In the East Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, the Perrystead Dairy Vending Machine looks like something fairies dropped in the middle of a magic garden—and to the cheese enthusiasts of the area it might as well have been. It’s surrounded by expertly cultivated native flora, bisected by a curving stone path. If it weren’t for the sound of the El train roaring by in the distance, you might think you were somehow transported far from the city limits.

Perrystead is a local cheese shop unlike any other. With a small team of four, they make over 500 pounds of cheese a week. They keep their repertoire small, less than ten different cheeses, some of them seasonal, developed over time and inspired by a blend of old European techniques and American innovation. They have reached international acclaim and are world title holders; the winners of many a cheese competition.

The vending machine itself is a refrigerated behemoth that holds not only the shop’s signature cheeses, but also any accoutrements a visiting lunch goer could desire—utensils, meats, and condiments. From the outside it appears to be a little red shed, with only room for one guest at a time to step inside. Within, it’s cool and music is playing. Accepting credit cards only, the machine is open 24 hours a day, and guests can even be seen late in the evening grabbing the carefully packaged cheese on their way to (or from) the local bars. Additionally, there are shaded, wooden benches in the garden for sitting to snack, and because the dairy lies only five blocks from the Berks metro entrance, it’s an easy pit stop on an afternoon adventure.

If you were to peer into the glass front door of the dairy itself any given day between business hours (or even poke your head in to say hello) you may see the cheese mongers themselves bustling about—carefully checking temperatures, humidity, or another necessary metric (cheesemaking is a science and they have perfected it). The shop is spotless, the tanks so clean you can see your reflection in them and buzzing with activity. The Perrystead team pasteurizes their milk on site after it’s delivered from nearby farms, ensuring its freshness, and the same quality that will later be reflected in their final products.

Sitting at the intersection of Broad and Philadelphia’s iconic South Street (and West one block) is Bob & Barbara’s Lounge. Opened by the namesake couple in 1969, the lounge remains one of the gems of Philly’s nightlife. Featuring the city’s longest running drag show (every Thursday night with Miss Lisa Lisa), founders of Philadelphia’s infamous “Citywide” and standing host to Jazz trios every weekend, Bob & Barbara’s has been the place to be for over half a century.

The bar is unassuming from the outside, snug on a block of independent restaurants, bars, and other business—but it lights up the street after dark, and when the door cracks open, music and reflected neon light flood the street. On the weekends, there are lines made up of folks of all ages, waiting for the bouncer to check IDs and wave them through. The bar is always full, and the crowd circles the spotlit band, careful not to lean on the antique organ. On Thursdays, they wait for Miss Lisa Lisa—her show the signal that the weekend has almost arrived.

The Citywide, at Bob & Barbara’s known simply as “The Special,” is the signature drink of Philadelphia. From the highest-class hotel to the greasiest dive, bartenders know exactly what you mean. There’s some flexibility between places—sometimes the beer or accompanying shot changes. But at Bob & Barbara’s they stay true to the original Special; a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon and a shot of Jim Beam, delivered together. Bob & Barabara’s legend attributes it to Rick D, whose portrait hangs by the front door. The story goes that needed a special to keep patrons coming back; first for just one night’s show, but then again the next, and so on and so on. The rest is history.

The bar has only had one other owner since Bob & Barbara’s, and the place shows no sign of slowing down. Pabst memorabilia lines the walls floor to ceiling, occasionally rotated to bring fresh merchandise out of storage where it’s been lovingly kept. Interspersing the antique signage and vintage light fixtures are records of the lounge’s history—photos of Bob & Barbara themselves, acclaimed Jazz musicians, even an old article or two about the revelation of the Citywide. It’s nostalgic in the best way inside Bob & Barbara’s, even for those who have never before set foot inside.

At the base of Japan’s Mount Fuji, there is a fascinating cave with several stories to tell. Located by the Kawaguchiko Field Center and part of the Mount Fuji World Heritage Site, the Funatsu-Tainai lava tree mold is one of the smaller and quieter caves of the Kawaguchiko area. The straight and narrow shape of this cave is due to a process known as lava tree molding. In the year 937, eruptions from Mount Fuji created the Ken-Marubi lava flow on the mountain’s northern slopes, engulfing a series of fallen trees. While the lava cooled around them, the trees were burnt away, leaving a uniform tube in the ground. The undulating inner surface of the cave, caused by the burning trees, is reminiscent of a human womb.

When adherents of the Fuji-ko folk religion found this cave, the womb-like appearance was not lost on them. They believed that entering and exiting the womb of Mount Fuji was a type of spiritual rebirth, and they could then be pure as babies before climbing the mountain. Expecting mothers would visit the cave as well, to pray for a safe delivery. Legend tells that the goddess Konohanasakuya-hime, patron of Mount Fuji, once gave birth here.

Today, the entrance to the cave is marked by a shrine to Konohanasakuya-hime. The goddess has had several of her shrines burned over the centuries by eruptions from the mountain. While the volcano is still active to this day, the last confirmed eruption was over 300 years ago. Today, the cave is open to all visitors. 

Tucked away past Anguilla’s famous natural stone arch, this hidden coastal path was recently mapped and documented by local explorer Michael Enloe, bringing well-deserved attention to one of the island's most dramatic geographical features. The trail leads adventurous hikers across sharp limestone terrain and sea spray toward a sheer cliffside that thrusts abruptly over crashing turquoise waters.

From the right vantage point, the razor-sharp rock formation bears an unmistakable resemblance to the doomed bow of the Titanic cutting through the Atlantic swells. Visitors navigating the coastal route should exercise extreme caution: the ocean-sprayed limestone slopes become slick and slippery, making proper closed-toe hiking shoes or sturdy sandals essential for safe exploration.

In a ski town two hours from Los Angeles, in a bistro serving cocktails and bar snacks, hangs the largest Tiffany-style stained-glass dome west of Chicago — and it didn't start out anywhere near a mountain.

The 57-foot dome was originally installed in a Parisian tango house during the city's so-called "Golden Age of Brothels," a period when clandestine dance halls and pleasure houses commissioned lavish decorative glasswork to match their reputations. At some point after that chapter closed, the dome was carefully disassembled panel by panel and shipped across the Atlantic, eventually finding its way to Chateau Big Bear, a French-inspired hotel built in 1987 in the San Bernardino National Forest.

Look closely at the glass today and you can still find small pockmarks and imperfections — said to be the scars of champagne corks popped underneath it during its Parisian nightlife days. The hotel's owners have since put roughly $500,000 into restoring the dome, and it now sits above the tables of Tiffany's Bistro, the hotel's in-house restaurant and live music venue, doing exactly what it always did: presiding over a room full of people having a good time, just several thousand feet higher up and several thousand miles from home.

If you like design museums and are a fan of industrial design, you must make a pilgrimage to the Braun Sammlung. This gem is hidden away on the second floor of what is essentially a German strip mall.  It is managed by a dedicated non-profit association (Förderkreis BraunSammlung e.V.) in close collaboration with the Braun brand, headquartered around the corner.

Today, you can still buy a Braun shaver (now owned by Procter & Gamble) or a Braun alarm clock, but back in the 1980s, a household could be completely outfitted with Braun's incredibly stylish and user-friendly consumer electronics: TVs, audio equipment, watches, cigarette lighters, epilators, toothbrushes, hairdryers, mixers, coffee makers, film cameras, projectors, and food processors, to name just a few. William Gibson even selected Braun as one of the few brands worthy of surviving into the future in his genre-defining Neuromancer cyberpunk series.

The collection is curated and displayed on par with any top museum in the world. Housed in an airy, modern space, it showcases Braun's entire product history, from wood-cabinet radios to present-day items. Each piece is meticulously annotated in both English and German with model number, designer, and historical notes. Renowned designer Dieter Rams made an outsized contribution to hundreds of these products.

Numerous items are specialty demonstration pieces—likely created for trade fairs—housed in clear plastic enclosures. Even more fascinating are a few dozen products cast inside solid blocks of clear plastic and sliced in half, revealing their intricate inner workings with vivid clarity.

In one of the back rooms, the display cabinets feature glass backings that reveal a true working archive complete with movable library shelves, a small photo studio, and a workspace for the archivists. Design professionals and educators may even be able to arrange for private access to these archives. The facility also offers comfortable seating areas, an array of design books to peruse, excellent restrooms, and a state-of-the-art meeting room suitable for hosting workshops or conferences for up to a few dozen people. A small gift shop stocks an impressive collection of books on Braun products and their designers, all at reasonable prices.

Perched more than 4,000 feet above sea level at the northern edge of Dolly Sods, Bear Rocks is one of the most unusual landscapes in the Appalachian Mountains. Its broad sandstone outcrops overlook the Allegheny Front, while stunted red spruce, blueberry and huckleberry heath, and open barrens create an ecosystem more commonly associated with Canada than West Virginia. The combination of elevation, exposure, and cool climate has allowed northern plant communities to persist here long after the last Ice Age retreated.

The rocks themselves tell an even older story. The flat-topped plateau is a textbook example of how ancient mountains gradually transform over millions of years. After the Appalachians were thrust upward by continental collisions, erosion slowly wore them down, leaving behind the broad, sandstone-capped plateau visitors see today. In recognition of its exceptional geology and ecology, Bear Rocks and the surrounding Allegheny Front Preserve were designated a National Natural Landmark in 2021.

