Atlas Obscura - Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations
Just Released! The second edition of our bestselling book.
What's near me?

The definitive guide to the world’s hidden wonders.

Gastro Obscura
Covering the world's most wondrous food and drink.
A bottle of amaro, with other monastery snacks.
Drinks

Amaro di Sant'Antimo

At an abbey in the Tuscan countryside, monks specialize in a curative, flower-based liqueur.
Drinks

Hot Springs Beer at Superior Bathhouse Brewery

This Arkansas town is known for its gangster history, its healing waters, and now its brews.
Prepared Foods

Our Lady of Lourdes French Meat Pie

This French Canadian classic is a specialty of the oldest continually used church in Minneapolis.
A Whirla-Whip creation, flavored with with Nutella.
Sweets

Whirla-Whip Ice Cream at Dakota Drug Co.

One of the last operational versions of this retro ice-cream mixer still makes flavors in Stanley, North Dakota.
See More Food & Drink
Upcoming Experiences
Experience

Guided Absinthe Tasting and Salon

Longmont, Colorado
$45 per person
Experience

Cooking with Critters

Los Angeles, California
$40 per person
Experience

Myth, Film, and Studio Tour

Los Angeles, California
$35 per person
Experience

Drinkable Chocolate Discovery

Seattle, Washington
$30 per person
Experience

Inside the Holographer's Laboratory

New York, New York
$35 per person
Experience

White House Tales of Scandal & Intrigue

Washington, D.C.
$25 per person
Experience

Paul Kaufman Shoe Design Masterclass

Los Angeles, California
$125 per person
Experience

Explore Historic Murals of West Seattle

Seattle, Washington
$30 per person
Experience

Clifton’s Curiosities and Cocktail Crawl

Los Angeles, California
$50 per person
View All Experiences
More Stories
factories

How Elephant Poop Becomes Fancy Paper in Sri Lanka

An elephant can defecate 16 times in one day—and its 200 pounds of dung can double as paper pulp.
Zinara Rathnayake November 8, 2019
food

To Defy the United States, Fidel Castro Built the World's Greatest Ice Cream Parlor

The socialist establishment, which is still slinging scoops, seated 1,000 customers.
Alex Mayyasi November 8, 2019
islands

The Whack-a-Mole Survival of Galapagos Land Iguanas

Moving them from island to island is one way to conserve them.
Isaac Schultz November 7, 2019
lakes

The Glittery Legacy of Lead at a Historic Native American Site

A shiny mineral called galena, once prized by the Mississippian people, left its mark on the soil.
Sabrina Imbler November 7, 2019
science

What Are a Dozen Bottles of Bordeaux Doing in Space?

It's for science, promise.
Luke Fater November 7, 2019
food

The Oddly Autocratic Roots of Pad Thai

The sweet and salty noodle dish started out in a prime minister's kitchen.
Alex Mayyasi November 7, 2019
natural history museums

The Founding Fathers' Favorite Mastodon Is Coming Home for a Visit

Here's how you ship the skeleton of long-dead megafauna across the Atlantic.
Jessica Leigh Hester November 6, 2019
architecture

Liverpool's Crosby Beach Is a Mile of World War II Blitz Rubble

An undergraduate archaeologist is trying to make sure the prewar city isn't forgotten.
Isaac Schultz November 6, 2019
insects

These Girl Scouts Save Wild Bees, One Homemade 'Hotel' at a Time

They repurposed cardboard boxes, old paper straws, and toilet paper rolls to create homes for local bees.
Rachel Ramirez November 6, 2019
Read All Stories