If you're heading south of the border from the Northeast U.S., you'd better know which border. If you want to go to Mexico, you'll have to keep on driving…because 200 miles of billboard signage along I-95 will only point you as far as Dillon, South Carolina. Technically, you'll be south of the border—the North Carolina border, that is. But don't worry, you'll think you're in Mexico, especially when you're greeted by "Pedro," a 97-foot tall, 77-ton man wearing a giant sombrero. As you drive through his legs, Pedro welcomes you to "South of the Border," the capital of kitsch: part restaurant, part motel and campground, part gargantuan gift shop(s). The tourist Mecca pays homage to all things Mexican, and it is open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. A landmark for more than 50 years, the site continues to add new attractions and it gets even more garishly enticing all the time. Once you've ridden the glass elevator to the top of the huge "Sombrero Tower," you can park your RV and get married in the wedding chapel (there's even an adults-only store onsite where you can stock up for the honeymoon). Or, if weddings aren't your thing, you can purchase still-legal-in-South-Carolina fireworks, one of the main draws advertised on the billboards. So whether you come to South of the Border for tacky souvenirs, a respite from the dull drive down I-95, or a cheaper-than-flying-to-Vegas wedding, you won't be disappointed. Bring the family for a photo op and check back next year to see what's new south of the North Carolina border.
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