Atlas Obscura - Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations
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The definitive guide to the world’s hidden wonders.

Happening This Week
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Wonder From Home

The Secret of Seattle's Disappearing Hill

Thu, Aug 6
$7 per device
A virtual walk through a Seattle land alteration project.
+ 1 more date
Online
Wonder From Home

A Find Dining Experience: Foraging Your Own Meal

Thu, Aug 6
$25 per device
A four part series exploring seasonal food from the land.
+ 1 more date
Online
Wonder From Home

Tyler Thrasher Wonder Hour: Poisonous Plants

Thu, Aug 6
$10 per device
An exciting world of curiosity with scientist/artist/role-model Tyler Thrasher!
Online
Wonder From Home

Accidental Discoveries: In the Kitchen

Fri, Aug 7
$7 per device
Dive into a rabbithole of missed targets.
Online
Wonder From Home

Backstage with a Magician

Fri, Aug 7
$25 per device
+ 10 more dates
Online
Wonder From Home

Atlas Obscura Trivia Night

Fri, Aug 7
$7 per device
Gather your team and compete in a weekly contest of wits and educated-guessing.
+ 4 more dates
Online
Wonder From Home

Dino 101

Fri, Aug 7
$7 per device
Who says dinosaurs are just for kids?
+ 3 more dates
Online
Wonder From Home

Gastro Obscura: The Art of Pickling with Liz Alpern and Jeff Yoskowitz

Tue, Aug 11
$25 per device
Dive into pickling traditions with the co-owners of NYC's Gefilteria!
Online
Wonder From Home

The Secret Arts: Wax Carving

Wed, Aug 12
$10 per device
Learn about the world's rarest arts from the most curious craftspeople. Enter the world of the Secret Arts!
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Featured Trips
Our newest and most incredible trips.
food

Forest to Table in Alpine Slovenia

Slovenia
Oct 4–Oct 9, 2020
From $2,865 USD
Alongside local experts, we'll munch our way through Slovenia's stunning alpine pastures, forests, and lakes—gathering wild foods, making mountain tea, and crafting a charismatic cheese.
+ 2 more dates
wildlife & nature

Science After Dark: Spotting Squid in the Tides of Oahu

Hawaii
Jan 18–Jan 23, 2021
From $3,535 USD
Just beneath the waves off the Hawaiian coast, there are schools of tropical fish, flotillas of sea turtles, and squads of squid. We’re diving in to explore some of their secrets. 
+ 1 more date
wildlife & nature

Wings & Wonders: Birds of New Zealand

New Zealand
Jan 31–Feb 10, 2021
From $5,360 USD
Explore the spectacular birdlife, biodiversity, and natural wonder of Aotearoa alongside seasoned conservationists.
history

Searching for Russia’s Northern Lights

Russia
Feb 21–Feb 28, 2021
From $3,830 USD
Bear witness to the ethereal glow of the Northern Lights, explore Arctic Russia, and see life in the Polar Circle up close.
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More Stories
science

The Cambrian Creatures That Grew Up Over the Course of 28 Bodies

Trilobites slipped out of one exoskeleton and built another, over and over and over again.
Jessica Leigh Hester July 30, 2020
farms

The Ancient Greek Temples Home to Orchards, Vineyards, and Rare Bees

A UNESCO site that doubles as a working farm represents a shift in conservation.
Shaun Pett July 30, 2020
maps

The Woman Who Changed the Way We See the Seafloor

Marie Tharp's historic maps of underwater topography reimagined two-thirds of the Earth.
Suzanne O'Connell July 30, 2020
libraries

A University Is Turning Historical Mexican Recipes Into Free E-Books

The project is meant to inspire home cooks during the pandemic.
Luke Fater July 29, 2020
animals

The Surprising Importance of Skunks in the History of Chicago

An Anishinaabe word for skunk likely inspired the city's name.
Alex Schwartz July 29, 2020
haunted

For Sale: The Most Haunted Mansion in Ireland

Loftus Hall holds tales of Satan, colonialism, and getting stood up by the Queen.
Matthew Taub July 29, 2020
zoos

The Kingfishers That Shacked Up at the Start of the Pandemic Aren’t Sick of Each Other Yet

Before the birds moved in together, they had to learn to "howdy."
Jessica Leigh Hester July 28, 2020
food

Around the World in Summer Treats That You Can Make at Home

Stay in and chill out with recipes for a historic Indian noodle dessert, Japanese fruit sandwiches, and more.
Luke Fater July 28, 2020
medieval

The Japanese Seabirds Who Fish for the Emperor

With only nine master fishermen left, a centuries-old tradition is at risk.
Luke Fater July 27, 2020
science

Sea Otter Teeth Are Gross but Really Useful for Scientists

You don’t want to look an old sea otter in the mouth—unless you want to tell how old it is.
Jessica Leigh Hester July 27, 2020
performances

The Evolution of a German Town's Centuries-Old Passion Play

The final episode of TED’s Pindrop podcast looks at Oberammergau's massive production and its history of anti-Semitism.
Anna Phelan July 24, 2020
visual

Savor the Sight of Comet NEOWISE From Some Wondrous Places

Our latest celestial visitor has a starring role in some out-of-this-world photos.
Winnie Lee July 24, 2020
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