atlas obscura trips

If you’ve felt it, then you know.

Travel is not about personal growth or bragging rights. Travel is transformative not because it changes us, but because it makes connections that can change the world. People who see the complexity of the world—at home and abroad—see better. We reject the cynicism that can hang over tourism because we believe that deeper connections are possible, that meaningful experiences can happen anywhere at any time, and that the world is big enough that it still holds lots of surprises. 
 This is what inspires us at Atlas Obscura, and this is why we have created something new: The Wanderlist. For 2024, we’ve selected 24 remarkable destinations that demonstrate why travel and exploration are important to us. Each of the places we’ve selected for this list are sure to evoke a sense of surprise and curiosity. They’re places where you’re less likely to encounter crowds. And they’re places where, we feel, your travel dollars benefit local communities and help preserve the places you’re visiting. We sourced the destinations on this list from our own travels and our network of guides, writers, and travel experts around the world. Welcome to the inaugural Wanderlist. We are so excited that you will be joining us on this journey in 2024 and beyond. 


Playa de Sotavento de Jandía, Spain ❘ Ruben Earth/Getty Images

Photo Caption going here

Travel is not about personal growth or bragging rights. Travel is transformative not because it changes us, but because it makes connections that can change the world. People who see the complexity of the world—at home and abroad—see better. We reject the cynicism that can hang over tourism because we believe that deeper connections are possible, that meaningful experiences can happen anywhere at any time, and that the world is big enough that it still holds lots of surprises. ‍ This is what inspires us at Atlas Obscura, and this is why we have created something new: The Wanderlist. For 2024, we’ve selected 24 remarkable destinations that demonstrate why travel and exploration are important to us. Each of the places we’ve selected for this list are sure to evoke a sense of surprise and curiosity. They’re places where you’re less likely to encounter crowds. And they’re places where, we feel, your travel dollars benefit local communities and help preserve the places you’re visiting. We sourced the destinations on this list from our own travels and our network of guides, writers, and travel experts around the world. We’ll be releasing the first-ever Wanderlist next month, and are so excited that you will be joining us on this journey in 2024 and beyond.


Coming soon...

Get ready for an adventure! Delta Airlines and Atlas Obscura will soon unveil the top 24 destinations for 2024. Stay tuned!

Tsingy de Bemaraha

Chapada Diamantina

Castlemaine

Sado Island

Mesabi Iron Range

Oklahoma City

North Island

Aguascalientes

Cosmopolitan

North Coast

Newfoundland

Cobblestoned

Boardman Scenic Corridor

Readers’ Choice

When our readers tell us where to go, we listen. Check out their top destination recommendations for 2024.

Gobi Desert, Mongolia | SinghaphanAllB/Getty Images

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Travel with Atlas Obscura

Ready for an adventure? Join one of our small-group tours and see the world's most remarkable places.

Atlas Obscura and Tastemade Partner to Launch Co-Branded Trips

Trips will offer extraordinary, curiosity-driven experiences from tonga to paris.

Los Angeles, Calif. (October 14, 2020) — Today, travel company Atlas Obscura and modern media company Tastemade announce the launch of a new partnership offering five co-branded, unforgettable trips taking place in 2021. The itineraries feature adventurous, bucket-list-worthy experiences for curious travelers, combining Atlas Obscura’s unparalleled access to the world’s hidden wonders with Tastemade’s vibrant, sensory-driven approach to travel. Both companies have amassed communities with passions for unique stories on food and travel and an appetite for the unconventional.

The trips will range from short getaways to week-long adventures at prices ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Adventurers can choose between swimming with whales in Tonga, tracking wolves in Swedish forests, harvesting oysters and tasting the world’s best single malt whisky in Tasmania, exploring the underground art scene in Los Angeles, making their own perfume in Paris, and more. Travelers are guaranteed to see wondrous sights as they venture off the beaten path, even in the world’s most well-known cities. Each itinerary is filled with depth, local insights, and memorable sensory experiences.

“We’re excited to be partnering with Atlas Obscura — a like-minded brand that leads with curiosity — for our first-ever branded trips partnership,” says Amanda Dameron, Head of Content at Tastemade. “We believe that travel is one of the most important ways we can grow as human beings, and our audience cares deeply about discovery, creativity, and adventure; these trips are the truest embodiment of those ideals.”

“Atlas Obscura specializes in designing wonder-filled travel experiences that would be virtually impossible to create on one’s own. We’re excited to combine our unique, curiosity-driven approach to travel with Tastemade’s vibrant, sensory-driven storytelling, sharing the stories of the incredible places we’ll visit through firsthand experience,” said Atlas Obscura’s General Manager of Experiences Mike Parker. “We expect the five exciting trips we’re launching with to be just the first of many more to come.”

Tastemade and Atlas Obscura will also partner on a co-branded, sponsorable advertising program called “Around the World in 50 States” focused on exploring unique U.S. enclaves. The partnership leverages the curatorial lens and experiential capabilities of Atlas Obscura paired with Tastemade’s expertise in premium content creation and video storytelling as well as its engaged global community.

The co-branded trips start at under $1,000 per person and are available for booking at www.atlasobscura.com/unusual-trips/tastemade . Visit Atlas Obscura’s COVID policy page to learn how the company has adapted its trips and safety guidelines in light of COVID-19.

ABOUT ATLAS OBSCURA Atlas Obscura is an award-winning travel company that shares the world’s hidden wonders in-person and online. Founded in 2009, Atlas Obscura created the definitive, community-driven online guide to the world’s most incredible places. Atlas Obscura has a global community of millions of global explorers, produces once-in-a-lifetime trips and experiences with leading experts, and has published two New York Times bestselling books with more than a million copies in print. The company has been nominated for three National Magazine Awards, a James Beard Award, three Webby Awards, and named one of Inc. 5000’s fastest growing companies in 2020. www.atlasobscura.com

ABOUT TASTEMADE Tastemade is a modern media company that engages a global audience of more than 300 million monthly viewers on all major digital, mobile, and streaming television platforms, streaming 2.5+ billion views each month. We create award-winning video content and original programming in the categories of Food, Travel, and Home & Design that we share with an engaged, passionate, and global community. Tastemade has won a host of awards and accolades for its innovation and original programming, including two James Beard Awards, two Emmy Awards, and Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies” list. For more information, visit Tastemade at: www.tastemade.com .

Tastemade on Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | Pinterest | TikTok

Media Contacts: Alexa Harrison

Atlas Obscura

[email protected]

Brooke Swilley

Communications Director

 [email protected]

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The Internet’s Favorite Catalog of Weird Places Rewrites History

Introducing: The Atlas Obscura Book Club With Literati

It's not a stretch to say that Atlas Obscura—as a company and as a community—is full of book fanatics, library lovers, bookstore aficionados, archive haunters, stack lurkers, and bibliophiles of all shapes and sizes. We’re a company dedicated to the idea of exploration, both in…

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THE MEDIA EQUATION

The Internet’s Favorite Catalog of Weird Places Rewrites History

Atlas Obscura has reviewed how it tells its stories about curious places in light of last year’s shift in how Americans view their past.

By Ben Smith

Samir S. Patel found us a parking spot on Madison Avenue and 103rd Street before it started raining last Wednesday, and led me under scaffolding into the grand lobby of the New York Academy of Medicine. There, a librarian, pleased to be giving her first tour in more than a year, took us down a long hallway into a room lined with rare books from the 16th and 17th centuries that she opened to show eerie anatomical renderings of humans without their skin.

The librarian, Arlene Shaner, had left a small box sitting on the table, and opened it last. Inside was a jaw and some teeth — lower jaw dentures that had once belonged to President George Washington. His dentist had proudly inscribed on the gumline, “This was Great Washington’s teeth.”

The visit to a little-known and macabre piece of history is very much in the spirit of Atlas Obscura, the 11-year-old website where Mr. Patel is the editorial director. But he was also there to point out something else about Washington’s dentures: They include six real teeth, which may have been purchased from poor New Yorkers or taken from people Washington held in slavery. That detail adds a layer of darkness to what would otherwise be a mere historical curiosity.

Mr. Patel, a trim, bearded science journalist, and his team have just completed the first stage of what Atlas Obscura calls its “decolonization project” — a review of some of the 20,000 entries from a database, compiled by its community and staff, of curious places around the world in light of the last year’s shift in how Americans view their history. The team has now woven the Sioux perspective into a description of a battle in Colorado in the “Indian Wars” and explored the 20th century details of inhumane treatment at the sort of eerie abandoned mental hospitals that attract curious visitors.

“There’s an entire hidden history that underlies the world that we don’t get told about when we travel,” he said.

There’s a lot of talk in the media about wrestling with questions of race and power and perspective at a moment of shifting cultural and political values. Academic jargon like “decolonization” sometimes gets thrown around in that context.

In travel writing, it’s a bit more literal. The whole genre has at least some of its origins in 19th century gentleman explorers in pith helmets gawking at Indigenous people. Atlas Obscura itself draws half-seriously on a European history that predates even pith helmets. It’s centered on an obscure 17th century German Jesuit scholar named Athanasius Kircher, whom Joshua Foer, one of Atlas Obscura’s founders, reveres for his sense of wonder at the world. Mr. Foer once wrote a blog called The Proceedings of the Athanasius Kircher Society and met his co-founder, Dylan Thuras, at the first and only meeting of that society.

