Places sarahvjanet Wants to Go

For two weeks every June, fireflies in the Smoky Mountains perform an astonishing light show.

Over 20,000 sets of spice shakers reveal the surprisingly telling history of our most basic spices.

Knoxville’s architectural icon was the symbol of the 1982 World’s Fair, even catching the googly eye of Bart Simpson.

A sprawling cave network created by a lone lava tube.

Entering this curiosity shop is like stepping into a mad scientist's lab.

This natural marble cave is one of only five national monuments in Oregon.

A midcentury ranch house hides a literal treasure trove of unique rocks and minerals.

A volcanic landmark located on an Ice age lake bed.

Where Nor'easters go to die.

Two massive rock outcroppings on the Oregon coastline.

A collection of colorful dinosaurs hidden in an actual rainforest.

100-year-old shipwreck you can walk up to at low tide.

Only known mainland rookery of the threatened Stellar sea lion.

The second largest waterfall by volume in the U.S., Willamette Falls is outdone only by Niagara in the amount of water that is pushed northward.

This lake in the Cascades lives up to its name, disappearing down a hole every spring.

This frequently-photographed waterfall takes only a short hike to visit.

An emporium for the weird, creepy, rare, and just plain gross.

Three acres of mythology-inspired sculptures are visible from the highway.

This sun-scorched lakebed contains samples of half the natural elements known to humankind.

The decor of this Hollywood movie palace just barely predated the opening of King Tut's tomb.

One of the last free public hot springs is decorated with hippie art.

This sculpture garden in Death Valley makes you feel like you've slipped into some alternate reality.

Water of undetermined depth has attracted rare fish and cult leaders alike.

Dyed by iron oxide over centuries, these sandstone rocks rise thousands of feet into the sky.