Atlas Obscura's Ecliptic Festival - April 5-8, 2024 - Hot Springs, Arkansas

Buy Tickets
All United States

The Atlas Obscura Guide To United States

10,859 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in the United States

Updated February 19, 2024

America is ancient and new, constantly remade and reimagined, and there are unsung, overlooked treasures everywhere, From natural wonders that boggle the mind, to visionary art projects in the middle of nowhere, to historical gems nestled in urban areas, Atlas Obscura can help you plan your next road trip or visit to a city. You might even find something surprising right around the corner.

Email

States & Territories

Top States
All States & Territories
  1. Alabama
  2. Alaska
  3. Arizona
  4. Arkansas
  5. California
  6. Colorado
  7. Connecticut
  8. Delaware
  9. Florida
  10. Georgia
  11. Guam
  12. Hawaii
  13. Idaho
  14. Illinois
  15. Indiana
  16. Iowa
  17. Kansas
  18. Kentucky
  19. Louisiana
  20. Maine
  21. Maryland
  22. Massachusetts
  23. Michigan
  24. Minnesota
  25. Mississippi
  26. Missouri
  27. Montana
  28. Nebraska
  29. Nevada
  30. New Hampshire
  31. New Jersey
  32. New Mexico
  33. New York
  34. North Carolina
  35. North Dakota
  36. Northern Mariana Islands
  37. Ohio
  38. Oklahoma
  39. Oregon
  40. Pennsylvania
  41. Puerto Rico
  42. Rhode Island
  43. South Carolina
  44. South Dakota
  45. Tennessee
  46. Texas
  47. The U.S. Virgin Islands
  48. Utah
  49. Vermont
  50. Virginia
  51. Washington
  52. Washington, D.C.
  53. West Virginia
  54. Wisconsin
  55. Wyoming
  56. The United States

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

9 Places Near Las Vegas For a Different Kind of Tailgate

Sponsored by Travel Nevada

While Las Vegas is known for its glitzy neon signs, buzzing clubs and nightlife, and over-the-top casinos, the region itself is also home to some wondrous bars and eateries that lie well beyond the crowded Strip. This Super Bowl season, it’s time to engage in a new type of tailgate. From a stripmall world of tiki to a downhome diner where daily specials are part of the allure, here are 9 places that offer a culinary escape from the bright lights of Nevada’s most iconic city.

View Itinerary

Unusual Attractions in United States

See All 10,859 Things To Do in United States

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in United States

See all 10 Places to Eat in United States
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore the United States

History 886
Museums And Collections 773
Art 667
Architectural Oddities 654
History & Culture 629
Collections 562
Animals 530
Statues 489

The United States Leaderboard

Recent United States Activity

Stories About the United States

The data from every state forms a map of the U.S.

A Map of Which States People Want to Stay In, Move To, or Leave

The population data of locals versus new comers is more easy to see than ever.
by Frank Jacobs, Big Think
Does the early bird actually get the worm?

Most States Start School Too Early in the Morning

This map shows which parts of the U.S. ignore the science.
by Frank Jacobs, Big Think
A rare counter-example to the flood of Temperance maps.

This Prohibition-Era Map Is a Love Letter to Alcohol

See dozens of 1920s cocktails from a time when alcohol was illegal in the U.S.
by Frank Jacobs, Big Think
Frivolity is the mother of invention.

Toilet Brushes Are Partly to Thank for Artificial Christmas Trees

And other strange evergreen decor evolutions, from retro-kitsch to glow-in-the-dark.
by Kathy Adams
Midwestern nice? Southern charm? Grumpy New England?

Your Personality Depends on Which U.S. State You Live In

A map of confidence and kindness from California to New York.
by Frank Jacobs, Big Think

Which States Have the Most Dead Presidents?

The answer reveals grave robbing problems for America’s deceased leaders.
by Frank Jacobs, Big Think
This is not exactly how most animals react to an eclipse.

Six Stories to Illuminate the Upcoming 'Ring of Fire' Eclipse

The annular eclipse will make its way across the Western Hemisphere on October 14.
by April White
The plains states might have been just about the only thing left to the United States.

This Map Shows a Divided and Conquered USA If America Had Lost WWII

Which parts of the East Coast and California might Germany and Japan have claimed?
by Frank Jacobs, Big Think

Lists Featuring the United States

The Capitol Records building.
The newly named alleyway.
Cahuenga Building
Museum of Death

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Curious Travelers

11

Including Capitol Records Building Morse Code, Chaplin Keaton Lloyd Alley, and Cahuenga Building

World Famous Giant Shoe Museum
Gum Wall window ledge
The giant sequoia.

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near Pike Place for Curious Travelers

11

Including World Famous Giant Shoe Museum, Psychic Chicken of Seattle , and Gum Wall

View to Marshall Street from Creek Square.

The 11 Most Interesting Places to Visit Near Faneuil Hall

11

Including AHAC Headquarters, Faneuil Hall Weathervane, and Creek Square

Courtyard monument.
Flamingos on Flamingo Island
The High Roller

The 11 Most Unusual Places to Visit Near the Las Vegas Strip

11

Including Bugsy Siegel Monument , Flamingo Habitat, and High Roller

Book Corner.
The Final Cross
Edward Dean Adams Power Station
Clifton Hill

The 11 Best Places to Visit Near Niagara Falls for Curious Travelers

11

Including Book Corner, Prophet Isaiah's Second Coming House, and Edward Dean Adams Power Plant

Conjurer Jason England teaches a card trick.
Keen's Steakhouse
The New York Herald Monument.

The 11 Best Things to do Near the Empire State Building for Curious Travelers

11

Including Tannen's Magic Shop, The Conjuring Arts Research Center, and Keen's Steakhouse

A standard photo op involves thrusting your candy into the snow.

Ski or Hike Your Way to These 6 Adventurous Treats

Dry martinis are best served in the middle of a snowy forest.

6

Including Ski-Slope Tree Martinis, Bilberry Soup, and Flämmli

Thor's Well.
Paint Mines Interpretive Park
The lake (2)
Horsetail Falls.

Jessica Mendoza's 16 Watery Wonders of the Western United States

Sponsored by Land Rover
16

Including Thor's Well, Paint Mines Interpretive Park, and Hanging Lake

Ice cream cone from the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.
Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum
A perfect place for cocktails.

Tim Howard's 11 Music and Food Destinations to Fuel the Soul

Sponsored by Land Rover
11

Including Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum, and Radio City Music Hall's Secret Apartment

The "pet ham" is 119 years old.

Bog Butter, Ancient Beef, and Other Remarkably Old Foods on Display in Museums

Some of these foods are centuries past their expiration dates.

6

Including Ancient Bog Butter, Preserved Victorian Wedding Cake, and World’s Oldest Edible Ham

9 Places to Pay Homage to the All-American Hot Dog

Float to a riverside stand for a frank or visit a Coney Island trailblazer's tomb.

9

Including The Famous River Hot Dog Man, Jimmy Carter's Hot Dog Bun, and Charles Feltman's Tomb

The orange roof is still shining, with the iconic weathervane standing tall.
1950s Brown Derby on Wilshire Boulevard.

6 Relics of Forgotten Fast-Food Dynasties

These retro remnants are the last of their kind.

6

Including The Last Howard Johnson's, The Last Yogi Bear Honey Fried Chicken Restaurant, and Brown Derby

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More