When the pandemic hit last spring, Atlas Obscura had just received a $20 million investment from a group of investors led by Airbnb. Atlas Obscura, at the time, was focused on building the “experience” side of its business — guided tours and classes — which it expected to snap into the giant home rental platform. (The New York Times is also an investor in Atlas Obscura.) But Airbnb gave up on the initiative as it scrambled to weather the crisis. And like the rest of travel media, Atlas Obscura has spent a year mostly catering to the fantasies of homebound travelers. That led, the company says, to record traffic and advertising revenue, as well as a new business in online classes.

Now, the travel media and the travel industry are bracing — and hoping — for a surge of tourism. Though few in the travel media have taken on re-editing of their product like Atlas Obscura, they’re also trying to adapt to a changed political situation, seeking to find nonwhite writers who live in the places they write about, or to have more diverse American writers tell the stories of destinations. Jacqueline Gifford, the editor in chief of Travel and Leisure, said the travel media was trying to ask itself, “Who gets to tell travel stories, why they’re telling them, and what’s the way we can be more representative of this country, of the world we’re living in today?”

But there are also built-in limits to how much you can revolutionize travel writing, said Rafat Ali, the founder of the travel business site Skift.

“It’s always going to be outsiders looking in,” he said.

The challenge for editors and writers across media is how to make journalism inclusive as well as riveting and provocative, rather than just a corporate media exercise in box-checking. (One top newspaper editor described that genre to me last week as “D.E.I. dutiful,” referring to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.)

It shouldn’t be that hard. Complicated, surprising stories are often the best ones, as illustrated by the superb “Reckoning With a Reckoning” issue that Adrienne Green, the features editor at New York magazine, put together last week. It sought, as the magazine’s editor in chief, David Haskell, wrote in an email, “to clarify stakes and also complicate them, to tell morality tales but avoid easy morals.”

Atlas Obscura, which also publishes magaziney features like the disturbing story of how a Black woman’s remains wound up on display at a Philadelphia museum and the secret queer history of Colonial Williamsburg, is another good example of how a publisher can meet the moment by deepening its content with an inquiry into, in particular, the violence Americans often choose to forget.

Indeed, Mr. Patel told me he’s not sure “decolonizing” was the right word for the project. “Decolonization suggests removal, and that’s not what we’re doing,” he said Wednesday morning, as we began our tour of unusual New York sites on the edge of the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. “Adding this kind of perspective to travel and travel writing makes it less boring.”

Then he called a Times photographer to confirm our destination, “at a dead end that leads to something weird.” (He wouldn’t say anything about our destinations in advance, in keeping with the Atlas Obscura vibe.)

We turned past a genial group of people seated on folding chairs in the middle of Central Avenue, under a haze of marijuana smoke, and into a sprawling cemetery where German and Czech Catholics are buried under hollow metal tombstones, a classically morbid Atlas Obscura site, before pulling out for the long drive to the Upper East Side.

After contemplating George Washington’s dentures and the other treasures of the New York Academy of Medicine, we headed to the northern tip of Manhattan, where Mr. Patel parked his blue Nissan by Inwood Hill Park and emerged into a thunderstorm.

“I didn’t think the rock was this far into the park,” he said, furrowing his brow at the map on a beta version of Atlas Obscura’s app, as we trudged past a dozen men playing soccer in the rain.

A few minutes later, we were standing in front of a big rock whose plaque offers the pat and familiar story about how Peter Minuit bought Manhattan for the Dutch from its Native American inhabitants in exchange for some glass beads.

This spring, Atlas Obscura added to its own write-up , explaining what historians now believe the inhabitants thought they were doing: trading a nonexclusive right to use the land, not selling it. There were, it notes dryly, “differing concepts of ownership” between the Lenape and the Dutch.

“The classic story is that it was bought for a handful of trinkets,” Mr. Patel said, “but I think this is more interesting.”

Guide to Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic Festival in Hot Springs, Arkansas

By Jason Barnette | Travel writer and photographer with 15+ years of road tripping experience

• Last Updated on March 12, 2024
• Published on March 9, 2024

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my Affiliate Disclosure here .

The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse is the most spectacular natural event of the year – and Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic Festival is one of the best places to experience it. The festival is a 4-day intriguing mix of science seminars, music festival, and day at the public park. But it’s also limited to 4,000 attendees, so you must buy your ticket fast.

The festival is held at a municipal park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Weather in early April in Hot Springs is typically mild, with a good chance for clear skies.

Read this guide to learn more about Atlas Obscura , the Ecliptic Festival, and see some tips on planning and packing for this event.

Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic Festival is a 4-day celebration featuring guest speakers, musical performances, and celestial events from April 5 until April 8, 2024.

Read More | Travel Guide to the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse in the U.S.

The folks at Atlas Obscura partnered with Valley of the Vapors organizers , an annual independent musical festival in Hot Springs. “We’re bringing the Atlas Obscura approach to the festival,” Megan Roberts, Vice President of Experiential, explained. “What we’re trying to do with the programming and the music and the art is to elevate the eclipse experience.”

International musicians perform in between seminars on eclipse mythology, astronomy, and folklore. Guest speakers include best-selling authors, scientists, and Atlas Obscura’s founders.

The festival is held at Cedar Glades Park , a small municipal park about 10 minutes from downtown Hot Springs , Arkansas . The festival will have food, restrooms, and water available throughout the weekend.

The park’s amenities will be open during the festival, including:

• An 18-hole disc golf course
• 10 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails
• A 3-story treehouse for children
• Two playgrounds
• A climbing wall

A primitive campground will be built exclusively for the festival – camping is typically not allowed at the park. Overnight guests can bring their own tent, park an RV, or indulge in a luxury canvas tent.

Read More | 9 Best Places to See the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse in Arkansas

Roberts added, “Ecliptic is 100% family friendly. We have made it available to a wide range of audiences that are thrown together by this shared excitement for the eclipse.”

General admission to the festival ranges from $70-$385 for single-day or full weekend passes. Children aged 10 and under are admitted for free. The festival is limited to 4,000 attendees to keep it an intimate experience. Visit the Ecliptic Festival website to buy an admission pass.

• Partial Eclipse | 12:31 to 3:10 p.m. (CDT)
• Start of Totality | 1:49:29 p.m. (CDT)
• Duration of Totality | 3 minutes 37 seconds

How to use this map | Click the icon in the top-left corner to open the Map Legend, then click on any of the legend items to display more information. If you have a Google account, click the (very faint) star at the end of the map’s name to save this map to your account, then access the map from your smartphone during your trip.

Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic Festival is held at Cedar Glades Park , a municipal park 3.5 miles from downtown Hot Springs , Arkansas . It takes about 10 minutes to drive the scenic route across the small mountain range to the park.

Hot Springs is a somewhat remote destination – it’s easy to drive there, but flying or riding a train is challenging.

Pro Travel Tip | The festival’s campground is primitive, with no showers or supplies other than potable water. I strongly recommend driving to the festival – either your car or a rental.

Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) and Amtrak’s Union Station are an hour away in Little Rock, so a car rental from the airport is required to finish the journey into Hot Springs.

Driving is easier with Interstate 30, which is about twenty miles away. I-30 connects Little Rock and I-40 to Texarkana and I-49.

One of the perks of staying at the festival’s campground is free parking. Other attendees must pay for parking – $35 per day or $100 for a 4-day pass. The fee includes parking and a roundtrip shuttle. Visit the Ecliptic Festival website to buy a parking pass.

Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic Festival is partnered with the Valley of the Vapors , an annual independent musical festival. The music festival typically features over 100 artists, but there will be fewer in 2024 because of the partnership with Atlas Obscura.

See the complete lineup of musical artists for links to their Instagram and Spotify accounts.

The music begins early on Friday with five performances. Over a dozen artists perform between guest speakers and seminars about the eclipse on Saturday and Sunday. Monday culminates with a string of musical performances leading up to totality at 1:49:29 p.m. (CDT).

Attendees should bring their own chairs to enjoy the music from a temporary soundstage in a large meadow. The Coleman Camping Chair is a classic foldable quad chair that’s easy to pack and inexpensive. The Helinox Ultralight Camping Chair is a fantastic upgrade with a lightweight, packable chair that’s easy to carry throughout the day.

Departing from the typical music festival, the most interesting thing about Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic Festival is the impressive lineup of guest speakers. The festival is about a 1:2 ratio of guest speakers to music, allowing attendees to learn about the science of eclipses and enjoy music.

The guest speakers will lead seminars about the mythology of eclipses, the folklore of the celestial event, and the science behind the spectacular experience of totality.

The lineup of guest speakers includes Adam Savage, astrobiologist Dr. Graham Lau, storyteller Dr. Kelly Reidy, and rocket scientist Summer Ash. Atlas Obscura founders Dylan Thuras and Joshua Foer will also speak at the Ecliptic Festival.