Despite its dramatic appearance, Bear Rocks remains easily accessible. A short walk from the parking area leads directly onto the weathered sandstone ledges, where uninterrupted views stretch for miles across the Monongahela National Forest. Sunrise and sunset transform the cliffs into one of West Virginia’s most photographed vistas, while autumn paints the surrounding heath barrens in vivid reds and oranges.

Beyond the overlook lies Dolly Sods Wilderness, one of the East Coast’s most distinctive backcountry landscapes. Nearly 50 miles of trails wind through bogs, windswept plains, streams, and recovering red spruce forests, offering hikers a glimpse of an ecosystem unlike anywhere else in the region. 

Long before boutique “retro” hotels became fashionable, the Koolwink Motel was serving up charming roadside Americana in small-town West Virginia. 

Opened in 1936 as the Koolwink Tourist Home, the property started off renting rooms in a family residence, as well as a pair of cottages for motorists exploring what is now U.S. Route 50. 

When married couple Wallace and Pauline Mauk purchased the business in 1955, they didn’t replace it with something new. Instead, they slowly expanded it while preserving its personality. Wallace personally designed many of the additions, completed much of the plumbing and electrical work himself, and oversaw the motel’s gradual growth through the 1950s and 1960s.

Today, the Koolwink remains family-owned, making it an increasingly rare survivor from the heyday of America’s roadside motor courts. Wood paneling, private entrances, breezy porches, vintage furnishings, and a cheerful mascot named “Mr. Koolwink” evoke an era when family vacations unfolded on two-lane highways. The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History has even featured the Koolwink among the state’s historic lodgings, recognizing its place in the region’s roadside heritage.

The Koolwink also makes an excellent base for exploring West Virginia’s Potomac Highlands, a region where scenic drives, Civil War history, and mountain landscapes intersect. Romney, the state’s oldest chartered town, is home to historic buildings and museums, while nearby attractions include the South Branch Potomac River, the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad’s eagle-watching excursions, and the expansive Monongahela National Forest. 

Long before Fiesta became one of America’s most recognizable dinnerware brands, it was simply an ambitious idea from a pottery company determined to brighten the nation’s tables.

The story begins in 1871, when brothers Homer and Shakespeare Laughlin established a pottery in East Liverpool, Ohio, a city that would become known as the “Pottery Capital of the World.” As demand grew, the company crossed the Ohio River into what would become Newell, West Virginia. In 1902, company leaders purchased farmland there, laid out streets, installed utilities, built a suspension bridge and trolley connection, and transformed the site into a purpose-built company town centered around pottery production. By 1906, the new Plant No. 4 was considered the largest pottery factory in the world, capable of producing roughly 300,000 pieces of ware each day.

The company’s most iconic creation arrived in 1936. Designed by English-born ceramic artist Frederick Hurten Rhead, Fiesta combined streamlined Art Deco forms with bold, solid colors that stood apart from the floral china patterns then filling American cupboards. Introduced at the Pittsburgh China & Glass Show, the collection became an immediate success, with more than one million pieces produced by its second year. Over the decades, colors have come and gone, but the concentric rings and mix-and-match philosophy have remained unmistakably Fiesta.

Today, visitors can browse the Fiesta Tableware Retail Outlet beside the factory where the pottery is still made. Shelves overflow with every imaginable color, while bargain hunters dig through bins of “seconds,” pieces with tiny cosmetic imperfections that are often difficult to spot.

Unlike many iconic American brands that long ago moved production overseas, Fiesta dinnerware continues to be manufactured in Newell, making this one of the few places where visitors can purchase the company’s signature pottery directly from its source. 

After nearly 50 years, the Bavarian Inn has become a beloved fixture in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

In the spring of 1977, the Munich-born chef Erwin Asam and his English wife, Carol, from Sheffield, purchased the former Greystone Manor. They had previously run the Piccadilly Restaurant in the capital, but hoped to open something smaller and more personal: a restaurant serving food from Erwin's homeland. Erwin became the chef, Carol the hostess, and the pair got by using the mansion's living room as the restaurant's dining room. According to one account from son David, the setup was lean at the start — their father cooking out of a modest two-car garage, one waitress on staff, and the family living upstairs.

The setting made this grand experiment particularly curious. The manor sits high above a bend in the Potomac River. Originally known as Greystone Manor, it was built in 1930 as a private residence and converted into a country inn in 1962, before the Asams took it over and gave it an extensive renovation.

Shepherdstown already had deep German associations: the town's original name when it was incorporated in 1762 was Mecklenburg, and its main thoroughfare is still called German Street. But the Asams spun that historical thread into something far more impressive.

As the restaurant prospered, the property began sprouting its own miniature Alpine settlement. In 1981, Alpine-style chalet buildings were added, each with a balcony overlooking the Potomac River bend. The Schwarzwald Haus, named for Germany's Black Forest, followed in 1994, bringing the property's total to 72 rooms.

The inn has continued to expand its German theme in other directions. In 2019, the Asams opened the Bavarian Brothers Brewery, converting a former garden patio and part of the fine-dining space into a brewpub. The beer names double as a family scrapbook: one flagship brew, Carol's Royal Stout, honors Carol's English heritage and her role as "Queen of the Bavarian Inn," while a Mecklenbrau German pilsner nods to the town’s old name.

The combination of half-timbered facades, steep roofs, German cooking, a working brewery, and Potomac views can feel like a geographical mix-up — Bavaria by way of the Eastern Panhandle. Yet the place is not a prefabricated theme resort; it is a family-run hospitality business. Erwin and Carol's sons, Christian and David, grew up on the property and gradually took over its operations, continuing the grand Bavarian experiment into a second generation.

With lush forests, dramatic waterfalls, and unparalleled mountain vistas, West Virginia rewards those who make the time to take in the views—with no shortage of accommodations designed to help visitors do just that. Across the state’s small towns and mountain valleys, these lodgings turn an overnight stop into the heart of the journey. Bunk down in whimsical cabins and treetop hideaways, pitch a tent beneath the looming fins of Seneca Rocks, check into a century-old schoolhouse reborn as a boutique retreat, or unwind at a tiny roadside motel with a surprisingly spirited social scene. Each one pairs inventive design with a genuine sense of place—from the pastoral southern borderlands to the rugged high country.

Choose Your Own Woodland Adventure

Four Fillies Lodge in Monroe County

Spread across nearly 100 acres near the Virginia border, Four Fillies Lodge feels like a collection of fanciful hideaways gathered on one wooded estate. Guests can choose among antique Appalachian cabins, glass-fronted retreats, glamping pods, bohemian-style wagons, and an elevated safari treehouse, with select accommodations adding hot tubs, fireplaces, or creekside settings. The playful range makes the property especially appealing to families, couples, and groups who want more personality than a conventional hotel room offers. Rustic materials and pastoral surroundings set the tone of escape, while thoughtful modern comforts keep the experience inviting rather than overly rugged.

Camp Beneath a Legendary Skyline

Fourth Moon Camp in Seneca Rocks

Fourth Moon Camp places guests close to one of West Virginia's most dramatic natural landmarks, where the sheer rock formation of Seneca Rocks rises above a quiet rural landscape. Open across all four seasons and accessible by reservation only, the private campground offers primitive sites like Creekside Hollow and North Peak, vehicle-accessible spots such as Spearmint Patch, and elevated tree-net campsites like Moonshine. The emphasis is on an intimate outdoor experience rather than resort-style development, making it a natural fit for climbers, hikers, and travelers who prefer sleeping close to the landscape. Events and recreational experiences add a communal dimension to the camp's secluded mountain setting.

Go to Bed in a Beloved Old School

The Schoolhouse Hotel in White Sulphur Springs

Built around the historic cornerstone of a 1912 school, the Schoolhouse Hotel gives a familiar civic landmark an imaginative second chapter. Its 30 boutique guest rooms draw inspiration from classroom subjects such as art, English, band and geography, creating an atmosphere that's playful without sacrificing polish. The fully accessible property also includes a restaurant, rooftop bar and flexible gathering spaces, and its location places guests within easy reach of downtown White Sulphur Springs. Original history and contemporary hospitality coexist throughout the building, making the hotel feel both nostalgic and forward-looking—a memorable base for exploring the shops, restaurants and mountain scenery of the Greenbrier Valley.

Check Into a Mountain-Town Cult Classic

The Billy Motel & Bar near Davis

With just 10 rooms and a lively bar at its center, the Billy Motel & Bar transforms the classic roadside stay into a stylish mountain-town gathering place. The pocket-size property sits between downtown Davis and the entrance to Blackwater Falls State Park, positioning guests for waterfall walks, Canaan Valley adventures and evenings in nearby Thomas. Inside, a fireplace, cocktails and French-press coffee encourage guests and locals to linger, while the retro exterior gives the motel an instantly recognizable personality. The result is intimate, convivial and refreshingly unpretentious—a character-rich home base for travelers who like their outdoor escapes paired with good design and conversation.

Sleep Among the Treetops

Country Road Cabins in Hico

This wooded New River Gorge retreat offers far more than traditional cabins: guests can book treehouses, yurts, glamping tents, a geodesic dome and an Airstream. The round Holly Rock Treehouse is reached by a 37-foot canopy bridge and includes a private elevated hot tub. Just minutes from the New River Gorge Bridge, the property puts guests within easy range of whitewater rafting on the New and Gauley rivers, along with hiking, fishing and nearby state parks. Each accommodation comes with a fully equipped kitchen, making it easy to settle in for a multi-night stay in the gorge.

