Going on a road trip this summer? Instead of trying to get to your destination as quickly as possible, make the trip part of the entertainment. Take some taking detours off the main superhighways to visit off-beat roadside attractions. They're a fun diversion, especially if you're traveling with kids.

Get photos of you or your family in front of memorable, kitschy, giant constructions, such as:

• a 19-ft smiling potato in Maugerville, New Brunswick

• a 40,000-gallon coffeepot in Stanton, Iowa

• a house in the shape of a shoe in Hellam, PA

• a giant sundial in the shape of a woman's leg

Here are some websites where you can view photos of roadside attractions and also get directions to visit them:

World's Largest Roadside Attractions http://www.wlra.us/ Search by name, by country, by U.S. state, or by category (e.g., animals, household objects, toys, etc.)

RoadsideAmerica.com http://www.roadsideamerica.com/ Type in your destination in the USA and pull up a map of nearby attractions. There are also news items, tips and videos.

Large Canadian Roadside Attractions http://www.roadsideattractions.ca/ Search by location or by category.

Even if you aren't planning a road trip, these attractions are fun to visit from your computer.

Pauline Wallin, Ph.D.

Pauline Wallin, Ph.D. is a psychologist in Camp Hill, PA, and author of "Taming Your Inner Brat: A Guide for Transforming Self-defeating Behavior" (Wildcat Canyon Press, 2004) She is also a life coach.

Visit http://www.innerbrat.com for more information, and subscribe to her free, monthly Inner Brat Newsletter.