Another interesting feature of Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic Festival is a series of feature film screenings. The films are an interesting choice to celebrate the total solar eclipse.

On Friday night, A Trip to the Moon will likely introduce a fresh audience to their first screening of the 1902 French silent film. Directed by George Méliès, the film is about a group of astronomers who travel to the moon. Although the special effects will appear silly by today’s standards, they were revolutionary at the time – it was the 1900s version of Jurassic Park .

On Saturday night, The Arrival is an art house film produced by the Unarius Academy of Science. It’s a curious film about supernatural events revolving around UFO encounters.

On Sunday night, audiences will be introduced to Fantastic Planet . The 1973 French animated film directed by René Laloux is about abducted humans living on the planet Ygam among gigantic blue humanoid Traags.

The Ecliptic Festival’s schedule is filled with musical performances and guest speakers. But everything over the weekend leads up to the big show on Monday: the total solar eclipse.

Cedar Glades Park features a large meadow where the festival’s main stage is located. It’s an excellent place to experience totality – especially if you’ve already set up comfortable chairs for enjoying the live music.

The festival’s attendance is limited to 4,000. This ensures an intimate totality experience instead of a chaotic zoo. The park is large enough for people to spread out instead of sitting shoulder-to-shoulder.

One of the best places to experience the eclipse is one of the hiking trails in the park. Guests can head out on one of the trails to a private location to experience totality.

What’s a music festival without primitive camping? But this isn’t just any primitive camping – it’s Atlas Obscura’s approach to camping.

Attendees can BYOT – bring your own tent – with small primitive sites in Cedar Glades Park. You can also park an RV, but without concrete or paved pads, I would not recommend bringing anything with slide-outs.

The peak of the camping experience is glamping in luxury canvas tents provided by the Shelter Co. These circular tents are furnished with 1, 2, or 4 beds, luxury Egyptian cotton sheets, down comforters, bedside tables, and lounge chairs. The standing height of the tent makes it easier to spend the night camping.

National Park Week 2024

Learn about the annual celebration of the National Park System and read my travel guides to national park units across the country.

Although no hookups exist in the campground, it’s not entirely primitive. Shower trailers and restrooms will be parked near the campground. Potable water will be supplied. Although a phone charging station will be provided, I recommend bringing a solar generator like the Goal Zero Yeti Power Station or a large power bank like the Anker Portable Power Station to keep your devices charged throughout the weekend.

There are two perks to spending the weekend camping on the festival grounds.

Overnight guests in the campground get a complimentary parking pass. But the greatest perk happens after dark – stargazing. B&H Photo will bring high-end telescopes and lead stargazing parties observing the night sky.

Campsites begin at $85 per night for bringing your own tent, $850 for an RV over the weekend, and $1,450 for a luxury canvas tent. Visit the Ecliptic Festival website to book a campsite.

If you’re not a fan of camping – even in a luxury canvas tent – there are plenty of other options in Hot Springs. But, hotel prices will be significantly higher because of the one-time event. You’ll likely pay about 600% of the average nightly rate for the weekend.

Here are a few hotels where you can stay while attending Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic Festival.

Read More | How to Find Affordable and Available Lodging for the Total Solar Eclipse 2024

The Waters is a luxury boutique hotel owned by Hilton. Spacious rooms with balconies and an on-site restaurant and bar create a comfortable atmosphere for spending the weekend. Book now with Booking.com or Expedia.com

Embassy Suites is an excellent place for families to stay within walking distance of downtown attractions and restaurants. The hotel features an indoor swimming pool and rooms with sleeper sofas. Book now with Booking.com or Expedia.com

The Hotel Hot Springs is conveniently located in the middle of downtown. The hotel features free parking, an on-site restaurant, and spacious rooms. Book now with Booking.com or Expedia.com

The Holiday Inn Express is five minutes from downtown Hot Springs and 15 minutes from the Ecliptic Festival. The hotel features an indoor swimming pool and rooms with a sleeper sofa for families. Book now with Booking.com or Expedia.com

TownePlace Suites is the best place in Hot Springs for families to stay. Each room includes a small kitchen with a full-size fridge, allowing guests to prepare some meals in the room and save money. The hotel features an outdoor swimming pool and gas grills. Book now with Booking.com or Expedia.com

The Best Western is an inexpensive small hotel across the road from the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. The hotel features an outdoor swimming pool and spacious rooms. A family suite includes two double beds and a sleeper sofa that comfortably sleeps a family of 4. Book now with Booking.com or Expedia.com

Atlas Obscura’s Ecliptic Festival and the total solar eclipse are two of the biggest events to happen in 2024. There are a lot of things to plan and pack before hitting the road to Hot Springs.

Here are some things you need to know before going to the festival.

• Commemorative eclipse glasses are included with admission, but I recommend you bring a pair as a backup
• The festival events end on April 8, but camping continues until April 9
• No refunds are offered in case of cloudy weather on the day of the eclipse
• A parking fee is required for all drivers, but you can avoid the fee if you take a rideshare to the festival
• This is a family-friendly festival
• Bring chairs or blankets to enjoy the music and totality

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Atlas Obscura 2024 review: Travel and explore the extraordinary!

Travel guides are a great way to explore and get inspired by new destinations and ideas for travel. Atlas Obscura claims to provide the content for quirky and unusual places to travel to, but are they legit for travelers? Can you really explore these extraordinary destinations? Find out now.

One of the best things about planning your trip is the flexibility that comes with it. Where booking a guided tour allows you to benefit from an all-inclusive trip, planning a trip gives you total control over everything. Whether it's to visit a particular café or spend the entire day at a museum, you'll be able to control all aspects of your travel itinerary.

But how do you know where are the best places to go?

That's where travel guides come in! Big-name Travel guides, like Lonely Planet and Fodors, provide travel destinations and attractions to a broad range of travelers worldwide. While they're decent in inspiring people to travel, many of the attractions are common tourist spots that most people already know from a quick Google search. In comes Atlas Obscura.

Atlas Obscura targets and tailors travel content to frequent travelers looking for quirky, rare, or unusual attractions. Atlas Obscura has become one of the  best travel guide websites , helping travelers avoid tourist traps and find incredible new attractions. But how do you know whether Atlas Obscura's content is suitable for a traveler like you?

Read our Atlas Obscura review to learn more. 

What is Atlas Obscura?

Atlas Obscura  is an online magazine and a travel guide company that identifies itself as 'the definitive guide to the world's hidden wonders.' It also goes as a database of user-generated content on odd and unique places worldwide. 

It was initiated by Joshua Foer and Dylan Thuras in 2009. Since then, the magazine gained fame for steering travelers away from the commonplace to explore out-of-the-ordinary attractions.

At first, Atlas Obscura merely published content on places, food, drinks, and rare experiences worldwide. In 2016, the company extended itself as a travel booking site by offering guided tours designed by its team. During the pandemic, they leveraged their virtual experiences and courses. They have also began retelling stories through travel experiences of the change in 

If you'd like to consume their content on the go, they have a mobile app available. The Atlas Obscura Travel Guide app is available for iOS devices. 

What does Atlas Obscura offer?

Atlas Obscura offers its content and services under six main categories.

• Places:  Offers 22,921 'extraordinary places' or 'hidden wonders' that you can explore worldwide. Places cover both natural and man-made sites.
• Food:  A collection of local food and drink specialties, places to eat, and stories of fascinating gastronomy. 
• Stories:  Includes contributions made by the Atlas Obscura community of travelers and explorers that focus on unusual discoveries.
• Courses:  Online courses to gain knowledge, skills, and ideas on a range of topics, including food-making processes, writing, sewing, etc. Prices vary depending on the subject and the number of sessions. 
• Experiences:  Virtual and in-person experiences include educational, adventurous, inspirational, or fun events/workshops. Members have exclusive access to a selection of experiences free of charge. 
• Trips:  Guided, small group tours that promise a unique experience for participants. Trips are categorized under Art & Culture, Food & Drink, Hidden Cities, History, Photography, Private, Wildlife & Nature. 

Atlas Obscura's travel guide books

The company released its first-ever travel guide book titled "Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders" in 2016. It is available in both paperback and ebook versions. You can purchase it from the Atlas Obscura website or leading sites like Amazon. 

In addition, there are also other titles available for purchase, like Explorer's Guide for the World's Most Adventurous Kid, Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide, and Atlas Obscura Page-A-Day Calendar 2022. 

How does Atlas Obscura work?

Visit the website and enter the destination you have in mind on the search bar. You can look for 'Places near me' or 'Random place' if you need ideas for exploration. Users can also browse for attractions and stories by category.

By creating an account, you can add places to your personal list of places, mark favorites, and flag places you have already visited. Use the forum to exchange travel ideas, start conversations, and engage in meaningful discussions with fellow explorers and readers. More importantly, you can provide submissions of extraordinary places you stumble across to let others know! 

You can also become a paid member to enjoy more perks like member-only online experiences/events, discounts on trips and courses, an exclusive newsletter, and fewer ads. Monthly subscriptions plans start from $5, and annual subscriptions start from $50.

