Where are the Best Food Landmarks in the U.S.A.?

Avery Island in Southern Louisiana is the source for Tabasco. The island is a salt dome with rich heritage, beautiful grounds of exotic plants and serves as a bird sanctuary. Worth the drive!

Here are some eclectic food-related tours and museums in the greater S.F. Bay Area:
* the Jelly Belly Factory Tour in Fairfield, California
* Takara Sake Brewery and Museum in Berkeley, one of only four sake breweries in the U.S. Tastings, a video about sake production, plus a museum of sake making tools.
* Boudin Bread Museum in San Francisco (near Fishermen's Wharf). Exhibits about bread, production bakery downstairs, bread artists who make loaves shapes like crabs, alligators, and more.
* Luthur Burbank sites in Sebastapol (Gold Ridge, an experimental farm, http://www.wschs-grf.pon.net/bef.html) and Santa Rosa, California (the Burbank home in the center of the city). In his over 50 year career, Burbank bred over 800 strains of plants, including the potato used in most fast food french fries (the Russet Burbank potato), the Santa Rosa plum, the July Elberta peach, and the Shasta daisy.
* Anchor Steam Brewery, San Francisco. Lots of breweries give tours, but few have the historical importance of Anchor Steam

Here's one in greater Los Angeles that stretches the boundaries of this exercise: Tours of the Port of Long Beach. This is related to food because a large fraction of food and drink imports to the U.S. enter through the Port of Long Beach. They give free monthly boat tours which give you an up-close view of the operations. Tours usually fill up, so planning far ahead is necessary. I went last year and found it amazing.

Mac and Manco's pizza in Ocean City, NJ!

Chicago finally has a museum dedicated to food. It's called FOODSEUM. The first exhibit was dedicated to...encased meat. Here is the link...http://www.foodseum.org/#home

Woodman's in Essex, Massachusetts. They've been in business since 1914 and, legend has it, the fried clam was invented there.

I think that the Minnesota State Fair also deserves a mention. It's such a hot bed for American food, and really upholds some strong American ideals. Anything goes; vendors and visitors are willing to try anything. No idea is too absurd. It's an outstanding event.

Not food, but drink: Celestial Seasonings offers free tours at the factory in Boulder--visiting the Mint Room is an experience worth having. I was also impressed by the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Seattle, where we spent a good hour tracing the path of the beans, talking to the people working the line, and just appreciating all the beautiful machinery.

My sister told me they just visited the SPAM museum in Minnesota.

It's been a while, but I think it's still there - Tastee Treat in Bucks County, PA: http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM4E8P_Christines_Twistee_Treat_Bristol_PA

Also, what about a moving food monument? The Weinermobile - I saw it once in Madison, WI - heard university students are hired to drive it around. Apparently, it has its own Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewienermobile/

Can't forget Claes Oldenberg - e.g., his giant ice cream cone in Cologne, Germany: http://oldenburgvanbruggen.com/largescaleprojects/droppedcone-01.htm and Spoon/Cherry Bridge in MN: http://oldenburgvanbruggen.com/largescaleprojects/spoonbridge.htm

Last, but not least, Bluth's Frozen Banana stand (not real, but wish it were): http://arresteddevelopment.wikia.com/wiki/Bluth's_Original_Frozen_Banana_Stand

Giant metal fork-twisting-spaghetti in Omaha, Nebraska! http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/46983

The Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. It is covered with corn husks, corn, etc. and there is a new design every year!

The Big Chicken in Marietta, GA.

Tillamook Cheese Factory in Oregon!

The PEZ Museum

http://burlingamepezmuseum.com/

I work for Roadtrippers.com, and some of the weirder food museums are my favorites to write about. Here's a quick list of some of the best: https://roadtrippers.com/trips/15430138

The Big Peach in Bruceville, Indiana! Gotta get your picture with the giant peach sculpture.

Vivian Robbins, I was JUST about to leave exactly the same comment! Matt's Bar for SURE.

Matt's Bar in Minneapolis, MN. Home of the original Jucy Lucy burger. A Midwest classic.