Check Into an Art-Filled Hideaway

Lafayette Flats Boutique Vacation Rentals in Fayetteville

Four individually designed flats occupy a historic building in the center of Fayetteville, steps from the small town's restaurants, shops and public art. Each accommodation combines the independence of an apartment with the careful styling of a boutique hotel, including original West Virginia artwork and details inspired by the surrounding New River Gorge. It's a fitting choice for travelers who want a downtown base with more room to spread out and settle in.

Step Into a Collector’s Country Inn

The General Lewis Inn in Lewisburg

Built in stages across 1834 and 1928, the historic General Lewis Inn pairs individually decorated rooms with antique furnishings, refinished original floors, Persian rugs and a mix of classical and contemporary style throughout. Its 23 rooms, tranquil garden and courtyard, farm-to-table restaurant and atmospheric Thistle Lounge give it the layered character of a grand old house rather than a conventional hotel. The inn takes its name from General Andrew Lewis, a noted figure of the French and Indian War, and its East Wing began as an 1834 residence before a West Wing addition turned the property into a hotel in the 1920s. Its downtown location also makes it easy to explore Lewisburg's walkable historic district, antique shops, galleries and independent businesses.

Stay Inside a Living-History Village

The Town’s Inn in Harpers Ferry

Occupying two pre-Civil War stone residences dating to approximately 1820 and 1840, The Town's Inn places guests directly within Harpers Ferry's Lower Town. Rooms are furnished in a style influenced by the historic boarding houses preserved nearby, while rivers, museums, trails and the train station are only steps away. Little about the experience feels updated for modern travel, which is exactly the point for guests seeking an unfiltered sense of the town's 19th-century past.

Kawran Bazar is a massive wholesale market located in the center of Dhaka, and one of the largest wholesale markets in South Asia by some accounts. While it technically operates 24/7, some of the liveliest times are in the middle of the night and wee hours of the morning. 2 am fruit auction, anyone?

Kawran Bazar serves as a wholesale hub for Dhaka's essential food commodities. According to one source, the market handles a whopping 57% of the city's daily vegetable supply, not to mention the masses of fruits and other products. There’s an entire section dedicated to meat, with livestock waiting to be slaughtered upon purchase and fish being descaled by hand.

Train tracks run alongside part of the bazar, with vendors peddling goods on the tracks only to remove and replace them each time a train moves through. It is not uncommon to see Bangladesh’s infamous “train surfers” atop the cars as the trains whizz by.

Kawran Bazar clears out by mid-morning, when the area transforms into a central business district, supporting commerce of a different source. Stalls are replaced by parked cars and vendors by businessmen; the area is home to several Bangladeshi newspapers and television channels, as well as a university campus, hospital, and mall. 

Kawran Bazar dates back to the 1780s, when it was established by the Marwari trader Kawran Sing. Sing migrated from India to Dhaka during the early years of British colonial rule in Bengal, and was a prominent merchant expanding trade routes during the change in rule. Today, Kawran Bazar is still a vital commercial center for Bangladesh. The Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan even designated it as a prime commercial business zone, slating it for urban renewal and structured expansion in its 1995 plan.

Back when public displays of affection were more taboo, covered bridges popped up in every corner of the province of New Brunswick. Built mostly in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the wooden, roofed structures helped farmers and travelers get safely from one side of a river to the other, even in the snowy, harsh winters of yesteryear.

But in their heyday, “covered bridges” wasn’t the only term people used to identify the river-crossing spans. In popular parlance, “kissing bridges” became the go-to expression instead. Especially among young couples.

The reason for the colourful, smooch-worthy nickname isn't hard to figure out: shielded from the gaze of onlookers, horse-and-carriage riders could enjoy a few brief moments of glorious privacy while passing through, which meant a quick chance for some kissy-kissy action with your main squeeze before reaching the other side.

You didn’t even have to get a room.

Once upon a time, New Brunswick boasted hundreds of these rather fragile, lumber-heavy marvels. Today, only about 62 remain in service.

A fine example of these engineering throwbacks is the ever-so scenic, 50-metre-long Burpee Covered Bridge at Gaspeareau Forks. Set back just enough from the main highway to feel hidden, the site is 10 minutes from the nearby village of Chipman and about an hour from the provincial capital of Fredericton. 

If impossibly picturesque rural scenery is your thing, consider a visit.

Fair warning though. Arriving at the Burpee Bridge feels like stepping through a time portal to the days of a bygone era. It wouldn’t seem out of place if a character from a Lucy Maud Montgomery novel suddenly sprang to life on the two-lane Gaspereau Road.

But this is Atlas Obscura, not Goodreads, so we’ll have to discuss the creator of Gilbert Blythe and Anne Shirley some other time. As for the Burpee Covered Bridge, how long has it stood in the New Brunswick countryside?

The question is an interesting one for history nerds. Signage at the site today clearly dates the bridge to the year 1913. Old newspaper clippings, however, suggest the bridge was already in use by the summer of 1912. So there’s that.

By the way, the span’s double-b name relates to a prominent family, the Burpees, that owned plots of land in the vicinity at the time when the bridge was put up.

In 2026, colourful markings on the vaulted interior point to a new moonlight tradition. High school grads have clearly taken to decorating the rafters and wooden walls, graffiti-style, with their names and other vivid symbols of their impromptu imagining. Fear not though, the artwork scarcely detracts from the bridge’s charm and appeal. 

The quaint days of horse-and-carriage travel are gone. But kissing is still a thing.

When you get here, drive through the darkened bridge a couple times. In your pickup, EV, or hatchback, lean over to that special someone and show some affection. You’ll be re-enacting what generations before you did on the kissing bridges of New Brunswick.

Santa Monica isn't just pretty, it's absurdly long — somewhere between 11 and 18 kilometers of white sand, depending who's doing the measuring.

What makes it genuinely rare, though, is what's not there. One beach shack. One aborted hotel. That's it.

The shack is real and it works, tucked at one end for a cold drink and some shade.

The hotel is a different story. Back in 2015, developers broke ground on White Sands Hotel & Spa, the first of six planned resorts meant to turn this stretch into 835 rooms, six restaurants, a beach club branded as world-famous before a single guest had checked in. It never got there. What's left is a raw concrete shell sitting on one of the best beaches on the planet, doing a decent impression of a ruin twice its actual age.

It's proof that even developers with six-resort ambitions couldn't out-stubborn this stretch of coast. Getting here means off-road driving through dunes that eat regular cars alive, and this has done more to protect Santa Monica than any conservation policy ever could. Enjoy the version with no Wi-Fi and no infinity pool, and let's hope it stays this empty forever. 

Bray Road looks like just another unassuming stretch of concrete surrounded by farmland in rural Wisconsin, and to some people, it is. To others, it’s home to the most famous werewolf in the United States.

The beast is described as having shaggy, black or greyish-brown fur with pointed ears, sharp claws, and a sloping weakness to its back legs. Witnesses report seeing it walk upright on two legs, reaching a height of seven or eight feet, as well as on all fours; though, it’s specified to look unlike any other four-legged animal when it runs in this position. It has been observed to eat in a way more similar to humans and apes than canines, with the creature holding prey in it’s paws and bringing it to its mouth to eat rather than bending its head to its food. 

The first known sighting of a creature fitting this description on or near Bray Road was reported in 1936 by Mark Schackelman, a night watchman for an assisted living facility for developmentally disabled individuals. He described the creature to his son as being over six feet tall, with black fur, pointed ears, claws, and smelling like decay. Schackelman saw the beast again the next night, when it reportedly attempted to speak to him in a growling, near-human voice. It “spoke” one word - ‘gadara.’

Reports of encounters with the beast were made again in the 1970s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and even the early 2000s. Sometimes it was “peaceful,” only staring witnesses down from a distance. Other times, it was seen running across the road or eating roadkill. Two particularly unlucky eyewitnesses were chased down in their vehicles, with claw marks on their trunk to corroborate their story.

Linda S. Godfrey, a reporter for Walworth County’s “The Week” was the first person to dig deeper into these sightings. She followed the story for 40 years, interviewing countless witnesses and sharing their stories first in “The Week,” then in numerous books on the Beast of Bray Road and other Wisconsin cryptids and legends when the newspaper ceased its operations.

Witnesses of the Beast of Bray Road are diverse and largely reported to be very credible individuals, which makes brushing off this creature as an attempt at garnering money or fame more difficult. Because of this, one theory about the Beast of Bray Road is that it is in fact a real animal - but instead of a supernatural creature or even a new species, it might just be a black bear suffering from mange.

Mange is a disease that causes hair loss and emaciation in animals. A black bear in this condition can look similar to a wolf, especially at a distance or in nighttime conditions. Black bears are also more likely to scavenge roadkill than wolves, they hold food in their paws and bring it to their mouths to eat rather than bending their head to their food like wolves, and black bears can walk and even run on their hind legs whereas wolves cannot. While this theory is not flawless, many amateur cryptozoologists find it to be more compelling than other proposed explanations.

This Minnesota State Recreation Area is an island in Lake of the Woods. For most of the year, you can only get there by boat. In winter, snowmobiles and other vehicles safely traveling on the frozen lake will take you there. The island is uninhabited, and most people go there to fish, relax, or hike. 