What we liked about Atlas Obscura

• Unique spots

If you like off-the-beaten-path attractions and quirky subjects of interest, consider your curiosity piqued with Atlas Obscura. We loved how the content focuses on diverse subjects that are informative, fun, and provocative. More importantly, there are places you won't find in other travel guides. It is a very resourceful website to consider when planning your trip. You can search for attractions in the destination you hope to visit and add them to your itinerary. 

• Well-planned tours 

Atlas Obscura tours offer a rich, high-value-driven experience, and we came across raving reviews to validate it! They focus on aspects that go unnoticed and less popular places. That being said, they don't miss out on covering the basics either. Their tour guides are highly knowledgeable and communicative. As the tours are conducted in small groups, connecting and interacting with fellow travelers is easy. 

• Easy-to-use 

The website is very appealing both visually and content-wise. It's easy to navigate, and the mobile app makes it even more convenient to browse for hidden attractions near you. Even the booking process is safe and straightforward. The only downside here is that the app is unavailable for Android devices. As long as you follow the guidelines, submitting a story about a 'new place' or starting a discussion on the forum is a straightforward process.

What Atlas Obscura can do better

Atlas Obscura's guided trips aim to provide one-of-a-kind adventures to travelers. So, they are more expensive than tours offered by other companies like  G Adventures . For example, the trip to Greece exploring ancient ruins to modern culture costs $6750, while G-Adventures' Greece tours around $3000. So, Atlas Obscura is not an ideal choice for budgeted travelers. 

Is Atlas Obscura worth it?

Yes. It's highly resourceful and guides you away from mundane, crowded, touristy places. If you like your trip to have a touch of adventure and curiosity, we highly recommend Atlas Obscura. 

Our Rating: 4.6/5

• Well-planned tours
• Easy-to-use
• Tours are expensive
• Mobile app only on iOS

An alternative to Atlas Obscura

Just like Atlas Obscura,  Pilot's blog  is the go-to resource for travelers to get inspiration on new travel destinations, attractions, and more. Whether you're a first-time budget traveler or an experienced digital nomad, our blogs provide new insights and inspirations on travel and travel-related topics!

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Disclosure : Pilot is supported by our community. We may earn a small commission fee with affiliate links on our website. All reviews and recommendations are independent and do not reflect the official view of Pilot.

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50 of the coolest hidden wonders in America

Posted: March 1, 2024 | Last updated: March 1, 2024

Offbeat adventures: Travel to the coolest hidden wonders in every US state

Americans spent $93 billion on travel in February 2023 —5% above 2019 (before COVID-19) and 9% above 2022, according to the U.S. Travel Association. As more and more people venture out to make up for the last few pandemic-ridden years, you might be looking to go a little farther off the beaten path to avoid the crowds.

But it's not always easy to learn about lesser-known travel gems or figure out how to find them. Fortunately, Stacker did some digging and found a hidden travel gem for every state, using data from Atlas Obscura .

Each state's top hidden wonders were based on their travel rarity ratio, which Stacker calculated by taking the number of "want to visit" votes for places on Atlas Obscura and dividing those by the number of "been here" votes as of April 11, 2023. This list includes each state's places with the highest-ranking ratio—that is, lots of people want to visit, but not many actually have—as long as they had at least 100 "been here" votes at the time of tabulation.

Here you'll find opportunities to explore offbeat history, admire ancient geological formations, witness unexplained phenomena, and reveal long-kept secrets—no matter what state your travels take you to.

Because these locations aren't the most obvious and out-in-the-open tourist attractions that you'd find in your garden variety travel guide, some of these locations require making special arrangements to access them. In other cases, the hidden gem might be on private property and only visible from afar. In those cases, it is vital to respect property owners and avoid trespassing.

Read on to find each state's coolest hidden wonder.

Alabama: Neversink Pit

- Address: Fackler, Alabama, 35746 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 2,454 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 172 - Rarity ratio: 14.3

Reaching the bottom of Neversink 's 162-foot pit—and getting back up—requires specialized rock-climbing and rope-rigging skills and equipment, but hikers are welcome to visit without actually entering the sinkhole. It's located in Jackson County, about 34 air miles northeast of Huntsville—at the end of a short but strenuous hike up a steep mountain. Free permits are available from the Southeastern Cave Conservancy .

Alaska: The Upside-Down Forest of Glacier Gardens

- Address: 7600 Glacier Highway Juneau, Alaska, 99801 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 859 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 129 - Rarity ratio: 6.7

You might not think of Alaska as a destination for a temperate rainforest habitat—but that's exactly what the botanical attraction Glacier Gardens offers, tucked away in the Tongass National Forest near the Mendenhall Glacier just north of Juneau. From May to October, Glacier Gardens turns any preconception of what Alaska has to offer on its head with its "upside-down" grove of trees —whose branches are firmly planted into the ground and whose roots create an unusual flower bed canopy high above. You can only explore the gardens and their "flower towers" on a guided, hourlong tour, which is offered to cruise passengers and land tourists alike.

Arizona: Pumpkin Spring Pool

- Address: Mile 212.9, Grand Canyon, Littlefield, Arizona, 86432 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,749 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 119 - Rarity ratio: 14.7

It may look like autumn all year at Pumpkin Spring Pool in Littlefield, Arizona—but you definitely don't want to take a sip out of this orange-colored gourd. In fact, you won't even want to touch the hot springs-fed mineral water that's overflowing out of this natural limestone formation because it's a rogues' gallery of toxins (like arsenic and lead).

Geologically known as a " mound form ," it's a worthy destination to gaze upon and marvel at—if you can get there, as it's only reachable by traveling via boat down the Colorado River on the rim of the Grand Canyon. A local river outfitter can hook you up with a rafting trip—and then all you have to do is look for Pumpkin Spring and its curious cauldron at Mile 212.9.

Arkansas: The Gurdon Light

- Address: 64 Collins Road, Gurdon, Arkansas, 71743 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,223 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 124 - Rarity ratio: 9.9

Questions surrounding the Gurdon Light in Gurdon, Arkansas, abound—as do theories surrounding it. The glowing orb appears to have no man-made source, and it's not always found in the same spot. People who've spotted it don't even agree on what color it is.

The television station KTHV, a CBS affiliate in nearby Little Rock, reported that the actual existence of the light can't be denied because of how many people have witnessed it—but after interviewing a historian and other locals, no one can say for sure what this "ghost light" is, or why it's there, located somewhere along an abandoned right-of-way along old railroad tracks, a short walk west from Highway 53. One thing's for sure, though: Sightings only happen at night.

California: Institute of Illegal Images

- Address: 3466 20th Street, San Francisco, California, 94110 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 2,760 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 204 - Rarity ratio: 13.5

All the art at the Institute of Illegal Images in San Francisco's Mission District was created on sheets of "acid tabs," aka LSD blotter paper. Also known as the Blotter Barn , the museum is the brainchild—and home—of Mark McCloud, a self-professed acid-tripper who told Wired magazine that he credits LSD for saving his life when he fell out of a window while high. To meet McCloud and peruse his collection of more than 30,000 pieces of framed blotter art (as of 2014)—including M.C. Escher-style designs alongside fractals, blue unicorns, flying saucers, and a purple Jesus—Atlas Obscura recommends arranging your trip by contacting McCloud directly via email or phone.

Colorado: Magic Mushroom House

- Address: Private Address, Aspen, Colorado, 81611 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,564 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 109 - Rarity ratio: 14.3

It took Warsaw-born Andre Ulrych six years (beginning in 1973) to finish the Magic Mushroom House , his home near Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado—perhaps because he wasn't an experienced builder (he was a nightclub owner and restauranteur by profession), or because a hallucinogenic state inspired his design, as current owner Patty Findlay told CNN .

The 6,000-square-foot, 12-story shroom incorporates a mind-bending array of twists and turns that Ulrych attempted to evoke the golden ratio, a geometric design that incorporates the divine mathematics of the Fibonacci sequence most commonly seen in the shape of a nautilus shell. Although the Magic Mushroom House has been included in a design tour in the past, opportunities to visit this private residence are rare, so please respect the owners' privacy.

Connecticut: Gungywamp

- Address: Gungywamp Groton, Connecticut, 06340 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,006 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 123 - Rarity ratio: 8.2

Did Celtic monks cross the Atlantic in the 6th century and build Gungywamp an hour outside of what would become New Haven, Connecticut? According to the Hartford Courant, that's just one of the theories that try to explain the existence of this archaeological site that looks like it could pre-date the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the "New World" in 1492.

Other theories lean more towards the supernatural, including energy vortexes and ancient aliens—namely because of the Stonehenge-like way that the sun lines up perfectly with the stone chambers' windows during the equinoxes. If you want to investigate the state-owned site yourself (which also crosses private property), join the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center on a public hike or make an appointment for a private walk.

Delaware: Marian Coffin Gardens

- Address: 1301 Greenhill Avenue, Wilmington, Delaware - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 853 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 197 - Rarity ratio: 4.3

Marian Coffin Garden offers a lush landscape at the vacant Gibraltar estate—a 19th-century mansion once owned by Hugh Rodney Sharp Jr., who hired the garden's namesake, landscape architect Marian Cruger Coffin, to install an elaborate garden. The house itself has unfortunately deteriorated into a derelict state , but the gardens have been restored to Coffin's original circa 1916 vision by Preservation Delaware , which allows free public access daily from sunrise to sunset.

