunately...they got hit by a tornado, and I'm not sure if either thing survived...

I'd like to echo the suggestion that you visit Newfoundland. A beautiful, unspoiled island. We were there last summer with a friend who comes from there, and her fiance, who were getting married in her hometown. We drove all around the province while we were there, so technically we went with them on their honeymoon! It's a lovely place and the people are great.

You can drive to Prince Edward Island too - and it actually is an island!

For the number of Canadians, we have A LOT of big &/or weird things... you have to go to the UFO landing pad which is in northern Alberta. I mean, really, who builds a UFO landing pad? Apparently we do. And with government funds!

And of course when you go to Vancouver, you may as well head over to Victoria Island as well.

When you come to Toronto, I'll be happy to take you to the bestest yarn shop ever; Lettuce Knit (www.lettuceknit.com)in Kensington Market, of course, you'll have to make a trip up the CN Tower (www.cntower.ca) first!

I had to delurk for this thread. Taipei 101 is the tallest building in the world (soon to be overtaken by something in Dubai from what I understand) - I live here and can see it from my window.

Laurie, you are of course welcome to visit me here (even though you don't know me but I knit so I guess that's ok). I am also from Vancouver and will be coming back in September (that might be a little more convenient). My place in Vancouver is right downtown and I can take you on the little boat I use to go shopping for too expensive groceries. I do this because going grocery shopping in a little boat is just so much fun for some reason.

Hey, on your way to NZ, stop by Taiwan! We have Monuments to Produce aplenty, although I don't know if they are world's largest or not. But still, you could see giant guava, custard fruit and onion statues while covering the southern part of the island. There's also a huge obelisk where the Tropic of Cancer (hey! You're a cancer!) crosses the island. What could be more fun than that?

Okay- You're on- Toronto- yarn crawl- be there!

There's a whole nation of my fellow crazy knitting Canadians that would love to have you visit us! I love my country and think all parts of it are beautiful. My favourite trip ever was driving from Ontario all the way out to PEI and back with no plan at all. Just a good friend, a car, a tent and a map. Great memory!

Here's a site of all the really big roadside attractions in Canada:
http://www.roadsideattractions.ca/province.htm

OMG! I just got back from Nova Scotia, which is my home, because I went to graduate. I'm so glad you love it - I miss it terribly ;-)

You cant get more Southern than the Great Southern Land - in Australia we have a great variety of giant items... the Big Merino (mmm, lambs wool), the Big Banana, the Big Prawn, the Big Pineapple, the list goes on and on... you can see more of our big things here:
http://www.bigthings.com.au/

You should totally come to Australia, its comng in to Winter now, perfect knitting weather :)

I LOVE Nova Scotia!!! My aunt lives in Halifax and we went there - geez - in 1992? I love Lunenburg (did I spell that right?). So many beautiful, coastal views in NS. We drove from Western NY (Buffalo area) up to Nova Scotia. I also loved Maine - but we did make some jokes about being stranded in the "Enchanted Forest" as we drove for hours without seeing anyone!

Another great area in Canada is the Thousand Islands. DH and I love Gananoque, ON. There is a GREAT B&B there - The Victoria Rose Inn. It is AWESOME!!!

Aw, I feel warm and fuzzy that you like my country so much. :) Come visit anytime!

I'd say the best way to see Canada is to drive across. Go east to west if you want to be wowed by Nature getting larger and more dramatic as you go along, or west to east if you want to end the whole thing with a lobster feast. So many gorgeous places to see, it's well worth the time!

ok Purl Im going to tag you. Write seven random facts about yourself we don't already know. Tag 7 others and then let them know in their comments. Your it!!

When you're in New York (which is an island) you should visit the largest statue of a needle and button in the garment district. Seventh avenue and 39th. It's really cool.
http://www.roadsidenut.com/nee303.jpg

I've been to Canada twice in two years and fell in love with it as well. The people are wonderfully friendly and helpful and it's so clean! I visited a couple of yarn stores while there, but my favorite that I found is "The Knitting Habit." The owner is a doll and she has a great selection!

