A nominal $5 entry fee gets you into this beautiful coastal must-see. Keep an eye out for Arena Mina, the local lighthouse cat, guest relations manager, and rodent control specialist. In addition to the beautiful and well maintained grounds, Point Arena offers modern accommodatio … | Continue reading
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. Dylan Thuras: Hi, Allegra. Hello. How are you doing? Allegra Rosenberg: I’m good, Dylan. How are you? Dylan: I am good. So, I’m going to ask you some questions and have you help paint a picture of this … | Continue reading
Tucked away in a corner of the gardens of Wentworth Castle near Barnsley is an elaborate folly that reflects the vanity of the 18th-century English gentry. Having failed to inherit the nearby mansion Wentworth Woodhouse as he had expected, Thomas Wentworth, Baron Raby (who would … | Continue reading
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I met Cathy Ballone outside the entrance of the abandoned zoo she and her husband, Ben, had recently purchased. Over the ticket kiosk in the parking lot was a sign that read “Catskill Game Farm” and, beneath it in smaller letters, “Fun for the Wh … | Continue reading
When talking to a resident of Mobile, Alabama, about Mardi Gras, you might find yourself on the receiving end of a history lesson. Though the holiday is often associated with New Orleans, the first documented celebration in America was in 1703 by French settlers at Twenty-Seven M … | Continue reading
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. Dylan Thuras: Hi, Johanna. Johanna Mayer: Hey, Dylan. I’m here with a piece of local news for you today. It is about a time capsule. Dylan: I love a time capsule because they’re just some wacky thing th … | Continue reading
The first room of the Wheelwright Museum is round, shaped like a Navajo hooghan. One of the smaller, more quaint and tucked-away museums on Museum Hill, it is also one of the oldest, located in a building on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum was started in the … | Continue reading
Located off the historic Camino Real, a pre-colonial trade route that became a vital economic artery during Spanish colonialism, the Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum highlights New Mexican history through its arts and crafts. The museum is housed in a building designed by the … | Continue reading
In the early 1900s, an extensive fortification system known as Stockholm's permanent defense was built. It had two main stretches: the Northern and Southern fronts, designed to block and delay any ground invasions advancing toward the capital. The chain of bunkers and fortificati … | Continue reading
Ramón Gómez de la Serna, a prominent figure in Madrid’s literary and artistic avant-garde in the 1920s and ’30s, created a unique artistic legacy through his study in the 1910s. He used the techniques of collage and photomontage to create a unique “portable museum” that placed hi … | Continue reading
In New Madrid, Missouri, it is evident that history unfolds both above and below ground. The New Madrid Historical Museum consistently makes this point, from showcasing the significance of its earliest inhabitants to the American Civil War to the fault line that runs beneath the … | Continue reading
Started in 1976, John Baker's one-of-a-kind collection of decommissioned railroad cars is quite a sight. Located in Smithville, Indiana, Baker's property houses multiple train cars filled with curiosities to entice anyone with a morbid disposition. He began the collection when he … | Continue reading
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. Dylan Thuras: Cuba and cigars have a longer history than you might realize. Indigenous Caribbeans have been using tobacco for millennia. In the early 1800s, under Spanish colonial rule, the first cigar … | Continue reading
The fairy-tale scenery of Germany's Black Forest surrounds travelers as they make their way up the elevated wooden boardwalks of the Black Forest Treetop Walk. The beginning of the trail lies nestled along Sommerberg (Summer Mountain), which overlooks the southwestern town of Bad … | Continue reading
This is a transcript of an episode of Untold Earth, a series from Atlas Obscura in partnership with Nature and PBS Digital Studios, which explores the seeming impossibilities behind our planet’s strangest, most unique natural wonders. From fragile, untouched ecosystems to familia … | Continue reading
This famous historical underwater bar is located inside what was once the historic Yankee Clipper Hotel, which opened in 1956 in a unique building shaped like a ship. After extensive renovations, the hotel reopened in 2017 as the B Ocean Resort. The Wreck Bar has windows allowing … | Continue reading
