Bigfoot
Credit: Cassie Tucker
Origins:
The Pacific Northwest
Legend:
There’s so much to be said about America’s sweetheart of monsters, Bigfoot. Also known as a sasquatch, this giant, hairy humanoid has been sighted all over the country, especially in the Pacific Northwest, and has legions of fans. There are TV shows, board games, Instagram accounts, and erotic novels about Bigfoot, and it seems like every other day there’s a new sighting. Though huge and super tall, Bigfoot is considered, for the most part, to be friendly and misunderstood.
Visit:
northern California
Located in Humboldt county — or what locals call “Bigfoot country” — there are several sasquatch-related activities to do in this 1,700-person town in northern California. You can book a stay at the Bigfoot Motel, grab a foot-shaped burger at Early Bird, buy some themed merchandise from gift shops, or take photos of the many murals and statues scattered throughout the town. Don’t skip The China Flat Museum, where you can ogle a life-sized wooden Bigfoot sculpture, as well as plaster footprints and even a so-called Bigfoot skull.
Felton, California
About 400 miles south of Willow Creek, you can visit the Bigfoot Discovery Museum, which is housed in a rustic wooden cabin and brimming with sasquatch kitsch and curios. If you ever wanted to see a pile of Bigfoot poop, here’s your chance.
Gold Bar, Washington
This hidden gem predominately functions as a gourmet coffee & drink stand, but they also have a great gift shop stacked with Bigfoot merchandise. That's because it was a shooting location for the 1987 family comedy Harry and the Hendersons. Out front sits a 14ft statue of the Harry Henderson version of Bigfoot for a great photo opp, not to mention the gorgeous mountain overlook.
Find other local cryptids on the U.S.A. road map
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