My grandmother lives in a little small Texas town and she says tump over, over yonder, says she's stove out when she's tired and it's coming up a cloud when it's going to storm. She's in her 80's and I'm afraid when she passes, there will be no one left who talks "that a way."

Laurie you probably don't ever get this far down in the comments, but what do you do with the kitties when you travel? Having three myself, I can tell you my carefree traveling days have really been reduced.

Laurie, you really have to come to Australia. We have the world's largest pineapple AND the world's largest earthworm. And I think there is someone here also claiming to have the world's largest lobster but maybe it's just the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. At any rate it is really big.

We also have a prime minister that does the world's largest butt-kissing of an American president but hopefully that will change after the elections in Australia later this year.

minnesotans, too, wouldn't dare bring a competitor's bag into another store! it's just not... nice.

alas, how i miss my beloved minnesota. :(

Another vote for Banff here! A few years ago I flew to Calgary, rented a car and cruised around Banff National Park for a week. Just me and my camera. It was the best vacation I've ever had and I plan to go back and do it again. The people were friendly, the wildlife was roaming all over the place and I had the time of my life.

Hi Laurie

You'll have to come visit us in Scotland where we have the world's Largsest Department Store.....but only because the town we live in is called Largs.

Yup I second the post about Oz having the world's largest pineapple and earthworms [ they're about 10 feet long ... live ones...seriously ] and also the world's largest prawn and isn't there a giant banana too?
Plus you like laid back people, right? We're notorious for being laid back.
We'd make good Canadians :]

Hey, if you drove from Shediac to Campbellton (home of Sammy the Salmon) then you must have driven through Dalhousie and seen the Inch Arran Lighthouse and the Arch Rock at the mouth of the Restigouche River. That's where all my family's from for, like, 100's of years!
Very cool that you like it up here.

Other large things - the largest egg (!) just off the highway near Drummondville Quebec, the largest nickel in Sudbury Ontario, the largest apple somewhere on the way to Kingston just off the 401 in Ontario, the huge geese in Wawa Ontario, and I think there's a largest sculpture of a mining dwarf in FlinFlon Manitoba.

I have only had the scantiest experience with the Canadian border area, back when we could take real vacations, but I have had a lifelong fascination with, and an ambition to visit ...

Jasper, Alberta.

It started in fifth grade, when the geography teacher thought of a fun way to get us each to write an essay. She put a blindfold on each kid, twirled you around, and set you in front of the map of North America. You then plonked your finger on the map. Whatever city your finger landed on, you wrote an essay about it.

I scrutinized the map (being way back in the alphabet gives you time to strategize), and by the time it was my turn I had decided that if I jumped up high, and to the left, my finger would land on NOTHING WHATSOEVER and I would be homework-free. Hah!

I landed on Jasper, Alberta.

To my youthful surprise, I learned that there was more there than snow. Lots more. I have been a Jasper-phile ever since.

And yes, I have often thought of applying for political asylum. :-)

I see a lot of people mentioning Minnesota and its large ball of twine, but what about the butter carving booth at the Minnesota State Fair? Select dairy princesses of the fair have their likenesses shaped as butter statues, and at the end of the fair, they take them home.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Kay_of_the_Milky_Way
http://www.midwestdairy.com/pages/article_detail.cfm?ARTICLE_ID=350&TREE_ID=335

Down here in the land down under (Australia for those who are unaware of the slogan) we have the Big Banana, the Big Pineapple, the Big Merino and the Big Prawn. All of which are compulsory visiting for thoe who love all things big.

This is totally not related to Canada or travelling in any way, but I just had to seek some advice about my cat. My cat was totally great with the cat box, but I decided to try that Cat Attract litter any way. Well now the cat uses the box but also has decided to piss in several different spots around the house. This is driving me crazy. Got any advice for what I should do and how I can trust him around the house again?

