This collection of bronze hands comes from astronauts, presidents, baseball greats, and more.

A remote candy-striped mountain in the Peruvian Andes straight out of the pages of Dr. Seuss.

A book bound in the skin of an infamous criminal, along with countless other specimens.

The elaborate clockwork contraptions in this Scottish gallery create small worlds of whimsy and horror.

Life-size bronzes of the Grinch, Cat in the Hat, Yertle the Turtle, Sam-I-Am, and the Lorax—and the author himself.

A 30-acre garden inspired by the principles of modern physics.

This astonishingly geometric cave has inspired everyone from Jules Verne to Pink Floyd.

This collection of historic puppets honors centuries of the craft.

Puppet theater and museum holding a collection of more than 300.

A Muppet museum in small-town Mississippi honors the roots of Jim Henson's most beloved creation.

A museum devoted entirely to the rattlesnakes and snake-related art.

For two weeks every June, fireflies in the Smoky Mountains perform an astonishing light show.

The largest single concentration of harmless garter snakes in the world is a writhing Canadian serpent orgy.

Opulence and fantasy collide in this royal chair which is supposedly made with unicorn horns.

Louise Bourgeois' 30-foot-tall steel spider sculpture.

The "original web site," this farm in Northern Vermont encourages orb-weaver spiders to build their daily webs, and then sells the preserved masterpieces.

An amazing collection of fantastic reptiles, amphibians, spiders, and insects.

The world's only international cryptozoology museum is host to an unrivaled collection of mysterious objects.

Prehistoric animals decorate this popular outdoor park.

This morbid, delightful curiosity shop offers everything from animal bones to human teeth.

One woman's dream became a train hotel in her backyard.

Reverend Jen's unique museum/living room showcases her troll collection.

The oldest operating apothecary in the US has treated everyone from Thomas Edison to Mark Twain.

The site of a tragic massacre that spawned a multimedia franchise.