Washington, D.C.
Lincoln Memorial Undercroft
A cavernous three-story, 43,800-square-foot basement that was forgotten about for 60 years.
Places inlandempirical Wants to Go
327
Places I want to go
Places on this traveler's wishlist.
Yamanouchi, Japan
Jigokudani Monkey Park
Hot springs monkey spa in the middle of Hell's Valley.
Ishinomaki, Japan
Cat Island
On Japan's Tashirojima Island, cats are king.
Permanently Closed
Los Angeles, California
Chandelier Tree
Dozens of lights dangle from the branches of what may be the brightest tree in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, California
The Munch Box
A 1950s Googie burger stand is now a Los Angeles landmark.
Los Angeles, California
Cilantro Mexican Grill
A classically trained chef makes beloved burritos inside a gas station.
Los Angeles, California
The Tonga Hut
Though tiki culture has gone in and out of fashion, the Tonga Hut has always been flying the flag in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, California
Musso and Frank Grill
This star-studded Old Hollywood restaurant is where fettuccine Alfredo made its United States debut.
Los Angeles, California
Binoculars Building
In a city filled with Frank Gehry buildings, one stands out as one of the architect's weirder works.
Los Angeles, California
Hollywood Tower Apartments
This glamorous old building is said to have inspired the Tower of Terror.
Los Angeles, California
Valley Relics Museum
One man's vast collection of artifacts and ephemera from matchbooks and postcards to vintage neon signs and cars.
Washington, D.C.
Florida Avenue Grill
The world's oldest soul food restaurant is also one of its best.
Washington, D.C.
Hecht Company Warehouse
Art deco landmark on the outskirts of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Knife Edge
Architecture lovers won’t stop touching the National Gallery's 19.5 degree marble prow.
Washington, D.C.
Memorial to Japanese-American Patriotism in World War II
An unassuming, powerful monument north of the U.S. Capitol bears witness to the resilience of Japanese Americans during a time of grave injustice.
Washington, D.C.
Daguerre Monument
Go take a picture with the inventor of the daguerreotype photographic process.
Washington, D.C.
Sweet Home Cafe
This unique museum cafeteria showcases the history and regional diversity of African American cuisine.
Washington, D.C.
Owney the Postal Dog
A traveling postal dog covered 48 states and more than 140,000 miles, and he lives on as taxidermy, patched up with a rabbit's foot and a pig's ear.
Washington, D.C.
Treasury Department Cash Vault
Where the U.S. government kept its actual treasure, before Fort Knox.
Washington, D.C.
The National Gallery's Art Materials Collection
The institution is sitting on a goldmine of 21,000 paints, varnishes, pigments, and primers preserved for posterity.
Washington, D.C.
Smithsonian Sushi Collection
Seemingly unremarkable items like empty sushi trays, chef hats, and freshness stickers are being preserved so future generations can look back on this beloved cultural import.
Washington, D.C.
Annie's Paramount Steakhouse
This restaurant has been a haven for D.C.'s LGBTQ community since the 1950s.
Washington, D.C.
Watergate Steps
Decades before the scandal, this staircase on the river was a literal "water gate."
Washington, D.C.
Bare-Chested George Washington
Perhaps the most scandalous statue of America's first president.
