Places Edited by Eric Grundhauser

One man's dream has turned into this naturally growing chapel made of almost nothing but trees.

This wooden recreation of a 9th century lake village looks as though it was built yesterday (which it relatively was).

A rancher expanding a natural spring for his cattle came up with bones – lots and lots of them.

Hide from the tourist hordes in these relatively unknown, and unguarded lava caves.

This disused boat elevator was saved from the scrap heap so that visitors could tour its rusting skeleton.

This humble star-gazing center touts itself as the "Birthplace of American Astronomy."

An unphotographable nightly march of tens of thousands of "fairy penguins" from sea to shore.

This churchyard arbor is surrounded by hundreds of gravestones placed there by author Thomas Hardy.

The largest man-made crater in the U.S. marks the spot where we once tested mining with nukes.

This historic cliffside mansion uses a natural cave for air conditioning.

A private museum dedicated to preserving the heritage of Mardi Gras' most beloved underdog parades, open by appointment.

Museum mostly in name, and only a restaurant depending on the day, this place could only exist in Marfa.

The remains of Alfred Nobel's first nitroglycerine factory can still be found on the shores of a Swedish bay.

This wonky bit of historical taxidermy is experiencing a second life online.

To gaze upon the visage of Sri Lanka's biggest Buddha, one must first pass through the Tunnel of Hell.

This castle-fortress is a living example of the transition from medieval defenses to modern fortifications.

Charleston's historic city jail once held everyone from pirates to Civil War POWs.

A sanctuary for sickly, stray, or wounded donkeys.

The world is full of swimming holes, but few compare to Samoa’s idyllic To Sua ocean trench.

Once the private home of China’s most legendary tycoon, getting inside this stunning mansion no longer requires an elite pedigree or acts of daring.

The oldest amusement park in the world has been providing a nice spot to have some fun since the 1500s.

A patch of Philippines forest devoted to saving the lives of an emotionally sensitive species of googly-eyed primates.

Despite being burnt down multiple times, the ruins of this South Carolina church are still standing.

Enter the world under the hill at this ancient UK burial chamber.