11 Road Trip Destinations Where You Can Break a World Record

Becoming a world record holder doesn’t have to require years of disciplined practice and preparation – if you can be at the right place at the right time, you can stake your claim to being a record-breaking legend. Here are 11 destinations where you can help rewrite the record books.

Most Linked-Together Inflatable Tubes (with Zombies)

Head to Asheville, NC for this unorthodox world record attempt, which seeks to break the record for most people in inflatable tubes linked together at once … while dressed as zombies. Organizers are putting the event together to raise awareness about protecting the ecosystem surrounding North Carolina’s French Broad River. The current record stands at 600 people, but it might not last for much longer: More than 2000 potential would-be zombie participants have already registered for this event.

Largest Dog Grooming Lesson

Pack up Fido and cross the border into Alliston, Ontario for this world record attempt at the largest dog-grooming lesson. The gathering also features other activities for you and your canine companion, including dock diving, agility contests, and even a “Best Dressed Dog” fashion show.

Largest Gathering of Pirates

Make the drive to the Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, VA on September 19, 2015 to see a ton of swashbucklers attempting to set the world record for the largest gathering of people dressed as pirates. All landlubbers and scallywags need not apply—the hefty current record stands at 14,231 pirate participants.

Greatest Number of People Simultaneously Balancing a Book on Their Heads and Walking Five Meters

Bookworms with great posture should plan a road trip out to the library in Saratoga, CA in September. The Santa Clara County Library District there plans to set the world record for the most people balancing a book on their heads and walking at least five meters (a whopping 16.4 feet!). The library will have stewards there to make sure there’s no cheating, but official rules allow participants to place the book on their head flat or “tent-style” to make it a little easier.

Largest Pub Crawl

If books aren’t your thing, get a designated driver and head down to Savannah, Georgia next May for an attempt to break the record for the largest pub crawl. The official rules state that participants must purchase and consume at least a 4.4 oz. alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage (so even those designated drivers can enjoy the crawl responsibly) at 10 different participating bars within the official 8-hour timespan.

Largest Gathering of Natural Redheads

Head to Portland, OR’s Pioneer Courthouse Square on May 31, 2015 and you’re bound to see a fair amount of redheads. A non-profit organization called The Redhead Event is coordinating the world record for the largest number of people with natural red hair as a way to raise awareness for skin cancer.

Largest Same First and Last Name Gathering

Is your name James Smith? Do you want to be part of a world record? You’re in luck: All you need to do is drive down to Port Canaveral, FL, on December 1, 2014, and set sail on a cruise ship that will attempt to gather the largest group of people named “James Smith.” The previous record, which gathered together only 164 people named “Martha Stewart,” has stood since 2005.

Largest Number of Carved Pumpkins

Get spooky at the Keene, NH Pumpkin Festival, where organizers will attempt to gather the largest number of carved pumpkins in one place. (The festival is trying to beat its own record, 30,581 jack-o-lanterns, which was set last year.) You can bring your own pre-carved pumpkin to the fest or get one there and make a jack-o-lantern of your own design. Once the count is made, the clever organizers even set up a race to clean up the mess involving competing teams and prizes.

The Most People Simultaneously Bouncing a Ball for 10 Seconds

Head to Toronto on May 6, 2015, and you’ll have the chance to partake in this record-breaking attempt at having the most people bounce a ball in the air for at least 10 seconds. The current record is 658, and organizers are hoping to hit at least 700 in this latest attempt.

Largest Floating Gathering of Kayaks

Strap your kayak to your car roof and head to Florida’s Apalachicola Bay on May 15-17, 2015. There, more than 2,100 kayaks will link up in an attempt to create the largest floating gathering of kayaks, smashing the current record of 1,902.

Whether you’re breaking a record or just enjoying the drive, the all-new Hyundai Sonata is the perfect way to get wherever your adventures take you. Find out more about the All-New Sonata’s 3,000 mile Test Drive at HyundaiSonata.com.