Located in North Berwick, a seaside village 30 miles east of Edinburgh, Scotland, the remains of St. Andrew’s Old Kirk have a historical significance that few passers-by are aware of. Legend has it that toward the end of the 16th century, a large coven gathered here on Hallowee … | Continue reading
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. Johanna Mayer: A few weeks ago, I called my dad. I had a few questions for him. The topic is Limburger cheese. Mr. Mayer: Oh boy. That’s a subject near and dear to my heart. Johanna: If you’ve never hea … | Continue reading
It’s no surprise that Nevada’s small towns offer an abundance of local charm. But like their glitzier siblings Las Vegas and Reno, these lesser-known destinations take revelry to the next level. From Beatty to Virginia City to Battle Mountain, these fun-loving communities host ce … | Continue reading
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. Dylan Thuras: So, my guest today, you could describe her as a travel writer. She’s certainly not one in the conventional sense. Her books do not contain any restaurant recommendations, no cafes in Paris … | Continue reading
When you find yourself in the farthest corners of the world, the unexpected is always part of the adventure. A river might rise overnight in the jungle. A trek in the desert could become treacherous in a sandstorm. A rare bird or animal might make an appearance. But being further … | Continue reading
Self-described as a "museum in operation," the TextielMuseum in Tilburg, Netherlands, educates visitors on textiles while serving as a workspace for professionals. Located in a former textile factory, the museum offers an in-depth look at textile history through immersive exhibi … | Continue reading
Drivers on the A4 motorway between Brussels and Luxembourg are surprised to see a metal arc emerging on either side of the motorway. It is actually a work of art, known as “Arc Majeur,” by Bernard Venet. It evokes the form of an enormous metal circle, 75 meters in diameter (about … | Continue reading
In a remote corner of the Mojave National Preserve rise the red and grey spires of the Providence Mountains, where adventurous tourists have come since 1934 to explore the remarkable caverns inside. The caverns feature the normal stalagmite and stalactites, as well as rare format … | Continue reading
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast apps. Dylan Thuras: It’s a hot day in New York City. It’s pushing 90 degrees outside, and you need lunch. So you’ve come to Harlem, to 110th Street, and you’re here for a reason. You are in search of a parti … | Continue reading
In the shadow of Strasbourg's towering cathedral, sinister evidence of the city's past is lodged in a hotel facade. The defused mortar shell dates back to the siege of Strasbourg, a battle that took place in 1870. The siege lasted from August 14 to September 28, 1870, marking a … | Continue reading
Lucy Tower is an atmospheric 12th-century keep situated atop the motte of Lincoln Castle, offering panoramic views over the city of Lincoln and a fascinating connection to the history of Norman England. The castle itself, constructed shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066, pla … | Continue reading
A hidden gem away from Sicily's usual tourist spots, Santa Maria La Scala is a charming fishing village nestled between volcanic cliffs and the Ionian Sea. To get there, walk along the 18th-century path called "Le Chiazzette," a nature trail immersed in the silence of the Timpa n … | Continue reading
Stamatios Kleanthis was born in Kozani, Macedonia, in 1802. As a teenager, he moved to Wallachia to study but was quickly swept into the Greek War of Independence. Recruited by General Alexander Ypsilanti, he joined the war's first organized military unit. He fought in several b … | Continue reading
The Museum of Illusions, now a global sensation, actually began in Zagreb in 2015 as the brainchild of Tomislav Pamuković and Roko Živković. Wanting to break free from the corporate grind, they created a space where the mind bends reality, inspired by the hit show Brain Games on … | Continue reading
In 1900, Walter Hubbard donated a park to the town of Meriden, Connecticut. A firm believer that every community should have a green space, he insisted it always remain free for residents to enjoy. Today, Hubbard park is open year-round with multiple sites to explore. Every Apri … | Continue reading
This natural park spans over 2,600 hectares and is home to the largest sand dunes in the Canary Islands. These magnificent dunes, formed by ancient marine deposits, stretch for miles along the coast, creating a landscape reminiscent of its across-the-ocean neighbor, the Sahara. V … | Continue reading
