Places shivalilaa Wants to Go

An idyllic mineral hot springs facility with a more-than checkered past.

A giant cat slowly prowls the parking lot of Zebulon's car dealerships.

An eclectic store sells obscure vinyl recordings of Charles Manson and Jim Jones, along with many other oddities.

A permanent outdoor art installation made up of more than 100 mushroom-shaped lights.

A Nessie-like monster supposedly lurks in this lake.

This museum explores the lives of Chang and Eng, the "Original Siamese Twins."

You can find America's highest suspension footbridge at Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina.

A monument to the sheer amount of oddities one can collect over a lifetime.

A maritime museum holding the remains of Blackbeard's pirate ship.

A curious blend of taxidermy, antique tools, creationism, and a purported antediluvian rock.

Conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton were stars of the vaudeville circuit.

A 315-foot spire jutting out from the Blue Ridge Mountains makes for breathtaking views.

Traditional Appalachian dances such as the Georgia Rang Tang and the Shoo-Fly Swing are kept alive at this weekly event.

Don't be surprised if you see a long-necked dinosaur peeking out from among the trees in Northgate Park.

Rare videos and memorabilia await visitors inside this unique store.

From golden eagles to peregrine falcons, this rehabilitation and education center is a haven for birds of prey.

This 5-by-6-foot wooden hut is the smallest historic post office in the U.S.

Step back in time on this preserved 1800s farm.

This winding road of 318 curves is a must-visit for (careful) motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts.

Burial site more than 300 years old.

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

This North Carolina grave is the final resting place of the world's most famous conjoined twins.

Divinely-inspired village houses 6,000 dolls, plus strange and lovely outsider art.

This ceremonial mound is one of the first officially recognized Native American historical sites in North Carolina.