Places Ausoleil Wants to Go

Strange beasts lurking in a garden are all that remain of a quirky, short-lived theme park.

A cabin completely covered in coffee mugs, where visitors are welcome to leave one of their own—if they can find an empty nail.

The lesser-known lost colony of Roanoke was a safe haven for formerly enslaved people during the Civil War.

North Carolina's only restored fort from the French and Indian War.

This handcrafted, old western-style town is filled with deserted cars, retired movie props, and other forms of Americana.

The scene of the largest surrender of Confederate troops at the end of the American Civil War.

This winding road of 318 curves is a must-visit for (careful) motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts.

Cherokee alphabet, proof of ancient North American Jews, or just a hoax?

A sign marks the plane crash that caused two nuclear bombs to fall in North Carolina.

The Cadillac Ranch for monster truck aficionados.

The final resting place of the hundreds of bodies originally buried where Badin Lake sits now.

This 5-by-6-foot wooden hut is the smallest historic post office in the U.S.

The humble horn finally finds a place in the sun.

Perhaps the oldest vine in North America, this sprawling plant helps make a sweet wine.

This shifting North Carolina sand dune is an odd little desert surrounded by oceanic forest life.

Beautiful Gothic-inspired lighthouse stands out among the run-of-the-mill striped fare on Bodies Island.

A folk art mecca famous among outsider art fans.

The wooden house where the jazz great learned to play the piano.

A giant cat slowly prowls the parking lot of Zebulon's car dealerships.