Felix Schlag, a German-American sculptor, won a nationwide competition in 1938 to redesign the U.S. five-cent coin. His portrait of Thomas Jefferson on the front and the image of Jefferson’s Monticello on the reverse became iconic, making Schlag’s design one of the most-circulate … | Continue reading
I’m a backpack guy. Don’t even ask me about rolly bags—they’re like dragging a ball and chain; slow, loud and useless in gravel and snow. They don't fit under your seat. Half the time you end up having to check them anyway. I hope that when I die at the ripe old age of 107, they … | Continue reading
Andenne is located on the right bank of the Meuse, 1 hour drive southeast of Brussels. The town is best-known for its production of ceramics and forthe Collegiate Church of Saint Begga. The present building was rebuilt between 1764 and 1778. It was designed by the famous architec … | Continue reading
Once intended to stand at the top of the grandest cathedral in Pécs, the decaying statues of the 12 apostles now take shelter from the rain under an archway. Completed in 1855 after nine years of work, the statues were carved from Budafa yellow sandstone by Mihály Bartalits. Ea … | Continue reading
In Herve, a town between Liège (Belgium) and Aachen (Germany), a brick building with 7 arches covers the town’s main water source. It is located below the town centre. The building was built in 1894. It replaced the old woollen washhouse dating from 1783, which had only two wells … | Continue reading
In Tempe, Arizona, the sky looms large. The horizons are broad, and the sun shines more than 300 days a year. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting location for an installation by the Arizona-based artist James Turrell, known for his Skyspaces, a series of works that inspire visito … | Continue reading
The Scots mining company, which owned many of the mines around Leadhills, near Biggar, in southeast Scotland, erected this bell in 1770 to commemorate James Stirling, who managed the mines and brought about great technical and organizational improvements to the benefit of both … | Continue reading
Visitors to Eisenhower Park in Abilene, Kansas, will encounter this looming monument to the city of Abilene and its rich cultural heritage. Unveiled in December 2022, the World's Largest Belt Buckle measures 19 feet, 10 ½ inches wide and 13 feet, 11 ¼ inches tall—and that's not c … | Continue reading
When exploring the nooks and crannies of the bustling town of Richmond Hill, many folks overlook this small wooded park near the town's outskirts that houses a historic observatory. This massive white dome used to be the second-largest telescope in the world when it was built in … | Continue reading
In 1929, an unusual chapel emerged in a small Belgian town. The Sainte-Lutgarde de Fauquez Chapel—nicknamed the Glass Chapel—was built with a striking new material: marbrite, a type of glass that would soon become a hallmark of the Art Deco movement. Built by Arthur Brancart, own … | Continue reading
Older inhabitants of Buenos Aires, or porteños, still recall when Costanera Sur was the site of a literal dumpster. Debris from across the city—everything from demolitions to subway excavations—was poured into the water, next to what once had been a glorious bathing site. The re … | Continue reading
Hidden deep within a limestone cliff, some of the most spectacular prehistoric cave paintings are still open to the public. The paintings of Font-de-Gaume were first formally discovered in 1901 by a local schoolteacher, Denis Peyrony, although locals had long known of their exist … | Continue reading
Museum Het Schip (The Ship) is a shining example of social housing in the Netherlands. Commissioned in 1917 by the socialist housing cooperative Eigen Haard and designed by Dutch architect Michel de Klerk, Het Schip was completed in 1921. Today, it serves both as a museum and a … | Continue reading
One hundred-and-fifty-plus years ago, Pony Express riders galloped across eight states delivering the mail. The states included California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. While the Pony Express was short-lived, lasting just 18 months from April o … | Continue reading
When looking for liquid refreshment, sometimes it can be hard to settle on on one of the many pubs in Brighton & Hove. There are plenty to choose from—it is often said that there is a pub and a church for every day of the year in this city!—and only so many that boast a unique, y … | Continue reading
In the 20th century, this canyon posed a daunting challenge to engineers trying to build a railway line here. The Industrial Revolution’s need for railway connections prompted the ambitious undertaking of the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR). But this was no small feat. Construction o … | Continue reading