Places Ryan Haupt Wants to Go

A physical reminder of Earth's ancient past, this rock results from the photosynthetic processes of some of the oldest forms of life.

Many generations of travelers have passed through the steep, smooth walls of this canyon.

Backwards hour and minute hands and a timing mechanism that fluctuates with the temperature led to this clock tower's local nickname.

These massive concrete balls were used to mine gold in Virginia.

Beautiful views of the surrounding hills and birds of prey can be found at this sanctuary.

This beloved Baltimore spot features caged dolls, a giant Pez collection, and many, many mannequins.

Once part of a dam servicing an early 19th century grist mill, the tucked-way falls are a tricky-to-find urban oasis.

Crammed into a Baltimore row house is an oddities shop that sells everything from skulls to dead insects.

This free, take-a-book shop seems like a trick but isn't.

This lovely tree was a thank you gift from the man known as "Public Enemy No.1."

An annual celebration of the region's successful elk reintroduction program.

A gorgeous gilded tower houses what may be the world's largest collection of gin.

The actor best known for slapstick comedy is memorialized in his home town.

A reproduction of a mysteriously preserved body found in the 18th-century and put on display for years before burial.

Inside houses a vast collection of military aircraft and missiles spanning the ages.

One of the oldest standing structures in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Surrounded by traditional homes, this Tolkien-esque dwelling stands out on a quiet street in suburban Maryland.

Depending on who you ask, this controversial treehouse is either a charmingly creative child's playhouse or an illegal encroachment on public land.

Born a slave on the Arlington estate, Parks dug the first graves at Arlington National Cemetery, and was buried there, too.

In what is rumored to be an intentional act of spite, this memorial almost completely obscures the nearby grave of a senior officer.

A gift from Scotland to the United States in memory of the 270 lives lost when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie due to a terrorist bombing.

Recorded as the first person buried in Arlington Cemetery.

One of the most influential presidents in U.S. history wanted only this plain, elegant monument as his lasting memorial.

The only tennis court that falls under the jurisdiction of the central bank.