8,518 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in the United States - Atlas Obscura
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The United States

8,518 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in the United States

States & Territories

Unusual Attractions in the United States

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Upcoming United States Experiences

Online
Experience

Accidental Discoveries

Fri, May 7
$10 per device
Join Dr. Kelly Reidy as she digs into history's most surprising (and oddly productive) mishaps, accidents, and blunders.
+ 1 more date
Online
Experience

Atlas Obscura Trivia Night

Fri, May 7
$7 per person
Gather your team and compete in a weekly contest of wits and educated-guessing.
+ 7 more dates
Online
Experience

Dino 101

Fri, May 7
$10 per device
Who says dinosaurs are just for kids?
+ 3 more dates
Experience

The Spies of Embassy Row

Washington, DC
Sat, May 8
$35 per person
+ 16 more dates
Experience

Dinosaur Ridge History Walking Tour

Golden, Colorado
Sat, May 8
$25 per person
Experience

Lost and Long-Gone Graveyards of L.A.

Los Angeles, California
Sun, May 9
$35 per person
Experience

The Spies of Georgetown

Washington, D.C.
Mon, May 10
$35 per person
+ 11 more dates
Online
Experience

Making History Soar: Secrets of Historic Aircraft Restoration LIVE!

Tue, May 11
$20 per device
Join the Intrepid Museum's Aircraft Restoration Team for a special behind-the-scenes tour through the art of aircraft repair.
Online
Online Course

How to Make a Museum: Creating Exhibitions With Alexis Hyde

Starts Tue, May 11
$205 per person
+ 1 more date
Online
Online Course

How to Make a Murder: Writing Your Own Murder Mystery Party With Abi Inman

Starts Wed, May 12
$90 per device
Online
Experience

Museum Insiders w/ Kylie & Zak: National Museum of Women in the Arts

Thu, May 13
$15 per device
The museums might be closed, but their wonders are still waiting to be discovered!
Online
Experience

Art & Evolution: Drawing Animals w/ Megan McGrath

Thu, May 13
$15 per device
Learn to draw the natural world from the inside out, along with animal scientist and artist, Megan McGrath!
Experience

The Spies of Arlington National Cemetary

Fort Myer, Virginia
Sat, May 15
$60 per person
+ 3 more dates
Online
Experience

Sunday Sabor: Springtime Tapas Party

Sun, May 16
$25 per device
Experience

The Abandoned Zoo Ruins of Griffith Park

Holllywood, Los Angeles, California
Sun, May 16
$28 per person
Online
Experience

Weird Homes Tour: Ghosts in the Machines

Tue, May 18
$12 per device
Step inside Brandon Hodge's home and Mysterious Planchette archive.
Online
Experience

Monster of the Month with Colin Dickey: Lake Monsters

Thu, May 20
$12 per device
Explore the world's greatest monsters, myths, and legends with paranormal author and cultural historian, Colin Dickey!
Experience

Exploring Historic Homes of the Stars

Santa Monica, California
Sun, May 23
$28 per person
Online
Experience

Radical Spirits: How the Occult Shaped Progressive Politics

Tue, May 25
$12 per device
Join PEN Award-winning historian and occult scholar Mitch Horowitz as he explores the spiritual roots of radical politics.
Online
Experience

Nina Nightingale's Charm School

Tue, May 25
$15 per device
Join curiosity artist Nina Nightingale for an evening of crafting, history, and impolite discourse.
Online
Experience

Mystery City Games' Monuments Mission

Wed, May 26
$20 per device
Join Atlas Obscura and Mystery City Games for an interactive game night exploring the story of the World War II Monuments mission!
Online
Experience

Learning the Language of Art w/ Art Muse L.A.: Photography

Thu, May 27
$15 per device
Demystifying the world of art and discovering a whole new world of cultural appreciation!
Online
Online Course

Natural Dyes: Creating a Plant-Based Palette With Aaron Sanders Head

Starts Sun, Jun 6
$220 per person
In this four-part workshop with Aaron Sanders Head, you'll learn how to turn kitchen scraps and foraged plants into natural dyes.
Online
Experience

Secret Souvenirs: Inside the Intrepid Museum’s Collections Storage

Tue, Jun 8
$20 per device
Take a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Intrepid Museum's collection of unseen maritime artifacts, live!
Online
Experience

Members Only: Atlas Obscura Trivia Night

Tue, Jun 8
Free
A special night of curious trivia just for Atlas Obscura members!
Online
Experience

