loucksavery's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Captain Cook, Hawaii

The Painted Church

A priest with no formal artistic training used basic house paint to create gorgeous religious scenes inside this historic church.
Lahaina, Hawaii

Lahaina Banyan Tree

Take shelter from Hawai'i's tropical heat under the massive canopy of largest Banyan tree on the island.
Hawaii

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach

This black shoreline is made up of exploded lava particles.
Anaheim, California

Jingles

The lead horse on a Disneyland merry-go-round that is older than the park itself.
San Diego, California

Hotel del Coronado

L. Frank Baum wrote part of the "Wizard of Oz" series in this wooden Victorian beach resort.
San Diego, California

Balboa Park Botanical Building and Lily Pond

Built for an exposition in 1915, these horticultural displays have stood the test of time.
Skagway, Alaska

White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad

A historic freight system that found the true gold rush is in tourism.
Madrid, Spain

Cine Doré

A must for film lovers in Madrid and home to the Spanish Film Library's projection space.
Madrid, Spain

Bicha of Balazote

This enigmatic Iberian sculpture of uncertain origin may have once guarded a burial site.
Manitou Springs, Colorado

Manitou Cliff Dwellings

These faux-cliff dwellings allow visitors to climb around on a replica archaeological site.
Forks, Washington

Hall of Mosses

Stroll through a wonderland of stupendous moss-covered trees.
São Miguel, Portugal

Gorreana Tea Plantation

Europe's oldest still-operational tea farm also boasts a spectacular view.
São Miguel, Portugal

Solar Branco Gin Library

A 19th-century mansion houses the largest collection of gin in the European Union.
Madrid, Spain

Espejos del Callejón del Gato (Cat Alley Mirrors)

These distorting, funhouse mirrors achieved fame in a renowned piece of Spanish theater.
São Miguel, Portugal

Lagoa das Sete Cidades (Lagoon of the Seven Cities)

Legend has it the lovelorn tears of a princess and a shepherd boy formed the blue and green twin lakes in the Azores archipelago.
Vila Franca Do Campo, Portugal

Islet of Vila Franca do Campo

A perfectly circular lake is formed by the crater of an ancient underwater volcano.
Lisbon, Portugal

Santa Justa Lift

This Industrial Age architectural and engineering gem helps visitors and residents alike traverse Lisbon, “The City of Seven Hills.”
São Miguel, Portugal

Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Vitórias

This fairy-tale, neo-Gothic church in the Azores is a world of magical realism.
São Miguel, Portugal

Violet Volcanic Tea

When Azorean green tea meets volcanic hot springs water, a luminous brew is born.
Lisbon, Portugal

National Museum of Ancient Art

This little-known national museum houses over 40,000 works of art from across the world.
Lisbon, Portugal

Pastéis de Belém

Eat the ultimate iteration of Portugal's most beloved pastry.
Lisbon, Portugal

Jerónimos Monastery

Elaborately carved to showcase the glorious wealth that the age of exploration brought to the Portuguese empire.
Lisbon, Portugal

Rhinoceros of Belém Tower

A king's pet, a pope's gift, an artist's inspiration, and a tragic shipwreck.
Sintra, Portugal

Quinta da Regaleira

This eccentrically decorated palace is replete with grottoes, fountains, tunnels, and caves.