The origin story of the Cheltenham Badlands—which is one of Ontario’s most striking landscapes—is a cautionary tale. The rust-colored hills of the Cheltenham Badlands were once lush, fertile farm land which supported numerous trees, plants, and crops. In the early 20th century, improper soil rotation resulted in massive erosion—which exposed a cache of Queenston shale…
California‘s Mojave Desert is full of unexpected magic. Plenty of visitors have found themselves pleasantly startled by a musical rumbling as they gaze in wonder at the desolate yet beautiful sandy landscape. The rumbling is emanating from the Kelso Dunes—which are one of several sand dunes worldwide that create a unique “singing” vibration when the…
In the late 1800s, a Scottish civil engineer decided to string up a rustic suspension bridge in the Canadian wilderness. By the 20th century, the 460-foot long bridge had attracted so many fans that it evolved into one of Canada’s most celebrated tourist destinations. Today, the Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver, British Columbia is…
Yale graduate Charles Magowan decided to put his psychology degree to good use by creating a mirror maze in San Francisco that bends the consciousness of every person who attempts to find their way to the other side. Located in Pier 39, Magowan’s mind-bending hall of mirrors features towering archways, neon lights, and pulsing electronic…
If you’re driving down a rural stretch of road in Johnson County, Indiana and you see a gravestone in the median—your eyes are not deceiving you. The final resting place of Nancy Kerlin Barnett has become one of Indiana’s most curious roadside attractions. Travelers from all over the United States and beyond precariously park their…
There are few childhood memories that are more enchanting than chasing fireflies in your grandmother’s backyard. Every June, the firefly lovers of the world converge on the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee in order to witness a rare species of firefly that puts on one of nature’s rarest and most beautiful light shows. During a…
Santa Fe’s House of Eternal Return is a genre-bending art installation that you simply have to experience in order to comprehend. Around 2015, a Santa Fe-based art collective called Meow Wolf decided that they wanted to build a fictitious Victorian house in a crumbling bowling alley. Meow Wolf lore states that the fantastical two-story Victorian…
Monroe, Utah is a sleepy town that most travelers skip unless they’re aware that it is the home of one of the grooviest hot springs on Earth. Mystic Hot Springs features outdoor vintage bathtubs filled with naturally heated mineral water, rustic hippie buses with names like Nature Bus which have been converted into overnight lodging,…
