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The exterior of STRAAT.
STRAAT
The front of the St. Charles’ Church
St. Charles’ Church
The miniature theatre’s 200-seat capacity is slowly being filled with tiny figurines of beloved film characters, from classic movie stars to Muppets. Statler and Waldorf are perched in their usual spot at the front-right balcony. There’s even an ongoing call for visitors and locals to add their own favorite characters to the growing crowd.
East Van Vodville Cinema
Gombe mountains seen from Lake Tanganyika.
Gombe National Park
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Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
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The rocky Revere Beach coast in Revere, Massachusetts, just outside Boston.
Which Places With Bad Raps Are Actually Worth Visiting?
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A dugong displays the telltale “smile.”
Saving the Sea Cows of Vanuatu
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The first photo of the “woolly devil” made a stir among botanists when Deb Manley uploaded it to iNaturalist in March 2024.
How the Woolly Devil, Member of a New Plant Genus, Was Discovered on a Hike in Big Bend
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You don’t need to go to Turkey to see hundreds of hot air balloons rising.
Dear Atlas: Where Can I Find the Most Unusual Festivals in the U.S.?
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All the United States Maryland Laurel

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Laurel

3 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Laurel, Maryland

Updated September 27, 2017

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Unusual Attractions in Laurel

Model of a partial dinosaur skeleton.

Laurel, Maryland

Laurel Dinosaur Park

This dig site outside D.C. is known for its exceptionally high density of baby dinosaur fossils and dinosaur eggs.
Display cases.

Laurel, Maryland

On the Brink

A haunting exhibit in a wildlife refuge center highlights threatened species and the conservation efforts needed to save them.
Permanently Closed
Crib in a hall

Laurel, Maryland

Forest Haven Asylum

This abandoned asylum was once a state of the art facility before devolving into one of the most deadly mental institutions in American history.
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Entrance to the museum

Fort Meade, Maryland

National Cryptologic Museum

A priceless collection of the Nation's cryptologic history.
4 miles from Laurel
The original “flame of knowledge” that once graced the Library of Congress and was replaced with facsimile in 1996.

Fort Meade, Maryland

Architect of the Capitol Archival Warehouse

A remote horde of architectural treasures fit for Indiana Jones.
6 miles from Laurel
Smokey’s Fan Mail, 1979.

Beltsville, Maryland

Smokey Bear Archive

The Forest Service's surprisingly sophisticated collection of wildfire prevention art features America's most beloved bear.
6 miles from Laurel
Permanently Closed

College Park, Maryland

Pinball Parlor at MOM's Organic Market

Two dozen pinball games hidden away inside a most unlikely location.
6 miles from Laurel
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