Foraging, Food, and Myth: Edible Weeds

Tue, Jun 15
$25 per device
From goutweed to dandelions, join us for an exploration of the flavors and folklore of weeds you can eat.
Online
Experience

A Bat's Life w/ Dr. Laura Kloepper

Wed, Jun 16
$15 per device
Join one of the nation's leading bat experts as she sheds some light on the hidden, surprising, often misunderstood world of flying mammals!
Online
Experience

Monster of the Month with Colin Dickey: Doppelgangers

Thu, Jun 17
$12 per device
Explore the world's greatest monsters, myths, and legends with paranormal author and cultural historian, Colin Dickey!
Online
Experience

Passengers and Presidents: Inside Washington DC's Union Station

Sun, Jun 20
$20 per device
Join us for a special behind-the-scenes look at one of the most beautiful and historic multimodal stations in the United States.
Online
Experience

Learning the Language of Art w/ Art Muse L.A.: Women of Abstract Expressionism

Thu, Jun 24
$15 per device
Demystifying the world of art and discovering a whole new world of cultural appreciation!
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Unique Experiences From Airbnb
Selected by Atlas Obscura
Partner Experience

Hidden World of Miami Design District

Miami Design District, Florida
Fri, May 7
$35 per person
View on Airbnb
+ 492 more dates
Partner Experience

Little Havana Rituals

Miami, Florida
Fri, May 7
$39 per person
View on Airbnb
+ 10 more dates
Partner Experience

Kayaking in the Shell Key Preserve

Tierra Verde, Florida
Mon, May 10
$38 per person
View on Airbnb
+ 57 more dates

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in the United States

Atlas Obscura Trips
Only in Queens: Tasting Our Way Through New York’s Most Diverse Borough
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Community Forums / United States

Top Discussions in the United States Travel Forum

Post Replies Views Activity
Map of New England Oddities
SoaringRaven AdventourGirl
 		15
What would you do on a time crunch in DC?
mclairebarroso
 		19
Carolina House with a Natural Cavern underneath
Shane McGraw
 		12
New Orleans suggestions?
patrocluswashere J Ginsberg MTMarino CiscoRamon22
 		15
Off the beaten path / hidden gems near Nashville?
9
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the United States Leaderboard

Recent the United States Activity

kdefrancesco09 wants to go to Underground Tunnels of Los Angeles
cryptidem cryptidem wants to go to Aerojet Dade Rocket Facility
cryptidem cryptidem wants to go to Chihuly Collection
cryptidem cryptidem wants to go to Monkey Island of Homosassa
slain22 wants to go to Junkman's Daughter

Stories About the United States

A cream-colored accent lets visitors to Arizona's Coconino National Forest know they have reached the Red Rock Ranger Station.

The Unsung Ranger Behind the U.S. Forest Service's Iconic Signs

Career ranger Virgil "Bus" Carrell had no design training, but "really gave a damn," say experts, about his lasting legacy.
by Greg Christensen
April 12, 2021
When foraging, never take the first or last of something, and always share what you gather.

A Field Guide to North America’s Wild Crops

Spot these free-ranging versions of your favorite produce on your next hike.
by Reina Gattuso
April 7, 2021
A Pharmacist works the soda fountain at the Clayton & Edward Chemists and Pharmacy in New York City, circa 1948.

Remembering America's Golden Age of Hot Sodas

Drink like a Prohibition-era teen with recipes for the Hot Cherry Egg Bounce and Hot Egg Lime Juice Fizz.
by Jeri Quinzio
March 10, 2021
Everyone celebrated the completion of the horno with a meal of chicken stew.

The Architect Baking Bread Along the Border Wall

Ronald Rael just finished building his first horno with migrants seeking asylum.
by Ximena N. Larkin
February 11, 2021
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Lists Featuring the United States

The Most Wondrous State Parks to Visit During the Government Shutdown
View from one of Green Lake's limestone reefs
Akaka Falls
The pyramid.
The quote.

The Most Wondrous State Parks to Visit During the Government Shutdown

Check out these state-run alternatives to the United States’ national parks.

70

Including Green Lakes State Park, ‘Akaka Falls, and Buchanan’s Birthplace State Park

10 Ethical Animal Places to Visit in 2019
Fierce little cat.
Elephants playing in the mud at Elephant Nature Park.
Oh, hello!
Little Spotted Kiwi

10 Ethical Animal Places to Visit in 2019

Unique experiences from Nairobi to Chiang Mai.

12

Including Cat Island, Elephant Nature Park , and India’s Giant Technicolor Squirrels