Barbie Pond on Avenue Q & The Watermelon House

Stroll by 1454 1/2 Q St NW in Washington, DC, and you'll come upon an unusual and rather delightful roadside attraction: Barbie Pond. 

Barbie and Ken dolls are artfully displayed around a small pond in scenes that change on a regular basis. On my visit it's almost Valentine's Day, so various heart ornaments and a little Cupid doll are amongst the decorations.

The displays are shared on Instagram, and though it's attracted the attention of locals and visitors alike for at least a decade, the people behind it are rather quiet and modest about it, according to the Washington City Paper. 

The owner, who has preferred anonymity over the years, started it after receiving Barbie dolls taped to a birthday gift given to him by a friend. He told the City Paper that "it's a little silly" but also has realized the positive impact it has on the community and kids and adults alike. 

Another man assists with the displays, which often are centered around holidays or political topics. 

It's kind of absurd how a collection of (often naked) Barbie dolls, many of them stuck in dirt from the torso up, can be so charming and bring joy to passersby everyday, but that's exactly the effect.

Further down the street, at 1112 Avenue Q, is "The Watermelon House." It originated in 2007 when the owners, Rob and Wade, wanted their house painted red. The front turned out fine but they found the side to closely resemble the color of Pepto Bismol due to a special gloss coat that was added that was designed to help wash away graffiti. Rather than simply paint over it, they instead turned it into a watermelon. About a decade in, they gave the building fresh paint, turning the front into a light green and making the watermelon more red. One day, a pregnant woman took a series of photos of her jumping up in front of it, and now the house is both a fun, quirky roadside attraction and an Instagram hot spot.