As one of the earliest European settlements in North America, Massachusetts is as rich in history as JFK was in Lovers. A simple walk along Boston’s famous Freedom Trail gives the traveler a deep sense of history and purpose.
However, frankly, we could care less about finding a greater sense of purpose. Our purpose is to find you a greater sense of fun. These 5 insanely bizarre Massachusetts attractions are sure to keep you on your way:
1. Jordan’s Furniture – “Mardi Gras” Natick: Massachusetts
Jordan Furniture Store
Furniture stores have a long history of outrageous stunts. From cheesy ads, to obscure promotions and endorsements from B-list celebrities, they will do just about anything to get us to buy their products. But trust us, you haven’t seen anything until you’ve stepped foot inside Jordan’s Furniture.
Go ahead and cancel your trip to New Orleans because the best of Mardi Gras is right here on Jordan’s showroom floor (a sales associate likely won’t catch your eye). If the replicas of the French Quarter, river boats, and swamp plantations don’t sell you a new sofa, the 30-minute Mardi Gras animatronic show certainly will.
Not sold yet? There is also a full IMAX theater here. Now Playing: Curse Of The Killer Dinette Set – In 3D.
2. Beer Can Museum: Northhampton, Massachusetts
Art lovers have MOMA, history fans have the MET, and beer fans have Ye Olde Watering Hole. Northhampton’s prestigious beer can museum has a collection of empty bottles so vast you’ll be intoxicated before having a drink. And if by any chance the empty bottles don’t wet your whistle well, you can pull up a chair and choose from a wide selection of cold beers on top. Appreciating “art” never tasted so good.
3. Witch Dungeon: Salem Massachusetts
If the Wicked Witch of the West ever left you writhing in your bed at night, this is your chance to get revenge on all Warlocks.
First, attend a live performance of an authentic Salem witch trial and watch a 17th century prosecutor tear apart the flawed testimony of the accused witch. Then get up to celebrate the witch being convicted of her heinous crimes. Finally, head to the Witch Dungeon for a round of witch whipping, water, boards, broom strokes, and any other form of devious witch torture you can use as a motto.
If anything, this is a nice reward for having to suffer for 5 seasons of Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
4. Thermometer Museum: Onset, Massachusetts
Thermometer enthusiast Richard Porter has taken the dark collection to a whole new level. By visiting getaway markets, garage sales, and antique shows around the world, the man from Onset Massachusetts has amassed a stock of more than 4,100 thermometers.
Descend into its basement museum and marvel at thermometer pigs, spaceships, earrings, windmills, and countless other wacky works of art. Frankly, we think all that mercury has gone to his head.
5. Mapparium: Boston, Massachusetts
If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling to the center of the earth, the Mapparium is your direct ticket. Here you will enter a huge 608 panel stained glass globe and see one of the only maps in the world free from perspective distortion. Thanks to its uniquely shaped concave panels, everything appears in its actual size and distance from each other.
Sure the map is from around 1935, with nations like Prussia, Rhodesia, and Siam, but who needs geographic precision, when you have colorful lights and sounds.
-He sat
