Places Rogier Wants to Go

A psychedelic labyrinth on the San Francisco bay.

A forensic lab dedicated to fighting crimes against wildlife.

The legendary birthplace of the Japanese maneki-neko is dotted with hundreds of lucky beckoning cats.

Two awe-inspiring globes from the reign of the Sun King hang from the ceiling of France's national library.

Ethiopia's "smoking mountain" is in one of the hottest regions on the planet and is home to two lava lakes.

The hottest place on the planet.

Supposedly this Ethiopian chapel holds the Ark of the Covenant, guarded by virgins who cannot leave the building.

An ancient Ethiopian cave church is endangered by the simple building of a road.

An Ethiopian "Jerusalem" featuring a church hewn out of a single rock.

An otherworldly restaurant perched on the edge of a jagged cliff next to a medieval holy city.

More tin toys than you can shake a clapping monkey at.

On the windswept Dakota plains there is a memorial to circus workers who were struck down by lightning.

Giant origami sculptures tucked into desert scenery beckon passers-by to explore further.

Immortal combat in a Moscow museum.

Natural time capsule containing an alien ecosystem.

This colorful theme park dedicated the official fruit of Maine serves sweet, tasty treats.

This Toronto garden collects stares and tchotchkes in equal measure.

Tokyo’s only Vaudeville-cuckoo clock–steampunk-Victorian curio cabinet time piece.

The Grand Canyon of Texas.

An abandoned 1920s school with a mysterious history.

Double spiral staircases are not unheard of, but they are very rare.

This micronation's flag honors its favorite drink, Kaffegöken, or "cuckoo-coffee."

The site of the first battle of World War II.

The restaurant keeps a hidden séance room on the second floor and reserves a table for the spirit of the former owner each night.