A picnic area is included, and a shelter with an emergency phone if you get caught in bad weather. Not sure if you can count on the emergency phone! Most visitors go for the scenery, the fishing, or to enjoy nature, or because they are visiting all the state parks and state recreation areas in Minnesota. 

While traveling on the lake, be aware that you can drift into Canada, and international borders require reporting to the country you are entering. You must carry a passport, passport card, or enhanced driver's license when crossing over, and report again when crossing back. 

Saintes is a Belgian village located 30 minutes' drive southwest of Brussels. It lies between the towns of Enghien and Hal, home to the famous Blue Forest of Hal. Everything in this small village is connected in one way or another to Renelde of Saintes, a devout woman who lived there in the seventh century. She was elevated to the status of a saint, and the village church is dedicated to her. Her reliquary is paraded on a horse-drawn cart every year. The most unusual feature associated with her, however, is a well in the countryside to the south of the village.

To understand this well, we must first talk about Renelde of Saintes. She was the sister of Saint Gudula, the patron saint of Brussels. When their parents separated to enter religious life, Renelde wanted to follow her father to Lobbes Abbey, but was refused. She then set out on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Upon her return, she settled on a farm south of the village of Sainte with her two faithful servants, Grimoald and Gondulphe. It is most likely that she chose this location because her family owned land there. “Laubecq Farm”, also known as “Sainte-Renelde Farm”, is believed to be located on the site of Renelde's farm: it is situated 100 metres west of the well. Renelde and her two servants were murdered there by the Huns around 680. She was considered a martyr and was canonised as a saint.

According to legend, Renelde struck the ground with his staff on a sweltering day, causing a spring to gush forth so that his servants could quench their thirst. It is not surprising that water can be found here, given that the valley bottom and the confluence of two streams are the location in question. Nevertheless, this spring has become a place of pilgrimage. It is believed that the water has curative properties for stroke, paralysis, ocular maladies, and ulcers.

At an unknown date (perhaps in the 17th century), a limestone well was built. On the front, there is a depiction of Saint Renelde. She is holding a pilgrim's staff in her right hand. In her left hand, she is holding a martyr's palm. Saintes was where Father Steen was appointed in 1851. Since the well had fallen into disrepair, he restored it. The stone well was raised by 70 cm and topped with a canopy supported by six columns that hold a statue of the saint. This cast-iron statue weighs 233 kg. It is a copy of a wooden statue (circa 1490–1500) that is preserved in the village church.

The jug of water from the well can be raised by pulling on the chain hanging from the canopy. The water is not officially considered potable (i.e. it is not tested regularly as required by Belgian law). However, even today, it is not uncommon to see people drawing water from it to pour over certain parts of their bodies (or even to drink it).

Deep in the spectacular Lake District National Park sits the tiny hamlet of Wasdale Head, located in the shadow of England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike, and near the shores of England's deepest lake, Wastwater.

Within the hamlet, the minute Saint Olaf's Church of England, at just 142 cubic meters, is England's smallest active parish church. Originally equipped with merely a few seats and an earth floor, the church now has enough pew seating to snuggly accommodate a maximum of 39 people. 

Wasdale Head was originally a Norse settlement, with the name derived from the Norse 'Vanstdair', meaning 'valley of the water'. Legend says that the ancient timber roof beams were taken from Viking longships. The veracity of this story and the true age of the timbers, which have never been carbon tested, are up for debate, but the beams are believed to be original to the building.

The rural location of the church, and the agriculture nature of the area, are reflected in the churchwarden’s staves. One stave is adorned with the intricately carved head of a Herdwick ram, the other with the head of a ewe, a nod to this hardy species of sheep, a Cumbrian icon that thrives on the Lake District's harsh high fell environments. 

While it was likely that there were earlier churches on the site, the first record of the church was in 1550. Nameless and referred to simply as Wasdale Head Church for most of its existence, the church only became St. Olaf's in 1977, after Norwegian friends of the rector at the time suggested the name. Also that same year, the church finally joined the electrical grid, having been lit by oil lamps up until that point.

St Olaf's also has a long association with mountaineering, as Wasdale Head is regarded as the traditional center of UK rock climbing. Several climbers are interred in the churchyard having perished on nearby fells. A memorial dedicated to Lake District Fell and Rock Climbing Club members who died in World War I, sits on a stone plinth in the churchyard, repositioned from its original place on the nearby fell Great Gable. Further solidifying the link to the mountains is an etching of Napes Needle, a rock formation on Great Gable, depicted on one of the church's diamond windows.

The church is surrounded by a ring of yew trees, that shield it from view until approached. Combined with the impressive mountains surrounding Wasdale Head, and the dramatic views across Wastwater and the Wasdale Valley, St Olaf's Church exudes a truly mythical and holy ambience, in one of the most incredibly picturesque locales in all of England.

At the confluence of the Esopus Creek and the Hudson River in Saugerties, NY you will find the charming Saugerties Lighthouse. Built in 1869 it has guided ships away from the shallows and into the Esopus Creek for 157 years. Today the lighthouse is maintained by the Saugerties Lighthouse Conservancy and functions as a living museum and bed & breakfast.

Visitors can access the lighthouse via a half mile walk through the Ruth Reynolds Clunt Nature Preserve. It is recommended that you check the Saugerties Lighthouse Tide Chart before venturing out to the light house as high tides can submerge parts of the path. The walk is easy and provides beautiful views of the Hudson River and surrounding freshwater tidal wetlands in the Esopus Estuary. The nature trail is well maintained and open year round from sunrise to sunset. There are a few spots along the trail to walk out to the edge of the Hudson River which provide stunning views looking north and slightly east up the Hudson. 

Docent led tours of the interior of the lighthouse are available in the summer on Sundays from 12:00pm-3:00pm for $10.00 (adult) & $5.00 (child). The lighthouse is also available as a bed & breakfast for overnight stays. 

A string of small islands stretch from the northern tip of Door County, where the warm waters of Green Bay meet the icy waves of Lake Michigan. The shoals surrounding these islands, combined with the unpredictable currents and weather patterns, have given this infamous passage the title of Death’s Door. While the origin of the title is shrouded in folklore and fish tales, the seriousness of the sobriquet is under no such dispute - hundreds of ships have succumbed to this passage over the centuries.

To combat these dangers, and provide aid to the burgeoning maritime commerce on the Great Lakes, a lighthouse was erected to mark the mouth of the Door on a minuscule, 3.5 acre island. Built in 1858, it was only the third lighthouse in the region, and the very first made out of Cream City brick imported from Milwaukee. It was accompanied by a foghorn - taking up another entire building - which was said to be so loud that it shook the entire island, killed bird embryos, curdled milk and threw china out of the cabinets in the lighthouse. The remoteness of the post led to several reported cases of insanity, and at least one assistant light keeper committing suicide by a self-inflicted blade to the throat. Both structures were continuously manned until the 1960s, at which point the foghorn was abandoned, the lighthouse was automated, and the island was handed to USFWS to serve as a wildlife refuge.

Despite these aids, many ships continued to be driven upon the shoals of Pilot Island (and indeed continue to this day). Three of the most famous happened in a single year, with the Forest wrecking on October 28, 1891, joined by the JE Gilmore on October 17, 1892, and the AP Nichols on October 28, 1892 - in a daring rescue by lightkeeper Martin Knutson, the crew of the Nichols was dragged through a storm by their literal hair, down a ladder to the decks of the other abandoned vessels. These three wrecks now rest less than 100 feet off the island, 25 feet deep, stacked on top of each other like cairns - a warning to other sailors not to underestimate the dangers of Death’s Door.

The Sauratown Mountains are known as the “mountains away from the mountains”; separated from the nearby Blue Ridge and once as tall as the Rockies, over hundreds of millions of years they have eroded to their present state. Moore’s Knob is the highest point in this range at 2,579 feet above sea level. Hard quartzite rock protected the Sauras from eroding as much as the surrounding piedmont terrain, which averages 800-1,200 feet above sea level. 

Much of the Sauratown Mountains are protected by Pilot Mountain State Park and Hanging Rock State Park. Hidden within Hanging Rock is a fascinating treasure: a natural cave known as Tory’s Den. 

The name comes from a supposed connection to backcountry loyalists who, legend has it, used the cave as a hideout during the American Revolution until they were driven out of the area by a local Patriot militia. 

The cave is easily accessible via a short hike.

The Champion Lodgepole Pine, located near Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains, is considered to be one of the largest of its kind in the world. Estimated to be over 440 years old, this massive, 110-foot-tall natural wonder is an incredibly rare survivor in Southern California.

The U.S. Forest Service officially recognizes it as the largest recorded lodgepole pine in California, and its massive volume (9,300 board feet) and age (over 440 years) safely rank it among the top giants of its species worldwide. 

Mind-Blowing Tree Facts

Ancient Roots: The tree germinated around 1560, more than 50 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.

Massive Proportions: It reaches over 110 feet in height with a trunk circumference of 22 feet. Its bulbous base measures a staggering 36 feet around.

Tons of Timber: It contains an estimated 9,300 board feet of timber, which is enough raw lumber to build a 1,300-square-foot house.

