Places beaugunderson Wants to Go

Nationwide network of co-ownership underground catastrophe shelters.

A desert ghost town—occupied for only 12 years—was once home to more than 500 silver mines.

Tiny historical streetcars wind through a small scale version of Crescent City in this whimsical train garden.

This New Orleans tree is filled with hidden chimes that produce a carefully tuned melody.

A theme park that suffered massive flooding during Katrina was abandoned, and now proves irresistible to trespassing explorers.

Once the site of a Native American harvest festival, this humble clearing later played an invaluable role in the birth of jazz.

This strange example of the Egyptian Revival architecture trend now holds Mardi Gras floats.

The first patented shaved-ice machine heralded a snowy wonderland of iced treats at a favorite New Orleans summer shack.

This Birdsill Holly fire hydrant is the remnant of a very different type of hydration innovation.

Shop for books in the New Orleans house where William Faulkner once lived.

Continuing the tradition of the dime museum in style.

A high-octane shrine to the greatest Texans who ever lived.

This simple frog painting created by musician Daniel Johnston embodies the spirit of Austin.

This eclectic Austin curiosity shop is home to all things strange and unusual.

A store full of vintage and indie toys designed to bring out the kid in even the crustiest of adults.

Free public park and gardens filled with peacocks and peahens.

DIY collection of eclectic holdings.

One part antique store, one part curiosities hodge-podge.

This unique structure in suburban Austin is made up entirely of other people's castaways, and constantly changing.

This stone windmill marks an old, mysterious homestead in what is now central Austin.

Home to the largest urban bat colony in North America, estimated at 1.5 million bats.

Not everything is bigger in Texas.

A little stop along the Texas highway where Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean stayed while shooting the 1955 film "Giant."

With print dying, this local paper keeps the lights on by doubling as a stunning cafe and cocktail bar.