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Conwy Suspension Bridge
Conwy Suspension Bridge
The blue spruce on the right symbolizes the spirit of John Denver.
John Denver Sanctuary
Patan Dhoka
Argyll and Bute Hospital
Argyll and Bute Hospital
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Cevapčići at Sarajevo ‘84
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In this salad, rice gets topped with pinches of toasted coconut, dried fish, finely-sliced herbs and vegetables, bean sprouts, a tiny knot of noodles, crushed black pepper and dried chili. 
Thai-Islam Phochana
With fat chunks of crab meat swimming in a lush coconut milk curry, it's no wonder this dish is so popular.
Raya
Meet boba tea's ancestral cousin.
Kanomwaan Pakee
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Inside Sacré-Coeur Hospital lies an unassuming lab that peers into the mysteries of our sleeping minds.
Inside Montréal’s ‘Dream and Nightmare Laboratory’
Team Kwe's 2024 sculpture “Wenabozho and Dadibaajimad Journey on the River of Souls,” illustrating a traditional Ojibwe story of two figures—Wenabozho and his brother Dadibaajimad—on an otherworldly journey.
5 Stories for Native American Heritage Month
The sophisticated club sandwich combines ham, pineapple, bacon, peanut butter, and avocado.
This Book Contains a Century of Historical Sandwiches
Each fall, amorous male tarantulas prowl the Colorado plains in search of mates, who may or may not kill them.
Why Did the Spider Cross the Road?

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All United States Louisiana New Orleans

The Atlas Obscura Guide To New Orleans

107 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in New Orleans, Louisiana

Updated October 31, 2024

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Unusual Attractions in New Orleans

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum

A snapshot of the city's fascinating voodoo culture.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Abandoned Jazzland

A theme park that suffered massive flooding during Katrina was abandoned, and now proves irresistible to trespassing explorers.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Museum of Death

A collection of oddities including Dr. Kevorkian's suicide device, the Thanatron.
The bar still stands.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Jean Lafitte's Old Absinthe House

A 200-year-old bar in the historic French Quarter refuses to give up its place in history, nor its role in securing ours.
Marie Laveau's tomb in 2005

New Orleans, Louisiana

Marie Laveau's Tomb

The final resting place of New Orleans' most famous voodoo priestess.
Inside

New Orleans, Louisiana

Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo

A museum and shop on Bourbon Street located in the French Quarter.
The Singing Tree.

New Orleans, Louisiana

The Singing Oak

This New Orleans tree is filled with hidden chimes that produce a carefully tuned melody.
Carousel Bar in 1968.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Carousel Bar

The only rotating bar in New Orleans has been slowly spinning since 1949.
See All 107 Things To Do in New Orleans

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in New Orleans

The bar still stands.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Jean Lafitte's Old Absinthe House

A 200-year-old bar in the historic French Quarter refuses to give up its place in history, nor its role in securing ours.
Carousel Bar in 1968.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Carousel Bar

The only rotating bar in New Orleans has been slowly spinning since 1949.
The Séance Lounge

New Orleans, Louisiana

Séance Room at Muriel's Jackson Square

The restaurant keeps a hidden séance room on the second floor and reserves a table for the spirit of the former owner each night.
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop

New Orleans, Louisiana

Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop

The second oldest continuously operating bar in Louisiana.
See all 11 Places to Eat in New Orleans
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

From sinister murder tours to Cajun and Creole cooking classes.

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

A Music Lover’s Guide to New Orleans

Sponsored by New Orleans & Company

Perched at the mouth of the Mississippi River, New Orleans has been a crossroads of cultures since its first indigenous inhabitants. Just over a century ago, the interplay of West African, European, and Caribbean influences in the Crescent City forged the signature sound of American jazz. Today, thanks to the culture bearers who have passed this musical tradition down over generations, you can still hear what those jazz geniuses were cooking up. What’s more, music infuses every part of life in New Orleans, from football games to funeral processions, parades to public parks. Here are 10 places to immerse yourself in the rich landscape of New Orleans’ musical scene.