A Southern California Anomaly: Lodgepole pines rarely grow in Southern California, and when they do, they usually reside at elevations above 8,000 feet. This grove is a unique remainder from a time when the local climate was much cooler.

Fun Facts About the Hike

Easy Access: The trail to the tree is a 0.5-mile gentle walk through the lush Bluff Mesa area.

The Journey In: The drive to the trailhead is an adventure of its own. Located south of Big Bear Lake Village, the route transitions from pavement to a rocky forest road (FS Road 2N10) where a high-clearance vehicle is highly recommended.

Historical Landmarks: If you look closely at the pine, you might notice old notches or "blazes" carved into the wood. These were used as trail markers by early wagon trains.

If you’re looking to liven up your weekend plans, we’ve got you covered, with unique event listings around the world.

Find exciting events in Amsterdam, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York City, Paris, Prague, Rome, San Francisco, Seattle, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C.

In New York, you can dive into the world of thrift and vintage fashion at ThriftCon NYC, where hundreds of vendors bring together curated streetwear, designer pieces, and nostalgic collectibles waiting to be unearthed. Each visit holds the promise of unexpected discoveries, from limited-edition drops to rare finds that tell stories of eras gone by.

After hours, the California Science Center in Los Angeles transforms into an unexpected backdrop for an evening of craft beer exploration at the LA Brewsology Beer Fest. Dozens of local brews await discovery among the museum's exhibits, turning a familiar institution into something altogether more surprising. Sample your way through the offerings, uncover new favorites, and connect with fellow enthusiasts in a setting that makes the experience feel like anything but an ordinary tasting event.

Each summer, London becomes a stage for one of the most vibrant celebrations of Ghanaian culture in the diaspora. Ghana Party in the Park draws thousands of attendees into a world of pulsating music, bold fashion, and a marketplace brimming with unexpected finds. Performers, artisans, and food vendors come together to offer a genuine window into the living traditions and contemporary energy of Ghana. Whether you're deeply familiar with the culture or encountering it for the first time, this annual gathering is an invitation to explore, connect, and celebrate.

Each summer, Prague transforms into a vibrant hub of LGBTQ+ celebration, advocacy, and culture during its annual Pride Festival. A lively parade winds from Wenceslas Square to the sweeping Letná Plain, accompanied by concerts, workshops, debates, and theater performances that illuminate the diversity and layered history of the LGBTQ+ community. As one of Central Europe's largest Pride events, the festival draws thousands of participants and visitors united by a spirit of inclusion and a shared commitment to equality and human rights.

Every August, San Francisco pays tribute to one of its most legendary native sons at Jerry Day, an annual celebration held at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park. The event draws thousands of devoted fans for a full day of live music performances from local and national artists, all in honor of the Grateful Dead frontman whose spirit remains deeply woven into the city's cultural fabric.

Via Vittorio Emanuele II is one of Catania's main thoroughfares, running east to west through the city center and several notable piazzas. Near the road's midpoint, through the front doors of a nondescript two storey building is the Teatro Romano di Catania, a Roman theater dating from the 1st century AE.

The theatre was constructed over an old Greek theatre, that was likely the setting for Alcibiades’ speech to Catanaeans in 415 BC, persuading them to ally with Athens against Sparta and Syracuse during the Peloponnesian Wars.

The entire venue consists of two theatres, there is the Odeon, a smaller, more intimate semi-circular venue, on the upper west side. The main theatre consists of 21 rows of seats built into the hillside in a classic half bowl pattern. The stage was decorated with marble columns and designed to utilize the waters of the Amenano River running beneath it, in live performances. 

With the downfall of the Roman Empire, the theatre was no longer used, and the decorative marble was removed and used to build the nearby Basilica Cattedrale di Sant’Agata. While the expansion of the city led to many of the main theatre's terraces and underground corridors being built over by the buildings of Catania’s now UNESCO world heritage listed Baroque city center.

After the great earthquake of 1693 damaged most of the overlying structures and much of the city, it wasn't until 1770 that the site was excavated. Under the orders of the Prince, Ignazio Paternò di Biscari, the buildings constructed inside the theatre were demolished, allowing the monument to somewhat brought back to its original splendor and appearance.

A cross section of the city's history can be seen from the top of the main theater. The ancient theatre and baroque building facades, contrast with visible modern home amenities, such as TV antennas, plumbing and air conditioning. It is not unusual to see residents in the neighbouring buildings through their windows, or relaxing on their balconies.

From street level, the banners on the entrance building's exterior, and a plain white stone plaque engraved 'Teatro Romano', are the few hints of this magnificent structure's existence. Unlike other Roman theatres which stand isolated in prestigious locations, Catania's theatre is unique in being surreptitiously blended in amongst the city's hilly roads and buildings. Tourists walking along Via Vittorio Emanuele II could be easily forgiven for strolling past, without realizing the 7000 capacity Roman theatre lurking mere yards away.

Located between Worcester and Springfield, much of Central Massachusetts is marked by rolling hills, river valleys, and deep wilderness. Filled with farmland and small scenic towns, it’s a completely different atmosphere compared to the urban bustle of the eastern part of the state. Although quiet and peaceful today, over 350 years ago, the area around Brookfield was the site of a fierce battle. One of the earliest in a devastating conflict which would profoundly shape American history but has almost been completely forgotten by the passage of time. 

When Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoag Confederacy and Governor John Carver of the Plymouth Colony signed a mutual peace treaty in 1621, the European settlers and the Indigenous community were able to coexist for over 50 years. However, by the 1670s, tensions had been building for decades and were reaching a boiling point. English colonists were expanding rapidly, and numerous aspects of the peace treaty were being violated repeatedly by the settlers. After three Wampanoag men were executed by Plymouth Colony officials in 1675, the son of Chief Massasoit, Metacomet known as "King Philip" by the English, gathered a coalition of tribes to resist European expansion and war began after a native attack on Swansea, Massachusetts on June 24, 1675. 

Soon after many villages and settlements across Massachusetts were being raided with colonial militias launching counterattacks. One of the first English settlers in central Massachusetts near Worcester was Ephraim Curtis, who spoke the local languages and was very familiar with native diplomacy. He had to leave the area once hostilities broke out, and later commissioned as a Lieutenant by the colonial government and dispatched to get assurances of loyalty from the Nipmuc tribes. Curtis met with Chief Muttawmp but unbeknownst to Curtis, the Nipmuc had already joined Metacomet, but Muttawmp feigned an alliance and friendship. Muttawmp promised to show himself in Boston for negotiations, but the colonial government didn't believe him and instead dispatched Captain Edward Hutchinson, Captain Thomas Wheeler, around 30 mounted militia, and a handful of Christian Praying Indian scouts from Natick to force terms on Muttawmp directly. 

On August 2, 1675, as the group got closer, they discovered numerous abandoned Nipmuc villages, and the native guides from Natick advised turning back, but the militia pressed onwards. Soon after, Muttawmp's warriors ambushed them with bows and guns killing eight militia members and wounding many including both Wheeler and Hutchinson with the latter succumbing to his injuries a couple weeks later. The colonial forces were completely disorganised, unable to retreat or return fire and would've been wiped out completely if not for the Natick scouts who were able to guide them to safety. 

Once out of immediate danger, the surviving militia members retreated to Brookfield and the Quabaug Plantation where Nipmuc warriors laid siege to the small, isolated village. The militia joined with the residents to fortify the defences and in total around 80 people were trapped. The house of Sergeant John Ayers who had been killed in the ambush was the largest building in the village so that became the headquarters for the colonial defenders. Muttawmp's men tried to break the siege multiple times including lighting a wagon filled with dry hay on fire and pushing it towards to the house to burn it down. On August 4, the chief military officer of Middlesex County, Simon Willard, arrived with around 48 troops and multiple Mohegan allies lifting the siege and relieving the defenders. Muttawmp's warriors retreated and set up an encampment nearby which was later joined by Metacomet and his troops who rewarded the Nipmuc chief. 

The Siege of Brookfield was one of the earliest battles in King Philip's War which would absolutely devastate New England with dozens of settlements and villages destroyed and pushed many of the indigenous tribes to the brink of extinction. Today, the memory and history of this brutal conflict have been almost completely forgotten, but remnants and echoes can still be found by those who know where to look. Along West Road in New Braintree, MA, a stone marker can be found describing the initial ambush in the approximate area where historians believe it occurred. It reads,  

“Somewhere within a half mile, along the base of this hill, Capt. Edward Hutchison, and his company, were attacked by Indians, lying in ambush, Aug. 2, 1675, and he and more than one half his men, slain or wounded”. 

On Hardwick Road east of Winimusset Brook is another stone marker which indicates the location where Metacomet and Muttawmp had their campsite which reads, "Site of King Philip’s Camp, August 1675.” 

Although it may not look like much and most people probably don't realise it exists, these stone markers are one of the few remnants left of a chapter in Massachusetts history that has fallen into the pages of obscurity. If you have an interest in the history of King Philip's War, it's definitely worth taking a look if you're in the area.

The Pont Mac-Racken crosses the Mayenne river, in the town of Mayenne, itself in Mayenne, France - because apparently, once you find a good name, why stop at one use.

Beyond the naming overkill, the bridge itself has gone through more names than most bridges manage in a lifetime. Construction started in May 1824 and wrapped up a decade later in 1834, and for a while it was simply the Pont Ambroise-de-Loré. Then it became the Pont d'Orléans, then the Petit Pont, then the Caisse d'Épargne bridge, drifting through identities the way old bridges sometimes do when nobody's quite sure what to call them.

