For the action seekers in all of us, I did find some delicious alternatives to the lethargic, anti-climactic Times Square ball:
Website TripAdvisor (www.tripadvisor.com) has come up with a list of America's top 10 quirkiest New Year's Eve drops on advice of its editors and travelers.
1. Key West, Florida - Conch, drag queen and pirate
Choose to watch a conch, drag queen, or pirate wench descend at midnight. Duval Street hosts two celebrations, including the 16th annual conch shell drop from the roof of Sloppy Joe's Bar and the lowering of local legend Drag Queen Sushi in her glittering six-foot tall, red, high-heeled shoe. Along the harbor, the Schooner Wharf Bar lowers a costumed "pirate wench."
Something tells me this might not be a family show.
2. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - marshmallow "peep" Although Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is widely recognized for its Christmas attractions, its New Year's Eve Peep drop has been a sweet tradition for three years running. A 25-pound fiberglass illuminated Peep, an animal shaped marshmallow, is dropped from a crane at midnight with entertainment.
This is definitely my favorite alternative. Who can't appreciate a giant Peep? I'm a Peep Freak.
3. Port Clinton, Ohio- fish
Now in its 14th year, the self-proclaimed "Walleye Capital of the World" drops a 20-foot, 600-pound fiberglass walleye fish named Wylie from the sky at midnight.
Eew. The words fish and sky should never meet, even if it's only fiberglass.
4. Mount Olive, North Carolina- pickles
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Mount Olive's pickle drop, where a three-foot tall, glowing pickle makes a 45-foot plunge down the Mount Olive Pickle Company's flagpole into a redwood pickle tank.
...a glowing pickle in Mount Olive because a giant olive would be so gauche.
5. Elmore, Ohio - sausages
Inspired by the town's longest running business, Tank's Meats, Elmore's locals drop a brilliantly lit, 18-foot sausage from the sky to welcome in the New Year. The celebration also includes zany events like a raw sausage toss, the sausage eating contest and a "dress your dog" contest for children.
Eew again. What's up, Ohio?
6. Lebanon, Pennsylvania- bologna
Weighing in at 120 pounds, Lebanon's seven-and-a-half-foot edible bologna has been the star of this town's New Year's Eve celebration for more than seven years. This free annual celebration lists the help of a city fire department ladder truck to lower the super-sized bologna at midnight.
It's edible. Grab a Ziploc. Think of the sandwiches you could make...
7. New Orleans, Louisiana - gumbo pot
Following Hurricane Katrina, the city of New Orleans added a new tradition to their annual New Year's Eve celebration by dropping a paper mache gumbo pot at midnight. At midnight, fireworks go off along the Mississippi River, accompanying the majestic gumbo pot drop.
I've never before heard a gumbo pot described as 'majestic.'
8. Easton, Maryland- crab
For the past five years, First Night Talbot in Easton, Maryland has been ringing in the new year with a giant crab drop. Around 1,500 people come out to see the monstrous replica of a steamed red crab descend.
Nope, not even going to touch this one.
9. Plymouth, Wisconsin - cheese
In a town known for producing high quality cheese, it's no surprise that Plymouth, Wisconsin rings in the new year by dropping a big hunk of their beloved dairy product at midnight. Sadly, the cheese is not edible, but it's an impressive sight.
Tell me there's not a smart alec in the crowd who doesn't yell, "Hey, who cut the cheese?"
10. Raleigh, North Carolina- acorn
The town borrows a 1,250 pound copper acorn from the city's Moore Square to star in the New Year' countdown. Known as the "City of Oaks," Raleigh has been dropping this massive acorn for the past 18 years at 7:30 p.m. and again at midnight.
Wait, they actually have a 1200 lb acorn in the city all year 'round? They actually drop the thing not once, but TWICE on New Year's Eve? Why twice? What a nutty idea.
Happy New Year's Eve!
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