Florida: Neptune Memorial Reef

- Address: 3.25 miles offshore, Key Biscayne, Florida, 33149 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 2,596 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 254 - Rarity ratio: 10.2

An "underwater city for the dead," the Neptune Memorial Reef off the shore of Key Biscayne, may look like a lost city akin to the fabled Atlantis, but it's actually an intentionally submerged cemetery made out of cremated remains. The organization calls it the "ultimate green burial opportunity": It recycles remains into funerary structures and memorials that serve as an artificial reef. Fortunately, divers are welcome —which means being interred (or " deployed ") in this necropolis isn't the only way to visit it.

Georgia: Fantastic Pit

- Address: Rocky Lane, Walker County, Georgia - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,434 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 115 - Rarity ratio: 12.5

Imagine climbing Seattle's Space Needle, from top to bottom, deep into the underground—and then you'll have a sense of what it's like to descend through Georgia's Fantastic Pit , a 586-foot unobstructed drop within Ellison's Cave (which, in total, goes down 1,063 feet). Located under Walker County's Pigeon Mountain, this is an advanced cave system—one that's not for novice spelunkers. Just getting to Fantastic Pit in the first place requires navigating through a labyrinth of other, smaller pits. But for cavers who have the experience—or are willing to learn vertical caving skills—it's a rare opportunity to drop through the deepest cave pit (that we know of) in the United States.

Hawaii: Lithified Sand Dunes

- Address: Unnamed Road, Koloa, Hawaii, 96756 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 568 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 105 - Rarity ratio: 5.4

On Kauai, the oldest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, it's not unusual to find rocky cliffs right next to sandy beaches at the shore. But at Kawailoa Bay, near Mahaʻulepu Beach, the rugged landscape deserves a closer look—because it's actually composed of ancient sand that slowly turned to stone  over the last 350,000 years . Known as the  Lithified Sand Dunes , you can find them on the southeastern coast of Kauai, accessible via an easy walk along the Mahaʻulepu Heritage Trail. Look for their odd yellow color—and examine closely to find fossils of sea and land creatures alike.

Idaho: Big Idaho Potato Hotel

- Address: Orchard Access Road and E Monroe Road, Boise, Idaho - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 753 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 108 - Rarity ratio: 7.0

If you love potatoes enough to sleep inside one, behold the Big Idaho Potato Hotel —born in 2012 out of the Idaho Potato Commission's 75th-anniversary campaign (" The Famous Idaho Potato Tour ") but now available to rent by the night on Airbnb.

Although it's just over 10 years old, the giant 'tato follows the tradition of many of the roadside attractions found throughout the United States in the early and mid-20th century—when three-story shoes, giant donuts, and larger-than-life dogs, all part of the style of programmatic architecture, attracted motorists to local businesses with an eyeful of spectacle. This portly potato, however, has been planted in a far more remote location: in the middle of a 400-acre farm on the outskirts of Boise.

Illinois: The Secret Mermaid

- Address: Oakwood Beach, Chicago, Illinois, 60653 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,834 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 234 - Rarity ratio: 7.8

There may not be any real mermaids swimming in Lake Michigan—but those in the know traveling down Lake Shore Drive through Chicago's South Side will head to the southern tip of Oakwood Beach to find the Secret Mermaid , a stone figure that was surreptitiously sculpted out of limestone by four artists in broad daylight in 1986. It remained a mystery to locals for 14 years—but the siren's secret has been out since 2000 . And after being  temporarily relocated from her original location, she's back where she belongs: right by the shoreline in Burnham Park, and in plain view for the public to enjoy.

Indiana: Market Street Catacombs

- Address: 222 E Market St Indianapolis, Indiana, 46204 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 2,412 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 387 - Rarity ratio: 6.2

You don't have to travel all the way to Paris to visit historic catacombs—because in Indianapolis, there's an entire underground city known as the  Market Street Catacombs . Those curious about this limestone and brick underworld can head to Indianapolis City Market, where the tunnels once served as part of its infrastructure—namely, in the days before refrigerators and freezers, keeping its goods cool. Although this subterranean labyrinth is generally not open to the public, the market does allow occasional guided tours of its dark basement through its partnership with Indiana Landmarks.

Iowa: The Hobo Museum

- Address: 51 Main Avenue S, Britt, Iowa, 50423 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 639 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 114 - Rarity ratio: 5.6

One of the lasting icons that came out of the  Great Depression was the American "hobo"—a railroad car-hopping vagabond sporting a five o'clock shadow and carrying all his worldly possessions in a blanket tied to the end of a stick. This archetype is the jumping-off point for the collection of the Hobo Museum , founded in the early 1980s by actual hobos (as they identified themselves) who wanted to preserve their legacy and the tradition that they had continued throughout the 20th century.

Located in the former Chief Theater in Britt, Iowa, the museum's collection includes personal artifacts from prominent American hobos throughout history. Opportunities to visit , however, are limited—as it's only open Thursdays through Saturdays from Memorial Day in May through the Hobo Days festival in August. For the rest of the year, you can request an appointment by emailing the museum.

Kansas: Wamego LSD Missile Silo

- Address: 16795 Auburn Circle, Wamego, Kansas, 66547 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 787 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 127 - Rarity ratio: 6.2

The  Wamego LSD Missile Silo is a Cold War-era artifact—once home to the Atlas E-type ballistic missile, which was active from 1961 to 1965 at the former Forbes Air Force Base in nearby Topeka, Kansas. But its military history isn't its claim to fame. The decommissioned silo's notoriety comes from its status as what Vice magazine called  "the world's most productive LSD laboratory."

That's just the tip of the 15,000-square-foot underground iceberg—because its most infamous resident, Gordon Todd Skinner, became an informant for the DEA, leading to the arrest and conviction of Skinner's friend William Leonard Pickard for his role in running an illegal LSD lab that resulted in the biggest federal seizure of illegal acid and paraphernalia ever.

Kentucky: Broke Leg Falls

- Address: US-460, Wellington, Kentucky - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 891 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 102 - Rarity ratio: 8.7

Broke Leg Falls is a nature preserve in Kentucky's eastern Menifee County that shows what could happen when an EF-3 tornado rips through a wooded area—because after a twister ripped the surrounding trees out in 2012, the hidden waterfalls within Daniel Boone National Forest were suddenly and violently exposed. Since the small park had just celebrated its grand reopening just a few months before, after an extensive restoration project, officials decided to put the falls' fate in the hands of nature's will—and not try to return it back to its pre-tornado state.

Louisiana: Escape My Room

- Address: 633 Constance Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,496 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 171 - Rarity ratio: 8.7

Escape My Room in New Orleans is such an elaborate escape room visitors might start to actually believe the storyline that draws them into the lore of the DeLaporte family's trials and tribulations—including missing treasures, covered-up crime, and a doomed mansion. Each of its custom-themed games has  a staggeringly low escape rate . Admission is by advance ticket sales only, and punctuality is a must—or risk being turned away from DeLaporte Manor and denied access to its secrets.

Maine: Boon Island Light

- Address: York, Maine, 03909 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 923 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 153 - Rarity ratio: 6.0

It makes sense that a lighthouse would be built on an island that's proven treacherous for sea vessels. It's clearly where a guiding light is needed most. But the tallest lighthouse in New England— Boon Island Light —was established on a site of a shipwreck so tragic the only way the survivors made it out alive was by eating their ill-fated fellow sailors' dead bodies . While you can see Boon Island Light from afar from the shore, the truly brave board a boat to get a closer view. As it's a working lighthouse, no interior access is currently available.

Maryland: Underground Railroad Experience Trail

- Address: 16501 Norwood Road, Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park Ashton-Sandy Spring, Maryland, 20860 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 994 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 127 - Rarity ratio: 7.8

Although there's no evidence that any of the structures at the Woodlawn Manor (or its owners) were involved in the Underground Railroad, Montgomery Parks/Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission created the  Underground Railroad Experience Trail through this former plantation in honor of the local area's history in aiding in the safe passage of escaped enslaved people in the 1800s—particularly in Sandy Spring, the Quaker town in which it stands.

Between Baltimore and Washington D.C. and well south of the Mason-Dixon Line, the trail takes visitors along a self-guided tour of nine points of interest across 2 miles , illustrating the challenges faced on their path to freedom and the techniques used to get there safely.

Massachusetts: Museum of Modern Renaissance

- Address: 115 College Avenue Somerville, Massachusetts, 02144 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,314 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 143 - Rarity ratio: 9.2

On an otherwise nondescript residential street in Somerville, Massachusetts, one house stands out among the rest: the colorful Museum of Modern Renaissance , located in a former Masonic lodge that Russian artists Ekatrina Sorokina and Nicholas Shaplyko took over in 2002 and transformed into their private art immersion.