 It's the last name that stuck, and it comes with a story worth knowing before you cross it. On the night of August 5, 1944, as German forces retreated from Mayenne, they packed the bridge with 125 explosive charges, intent on blowing it before the advancing Americans could use it. Sergeant James Dougal MacRacken, of the 315th Engineer Combat Battalion, 90th Infantry Division, went in and defused them. He didn't survive the operation, but the bridge did, letting his division cross the river and take the town's left bank that same day.

 Two years later, on August 5, 1946, the town put up a plaque on the bridge itself, in French, roughly translating to: "Here, to save this bridge, James Mac Racken of the 315th Bn., USA, sacrificed himself on August 5, 1944." It's a small, easy-to-miss marker on a stone bridge that otherwise looks like dozens of others across provincial France, which is sort of the point: nothing about it screams battlefield, and that quiet is exactly what makes the story land when you read it standing there.

You can now find exciting and unique events around the world on Atlas Obscura in Amsterdam, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York City, Paris, Prague, Rome, San Francisco, Seattle, Tokyo, and ​Washington, D.C.!

From quirky festivals and behind the scenes museum tours to food experiences, performances, lectures, and seasonal celebrations, AO’s new Events listings help people find experiences that are as unexpected as the places themselves.

The feature debuts in 14 cities, with plans to expand to additional destinations over time.

For nearly two decades, Atlas Obscura has inspired millions of people to explore hidden wonders through its community driven database of remarkable places and award winning storytelling. With the addition of Events, that spirit of discovery now extends beyond destinations to experiences happening every day around the world.

In Wisconsin's Northwoods, nobody ever went "to the cabin" — they went to the camp, whether that meant a canvas tent, a camper, or the family cottage on the lake. A resort on North Twin Lake has turned that whole tradition into America's first living history museum of camping — a museum where the exhibits have beds, and guests are encouraged to sleep in them.

The collection spans a century, one decade per unit: two Prohibition-era luxury tents named for Al Capone and John Dillinger, who genuinely vacationed (and hid) in these woods — Dillinger's famous FBI shootout happened one lake chain over. The oldest known surviving Jim Dandy camper, hand-built by a couple on a Model T chassis, still has their itemized build receipt hanging inside.

There's a 1952 Lighthouse Double Decker — one of only eight left in existence, complete with patented central staircase and a martini-ready lower deck — and a gleaming 1965 Airstream.

Every cabin on the property carries its own exhibit on the Northwoods family vacation, and a central hall holds nearly two hundred artifacts, from a still-working 1960s crockpot to twenty-foot timeline banners tracing camping from canvas to glamping.

The commitment runs to the details: every unit comes with cocktail and recipe cards researched from primary sources for its decade, so visitors can eat and drink like 1952 before falling asleep in it. The exhibit hall is free to walk on weekends; the rest of the museum rents by the night.

This (more gray than) "black tower" is part of a whole series of picturesque viewpoints constructed in and around the small town Mödling commissioned by Johann I., Prince of Liechtenstein.

It was built in 1809 and 1810 according to the plans of the architect Joseph Hardtmuth. 

It was most likely originally intended as an observation tower and was later also used as a forester’s residence.

From here you can see over Mödling and the Vienna Basin. 

The museum has over 100 video game consoles on display. Dating from the 1970s, when video games were in their baby shoes, all the way to the early 2000s where we can see how much these games have grown, just like how you have done over the years.

There is also an interactive section where you can get hands on with and play with many of the systems.

Most visitors experience Saint Agatha in February, when hundreds of thousands of people flood Catania's streets for one of Europe's largest religious festivals. Hidden beside the cathedral, however, is the place where the city's devotion quietly waits for the rest of the year.

The Museo d'Arte Sacra is less an art museum than a journey through the objects that have shaped Catania's religious identity for centuries. Rooms filled with silver reliquaries, sculpted saints, icons, paintings, liturgical treasures, and elaborate ceremonial objects reveal how deeply the story of Saint Agatha is woven into the city's history. Among the highlights is the magnificent silver fercolo used during the annual procession, allowing visitors to admire its craftsmanship from only a few feet away—something impossible during the crowded festival itself.

One of the museum's greatest surprises is its atmosphere. Even in the heart of Catania, the galleries are remarkably quiet. Some rooms feel almost theatrical, while others resemble forgotten church treasuries where extraordinary objects have simply been waiting to be rediscovered. Rather than presenting sacred art as distant history, the museum reveals it as something that still shapes everyday life in Sicily.

The visit ends with panoramic terraces overlooking Piazza del Duomo, Porta Uzeda, the rooftops of Catania, and Mount Etna. After exploring the objects that define the city's most important traditions, the view offers a fitting reminder that these centuries-old rituals are still very much part of the landscape below.

Towering high beside the Border Village Roadhouse, situated on the edge of the Nullarbor Plain is Rooey II. This large kangaroo sculpture is one of many 'Big Things', found around Australia as something of an unofficial national tradition. Rooey II sits in South Australia, only metres away from the Western Australia border. It holds a tub of Vegemite, a savoury spread popular with local Australians. 

In 1987, the sailing event the America's Cup was being held in Perth, and the owners of the roadhouse decided to build something to attract passers-by to stop to use their services. The sculpture was designed by Bill Metherel and local legend tells a story of the naming going to a competition, where the name Rooey was chosen. Unfortunately this name was already taken as the nickname of one of the roadhouse owners so the statue got the name Rooey II.

Tenerife is a versatile island with beautiful nature, lively party locations, state-of-the-art telescopes, and amazing beaches. Most tourists stay on land or close to it, some go off shore to watch whales or dolphins, but unbeknownst to most some also go under the sea in a submarine.

Submarine safari is a local company running one of the few submarines open to the public. These subs started production in the 90s with the factory being in Finland, with the first being launched in Lanzarote. Several years later, one was brought to Tenerife and operations began in 2007. 

The sub can hold over 40 people and dive up to 100 meters deep, although they never go deeper than 30 with civilians on board. 

A tour on board goes past several shipwrecks, and lively rock wall filled with different maritine life. There are also several manta rays that stay close to the ship as they enjoy playing with the bubbles of the divers and getting belly rubs. 

The Canary Islands are celebrated for their volcanic landscapes, lush forests, and dramatic Atlantic coastline—not for bullfighting. Unlike much of mainland Spain, the tradition never gained deep roots in the archipelago. That makes the story of José Mata all the more remarkable. Born in the small village of Las Tricias on the island of La Palma, Mata became the only Canarian matador to achieve lasting national prominence. For a brief period during the 1960s and early 1970s, “El Canario” was among the most recognized figures in Spanish bullfighting.

His path to fame was anything but conventional. Like many islanders seeking opportunity abroad, Mata emigrated to Venezuela, where he worked various jobs and even appeared on television before discovering his calling in the bullring. Returning to Spain, he advanced steadily through the profession’s ranks. In 1965 he received the alternative from the legendary Manuel Benítez “El Cordobés” and later confirmed it at Madrid’s prestigious Las Ventas arena. While many of his contemporaries relied on spectacle, Mata earned respect as a refined and classical stylist, renowned for the precision and elegance of his final sword thrust.

His career ended tragically on July 25, 1971, when he was gored during a corrida in Villanueva de los Infantes. Complications caused by inadequate medical facilities and delayed treatment proved fatal, and he died two days later at the age of 31. The incident sparked national debate about safety standards in smaller bullrings.

Today, a bronze statue of José Mata stands in Santa Cruz de La Palma, honoring a local boy who rose from a remote Atlantic island to become a legend in one of Spain’s most enduring traditions.

While not very well known in western culture, Admiral Yi Sun-Shin is a major figure in Korean and Asian history.  Admiral Yi’s accomplishments on the battlefield, as a leader and a naval tactician, stymied Japanese efforts to invade Korea in the late 1500s and revolutionized maritime warfare. 

Admiral Yi was born in Seoul, Korea in 1545, to parents of modest means.  While he was a good student, at the age of 22, Yi made the unexpected decision to pursue a military career.  Initially, Yi studied horsemanship, archery, swordsmanship, and military tactics.  At the age of 32, Yi passed the rigorous physical and academic examinations to become an officer in the Korean army.  His first assignment was to an outpost on the northern border of Korea.  Several years later he received his first posting to a naval command in southern Korea (at the age of 36).  Unfortunately, his career took a negative turn after Yi refused to follow his superior’s orders, which he felt were improper/corrupt.  As a result, he was reassigned to a staff position in Seoul.

Not to be deterred, in 1583, Yi accepted a posting on Korea’s northern border to deal with incursions by Manchurian (Jurchens) forces.  It was a long campaign, but Yi distinguished himself in combat, being wounded in several battles, and eventually repelling the enemy.  In 1589, he was re-assigned and took command of the Cheulian Naval Station in Yeosu, Korea.  

The principal maritime threat to Korea at the time was Japanese piracy, which was but a precursor to Japan’s larger ambitions to conquer Korea and eventually China.  At this time, the Korean navy was in a poor state of affairs, with lackluster discipline and morale, minimal training and supplies, and outdated equipment.  Admiral Yi recognized the situation and immediately began to address these deficiencies, while at the same time considering how to address the growing threat from Japan.  

