Atlas Obscura - Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations

The definitive guide to the world’s hidden wonders.

An 1826 map of North Carolina, with counties, roads, settlements, and topographical features.

Why North Carolina Is the Most Linguistically Diverse U.S. State

But it might not be that way for much longer.

by Dan Nosowitz

Place of the Day

Portland Horse Rings

Tiny steeds tethered to antique rings are scattered around the city.

How the Library of Congress Unrolled a 2,000-Year-Old Buddhist Scroll

“It was the most fragile object we have ever encountered.”

December 12, 2019

In England, Coroners Decide What Is Treasure and What Is Not

The Surprising Complexity of an Unfinished American Quilt

Atlas Obscura Goods

Holiday Gifts

In a Town That Escaped Slavery, an Oyster Festival Celebrates Black Culture and Resistance

Endless Fields of Unharvested Corn, As Seen From Space

Top Countries

Top Cities

Bangkok, Thailand

Haoma

An on-site urban farm and fish pond supply some of the produce for this upscale restaurant.

lukefater

Added by lukefater

Pachuca de Soto, Mexico

Parque Hidalgo

This park's art collection includes a clock made of flowers, siblings in a tree's roots, and a dove made out of weapons.

linkogecko

Added by linkogecko

Sydney, Australia

Trim the Cat

The statue honors an adventurous seafaring cat.

Tony Dunnell

Added by Tony Dunnell

Roxbury, Connecticut

Mine Hill Preserve

The remnants of a 19th-century ironmaking complex hide in the woods of Connecticut.

fleetingdoe

Added by fleetingdoe

Guelph, Ontario

Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate

A 1975 bylaw prohibits the construction of any building that would block the view of this Gothic Revival church.

Added by Karen BN

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Top Place Tags

art & performance

Cambodia: Contemporary Art, Spiritual Traditions, and Hidden Wonders

From $3,215 USD

Explore the vibrant art, religion, and food culture of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and spend time with the country's leading artists and performers.

science & nature

Science After Dark: Spotting Squid in the Tides of Oahu

From $3,535 USD

Just beneath the waves off the Hawaiian coast, there are schools of tropical fish, flotillas of sea turtles, and squads of squid. We’re diving in to explore some of their secrets.

history & culture

Tunisia Through the Sands of Time

From $3,660 USD

history & culture

Past Future Monuments of the Balkans

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia

From $4,215 USD

Take a road trip across Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina with Atlas Obscura as we explore the Balkans in search of Yugoslav memorial sites.

Walking the Hidden Wonders of Midtown

New York, New York

On the Trail of DC's First Brewmaster

Alexandria, Virginia

Discover Greenbelt Town of Tomorrow

Greenbelt, Maryland

The Chicago Underground Scavenger Hunt

Chicago, Illinois

Sci Fi Sewage Sanctuary

Los Angeles, California

The Spies of Georgetown

Washington, D.C.

Japanese Incense and Tea Experience

Seattle, Washington

Tour NYC’s Industrial Waterway

Brooklyn, New York

Exploring Historic Homes of the Stars

Santa Monica, California

A Walking Tour of Hollywood Jazz History

Los Angeles, California

White House Tales of Scandal & Intrigue

Washington, D.C.

Riverside, What the Burbs Could've Been

Riverside, Illinois

View All Experiences

Syrians Won't Give Up on the Great Mosque of Aleppo

In 2013, the mosque's minaret shattered into 2,000 pieces. A restoration team aims to put them back together.

Chris Ray December 10, 2019

The World's Tiniest Sea Turtles Keep Getting Stranded on Cape Cod

Floating devices called "drifters" are helping oceanographers understand why.

Sabrina Imbler December 9, 2019

You Can Still Buy the Actual Fruitcakes Served at British Royal Weddings

The often-insulted confection was once featured at weddings as well as Christmas.

Anne Ewbank December 9, 2019

Interpreting the Squawks, Chirps, and Barks of Israel's Rock Hyraxes

Brevity is the soul of wit, but volume is what really gets you noticed.

Isaac Schultz December 9, 2019

How a Fossilized Snake With Legs Fits Into the Lineage of Lizards

“Snakes are just fancy lizards,” says one evolutionary biologist.

Sabrina Imbler December 6, 2019

Sled Dogs Have Long Been Central to Life in the Arctic

It certainly beats walking.

Isaac Schultz December 6, 2019

In France, a Bloody WWI Battlefield Has Become a Wildlife Refuge

Toads, orchids, bats, and hundreds of millions of unexploded shells.

Sabrina Imbler December 6, 2019

How a Master Mezcalero Makes a Unique Venison Mezcal

Meat is the secret ingredient in this take on the traditional Mexican spirit.

Lindsay Talley December 6, 2019

How Frothy Waves of Sea Foam Coated the Coast of Chennai

Don't play in the bubbles.

Jessica Leigh Hester December 5, 2019

On an English Estate, Reintroduced Beavers Might Make a Damn Difference

These ecosystem engineers have a good track record in helping restore wetlands.

Jessica Leigh Hester December 5, 2019

For Sale: The Only Bar in a 14-Person Montana Town

You could own the busiest watering hole for miles.

Luke Fater December 5, 2019

How Whopping Whale Skeletons Come to Life at 'Bonehenge'

“Every one of these animals has a story."

Megan Dohm December 5, 2019

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