Plan a road trip this month and you can keep summer from screeching to a halt. Beach bottlenecks are history. Leaf freaks are a month away. Even if gas prices are still a bear you’ve got space to check out the eclectic, ultra-local attractions that somehow get passed by in July.

Here, in no particular order, are eight weird roadside monoliths — my favorites — that are enormous enough to make you grab for your camera and e-mail photos to friends. There are plenty more oddities out there, large and small, so load up the minivan and create your own list.