Roadside Distractions

Yuba City's Bird Man

June 30, 2017 | Bob Moffitt

What’s seven feet tall, has six feet, and rainbow feathers? The Bird Man of Yuba City holding two scarlet macaws over his head as a part of the newest addition to our roadside distraction series.

Safetyville USA: A Tiny Town Teaches Tots To Cross The Street

December 2, 2016 | Melody Stone

Why is there a cluster of small buildings just off Bradshaw in Rancho Cordova? There’s a mini McDonald’s, a shrunk-down Capitol Building. Get the story behind Safetyville USA in the latest installment of Roadside Distractions.

More Than A Water Tower: The Art, History And Utility Of Alhambra Reservoir

November 4, 2016 | Melody Stone

The large concrete cylinders peppering the Sacramento skyline blend into the overall cityscape. But this huge, multi-purpose structure east of downtown is worth exploring. We take a peek inside, in the latest installment of “Roadside Distractions.”

A Riverboat That’s Not Afloat: The Old Spirit Of Sacramento

October 7, 2016 | Melody Stone

What’s a three-story paddle boat doing on the shore of Sacramento River near Garden Highway? We looked into the vessel’s origin as part of our “Roadside Distractions” series.

Piles Of White Powder Appear, Disappear On Sacramento Region Orchards During Summers

September 2, 2016 | Bob Moffitt

If you've seen a huge pile of white powder in a field off the side of the road, you might have wondered, "What is that?" That's the question for the latest installment of Roadside Distractions.

Why Is There A Self-Cannibalizing Hot Dog Statue Perched On A Building Off Alhambra Blvd.?

August 5, 2016 | Melody Stone

A life-sized hotdog man hungrily licking his lips while squirting ketchup on his forehead stands atop an unmarked red and black building at the intersection of Alhambra Blvd. and T Streets. A reader asked us to investigate this roadside distraction.

Giant Red Roseville Sculpture Is A Rose To Some, Is Not A Rose To The Artist

July 1, 2016 | Joanne Serrieh

Roseville residents will tell you the big red sculpture along north Interstate 80 is a rose. But a bit of research found otherwise. As part of the Roadside Distraction series, Capital Public Radio got the story behind the sculpture.

A Dinosaur With No Name

June 3, 2016 | Jonathan Ayestas

Drive along Interstate-80 in Dixon, Calif. and a huge, white figure looms in the distance. At first, you can’t tell what it is, but as you speed past, a dinosaur comes into view. A dinosaur. At a pumpkin patch. What does one have to do with the other

Two Coasts, Two Cities, Two Signs: The Story Behind The ‘Ocean City MD 3073’ Sign

May 6, 2016 | Melody Stone

A normal-looking mileage sign along the freeway in West Sacramento causes motorists to take a second glance. Placerville, South Lake Tahoe and Ocean City Maryland? What’s that all about? We tracked down the man responsible for the sign.

Insight With Vicki Gonzalez

CapRadio Goes For A Ride With Our Roadside Distractions Series

April 7, 2016 | Melody Stone

CapRadio's Digital Producer Melody Stone takes us along as she explores roadside distractions like the Milk Farm and a castle on I-80. She’s spearheading CapRadio's Roadside Distractions series.