Atlas Obscura - Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations
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The definitive guide to the world’s hidden wonders.

Gastro Obscura
Covering the world's most wondrous food and drink.
Handmade vínarterta at the Hnausa General Store in New Iceland, Cnada.
Sweets

Vínarterta

Elusive in its country of origin, this multilayer cake has found a home in Manitoba's “New Iceland” region.
These sockeyes are ready to spawn.
Meats & Animal Products

Okanagan Sockeye Salmon

Around British Columbia's Osoyoos Lake, community efforts have revived the population of a fluorescent fish.
Meats & Animal Products

Torta del Casar

In Spain's Extremadura region, local sheep and a touch of thistle make for an ultra-creamy, slightly bitter cheese.
Fruits & Vegetables

Blenheim Apricot

Snap judgments may spell trouble for what was once the king of California apricots.
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Upcoming Events
Old Joliet Prison.
Jul 20
Joliet, Illinois

Old Joliet Prison Tour: History and Hollywood

Trace the footsteps of inmates, guards, wardens, and, yes, movie stars on this tour of a 160-year-old suburban Chicago prison.
Historic photo of the Octagon House from the late 1880s.
Jul 20
Washington, D.C.

A Skeptic’s Guide to D.C.’s 'Haunted' Octagon House

Step inside the iconic 19th century home to learn the truth behind the spooky legends.
Anatomical tools of yesteryear.
Jul 20
Philadelphia

The Return of Dissecting History at The Legacy Center

Spend an afternoon exploring the secretive and sometimes sordid world of 19th century anatomical dissection at two historic Philadelphia medical schools.
The gallery space.
Jul 20
Los Angeles, California

A Hidden Repository of Curious Craft

Gain access to a largely secret gallery where junk materials are reincarnated as wondrous sculptures.
Mysterious Chicago.
Jul 20
Chicago, Illinois

Architecture of Mysterious Chicago

Author Adam Selzer highlights the histories and unsolved mysteries of the city's landmarks.
The garden is a steep labyrinth where surprise waits around every corner.
Jul 20
Los Angeles, California

Hollywood Hills Sculpture Garden

Located just below the Hollywood Sign, this hidden garden is filled with contemporary sculptures from artists around the world.
Palm fronds.
Jul 21
Golden, Colorado

Cretaceous Wonders of Colorado

Head west of Denver for a close-up view of the relics left behind by the dinos that once ruled the foothills.
The monument to Perkins Bass, who was fired from his job by President Andrew Johnson.
Jul 21
Chicago, Illinois

Rosehill Cemetery Walk

A stroll through history and art, with heroes and villains whose stories are seldom told.
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More Stories
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construction

Does the Mystery of Stonehenge Involve Pig Fat?

New research says the megaliths may have been dragged to the site with the help of lard.
July 17, 2019
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invertebrates

Meet the Noisy, Head-Butting Marine Worms That Live Near Japan

Their "mouth-fighting" produces one of the loudest underwater sounds ever recorded.
July 17, 2019
Gastro Obscura
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diaspora

The Canadian Town Where Chinese Food Comes With a Side of Curling

Regional Chinese-Canadian cuisine is flourishing in some unlikely places.
July 17, 2019
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rivalries

Wisconsin and Minnesota Are Waging an Extremely Friendly War Over Who Has More Lakes

Wait, what the heck is a lake, anyway?
July 17, 2019
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