Places rubysage Wants to Go

The highest point in North Carolina and the United States east of the Mississippi River, Mount Mitchell is named after argumentative explorer Elisha Mitchell.

This scented city oasis was a labor of love.

This North Carolina museum is keeping the pinball craze alive, with a little Space Invaders on the side.

Jule Körner's house full of bizarre architectural details.

A cabin completely covered in coffee mugs, where visitors are welcome to leave one of their own—if they can find an empty nail.

A former Oz-themed attraction that has fallen into disrepair, but still holds some of the original magic.

A curious collection of oddities including a lock of Alexander Hamilton's hair and Harry Houdini's ouija board.

Who needs fancy modern water slides when this giant North Carolina rock works just as well?

Gnarled canopies of pink and purple wildflowers arch over the trail to the summit.

A sculptor's dream castle turned fantastical ruin.

This woodland architectural installation acts as a camera obscura for the heavens.

These eerie outliers of the lightning bug family glow a mysterious blue color.

A marker commemorates a 1,400-pound wheel of cheese made to honor Andrew Jackson.

A hidden Brooklyn basement gallery where two biologists nurture one of the Northeast’s rarest and most vibrant reptile collections.

The largest roller-skating rink in the world.

With a history dating back to Victorian times, this architectural gem is a rare New York tourist haunt worth visiting.

This museum-within-a-museum pays tribute to "The World's Most Experienced Airline."

A wooden rollercoaster that still delivers a thrill.

The largest Walmart Supercenter in the United States, referred to affectionately as “Mallmart,” has served the residents of Albany, New York, since 1994.

Polish babkas, cheesecakes, and rose jelly-filled doughnuts are made fresh daily at this neighborhood stalwart.

This museum is dedicated to a Hollywood icon.

The collection is exhibited in a Staten Island building modeled on traditional Himalayan architecture.

This local landmark is home to art galleries and the area's only community darkroom.

A touching tribute to the "Queen of Soul."