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The Definitive Guide To

The World’s
Hidden Wonders

From ancient relics to roadside oddities, we connect you to the best of what’s out there.

Looking through the remains of the Priory church

Finchale Priory

The former "holiday home" for monks at the Durham Cathedral.

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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The Venerable Thich Quảng Đức Monument

A memorial to the monk who set himself on fire to protest the persecution of Buddhists in Vietnam.

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Michael Inscoe
Salem, Massachusetts

The Witch House of Salem

The only structure left with direct ties to the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692.

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Dylan Thuras
Sønderborg, Denmark

'Støvlen' ('The Boot')

This colossal hiking boot, once built for a scout jamboree, serves as an observation tower and barbecue area.

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Johan SWE
Nassau, Bahamas

Ocean Atlas

The world’s largest underwater sculpture is found just off the coast of Nassau.

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Rachel Gould
Chicago, Illinois

Margie’s Candies

This old-fashioned confectionary has been family owned and operated for more than a century.

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Hal Koss
Bedford, Virginia

National D-Day Memorial

This monument is dedicated to those lost on June 6, 1944, in the town with that day’s highest per-capita casualty rate.

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Katie Willard
Pembrokeshire, Wales

Dyffryn Arms

A historic pub in the front room of a Victorian-era house.

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Jack
Zagreb, Croatia

The Museum of Lost Tales

A fantastical display of Croatian folklore, mythology, and myths.

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Martin Gašparić

Aldershot, England

World War I Firing Walls

These remnants of World War I firing walls can be found in the woodlands of Aldershot.

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AdOYo
Kiischpelt, Luxembourg

Kiischpelt’s Solar Circle

This modest monument marks the only point of intersection between longitude and latitude in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

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duaner
Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany

Niederwald Monument

Hilltop monument to the victory of a new nation in the Franco-Prussian War.

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Skrillerd
Cave City, Kentucky

The Dive

A watering hole where regulars who have ordered 500 beers have their names etched on the bar in gold.

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Leticia Cline
Chhokangparo, Nepal

Tsum Valley

A remote area dotted with Buddhist temples and monasteries.

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aiktyson21
Prague, Czechia

Punk Monument

This pink tractor statue pays tribute to a legendary underground punk band.

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Sebastián Wortys
Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

Tianliao Moon World

Visit Taiwan’s badlands, which allows visitors to feel like they’re walking on the moon.

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John ChungEn Liu
Sheffield, England

National Videogame Museum

An interactive museum where visitors can play through the evolution of video games.

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Dark Nebula Deluxe

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A contractor attaches a new wire at 56th Street and 11th Avenue.

hidden

The Wire That Transforms Much of Manhattan Into One Big, Symbolic Home

The eruv, a nearly invisible holy boundary, must be intact every Friday.

Written By

Michael Inscoe

October 16, 2017

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The Big Well

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This Kansas Town Advertised the World’s Largest Well. It Wasn’t.

From its hand-dug well to its fully sustainable power grid, Greensburg’s defining characteristic has been its own constant reinvention.

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June 12, 2025

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Guides, lists, and itineraries

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Trips and Videos

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North America

Flavors of Oaxaca: Markets, Mezcal & Home-Cooked Meals

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We travel to incredible, often overlooked places. Our global community of local experts grants you access to unique, small-group experiences.

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Sea Critters of Charlotte Harbor

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Complete Your Bookshelf

Books and Box Sets

The Wild Life book lays on a bright blue surface next to a pair of binoculars and a foldable field guide for small critters.

Our Newest Book: Wild Life

An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Living Wonders

Two Atlas Obscura books with book sleeve lay on a light wooden table surrounded by spices and dinnerware.

The Explorer’s Library

Combination of Two Bestsellers

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