preserved specimens
Where to See the World’s Most Famous Preserved Body Parts
From Galileo’s middle finger to Chopin’s heart, these body parts have long outlived the rest of their owners.
Articles by Holyn Thigpen
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Stories
Stories shared by this traveler.
cemeteries
Atlas Obscura’s Guide to America’s Most Haunted Cemeteries
Not all the dead rest easy. These 13 American cemeteries have the ghost stories to prove it.
murder
The Best Haunted Hotels to Book for a Spooky Getaway
From an inn with secret cellars to a clown motel next to a graveyard, these 12 hotels don’t just have history — they have houseguests who never checked out.
castles
14 Real Places That Haunt the Pages of Literature
Tour the real-world locations that gave iconic horror books their nightmares.
restaurants
Where to Find the World’s Best Soup
Soup is a universal comfort food—here are 12 of the best places on Earth to have a bowl.
cryptozoology
Cryptid Tourism: The Best Museums, Destinations & Festivals Across America
Museums for Bigfoot, Mothman, and the Skunk Ape. Where to go, what you'll see, hours and admission—plus the legends behind America's favorite cryptids.
islands
The Most Unique Camping Spots Across the U.S.
Pitch your tent off the beaten path.
architecture
AO’s Favorite Unusual Sites to Spend a Night
Why stay at any old hotel when you could stay here?
cemeteries
Who Knew Illinois Had This Many Spooky Places?
Beyond Illinois’s famous haunted houses are lonely cemeteries, unusual monuments, and Spiritualist homes with generations of folklore.
food
Must-Try Spots For Noodle Lovers
Slurp your way around the world at these carb-filled oases.
nature
An Autumn in Sun Valley Is Unlike Any Other
Pack your sweaters, grab a hot cider, and mosey on down to the Original Mountain Town.
nature
Unusual Picnic Places Around the World
For all your frolicking needs.
outsider art
12 Sculptures Made From Recycled Materials
Explore these wonderlands of waste.
mazes
14 Mesmerizing Mazes and Labyrinths
The best places around the world for twists and turns.
nature
15 Places to Experience Bioluminescence Around the World
From a tunnel in Australia to the forests of California, these luminous spots around the world are best visited on moonless nights.
nature
Where to Find the Oldest Living Things in the World
Experience ancient organisms across the globe.
catacombs and crypts
19 Creepy Catacombs Around the World You Can Visit
Explore 19 fascinating catacombs around the world, from Paris and Naples to Malta and Mexico, where history, mystery, and the macabre meet.
museums
The Oklahoma City Family Playbook
Experience the history, creativity, and outdoor fun that make OKC a standout family destination.
Dawn in De Pijp
Seeing a city through the fog of sleep.
monuments
These Historic D.C. Spots Tell America’s Story
Celebrate 250 years of red, white, and blue at these hidden and unusual places.
flight
A Flight Attendant’s Philosophy
A Q&A with flight attendant Deeb Haidar about a life spent in motion.
I Asked. You Answered. Now I Have Some Questions for You.
Here is what you told me about the 11 states I am racing to visit before July 4th. And here is what I am still wondering.
nature
Where to Experience the Best of Nevada’s Public Lands
The Silver State is full of unexpected and unforgettable natural wonders, many of which are preserved and protected as federally designated areas. Ready to explore?
The Explorer’s Guide to Nevada’s Night Skies
Witness nature’s celestial wonders at Nevada’s parks—and maybe spot a few nocturnal critters.