I tried to do the Big tour of Oz but there are too many places that don't tell you they have a Big whatever. Plus Oz is Big anyway. The Big Banana isn't so big. At least the Big Pineapple is big enough that if you fell from the pineapple top, you'd die. Same with the Big Merino. But we do have a Big Crayfish (lobster) or two!
http://njhurst.com/~natiel3/trips/adelaide/bigcray.jpg
(You think you are sick? I have to get out my Big pics to share with you!)

Come to Ottawa! Come see the Peace Tower! (And possibly the Stanley Cup, unless the Ducks get it...)

Hi Laurie - This Newfoundlander welcomes you to Nova Scotia any time. I have been to every province, but not to the US. And I agree that we are a lot like Southerners, except without the conservative religion and politics. Liberal peace-lovin' Southerners. Too bad I can't swap you a pine for a magnolia though...I love your magnolia trees!

If it makes you feel any better, Nova Scotia is ALMOST an island,so you can be forgiven for thinking it was one.

I've driven across Canada twice and have lived in four provinces now. On our first drive (we moved from Nova Scotia to BC) I took along my copy of "From Pacific to Atantic, Canada's Gigantic", by Peter Day and Henri Robideau. It is full of photos and stories about all the giant things in Canada, including that Shediac lobster (do you like lobster rolls?), the Sudbury nickel, the biggest thermometer in White River, Ontario, and on and on and on. We ticked off a lot of oddities on our drive.

If you love Canada, you should think about visiting the far north as well. It's often overlooked, but it's a special place.

And the Ducks ain't getting the Cup. (I live near Ottawa now, over the river in Quebec.) Ain't.

Pretty near to Toronto we have the World's Largest Toonie (the toonie is what our crazy people call our two dollar coin, the loonie being the one dollar coin). You should totally go to Toronto than take the scenic route through to Ottawa, it definitely gives you a good feel for what Ontario is like.

LibChickAZ-- I have a paid cat sitter who is very expensive but to me is well worth it. I honestly haven't left them except once -- that was Paris over a year ago. I'm such a ninny but I'm sad and scared to leave them. But the cat sitter calls every day to check in with me. I am crazy that way.

Rubina-- If your cat is suddenly misbehaving with the catbox, he might have an infection. These are the #1 most common reason why cats have litterbox issues. Also, switch back to your old litter immediately to see if that is the problem. Transitioning cats to a new litter can take months. We switched over a period of two months, slowly until everyone adjusted.

Take it from another southern girl: "tump" combines the terms "tip" and "dump". A tumped over laundry has tipped over and dumped its contents.

Dude! World's biggest kaleidescope. On our way home from the baseball museum in Cooperstown, New York. We thought the guy was pulling our leg when he told us to lay on the floor for the best view (even though the room is full of chairs...) Really wished I had some good drugs that day.

And you would totally love Vancouver. My boyfriend is a total Canadian-ophile. I joke that he is the one-man Puerto Rican Canadian Travel and Tourism board. He wants to move there. Good food, healthy living, most beautiful place on earth. Oh yeah, and friendly people.

Oh, and I would suggest that you ask your veterinarian about cat or other pet-sitters. In my opinion, nothing better than getting a trained medical professional to sit for your pets. And in many instances, veterinary technicians can use the extra income. (Cough cough.)

So glad you love my country! You just made my day. I grew up in Saskatchewan (it's not totally flat!!) and moved to Ontario for university and having visited around the place I must say, my favorite places are the Qu'apelle Valley north of Regina, Sask; Northern Saskatchewn (North of Prince Albert where the Canadian Shield starts), though if you run out of food you could survive on mosquitos alone; and Algonquin Park in Northern Ontario. I've never been to the Maritimes though.
Love me some Western Canadians though. Ontario just isn't as nice. You always have a place to stay in London, ON, with 2 cats and 2 dogs to keep you company!