View Itinerary

Explore New Orleans, Louisiana

Shops 12
Architecture 12
Cemeteries 11
Museums 10
Unique Restaurants & Bars 9
History 9
Collections 9
Art 8
Catacombs And Crypts 8
Music 6
Mardi Gras 6
Architectural Oddities 6

New Orleans Leaderboard

Places Added

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    J Ginsberg
    5
  3. Avatar image for Luke J Spencer
    Luke J Spencer
    5
  4. Avatar image for Laetitia Barbier
    Laetitia Barbier
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  5. Avatar image for Lady Delaney
    Lady Delaney
    3

Places Edited

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    13

Places Visited

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    71
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  5. A
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Recent New Orleans Activity

  • Avatar image for Avoiding Regret

    Avoiding Regret

    wants to go to The Eiffel Tower of New Orleans

  • R

    radenham1

    wants to go to The Oldest Fire Hydrant in New Orleans

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    radenham1

    wants to go to BMike's Studio Be

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    radenham1

    wants to go to Old Spanish Fort

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    radenham1

    has been to Kermit's Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge

Stories About New Orleans

The crumbling tracks of the Ozarka Splash ride at Six Flags New Orleans.

The Brief Rise and Steep Fall of a New Orleans Amusement Park

Nearly 20 years after Hurricane Katrina, the abandoned Six Flags that became a symbol of the city still bears deep scars.
by Matthew Christopher
August 5, 2024

How Alligators and Humans Became Friends—Kind Of

A new museum delves into our cute and terrifying relationship with gators.
by Jennifer Byrne
February 22, 2024

The Black Composers of New Orleans Opera Are Finally Getting Their Due

And it's all thanks to this mother-daughter dream team.
by Shoshi Parks
September 13, 2023
Bolo-rei often comes with a coin—signifying good fortune—and a bean—signifying who buys the next cake—inside.

7 Weird and Wonderful King Cakes From Around the World

From slips of Bulgarian fortunes to copulating French figurines, international king cakes hide many surprises.
by Matt Haines
February 20, 2023
The first house float in the Krewe of Red Beans' Hire a Mardi Artist program is "The Night Tripper."

With No Parade This Year, New Orleans Is Festooned With Mardi Gras 'House Floats'

They’re uplifting spirits and local artists alike.
by Victoria Stapley-Brown
January 27, 2021
The Alaska box often includes indigenous food, ingredients, and art.

These 7 Local Food Boxes Offer a Taste of Travel

Get New Orleans pralines, Jersey Shore sea salt, and other iconic treats delivered to your door.
by Laura Kiniry
June 11, 2020
Common foods on St. Joseph altars include cucidati, or fig cookies, and pignolata, or "honey ball" cookies.

How New Orleans Made a Medieval Sicilian Tradition Its Own

St. Joseph protects communities during times of sickness and famine.
by Reina Gattuso
March 18, 2020

The Wonderful World of Selling Your Haunted House

Depending on the ghosts, it might fetch a premium.
by Dan Nosowitz
October 30, 2019

Lists Featuring New Orleans

Marie Laveau's tomb in 2005
Cemetery in 2015
Nicolas Cage's Pyramid Tomb

Strange Tombs and Cemeteries in New Orleans

The most unusual final resting places in the Big Easy's "Cities of the Dead."

7

Including Marie Laveau's Tomb, Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1, and Metairie Cemetery

Marie Laveau's tomb in 2005
Nicolas Cage's Pyramid Tomb
Homemade gravesites
Cemetery in 2015

Famous Cemeteries in New Orleans

Unique tombs and graveyards to visit in the Big Easy.

8

Including Marie Laveau's Tomb, Nicolas Cage's Pyramid Tomb, and Holt Cemetery

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