It's not an artist's studio per se—it doesn't just contain the duo's mystical and magical paintings. The structure, too, has become an expression of their art. But it's still somewhat under the radar in the art world, as the artists only allow the public to experience it on occasional tours by appointment only or sometimes during the annual open houses sponsored by Somerville Open Studios.

Michigan: Cherry Point Farm and Market Lavender Labyrinth

- Address: 9600 W Buchanan Road, Shelby, Michigan - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,095 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 115 - Rarity ratio: 9.5

If there's intelligent life beyond planet Earth looking down at us to try to decide a good spot to make their eventual landing, they just might choose Cherry Point Farm and Market Lavender Labyrinth —because this stunning, enormous feat of landscape design, which features 36 herb beds , can be seen from space .

But this visual marvel is also a fragrant, meditative destination where creatures from this planet or the next can meander through a spiral of sacred geometry, finding their way into and out of it while also discovering something about themselves. And fortunately, it's free to access during the farm's normal business hours, which are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily beginning May 5.

Minnesota: Orfield Labs Quiet Chamber

- Address: 2709 East 25th Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55406 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 2,236 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 213 - Rarity ratio: 10.5

In 2021, the Guinness World Records organization determined that Orfield Labs Quiet Chamber in Minneapolis was the quietest place on Earth —which comes in handy for the various manufacturers who use it to test their products, including various types of equipment that need to operate within certain sound level constraints. This "quiet room" (known technically as an "anechoic chamber") was designed specifically to be absent of any echo and to absorb 99.99% of sound—and as a result, it's become a kind of destination for visitors wanting to challenge the limits of their ability to withstand sensory deprivation for hours on end.

According to BBC News, the room is so quiet that all some people can hear in there is the sound of their own heart beating and stomach digesting —which could be therapeutic, unsettling, or downright panic-inducing. If you're interested in seeing how you'd react (and how long you'd last), you can arrange a tour through Orfield Labs.

Mississippi: Margaret's Grocery and Market

- Address: 4535 N. Washington Street, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 39183 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 506 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 114 - Rarity ratio: 4.4

Margaret Rogers is the namesake of Margaret's Grocery and Market —a folk art environment in Vicksburg, Mississippi, that began as a humble roadside store, which she ran and lived in starting in 1944. But everything changed in the 1980s when Rogers married the Rev. Herman "Preacher" Dennis, who turned her country store into a castle-like assemblage of pink-and-yellow cinder block turrets, a school bus pulpit, and handcrafted signs with messages that read, "The house of prayer for all people to worship, Jews and Gentiles" and the like.

When Dennis and Rogers both passed away, the Mississippi Folk Art Foundation stepped in to help preserve the grocery, which had begun to fall apart. Although it may no longer sell any goods to weary travelers, it's open for occasional tours and special events.

Missouri: Welch Spring Hospital Ruins

- Address: Jadwin, Missouri, 65501 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,515 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 183 - Rarity ratio: 8.3

Welch Spring's supposedly healing waters flowed from a cave along the Current River in southern Missouri's Ozarks—and, in 1913, they attracted the attention of Dr. C.H. Diehl, who bought the spring and built a hospital at the cave's opening for patients struggling with consumption (aka tuberculosis). However, the facility—which was probably more akin to a health spa—ultimately failed; it was too difficult to reach in such a remote location. After Dr. Diehl died in 1940, it fell into disrepair—and the Welch Spring Hospital Ruins are now accessible by foot (at the end of a half-mile trail) or via canoe.

Montana: Medicine Rocks State Park

- Address: 1141 MT-7, Ekalaka, Montana - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 723 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 100 - Rarity ratio: 7.2

The sandstone formations at Medicine Rocks State Park may look a bit like Swiss cheese because of how they've eroded over time, but these pillars are more than a geological oddity. They also provided a canvas for Native Americans dating hundreds of years back—many of whom were part of hunting parties that gathered here and considered the site both sacred and medicinal. As the soft stone is easy to carve markings into, a lot of rock art can be found throughout the grounds, including  petroglyphs depicting local wildlife, people, and events that occurred over the course of hundreds of years.

Nebraska: Toadstool Geologic Park

- Address: Toadstool Road, Oglala National Grassland Harrison, Nebraska - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 760 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 164 - Rarity ratio: 4.6

Toadstool Geologic Park offers an opportunity to explore an arid desert with an alien-like landscape that was formed when ancient waters flowed through the area around 45 million years ago. Although the prehistoric river has since vanished from these badlands, the traces it left behind include sandstone rock formations (known as hoodoos) that resemble a mushroom forest.

As if the "toadstool" part of this geological wonder weren't enough of a draw, the site—which is located within Oglala National Grasslands—also boasts a number of fossils of ancient wildlife, like horses and saber-toothed cats, which can be discovered along a mile-long interpretive trail. Just make sure you leave the artifacts undisturbed and take only pictures.

Nevada: Atomic Survival Town

- Address: Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,471 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 109 - Rarity ratio: 13.5

Atomic Survival Town is a bucolic neighborhood that was built in the middle of the unforgiving Nevada desert with the specific purpose of blowing it up with an atomic bomb. The only way to get to see it—at least, what's left of it—is by booking one of the highly in-demand  public tours of the Nevada National Security Site located north of Las Vegas.

The two-story houses of the "town"—which were populated by mannequins living an otherwise-ideal mid-20th century existence—were so close to Vegas, in fact, that the nuclear explosions and resulting mushroom clouds attracted spectators who gathered at viewing parties at local hotels. Note: Photography on the entire test site is strictly forbidden, and even bringing a cell phone onto the tour is prohibited.

New Hampshire: Sculptured Rocks

- Address: 251 Sculptured Rocks Road, Hebron, New Hampshire - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,706 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 260 - Rarity ratio: 6.6

At the end of the last ice age, the Cockermouth River was flowing on its way to Newfound Lake—and along its path, the grains of sand it contained slowly eroded the local bedrock to create  Sculptured Rocks . These geologic formations were carved into oddball shapes, and they now surround a swimming hole and a waterfall in Sculptured Rocks Natural Area, part of the New Hampshire State Parks system. Called the "little Grand Canyon of New Hampshire" by New Hampshire Magazine , Sculptured Rocks is a natural oddity that's strangely beautiful and a reminder of how the landscape around us can change so dramatically over time.

New Jersey: Abandoned Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital

- Address: Edna Volpe Road, Glen Gardner, New Jersey, 08826 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,302 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 171 - Rarity ratio: 7.6

The only tuberculosis sanatorium in New Jersey that was state-owned and -operated first opened in 1907 and closed in the late 1970s. It was replaced in 1977 by a new facility called the Senator Garret W. Hagedorn Gero-Psychiatric Hospital, then rebranded as a nursing home and psych ward. But that treatment center reached the end of its line in 2012, when New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ordered the state government to shut it down —leaving it abandoned, right next to the ruins of the old TB center.

Together, the pair comprises the abandoned Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital complex in Glen Gardner, New Jersey, where nature is taking its course. The New Jersey Natural Lands Trust is currently working to create public access to the decommissioned hospitals' grounds and the open space that surrounds them.

New Mexico: Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area

- Address: Bloomfield, New Mexico - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 3,546 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 291 - Rarity ratio: 12.2

Although any water supply in  Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness Study Area is currently scarce, water once rolled through these badlands of northwestern New Mexico and carved mysterious shapes into the sandstone hills. Although the resulting formations—known as hoodoos—aren't very difficult to reach, this area is primitive backcountry without facilities and trails . The payoff of making the trek, however, is admiring mushroom-shaped rock columns that appear in a rainbow of colors with varying textures in clay.

New York: North Brother Island

- Address: North Brother Island, Bronx, New York, 10455 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,943 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 152 - Rarity ratio: 12.8

Manhattan may be the most famous island in the New York City metropolitan area, but there's another, much smaller isle located in the East River—between two other boroughs, the Bronx and Queens—that has a fascinating but little-known history. It's called  North Brother Island , and it's infamous for its most famous former resident, " Typhoid Mary ," who for a time was a quarantined patient at the island's Riverside Hospital.

The facility closed in 1963 and, left abandoned, has since become a bird sanctuary—specifically for the black-crowned night heron. While visiting the nature preserve is prohibited in order to protect nesting birds, it is visible from the water—especially if you can catch one of the birdwatching cruises offered occasionally by Audubon.

North Carolina: Blue Ghost Fireflies

- Address: 1400 Staton Road, Hendersonville, North Carolina, 28739 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 2,346 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 222 - Rarity ratio: 10.6

Even bug experts don't know much about the  Blue Ghost Fireflies that populate the western environs of North Carolina, particularly in the wooded areas of the Appalachian Mountains. But one thing's for sure: The bluish color of their "glow" is unusual among creatures that exhibit bioluminescence (or the ability to "light up," thanks to a chemical reaction in the body). Although these lightning bugs are abundant locally, they're found in very few places throughout the world—and they only appear seasonally in spring.

North Dakota: The Pyramid of North Dakota

- Address: 81st Street NE, Nekoma, North Dakota, 58355 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 847 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 133 - Rarity ratio: 6.4

The Pyramid of North Dakota is part of what put the tiny town of Nekoma on the map: an anti-Russian missile defense facility called the  Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex . A monumental, four-story-high pyramid that still stands today once housed the complex's radar system, although Congress voted to dismantle the military installation the day after it opened in October 1975.

