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The slide scarp.
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In this salad, rice gets topped with pinches of toasted coconut, dried fish, finely-sliced herbs and vegetables, bean sprouts, a tiny knot of noodles, crushed black pepper and dried chili. 
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With fat chunks of crab meat swimming in a lush coconut milk curry, it's no wonder this dish is so popular.
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George Washington's bar tab would be worth a staggering $15,600 today.
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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Guides for the Curious Traveler

9 Hidden Wonders in the Heart of Kansas City

Sponsored by Visit KC

To soak in the soul of Kansas City, you can sink your teeth into succulent brisket burnt-ends, bask in the melodies of live jazz at one of the city’s legendary venues, or catch a thrilling Chiefs game– and that's just the beginning of uncovering its rich tapestry. But there’s another side to KC—under-the radar destinations that are packed with wonder and intrigue. Peel back a layer, and Kansas City reveals unexplored magic: from a holy finger housed in a world-class museum and a 70-year-old lunch counter that still keeps lines out the door, to the historic social epicenter of Black jazz and an original private-collection Winston Churchill work of art – and there’s even more waiting to be explored. Here are nine hidden wonders of Kansas City.

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10 Unexpected Delights of Vermont's Arts and Culture Scene

Sponsored by Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing

With its high peaks and verdant valleys, Vermont is meant for exploration. Go beyond its natural beauty and you’ll find the state’s creative side, in both historically notable institutions and the contemporary arts community quietly making wondrous work. This itinerary will take you from cherished museums to off-the-beaten-path cultural gems including a library and opera house that straddles the U.S.-Canada border, a collection of antiques that contains an 892-ton steamboat, and a Gothic church-turned-rock club. Through river towns and over mountaintops, you’ll see magnificent steel sculptures rise from rolling hayfields and expansive murals covering main streets. You’ll meet puppeteers and painters, dog lovers, and dreamers. So buckle up and wind your way to these 10 exciting art destinations that are sure to inspire your own creativity.

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Gastro Obscura’s Guide to Eating Through Maine

Sponsored by Maine Office of Tourism

While lobsters, blueberries, and whoopie pies certainly come to mind when thinking about the edible wonders of Maine, they’re also just the tip of the iceberg. Stick to the headliners and you’ll miss out on some other uniquely Maine food and drink. Within the 3,500 miles of tidal coast, the quaint mountain towns, and nature-adjacent cities that make up the Pine Tree State, you’ll encounter off-the-beaten-path culinary settings including the only food truck park in New England, a Deer Isle sculpture park that sells jams and jellies, and a James Beard-nominated eatery operating out of a 100-year old dining car. You’ll meet one-of-a-kind food figures like the speech pathologist running a flour mill out of a former jailhouse, or an Amish deli run by a military-man-turned-chef out of a log cabin without electricity. And you’ll taste some of Maine’s lesser-lauded flavors, from seaweed jerky to maple syrup brandy and blueberry port. So do enjoy Maine’s revered blueberries, seafood, and baked goods. Just remember the myriad culinary curiosities also waiting in the wing for you.

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The Gastro Obscura Guide to Asheville Area Eats

Sponsored by Explore Asheville

Asheville might be the best food city you haven’t visited. This mountain town in Western North Carolina has long been a destination for foodies–a self-proclaimed Foodtopia®–and beer lovers: thanks to the region’s rich culinary history, and the town’s quirky, creative soul, it has become a hotbed of culinary experimentation, top-notch microbreweries, and community-focused, farm-to-table food. Even better – it comes with a breathtaking mountain backdrop. Here are 10 places to explore some of the best food and drink in the region.

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Gastro Obscura’s Guide to St. Pete/Clearwater

Sponsored by Visit St. Pete/Clearwater

A destination with thriving cultural cities, charming small towns, nature parks, and some of the top-ranked beaches in the country, St. Pete/Clearwater is the best of Florida all in one neat, welcoming peninsula. So welcoming, in fact, that the region is seeing a steady population growth that is fueling something of a cultural renaissance. The newcomers it’s attracting—in tandem with the locals who’ve been here all along—are building an eclectic community, with some unexpectedly tasty results. Out-of-towners arrive with creative business concepts like tropical Art Deco cafés or a pizzeria run by an acrobatic pizzaiolo. The local crowd reimagines long-standing structures, from a historic theater-turned-Roaring ‘20s nightclub to an ATM-turned-taco stand. And far-flung emigres weave strands of their home countries into the global tapestry that is St. Pete/Clearwater, from a British tea parlor to a French-Vietnamese restaurant serving two chefs’ childhood favorites. So by all means, come for the lively nightlife, the pristine beaches, and the wondrous museums. Just don’t forget to bring your appetite, too. Welcome to St. Pete/Clearwater.

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Paint Mines Interpretive Park

9 Hidden Wonders in Eastern Colorado

Sponsored by Visit Colorado

Colorado is known for its towering mountains adorned with wildflowers, waterfalls, and endless hiking trails; however, some of its best kept secrets lie on the eastern half of the state. This adventure will take you to the furthest reaches of Colorado’s beautiful prairie and up into the pristine foothills of the Wet Mountains - all places seldom visited and teeming with intrigue. The locations below have been hand-picked for their uniqueness and ability to inspire you to journey through time via some of Colorado’s most obscure and interesting haunts found on the high plains.

