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
Event

New York's Infrastructure Creek

Brooklyn, New York
$35 per person
A behind-the-scenes and under-the-bridges tour of Brooklyn and Queens.
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Event

Psychic Speakeasy: An Evening of Mind Reading in Room 13

Chicago, Illinois
$30 per person
Join us for an intimate evening with a local mentalist inside a cozy, Prohibition-themed speakeasy.
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Event

The Astonishing Architecture Boat Tour

Chicago, Illinois
$35 per person
Atlas Obscura presents a very special twist on Chicago's beloved architecture boat tours, revealing the unknown tales hidden inside the city's most famous landmarks and locations.
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Event

Pandemics from the Past: Cemeteries and Infirmities

Bala Cynwyd
$25 per person
Learn about the dramatically different connotation of 'going viral' in the 20th century in a special collaboration between the Mütter Museum and West Laurel Hill Cemetery.
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Event

Last Call in Boulder: The History of a Dry City

Boulder, Colorado
$20 per person
Sample local brews as we dive into the city's notable history with booze, from total Prohibition to homebrew haven.
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Event

L.A. Storytelling in Scent: 1960s Hollywood

Los Angeles, California
$50 per person
Transport yourself back to the wild days of the Sunset Strip as you create your own custom perfume inspired by the decade of free love.
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Event

The Spies of Georgetown

Washington, D.C., District of Columbia
$25 per person
Join us as former CIA clandestine operative Rosanna Minchew tells us the secret tales of the spies that populate Georgetown.
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Event

The Chapel at Graceland Cemetery

Chicago, IL
$35 per person
Join us for the first of four Atlas Obscura events celebrating the lives and arts of modern Chicagoans and those resting at Graceland Cemetery.
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Event

Abandoned Zoo Ruins

Los Angeles, California
$25 per person
Roam the grounds of L.A.'s old zoo, former home of Ivan the Terrible.
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More Stories
food

The Canadian Towns That Icelanders Visit for a Taste of Their Past

Specialties that are disappearing back home still thrive in "New Iceland."
Karen Burshtein July 19, 2019
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objects of intrigue

The Apollo Astronauts Signed Memorabilia in Quarantine—as Life Insurance

"Insurance covers" were meant to provide for their families in the event of disaster.
Jesse Hicks July 18, 2019
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oceans

Texas's Gulf Coast Is Being Battered by 'Nurdle' Pollution

The tiny pellets used to make plastic products are washing up everywhere, posing a huge environmental threat.
Julissa Treviño July 18, 2019
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meteorites

How to Find a Meteorite

It's a long shot—but if you're keen to look, here's how to start.
Jessica Leigh Hester July 18, 2019
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nazis

For Sale: The First Telegram of World War II, Sent a Few Days Before World War II

You might call it a miscommunique.
Isaac Schultz July 18, 2019
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science

How Pink Slime Saved Sushi

Kathleen Drew-Baker’s study of British algae helped rescue Japan's nori industry.
Sabrina Imbler July 18, 2019
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floods

Come for the Controlled Flooding, Stay for the Gumbo

As waters rise in Morganza, Louisiana, so does disaster tourism.
Michael Patrick Welch July 18, 2019
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stonehenge

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.
Jessica Leigh Hester July 17, 2019
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underwater

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

Their "mouth-fighting" produces one of the loudest underwater sounds ever recorded.
Matthew Taub July 17, 2019
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