Kyoto, Japan
Kiyomizu-Dera Temple
A shrine contains nearly 200 statues of the Buddhist deity Jizo, dressed in bibs by parents who have lost a child.
1484
Places I've been
Places this traveler has marked as been there.
Mahabalipuram, India
Krishna's Butter Ball
This precariously balanced boulder is said to be a hunk of stolen butter dropped by the gods.
Toomsuba, Mississippi
Simmons-Wright Company Store
This historic general store still operates much as it did in the late 1800s.
Oxford, Mississippi
University of Mississippi Marijuana Research Project
This university research project is the U.S. government's weed dealer.
Oxford, Mississippi
Rowan Oak
William Faulkner kept his beloved estate wild and untamed.
Boston, Massachusetts
World's Largest Air-Insulated Van de Graaff Generator
The massive machine creates cracking displays of indoor lightning.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Foucault Pendulum at the Franklin Institute
A daily replay of the experiment that proved the rotation of the Earth.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rocky Statue
Yo, Adrian!
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Cats of Longwood Gardens
These lush botanical gardens employ the most purrfect pest control force.
Badrshein, Egypt
Pyramid of Djoser
This ancient structure is widely thought to be the oldest intact pyramid in the world.
Valladolid, Mexico
Cenote Zací
If you can look past the nearby sewer pipes, this urban sinkhole grotto is a mini-paradise.
Dzitnup, Mexico
Cenote Xkeken
These azure waters were thought to lead to the Mayan Underworld.
Chichen Itza, Mexico
El Caracol
No telescopes, no power, no gift shop: The Observatory of Chichen Itza, one of the world's oldest observatories, takes astronomy back to basics.
Chichen Itza, Mexico
Pyramid of Kukulcan at Chich'en Itza
Every equinox this Maya pyramid puts on a spooky ancient light show.
Chichen Itza, Mexico
Chichen Itza Chirp
Clap your hands at the base of the pyramid, and the song of a sacred Mayan bird will echo through the air.
Leland, Mississippi
Birthplace of Kermit the Frog
A Muppet museum in small-town Mississippi honors the roots of Jim Henson's most beloved creation.
Meridian, Mississippi
Grave of Kelly Mitchell
The simple gravesite of a Romany clan leader is dotted with offerings, including cans of her favorite drink, Crush orange soda.
Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Manchac Swamp Bridge
One of the longest water bridges in the world was built over a supposedly haunted swamp in Louisiana.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Louisiana Old State Capitol
A 19th-century Gothic, castle-like statehouse by the Mississippi River.
Cave City, Kentucky
Wigwam Village #2
One of the few surviving "Wigwam"-themed motels.
St. Louis, Missouri
1904 World's Fair Flight Cage
What was meant to be a temporary exhibit is now a permanent fixture at the St. Louis Zoo filled with beautiful birds.
St. Louis, Missouri
Whispering Arch at Union Station
Speak to a companion on the other side of the room loud and clear through this architectural anomaly.
St. Louis, Missouri
Eros Bendato
A creepy sculpture of a decapitated head invites viewers to see St. Louis through its empty eyes.
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth Stockyards
Belly up to the bar in Cowtown, don't forget to buy some boots.
