8,189 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in the United States - Atlas Obscura
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The Atlas Obscura Guide To

The United States

8,189 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, Dec 4
$10 per device
Join Dr. Kelly Reidy as she digs into history's most surprising (and oddly productive) mishaps, accidents, and blunders.
+ 10 more dates
Online
Experience

Backstage with a Magician

Fri, Dec 4
$25 per device
+ 13 more dates
Online
Experience

Atlas Obscura Trivia Night

Fri, Dec 4
$7 per person
Gather your team and compete in a weekly contest of wits and educated-guessing.
+ 10 more dates
Online
Experience

Dino 101

Fri, Dec 4
$10 per device
Who says dinosaurs are just for kids?
+ 9 more dates
Experience

The Spies of Georgetown

Washington, D.C.
Sat, Dec 5
$38 per person
+ 3 more dates
Experience

Explore the Ruins of Seneca Quarry

Poolesville, Maryland
Sat, Dec 5
$32 per person
+ 7 more dates
Experience

Japanese Buddhist Temple Experience

Seattle, Washington
Sat, Dec 5
$80 per person
Experience

Japanese Incense and Tea Experience

Seattle, Washington
Sat, Dec 5
$50 per person
Experience

Explore Historic Murals of West Seattle

Seattle, Washington
Sat, Dec 12
$20 per person
Online
Experience

Weird Homes Holiday Tour: Decked Out Collections

Mon, Dec 14
$12 per device
Online
Experience

The Art of Pickling with Liz and Jeffrey: Holiday Edition

Wed, Dec 16
$25 per device
Dive into festive winter pickling with the co-owners of NYC's Gefilteria, Liz Alpern and Jeff Yoskowitz!
Online
Experience

A Very Atlas Holiday Special

Thu, Dec 17
$15 per device
Join Atlas Obscura for a special evening exploring festive traditions from around the world, and find a curious new way to celebrate!
Online
Experience

Words of the Year with Lynne Murphy

Sat, Dec 19
$15 per device
Experience

Explore Alexandria's Brewing History

Alexandria, Virginia
Sun, Dec 27
$30 per person
Experience

The Abandoned Zoo Ruins of Griffith Park

Holllywood, Los Angeles, California
Sun, Jan 3
$28 per person
+ 1 more date
Online
Online Course

Living Between Cultures: Storytelling With Justine Abigail Yu

Starts Mon, Jan 4
$105 per person
In this four-part workshop with Justine Abigail Yu, students will explore their diasporic identities through writing in the genre of their choice.
+ 2 more dates
Online
Experience

A Bat's Life w/ Dr. Laura Kloepper

Wed, Jan 6
$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

The Secret of Seattle's Disappearing Hill

Thu, Jan 7
$8 per device
A virtual walk through a Seattle land alteration project.
Experience

Exploring Historic Homes of the Stars

Santa Monica, California
Sun, Jan 10
$28 per person
+ 1 more date
Online
Online Course

The Art of Death With Tessa Fontaine

Starts Sun, Jan 10
$245 per person
In this five-part seminar with author Tessa Fontaine, we'll explore notions of death around the world, drawing from biology, history, and beyond.
+ 1 more date
Online
Experience

Tales From the Museum: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Tue, Jan 12
$15 per device
Museums might be closed, but their wonders are still waiting to be discovered!
Online
Experience

The Forged & The Filched

Wed, Jan 13
$12 per device
A tour guide and an art crimes professor lead you on an hour-long romp through art history’s greatest mysteries.
Online
Online Course

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

Starts Wed, Jan 13
$90 per device
Online
Experience

Tales From the Museum

Tue, Feb 9
$15 per device
The museums might be closed, but their wonders are still waiting to be discovered!
Online
Experience

The Forged & The Filched

Wed, Feb 17
$12 per device
A tour guide and an art crimes professor lead you on an hour-long romp through art history’s greatest mysteries.
Online
Experience

Tales From the Museum

Tue, Feb 23
$12 per device
The museums might be closed, but their wonders are still waiting to be discovered!
Online
Online Course

Cartooning Folklore & Family History With Zawadi Noël

Starts Mon, Mar 8
$240 per person
In this six-week workshop, you’ll learn the elements of cartooning while crafting a visual narrative born from family history and lore.
Experience

Tour of a Shoemaker's Workshop

Seattle, Washington
Sat, Dec 4
$25 per person
+ 1 more date
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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, Dec 4
$35 per person
View on Airbnb
+ 191 more dates
Partner Experience

Little Havana Rituals

Miami, Florida
Sat, Dec 5
$39 per person
View on Airbnb
+ 11 more dates
Partner Experience

Kayaking in the Shell Key Preserve

Tierra Verde, Florida
Sat, Dec 5
$38 per person
View on Airbnb
+ 52 more dates

Unique Food & Drink in the United States

Atlas Obscura Trips
Afloat the Erie Canal: A Self-Led Houseboat Adventure
Be the captain of your own ship as you steer along this historic waterway, experiencing its hidden wonders and two centuries of history.
Learn More

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 wierdlover11
 		15
Off the beaten path / hidden gems near Nashville?
9
New Post Visit the Forum

the United States Leaderboard

Recent the United States Activity

avamaliah wants to go to La Ventana Arch
johnmcclane14 has been to UFO Welcome Center
johnmcclane14 has been to Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden
avamaliah wants to go to A Trail Through Time
johnmcclane14 has been to Museum of the Bizarre

Stories About the United States

Henrietta Gomez and Gilbert Suazo, Sr., receive a Taos Pueblo squash in 2018.

Centuries After Their Loss and Theft, Native American Seeds Are Reuniting With Their Tribes

They are being recovered from seed banks, university vaults, and museum shelves.
by María Paula Rubiano A.
September 8, 2020
A suffrage march in 1913.

'Pie for a Suffragist’s Doubting Husband' and Other Recipes That Fueled a Movement

Suffragist cookbooks wielded domesticity as a political tool.
by Sam O'Brien
August 18, 2020
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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