The “Turtle Boat” (or geobukseon) was not a new concept at the time, but Admiral Yi determined it to be critical to the future defense of Korea, so he committed his limited resources into building a fleet of these vessels.  The turtle ships designed by Yi held 11 cannons on each side of the ship, with two at each the stern and the bow.  The sides of the ship had smaller openings for arrows, guns, and mortars to be fired.  The top of the ship was covered with thick planks and spikes.  There were two masts for sail power, but the ship was steered and powered by 20 oars (10 on each side).

Admiral Yi recognized the Japanese navy’s strongest tactic at the time was to board enemy ships and engage in hand-to-hand combat.  With lighter and faster vessels - and fewer cannons - the Japanese relied on speed to engage the enemy.  The Japanese also relied on musket volleys to clear enemy decks in advance of boarding.  The Korean vessels were sturdier and carried a large number of long-range cannons.  The Korean approach - promoted by Admiral Yi - was to maintain distance from the enemy and rely on superior firepower to disable and destroy the enemy vessels, a more modern, distanced type of warfare.  

In less than two years, the Japanese launched their invasion in April 1592, with a force of 160,000 soldiers and 9,000 sailors on about 700 vessels.  The invasion was initially a success for the Japanese, however, Admiral Yi launched a counterattack the following month, with a fleet of 85 vessels, 24 of which were turtle boats.  The Korean forces were able to surprise the Japanese forces and they destroyed most of the fleet, while suffering minimal losses.  During a succession of follow-on battles, Admiral Yi engaged and destroyed additional Japanese forces, culminating in the Battle of Hahsnan.  In this battle, Admiral Yi lured the Japanese fleet into open water and then proceeded to use his superior firepower to destroy over 73 enemy vessels, one of the great naval battles of history.  The victory stopped to Japanese invasion efforts and led to peace talks.   

The peace talks eventually failed, but in the interim, Admiral Yi had fallen into disfavor within the Korean government due to infighting, political intrigue, and his unwillingness to compromise with incompetent and corrupt leaders.  The Japanese took advantage of Admiral Yi’s departure and rebuilt their fleet and military forces, and in January 1597, they launched another invasion.  After some initial successes, the Korean government brought Admiral Yi back into service as the Supreme Naval Commander.  Despite having a limited number of ships and sailors, Admiral Yi was once again able to restore discipline and confidence, and by 1598, the Japanese invasion force had been largely destroyed and the remnants retreated to Japan.  During the Battle of Noryang in November 1598, Admiral Yi was fatally struck by a bullet, which he kept hidden from his sailors until victory was assured.  Japan did not invade Korea again for over 300 years (1910).

While commonly celebrated as one of the greatest naval commanders in history, Admiral Yi’s brilliance extended beyond his mastery of topography, tides, weather, and tactics.  He was also a charismatic leader, who was able maintain his soldier’s morale despite trying circumstances and frequently demonstrated his loyalty to his soldiers and Korean civilians.  Among naval historians, Admiral Yi has been compared to Lord Horatio Nelson of the British Royal Navy, and Japan’s World War II Admiral Heihachiro Togo once refused any comparisons between him and Admiral Yi, saying Admiral Yi “had no equal.” 

The statue and replica boat are located in the parking lot of a large premier Korean day spa that opened in 2021.  The spa offers a traditional Korean spa (jimjilbang) experience with saunas, body scrubs, a restaurant, and a roof top hydrotherapy pool.

If you’re looking to liven up your weekend plans, we’ve got you covered, with unique event listings around the world.

Find more exciting events in Amsterdam, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York City, Paris, Prague, Rome, San Francisco, Seattle, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C.

Flevopark becomes an unlikely stage for the unconventional when No Art Festival takes over the Amsterdam green space with a lineup of boundary-pushing performances and pioneering sounds. Hosted by the independent No Art label, this is less a party and more a curated provocation, designed to challenge what art and music can be when freed from traditional constraints.

Each summer, Chicago's Chinatown Summer Fair comes alive with one of the city's most spirited street celebrations, drawing over 40,000 visitors into the heart of a neighborhood with deep cultural roots. Lion dance processions wind through the streets, kung fu demonstrations command attention, and stage performances offer a window into living traditions that stretch back generations.

Each summer during Seattle’s Seafair Weekend, the waters of the Pacific Northwest transform into a roaring arena where hydroplane racers push the limits of speed and engineering, drawing crowds to the shores of Lake Washington for one of the region's most beloved annual gatherings. Seafair Weekend is a multi-day spectacle that layers thundering boat races with breathtaking aerial performances, waterfront activities, and a festive atmosphere that has defined Seattle summers for generations. Beyond the adrenaline of the races and airshows, the event unfolds as a living portrait of Pacific Northwest culture, where locals and first-time visitors alike find themselves swept up in something that feels genuinely irreplaceable.

Otakon is a major annual celebration of Asian pop culture, anime, and music, drawing thousands of fans to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Attendees can immerse themselves in a dynamic atmosphere filled with cosplay, panels, concerts, and a bustling dealer’s hall. The event is known for its diverse programming, special guest appearances, and opportunities to connect with fellow enthusiasts from around the world.

Along the Meguro River in Nakameguro, the Washu Festival transforms one of Tokyo's most beloved springtime settings into a celebration of Japanese sake culture. Thousands of visitors gather each year to sample offerings from renowned breweries, with the blooming sakura overhead lending the event an almost otherworldly atmosphere. Stage performances and the warmth of Japanese hospitality round out an experience that goes far beyond a simple tasting.

During the construction of the Panama Canal hundreds of thousands of workers were imported from Jamaica and other Caribbean islands and were settled in tenement housing on the outskirts of Panama City.

Each house was constructed as small as possible, often no more than a wooden shack raised on posts to keep the insects out, with communal bathrooms and a zinc roof. It was in one of these tenement neighbourhoods, known then as Guachapalí, today as El Marañón, that canal workers constructed the Cristian Mission Chapel in their off hours, from 1909-1910.

Countless church services, weddings, funerals and baptisms were performed there, and those worshiping inside would have experienced and withstood the post-canal deportation schemes, denials of citizenship, and attempts at cultural erasure imposed on their community, as well as the eventual governmental recognition of their rights and way of life.

Tuam Railway Station opened in 1860 as part of the Waterford, Limerick and Western Railway, becoming one of the most important railway hubs in the west of Ireland.

Passenger services ended in 1976 as part of a nationwide rationalisation of the railway network, although freight trains continued to use the station until 1993.

Since then, the station has stood largely abandoned, with its Victorian buildings gradually falling into disrepair. Despite this, many original features—including the distinctive wrought-iron lattice footbridge, platform canopies, goods facilities, and water tower—still survive, making Tuam one of Ireland's most complete surviving historic railway stations.

There have been proposals to restore the railway as part of the Western Rail Corridor, but the station remains closed today. 

The medieval practice of strip forming is similar to the "strip cropping" practices carried out in some midwestern states of the USA, except that the origins come from a need to equitably divide land resources around a settlement (strictly managed by the lord of the manor and his officials) rather than having the specific aim of soil conservation and crop management which seems to drive strip cropping in the USA.

Medieval strip farming did achieve such aims but it was secondary to the resource allocation issue during the feudal medieval period. In England, the evidence of the strip farming (also called open field farming) having taken place over long periods of time, in the past, is very common.

As farmers were allocated long narrow strips of land, in various parts of an open field system (to ensure fair distribution of soil types) the land would be ploughed in such a way that soil would pile up to form a ridge at the centre of a ploughed strip and lower lying furrows at either side. When such arable holdings were put over to permanent pasture the "scars" of the practices were left behind in the form of alternating ridges and furrows that persist throughout the year.

In the UK this farming system has largely died out except in a few localised places but the ridges and furrows of old practices are common.

The two places in England which practice open field strip farming in its most authentic sense are Laxton in Nottinghamshire (which still has its own manorial court to administer it) and Braunton in N Devon. In Wales the practice carries on only at the village of Laugharne.

The survival of the practice around Haxey on the isle of Axholme is less well known. It stems from the fact that until the surrounding marshland was drained, by Vermuyden in the 17th century, the isle of Axholme  really was an island of dry land surrounded by water (at least for for much of the year). The intermittantly wet lands could be used for pasture but for crops the higher land on the island was at a premium.

When drainage took place and large enclosed fields became the agricultural method of choice in the drained areas (because individuals now owned large tracts of land) the former dry, island, parts of the district retrained the original system. There is a possibility that around Haxey this was encouraged by the need to have a sufficient area of commonly held land to allow the annual historic proto-football game, the Haxey Hood, to take place. Over the years, land ownership on the "island" has changed considerably and the areas where strip forming persists has gradually reduced. The practice is, however, common enough for the local authority to have designated a cycling route in the area to reveal the extent of strip farming on the island.

Built in 1863 by a small group of German-speaking Jewish families, this Romanesque Revival structure has served many roles over the decades, including a sanctuary, a dentist's office, and a campaign headquarters.

When threatened with demolition in 1971, the community rallied to save it, famously rolling the 200-ton building through the streets to its current lakefront home in James Madison Park, where it now serves as a cherished public venue for weddings and community events. 