World's Largest Roadside Attractions

http://www.wlra.us/index.htm

Do go to Toronto. It's lovely. I went there (from my home in southern Sweden) on my own two years ago and had a wonderful time. There were lots of things to see and visit and when one grew tired of the city one could take the ferry to the islands. I remember sitting in the Rectory garden feeling totally at home, it even smelled like here, pine and sea. And you got dill with your salmon.
But as for biggest things I think I saw the biggest grouse or heron or some other bird somewhere in South Dakota.

oh...canada is wonderful! You must go to the Canadian rockies (where hubby and i honeymooned), banff specifically...if for no other reason than the hiking and scenery, the wonderful people, and the massage treatments and turkish mineral baths at the spa at the banff springs hotel...

the biggest "..." has been the basis of many youthful roadtrips for us canucks! you need to check out roadsideattractions.ca

not the greatest lys here in saskatoon, sk but we've got a mean sn'b! we meet on tuesdays at the yard and flagon and you are always welcome!!!

you should totally check out fibrefest in victoria, bc this summer. it's a complete blast and the yarnharlot is going to be the superstar guest this year!

Yeah for Vancouver! I have spare rooms too but some not-so-funny guitar-playing teenagers so it is not terribly serene here. But we have cats and live in a great village south of Vancouver, walking distance to a yarn store and the local fish docks to buy fresh fish. How do we email a publicist person to beg that you come up here?

So when are you coming to Canada? I would love to show you around Ottawa (a.k.a., The National Capital Region - that's truly what it is called. Isn't that funny?). Just in case you need a little reminder about Canuck geography - Ottawa is 2 hours west of Montreal and 5 hours east of Toronto. And I have connections in the Prairies and West Coast. Call me, eh?

You are not alone in your love of big things. There is a whole website dedicated to "Big Things - Community Monuments in Canada" http://www.bigthings.ca/

Hey...if you come up here you have to visit Calgary...we have the world's largest....uhhhh....uuummmmmm....we have the largest group of red-neck, oil-field workers who drink too much, party too late and leave their dog poop in piles to bug the neighbours (that is the actual spelling of neighbors in Canada...seriously. We also spell color with a 'u' - colour...see how neato we are?).

Ok, ok, we have the biggest mountains...the Canadian Rockies...you haven't lived until you've seen 'em...so jump in your car and come on up...I spin ya some yarn (seriously, I am taking a spinning class and I am not talking about the California 'obsessed with being rail-thin' kinda spinning).

Also, great blog...I slept on the bottom bunk all night with two preschool boys, three pillows and a stuffed dog (not your neighbour's, sorry) and found a copy of red fish, blue fish wedged someplace it shouldn't have been...I needed to laugh this morning...thanks!

L.

Seriously,

delurking to say - if you come by Ottawa (between Toronto & Montreal), stay at my house. I'm not even kidding!

Canadians like building larger than life objects, apparently. Here in Alberta we have a plethora of giant stuff, some of them quite odd indeed...

I've included the Alberta tourism unusual attractions link for your viewing pleasure:
http://www1.travelalberta.com/en-ca/index.cfm?pageid=58 .

Go West, young woman, go West!

Ah Moosejaw, Saskatchewan--been there, done that.
Here's proof: http://rvvagabonds.blogspot.com/2006/08/meet-mac-moose-which-is-mascot-for.html

i'm a southern girl too. i've always wanted to drive around the south and photograph/document all the historical markers i have driven past on my way to my destinations.

at my old company i used to travel throughout south carolina, georgia, and alabama to visit our nursing offices. a lot of the offices were in small towns so needless to say, i'd pass a lot of historical markers along the way.

i remember one section on the way to dothan, alabama there were 5 or 6 white crosses on the side of the road. i've wondered what the story was behind so many crosses in one place. i've always been curious to know if folks in the other part of the united states put out crosses for their loved ones when they've passed away due to an auto accident.