It was operational for just a few months before becoming  decommissioned the following July and subsequently abandoned. Although the Cold War-era relic, located along 81st Street Northeast, is closed to the public, you can view it from afar—at least until cryptocurrency company Bitzero Blockchain Inc. converts it into a new data center .

Ohio: Early Television Museum

- Address: 5396 Franklin Street, Hilliard, Ohio - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 869 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 111 - Rarity ratio: 7.8

The Huffington Post has called the Early Television Museum in Hilliard, Ohio, " where old TVs go to live ." And this "retirement home" contains some antique television sets that go back to the earliest days of the "boob tube"—as far back as 1928, the year of the first American TV broadcast , which used mechanical scanning technology (later replaced by electron beams). But don't mistake this museum for a graveyard of vintage sets because most of them are actually still in working order.

Oklahoma: Gandini's Circus

- Address: N Kelly Avenue between Swan Lake Road and Pruett Drive, Edmond, Oklahoma, 73003 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 992 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 165 - Rarity ratio: 6.0

According to The Daily Oklahoman, local entrepreneur Howard Suesz housed the winter camps of two traveling "big top" attractions on the now-abandoned Edmond circus camp property from the 1940s to the 1970s. While local lore has it that both the Hagen Bros. Circus and the Clyde Bros. Circus actually came out of a pre-Great Depression predecessor called Gandini's Circus , no artifacts on the site contain that name—and the Edmond Historical Society & Museum adds, no digitized newspaper clippings, other archives, or records have verified the legend. As the property is still privately owned, trespassing is not allowed—but some remnants may be visible from the sidewalk.

Oregon: Out 'n' About Treehouse Treesort

- Address: 300 Page Creek Road, Cave Junction, Oregon, 97523 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,407 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 142 - Rarity ratio: 9.9

Cave Junction, Oregon, is home to no ordinary resort—drawing vacationers to its  Out 'n' About Treehouse Treesort , where they can spend the night in their very own arboreal hideout. Located just outside the forested foothills of southern Oregon's Page Mountain, with plenty of oak trees and Douglas fir pines, this "treesort" also offers opportunities to zip-line through the tree canopy or ride horseback with four legs firmly planted on the ground.

Pennsylvania: Devil's Hole Ruins

- Address: Pennsylvania State Gamelands #221, Monroe County Cresco, Pennsylvania - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,815 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 152 - Rarity ratio: 11.9

With a name like "Devil's Hole Creek," the mind can go to some scary places when imagining what might've happened at  Devil's Hole Ruins in the Pocono region of Pennsylvania. According to the Monroe County Historical Association , the name might've come from the legend of a bottomless lake where swimmers could sink into the depths of hell.

While local legend tells of a possible speak-easy there (at least according to The Times Leader in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania), the historical society's archives show that the ruins in the area are from structures washed away in a 1955 flood, like the former Seven Pines Lodge, a powerhouse, and a sanitarium destroyed by fire in 1911 (leaving only a foundation and chimney).

Rhode Island: Neutaconkanut Hill Park

- Address: 665 Plainfield Street, Providence, Rhode Island, 02909 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 768 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 138 - Rarity ratio: 5.6

The Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy calls Neutaconkanut Hill Park " the last wild place in Providence "—the capital city of Rhode Island with a population of nearly 200,000 as of 2020. It's a green oasis in a densely-populated part of the city, where 88 acres of open space comprise a wilderness park that contains the highest point in Providence.

The Works Progress Administration created a trail system through this "city forest" in the 1930s—but otherwise, this mostly undeveloped park remains a pristine oak/hickory woodland where creatures, wildflowers, and berry bushes abound. That's thanks to the last survivor of the original King Homestead, Abby King, who bequeathed the land to the city  with the provision that it should stay wild .

South Carolina: The Last Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken Restaurant

- Address: 514 US-15 Business, Hartsville, South Carolina, 29550 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,024 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 182 - Rarity ratio: 5.6

The cartoon character Yogi Bear, sidekick to Huckleberry Hound, was once the pitchman for a chain of chicken restaurants in the Carolinas—but after their debut in the 1960s, the bear-approved Honey Fried Chicken restaurants have been whittled down to just one surviving location, The Last Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken Restaurant , in Hartsville, South Carolina.  You can still get boxes of chicken like the Boo Boo Basket and the Picnic Basket (pronounced "pic-a-nic," if you're Yogi)—all containing pieces with that honey flavoring (which reportedly contains no actual honey ).

South Dakota: Petrified Wood Park

- Address: 500 Main Avenue, Lemmon, South Dakota, 57638 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 497 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 112 - Rarity ratio: 4.4

Petrified Wood Park in Lemmon, South Dakota, is the world's largest such park—sprawling across an entire city block and boasting not only fossilized remains in a relatively natural state but also a castle, two museums, and more constructed from petrified logs.

It was the creation of amateur geologist Ole S. Quammen , who directed its construction from 1930 to 1932, using locally sourced "stone wood" from a 25-mile radius of Lemmon. His daughter donated it to the city in 1954—and in 1977, it landed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its architectural and social significance, having provided jobs to unemployed locals during the Great Depression. The park is open all year, but building interiors are only open during summer, between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Tennessee: 'The Evil Dead' Cabin

- Address: 2321 Inman Bend Road, Morristown, Tennessee, 37814 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 2,427 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 213 - Rarity ratio: 11.4

The "cabin in the woods" has become a trope of modern-day horror films. But the film that brought this scary concept to mass audiences was "The Evil Dead" in 1981—and in 1979, director Sam Raimi shot this cult favorite largely at a real cabin in Morristown, Tennessee, which subsequently burned down . All that's left of "The Evil Dead" cabin is part of the fireplace , the film's lead actor Bruce Campbell told Knox News. And, he warned, it's on private property—in an area where locals might take a criminal offense such as trespassing pretty seriously.

Texas: Newman's Castle

- Address: 504 E Main Street, Bellville, Texas - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,507 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 130 - Rarity ratio: 11.6

Newman's Castle sticks out like a sore thumb on a 20-acre plot of land in the woods of rural Texas, outside of the town of Bellville. It's the brainchild and home of Newman's Bakery owner Mike Newman, who took 10 years to build the 3,400-square-foot medieval-style oddity out of cinder blocks and masonry. Fortunately, the opportunity to storm the drawbridge, climb the 62-foot bell tower, and brave the dungeon doesn't require knighthood. Reserve a tour simply by calling the bakery , where the tours start (and where attendees receive the address and directions to the castle).

Utah: Fantasy Canyon

- Address: Fantasy Canyon, Vernal, Utah, 84078 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,689 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 181 - Rarity ratio: 9.3

Nearly 200 miles southeast of Salt Lake City lies Fantasy Canyon —a geological wonder whose weathered sandstone takes shape in fantastical formations with mystical names like "Witch," "King's Throne," "Ant Castle," and even "Alien Head," all of which can be seen on an interpretive trail that forms a 0.6-mile loop .

This lesser-known gem was the site of the prehistoric Lake Uinta, where sand deposits eventually turned to stone—and some of the resulting pillars and pinnacles are so peculiar-looking they appear to be dripping with melted wax. Today, it's hiding in plain sight within a labyrinth of service roads belonging to natural gas plants , although a visit to the local BLM field office will help you find your way through the remote area.

Vermont: Freedlyville Quarry

- Address: 3817-5015 Dorset Hill Road, Dorset, Vermont - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 964 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 114 - Rarity ratio: 8.5

The Freedlyville Quarry in Dorset, Vermont, was established in 1808 by tunneling into the eastern side of Mount Aeolus—creating an underground marble extraction site that has the look and feel of a man-made, horizontal cave. It gets its name from a misspelling of its former operator J.K. Freedley & Sons, although no quarrying activity has happened there since the 1930s, according to the Manchester Journal.

But one activity has taken place inside the marble quarry since at least 1931: underground ice skating, as seen in a historic photo in the Dorset Historical Society archives. It still happens, too—namely at Vermont Cavers Association 's annual ice-skating party (which happens in February, as long as the water is frozen solid).

Virginia: Great Channels of Virginia

- Address: Saltville, Virginia - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 2,162 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 197 - Rarity ratio: 11.0

The Channels Natural Area Preserve , located in the Virginia Department of Forestry's  Channels State Forest , is home to the  Great Channels of Virginia —a 400-million-year-old maze of narrow sandstone pathways known as slot canyons that take hikers to the high point of Clinch Mountain. It's an unusual sight in eastern U.S. topography, as slot canyons are far more often found in the desert terrain of the American Southwest. It's not for novice hikers, either: the Great Channels were once off-limits because they were so difficult to reach. Today's "easier" trails still involve steep climbs to 4,208 feet above sea level and a rocky landscape.