The synagogue was originally commissioned by a small congregation of 17 German-speaking Jewish families. Over the decades, the building has served a surprising variety of uses, including: 

• A First Unitarian Society meeting space
• The headquarters for the Women's Christian Temperance Union
• A funeral home and a dentist's office
• A government records warehouse during World War II

Designed by German immigrant architect August Kutzbock, the building is a notable example of Rundbogenstil, a 19th-century German variant of Romanesque Revival architecture. Its distinctive features include:

• Rounded arches and decorative parapets
• A prominent circular window centered in the gabled front
• A striking interior ceiling originally painted blue with silver stars

The Kingdom of Fife has a rich mining history, but nowadays, most of it is gone. The concrete frame of the No 2 Pit at Mary Colliery, informally known as "Big Mary" (to differentiate from "Wee Mary", a nearby competitor), remains one of only two reminders of the coal mines in this area, standing 80 foot high.

Adjacent to the structure is a small outdoor exhibit which showcases equipment from the time, such as coal-cutters, hydraulic roof supports, and carts (both for coal and for miners) that were used in the pit. The 'cage' that lowered miners into the pit is also displayed.

Additionally, there is a preserved locomotive steam engine, Andrew Barclay Works No 2259 No 30 0-4-0ST, present which can be explorer. It is typical of the National Coal Board engines that were used in collieries like this.

A noticeboard nearby also details the known deaths and injuries that occurred during the operation of the pit, sourced from historic newspapers, of which there were sadly many.

At the edge of the forest in Altadena, a payphone.

Not just any payphone, a working payphone.

 A relic like this would be easy to miss anywhere in Los Angeles. But here, at the edge of the Angeles National Forest, she stands out, a metal box of human nostalgia set against brush and trees.

Emergency-minded—intended for people coming on and off the rugged trail—it’s become a beloved part of the local landscape over time; the kind of object people notice, photograph, and review online (yes, it has Google reviews).

But look closer and there’s something else: a sticker inviting visitors to say goodbye.

This is The Goodbye Line, a guerrilla, participatory art project and human archive created by Adam Trunell and Alexis Wood. The project uses working payphones as physical portals where strangers can leave the goodbyes they never got to say.

Some calls are for loved ones. Some are for former selves. Some are for pets, dreams, places, or strangers who left before anything could be said. 

The line does not answer back. It just listens.

 The project has since overtaken payphones across the world, but the Altadena phone was its first. A place where a throwaway hunk of human interaction became something softer and stranger: a portal to our deepest humanity. 

If you find yourself at the edge of the forest with a lingering goodbye, pick up the phone and leave it there.

The fuel tank mural at Palmer Station is one of the most recognizable landmarks at this remote Antarctic research base. Painted on the station’s large fuel tank, the mural features a leaping orca and adds a unique piece of public art to the otherwise industrial scenery. Visible from the water as ships approach the station, it has become a familiar symbol of Palmer Station for residents and visitors alike.

The mural stands out against the surrounding Antarctic landscape and serves as a reminder that even in one of the world’s most isolated workplaces, people bring creativity and personality to their surroundings.

Set on one of the best streets in Washington, DC, this neighborhood gem has the perfect mix of an impressive film selection and delicious cocktails. Affordable tickets to see a big variety of movies screened almost daily make this spot worth visiting. 

Independently run, the owner David Cabrera shows films he likes that range in topic, format, and style.

The place is decorated with some nods to movies such as the zebra wallpaper behind the bar (Margot Tenenbaum from “The Royal Tenenbaums”), geometric carpeting in the hallway (“The Shining”), and flamingo wallpaper in the bathroom (Pink Flamingos”).

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Isaac "Ike" Towell was born on November 25, 1849 and died, by suicide, on February 22, 1934 at the age of 83 in Columbus, Texas.  

Ike was the city marshal of Columbus in 1885 and a lifelong "infidel".  He was known as a man of unwavering principals and had many friends near and far.  An outspoken atheist, he was recognized for his uncompromising honesty, his opposition to alcohol and tobacco, and his fearless, courageous nature. 

About a year before his death, he arranged for a headstone to be placed at his future gravesite.  A few days before he passed away, he purchased his own coffin and left detailed instructions regarding his funeral arrangements.  The service consisted of a final message written by Mr. Towell and was directed to be read by someone "not afraid that lightening would strike during the service".

Over 100 people were present at his service to hear the following message:

"Especially do I want to impress the fact upon the people that one child was born, passed through the years of youth, grew to manhood, lived a tolerably respectable life, reached old age, died and could be buried without the assistance of the clergy."

"It is my will and I so direct that my funeral be the cheapest possible. I do not hold with carrying a person from county to county for the sole purpose of burial.

"My religion consists of doing right and loving justice. I affirm that all men should tell the truth and pay their debts. I do not believe in any God, devil, ghost or savior and I have opposed tobacco, whiskey, gambling, lying and stealing practically all my life. If any one of the clergy ever calls my name after death I insist that he speak the truth about me, a thing I have never known a preacher to do about a dead disbeliever. The clergy have never been able to bribe me with the promise of a beautiful home in a fictitious heaven nor bluff my by their everlasting punishment in a hell of fire and brimstone."

Headstone Inscription:

"HERE RESTS
IKE TOWELL
AN INFIDEL WHO HAD
NO HOPE OF HEAVEN
NOR FEAR OF HELL
WAS FREE OF SUPERSTITION
TO DO RIGHT AND LOVE
JUSTICE WAS HIS RELIGION"

What makes the Serpentello House truly special is its unique artistic character. The façade and many of its decorations are entirely covered with handcrafted ceramic tiles, each one unique and personally designed and created by the owner, Luciano Serpentello, in 1925.

This remarkable attention to detail transforms the house into a true work of art, giving it a distinctive and unforgettable atmosphere.

Non v'è arte né simmetria,
Unico pregio la fantasia.
In pochi anni di mia vita
Da me quest'opera venne compita.
Se non bella è originale
Ed è difficile trovar l'eguale.
Un contadino vi ha posto mano,
Tal Serpentello signor Luciano.

Translated by Google:

No art or symmetry is found here,
Its only merit is imagination.
In but a few years of my life,
I brought this work to completion.
If not beautiful, it is original,
And its equal is hard to find.
A farmer set his hand to it—
Signor Luciano, known as "Serpentello."

As the inscription above suggests, the Serpentello House is often regarded as a "visual encyclopedia" of rural life and the boundless imagination of its creator.

Stepping into Leroy's Place is like stepping through a portal into a whimsical monster world, right in the middle of the Historic French Quarter. A 10 foot tall, hot pink, puppet cat (named Casual Carl) greets you as you walk inside under huge fabric trees. And the surprises don't stop there!

The colorful collection of art is pun-filled, nostalgic, and monster-forward. Highlights include a needle felted ghost holding a "Ghost" VHS tape (Rachel Eaton), a colorful sculpture of a "Blub" with an eyeball and a butt (Quinn Curtin), and a gorgeous knit artwork of a pineapple with muscles ( "Pineapple Hunk" by Kate Jenkins) .

The forced perspective installation, "Ghost TOURtellini" by Jacques Duffourc is an masterful transformation of cardboard, and is worth a visit in itself. And did we mention the trees can talk ?!

The rotating collection of handmade art and gifts range in price from funky souvenirs to art for your walls, so there is truly something for everyone in this delightfully quirky store. It feels like a toy store for grown-ups !

On the corner of Traction Avenue and 4th Place in Los Angeles’s Arts District sits a gray utility box. Big deal, right?

Actually, yes.

Measuring roughly six feet tall and three feet deep, the city street cabinet is not that at all, even in the slightest—it’s the creation of Downtown LA artist S.C. Mero, and it’s (not literally, but still) electric.

Welcome to the home of the Electrical Box Theatre, possibly the smallest performance space in all of Los Angeles, if not the world. No tickets, seats, nor guest lists. The show starts when the door opens.

By day, it’s a forgotten piece of urban nothing; at night, with its door open to a typically unsuspecting audience, the box becomes a hub for artists and performers, and all the street’s a stage.

“Not to be corny,” Mero says, “but you just don’t know what’s in something unless you look inside it. A person, or even ourselves. I think there’s kind of a beautiful message in that.”

Inside, the theater’s lined with velvet wallpaper and theatrical details, including a clock and photos of the theater itself (even a fake utility box in Los Angeles needs headshots).

Mero is known for public art that transforms overlooked parts of the city into moments of surprise. Some of it’s impossible to miss (like a 13-foot tall mailbox); others, like the Electrical Box Theatre, reward curiosity.

Since opening, it has hosted neighborhood musicians, a clown, a mime, burlesque performances, and even a vampire with a banjo. Performers coordinate with Mero in advance and receive access instructions on the day of their show.

At its street-smart historic corner, the theater also takes a bow to the Arts District’s storied lineage of art and artists, who have long called this block home before slowly getting pushed out by the churn of city real estate reality.

And that’s part of the magic: how temporary it all feels, and the discovery that lives therein. Claiming a piece of the city back for the people, Mero has devoted this patch of sidewalk to the artists who make all things beautiful last.

When driving around a country you will find signs telling you the distance to surrounding places. People use these signs without much thought, but of course such a measurement needs to be based on something. In the case of Osaka, it is a shiny golden pin.

The Datum was installed in 1922 after the installation of the 1919 road act. It was at the start and end of seven national roads. The current marker dates back to 1957, but its granite plate dates back all the way to 1919.