Missouri—where people argue over whether it’s Missour-ee or Missour-uh, and the only thing more unpredictable than the weather is your neighbor’s football allegiance. If you’ve ever planned a weekend around float trips, eaten something smothered in Provel cheese, or witnessed a thunderstorm, a tornado, and blazing sun in the same day—congrats, you’re living that true … Read more
Flickr/Tony Fischer Photography Jamestown, Virginia In 1607, 104 English settlers picked the worst possible spot to build America’s first permanent colony. The 104 original settlers were mostly gentlemen who’d never worked a day in their lives, trying to get rich quick off non-existent gold. Instead, they got malaria, starvation, and some seriously angry neighbors. Out … Read more
Shutterstock The Ark Encounter, Kentucky Creationist Ken Ham dreamed big in 2010: build the world’s biggest timber-frame structure, make it look exactly like Noah’s Ark, and stick it in Kentucky farm country. Fast forward through $100 million of investor cash, tax incentive drama, and one massive construction project later, and boom – the Ark Encounter … Read more
Shutterstock Great Basin National Park Skip the Vegas lights and head to Nevada’s other star show. Great Basin National Park is home to some of America’s clearest night skies, the oldest living things on Earth (bristlecone pines), and Wheeler Peak’s rocky summit. The crowds haven’t caught on yet, which is exactly why you should go … Read more
Shutterstock Grand Canyon Caverns Inn, Arizona Most Route 66 motels just offer a bed and a shower. Grand Canyon Caverns Inn threw in a limestone cave system, the deepest hotel room on the planet, and a Cold War fallout shelter that could feed 2,000 people for a month. Just your typical roadside stop on Route … Read more
Shutterstock Voodoo Doughnut, Portland Old Town Portland’s most famous pink box didn’t come from a focus group. Voodoo Doughnut started as a late-night experiment in what happens when you put breakfast cereal on fried dough and add a side of punk rock attitude. Two decades and several health code adjustments later, it’s still serving up … Read more
Shutterstock Cahawba, Alabama In 1819, Alabama needed a capital for its brand new state, and the spot where the Cahaba River met the Alabama River looked perfect on paper. The state bought the land from local farmers, drew up an impressive grid of streets, and started selling lots. By 1820, Cahawba was Alabama’s first permanent … Read more
Shutterstock Petersburg, Alaska They call Petersburg ‘Little Norway,’ but that only tells half the story. This Southeast Alaska fishing town blends Norwegian heritage with Tlingit culture, all while bringing in millions of pounds of salmon and halibut each year. The glaciers of the Coast Range tower over one side of town, while pods of whales … Read more
Shutterstock Ocean Drive, Miami Ocean Drive wrote the blueprint for South Beach: take some pristine Art Deco buildings, add endless outdoor cafes, mix in beach views and a 24/7 party scene. Locals might dodge it, but this iconic strip between 5th and 13th streets is still one of those Miami experiences your bucket list needs. … Read more
Shutterstock The National Atomic Testing Museum, Nevada Before Vegas hit the jackpot with casinos, it banked on bombs. The National Atomic Testing Museum preserves the strange era when atomic testing was just another Sin City tourist draw. Here, you’ll find everything from real ground zero equipment to atomic bomb merch. Flickr/rocbolt The Nuclear Test Simulation … Read more