Washington D.C.: Riggs Library

- Address: O Street NW and 37th Street, Washington, District of Columbia - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,809 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 227 - Rarity ratio: 8.0

Georgetown University's Riggs Library looks like a scene out of a book lover's most elaborate fantasy: multiple levels of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves connected by cast-iron catwalks and spiral staircases, with daylight streaming into the central atrium. A rare example of cast-iron construction in such a facility, it was the university's main library from 1891 until being replaced in 1970 —but now, it's used only as a space for the upper echelon of university-sponsored events. Unfortunately, the general public is not allowed access without an invitation.

Washington: Treehouse Point

- Address: 6922 Preston-Fall City Road SE, Issaquah, Washington - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 2,333 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 169 - Rarity ratio: 13.8

Pete Nelson—known for his starring role in the Animal Planet reality show "Treehouse Masters"—created a unique playground for adults in 2006 known as Treehouse Point . This " tree B&B ," located about 25 miles east of Seattle, offers a getaway for the young-at-heart to channel their inner child in an immersive, wooded setting. Each of the seven treehouses where guests can stay is totally unique—and the main ways to see them are either by booking an overnight stay (which sells out months in advance) or signing up for a tour of the property.

West Virginia: Archive of the Afterlife

- Address: 86 Railroad Street, Cameron, West Virginia, 26033 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,620 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 158 - Rarity ratio: 10.3

At the Archive of the Afterlife —aka the " National Museum of the Paranormal "—the spirited artifacts in the collection include an execution cap from a local electric chair, creepy dolls, a "haunted" Dr. Seuss book, and a photograph that the museum claims contains a powerful entity. Together, the Charleston Gazette-Mail wrote in a 2016 article, it's all " a riot of weird ." And is it just a coincidence that is located across the street from Grave Creek? If you dare to become one of the "visiting souls" who cross over to find out, note that the tour season only runs on Fridays and Saturdays from April 1 through October 31.

Wisconsin: Shorewood Ghost Train

- Address: 1325 E Capitol Dr Shorewood, Wisconsin - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 646 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 101 - Rarity ratio: 6.4

A high-speed passenger train called the Twin Cities 400 used to run through Shorewood, Wisconsin, on its route between Minneapolis and Chicago—until it was decommissioned in 1963. But since 2016, it's lived on as the Shorewood Ghost Train , a multimedia installation on the rail line's former train trestle now known as the Oak Leaf Trail Bridge, which crosses over Capitol Drive.

The sound and light display mimic the " schedule, speed, and drama " of the 400 passing over it—with two departures nightly, heading northbound and southbound. Unfortunately, the schedule is temporarily suspended while the Shorewood Public Art Committee attempts to address a technical issue, but the plan is for the ghostly rail service to make a return appearance.

Wyoming: Hole-in-the Wall Outlaw Hideout

- Address: Johnson and Natrona Counties, Kaycee, Wyoming, 82639 - Want to visit votes on Atlas Obscura: 1,144 - Been here votes on Atlas Obscura: 128 - Rarity ratio: 8.9

The Hole-in-the-Wall Pass was a legendary hideout for criminal gangs, cattle thieves, stagecoach robbers, and other bandits in the Old West—and today, the Hole-in-the Wall Outlaw Hideout is a hidden gem in the high plains of Wyoming's Johnson County where visitors can literally walk in the footsteps of infamous "bad guys" who trekked over a narrow trail to cross up and over a steep geologic formation known as the Red Wall. Current access is through a private dude ranch called Willow Creek Ranch , where guests can drive cattle just as infamous outlaws like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid did in the late 1800s.

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Atlas Obscura   Reviews

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I've been plagued,recently,by Scam,spam…

I've been plagued,recently,by Scam,spam and blatent rubbish from atlasobscura.com. If any one else is having these issues please block and write a review here.

Date of experience : January 01, 2024

Fabulous Trips

If you want to travel without the hassle of dealing with planning minutiae, Atlas Obscura Trips is the way to go. I’ve taken 2 AO food-based trips to bucket list locations (Lisbon, Portugal 2019, Vietnam 2023) and can’t wait to travel with them again. The trips are well-organized, guides are excellent, sightseeing is fun and interesting, hotels are wonderful. Tour group size is small - allowing plenty of opportunity to interact and make new friends. And the food is pretty amazing! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Date of experience : March 11, 2023

Poor quality, not fit for its own stated aims.

Tried submitting a listing for a major new attraction where I live and received an email saying that they are not publishing it. Since the attraction was opened it has achieved over 110 5* TripAdvisor reviews in just a month. It is the only attraction of its kind in the UK - if that isn't a 'unique travel opportunity' then I'm not sure what is! Rubbish site, not fit for purpose against it's own set of criteria. Won't bother using it again in future.

Date of experience : September 20, 2021

A daily read with an option to edit

For me, Atlas Obscura is a daily read. When I wake up and have a cup of coffee, I read an article or two on this amusing website. I also like the option to suggest an edit. So, whenever I see an outdated piece of information or want to add some important details, I just go ahead and contribute.

Date of experience : April 21, 2020

We just returned from an Atlas Obscura…

We just returned from an Atlas Obscura trip to Egypt. I was fantastic! Our guide was an expert, and was able to teach us so much. Everything was seemless. All meals included and the restaurants picked were authentic and delicious. The accomodations chosen in Cairo were more like a guesthouse. We felt very much a part of where we were versus being in a "resort bubble". I highly recommend Atlas Obscura. We are already looking for our next adventure with them. Our group of 10 all week very happy. One couple was on the second trip with Atlas and booked a third already.

Date of experience : November 10, 2022

One of my favorite websites

I've been using Atlas Obscura for over four years now and every vacation I take I reference them to know I can find something fun and off the beaten path. Pretty much any time something new gets posted I make it a goal to go check it out.

Date of experience : July 23, 2020

Editing team is completely unresponsive

Their editing team take a long time to respond, and do not even respond to any emails or questions sent on posts written.

Date of experience : August 15, 2023

A+ Vietnam food tour with Atlas Obscura

We took a small-group food tour of Vietnam with Atlas Obscura in March 2023. Easily one of the best travel experiences I've had. From the night we arrived in Hanoi to our departure 9 days later from Ho Chi Minh City, our local hosts/guides Q and Duc took such good care of us and made every step effortless. The itinerary was structured as a survey of the different regions of Vietnam, from north to south, with a mix of urban and rural, resort and hill village, historic and modern, street market and full service restaurant experiences. For example in Hoi An I really enjoyed seeing the small farms where the produce is grown, then then shopping with a local chef an outdoor market where it's sold, then participating in a cooking class with that same chef in the food hall she established, THEN eating the meal we'd just cooked. Our hosts were invaluable. They made sure each day was efficient and well paced - all transportation was figured out for us, hotel transfers were a breeze, and the accommodations were all eye popping and amazing (the bathtubs...sigh!) Basically all the work of planning and navigating is done for you, all you have to do is show up. Plus, our hosts had access to places and experiences that we wouldn't have as normal tourists. I only wish we had more time on the trip! It felt like it was over too soon. I'm saving up for my next Atlas Obscura trip :)

Date of experience : March 10, 2023

Best small group tour.

We have taken two trips with Atlas, to Romania and India. Both were excellent - well organized and executed, and the tour guides in both places were knowledgeable, funny, and highly competent. They created context for everything we saw, which made the experience a very rich one. The itineraries were comprehensive and creative, and we came away feeling we had had excellent introductions to both countries. I recommend them with no reservations.

Date of experience : April 07, 2019

Atlas obscura tours:UPDATE 2019

I’m on the Mexico tour. So far not very good. They have made sure they received my money, but dealing with their call in and email help has NOT BEEN GOOD. My contact is Chris and I get nothing but apologies how he is too busy to look at my emails or listen to my voicemails. I’m really sorry I decided to take this trip to Mexico. I’ve paid about $3k and wish I had never done this with atlas Obscura. I’m only at the start of this trip meaning I’m just trying to get in their boards and if that is too difficult to obtain, I’m concerned how the actual trip will go. I will update review after the trip in October 2019 UPDATE: Finally I reached someone who was able to help me at Atlas. Once that happened everything fell into place. I was able to get confirmation for my hotel and join the boards. It ended up being one of the best trips I’ve ever done. Great hotel, located in central Mexico City, perfect guides, wonderful food, and a lovely small group of people on the tour. If you get a chance to go to Mexico for Dia de Muertos with Atlas, do it, it will be a trip of a lifetime. Really getting to interact with locals, and getting a good taste of the true meaning of Dia de Muertos.

Date of experience : September 07, 2019

hidden place which I would never expect…

hidden place which I would never expect to exist, thanks to this website I visited

Date of experience : May 01, 2020

I like this site.

Date of experience : April 14, 2020

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Tree Week: A Tasty Tale about Meyer Lemons The Atlas Obscura Podcast

• Places & Travel

Meyer lemons are so special that restaurants go out of their way to call them out on menus. Martha Stewart loves to bake with them. And yet, Meyer lemons also have a fascinating and kinda tragic backstory. Tune in for a very fun episode about this very particular fruit. Our guest in this episode is Mandy Naglich, professional taster and author of “How To Taste.” READ MORE IN THE ATLAS: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/meyer-lemon

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Electrostal History and Art Museum

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Electrostal History and Art Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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