At some unknown point after the Korakukan Ryokan Hot Spring Inn opened in the mid-1800s, a tourist soaking in the inn’s natural hot springs decided to slip a Japanese macaque monkey who had wandered over from a nearby forest a little morsel of food. It didn’t take long for the macaque monkeys of the Jigokundani…
Lanzarote Island—a small Spanish island located near North Africa—is truly a world unto itself. Lanzarote Island features desolate volcanic fields, one of the world’s finest geothermal-powered restaurants, and a cave system that was spruced up by an artist who was pals with Andy Warhol. If you have ever wondered what a chicken leg would taste…
Much like clowns, ventriloquist dummies are simultaneously amusing and terrifying. The art of ventriloquism may evoke a hearty laugh or a shriek of terror, but Vent Haven Museum in Kentucky—the largest collection of ventriloquist dolls and memorabilia in the world—is certainly worth a visit. If you have always feared that a ventriloquist dummy will spring…
The Northeast Kingdom sounds like it should be populated by elves, a benevolent fairy queen, or perhaps a brave warrior. Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom is one of the most remote and beautiful stretches of the Northeast. The Kingdom—as the area is sometimes called by people who live in the region—features lush forests, shining lakes, quaint towns…
Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia is one of the most ornate cemeteries in the world. Framed by trees adorned with soft tendrils of Spanish moss, Bonaventure Cemetery has a dreamy appearance that is not of this world. Founded in 1846, Bonaventure Cemetery was originally called Evergreen Cemetery. As the population of Savannah swelled, city officials…
Ireland‘s Bull Rock Island simply doesn’t look real. Bull Rock Island features a defunct lighthouse and a large abandoned stone building that looks like a natural outcropping of the jagged rocks that surround it. Bull Rock Island’s most stunning attribute is a natural arch large enough for boats to pass through. Irish folklore states that…
Many centuries ago, two Greek Orthodox priests from the city of Athens were traveling through a remote mountain range in Turkey. The priests stumbled upon an icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave. The two Greek priests were so inspired by what they saw that they decided to construct a church in honor of…
When the words “changing leaves” come to mind, most people in the United States think of a quaint town in Connecticut or Massachusetts framed by red, gold, and orange leaves. If you love fall but are unable to take a road trip to the East Coast—never fear. There are countless off the beaten path places…