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7 Places to Experience Big Wonder in Texas

Sponsored by Travel Texas

Texas is a wide-ranging, diverse, and expansive state. Even the barbecue you’ll get from one county to another is never the same, and the music sounds a little different in the depths of West Texas than it does in the panhandle. Texas is huge—you’ve probably heard that—and it offers attractions to match its size. We’ve rounded up our favorite places to see the heights and depths of Texas—from its tallest peaks to its heftiest steaks. Put on your ten-gallon hat and your tallest boots, and set out on a road trip that’ll help you get a sense of just how big the state really is.

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8 Out-There Art Destinations in Texas

Sponsored by Travel Texas

A surplus of space always means a surplus of creative possibility. Texas, with its never-ending skies, wide deserts, and even bigger imaginations, takes this idea to thrilling conclusions. If you’re interested in planning an art-focused road trip, you won’t find a better destination than Texas, where one day you’ll be browsing an obsessive collection of outsider art, and the next day you’ll be walking through a hidden alley covered in umbrellas or beneath a neon skyscape. Here are eight of the most exciting art destinations in the state to inspire your mind and thrill your eyes.

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6 Ways To See Texas Below the Surface

Sponsored by Travel Texas

One of the most thrilling ways to explore a new place is to go underground. Spelunking, or cave exploration, offers a completely different view: instead of seeing what’s been built up, you see what hides beneath. Texas, with its rich and varied geological history, has a wide collection of subterranean attractions. Say goodbye to above-ground reality for a while, and plan a trip exploring below the surface. Here’s how.

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9 Places to Dive Into Fresh Texas Waters

Sponsored by Travel Texas

Texas summers don’t mess around: it gets hot around these parts. Which is why swimming holes are so important to the state’s residents—and, luckily, its geography. Around the state, you’ll find natural springs, waterfalls, lakes, and even mermaids to welcome you into fresh waters. Whether you’re planning a swimming-themed road trip or need a spot to cool off the next time you’re in the panhandle, these are our favorite places to splash around in Texas.

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Buddy Holly still plays in Lubbock, TX.

7 Ways to Explore Music (and History) in Texas

Sponsored by Travel Texas

Visit any honky tonk around the state and you’ll immediately know: Texans love their music. This is a state rich with musical history and musical culture, from the roots of country music to libraries dedicated to the preservation of historic gospel records. Below are some of the most interesting ways to experience music and sound in the state, whether you’re a country music lover or simply a traveler with curious ears.

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8 Ways to Discover Texas’ Rich History

Sponsored by Travel Texas

As the largest state in the contiguous U.S., Texas also holds a vast amount of the country’s history. While we all remember the Alamo, there’s also a trove of geological, cultural, and even gastronomic history among Texas’ wide skies and vast deserts. Here are some of the most exciting spots to learn about the state’s past, while enjoying its present.

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The changing colors of Uluru at sunset. The famous gigantic monolith rock in the Australian desert.

The Explorer’s Guide to the Northern Territory, Australia

Sponsored by Tourism Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is home to rich Aboriginal culture that spans back around 60,000 years. The history, culture, and stories of the dozens of Aboriginal nations that make up the area are an intrinsic part of every experience you will have here.Located in the central north of Australia, the Northern Territory is three times the size of California, but has a population of only 250,000. It’s a land with a deep and sacred connection to its history, colorful deserts, and lush tropical rainforests. Visit the Northern Territory to experience the ancient wisdom of Aboriginal astronomers, sample unique bush tucker, and see creatures found nowhere else in the world.

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With Bill Cosby long gone, Kamala Harris is now in residence at Ben's Chili Bowl, Washington, DC USA

The Explorer's Guide to U Street Corridor

Sponsored by Washington.org

The U Street Corridor is an epicenter of art and African American heritage in Washington, DC. Once known as “Black Broadway,” U Street was the center of Black culture in America. (It’s where Duke Ellington was born!) Though the neighborhood struggled in the years following the 1968 riots, it’s as vibrant as ever today. Start your day on U Street at a mural honoring Black Americans from Harriet Tubman to Dave Chapelle, and end at a beloved Ethiopian restaurant where you might be lucky enough to catch some live music and dancing. Along the way you’ll grab a drink, uncover forgotten history, and stand inside theaters where everyone from Ella Fitzgerald to Nirvana have performed.

Explore

Gastro Obscura Guide to Southern Eats

Sponsored by Partners of Travel South

The American South is a mecca of delectable, comforting, and enduring cuisines from an array of cultures. Ranging from Creole to soul, and from Appalachian to Zimbabwean, our multi-state guide offers a unique tasting adventure that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. This itinerary blends some of the most iconic, lesser-known food stops across Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and North Carolina into one unforgettably tasty road trip.

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One of the grandest spaces in the Nemours Estate, The Reception Hall is where the duPonts would celebrate Christmas.

Only In Delaware

Sponsored by Visit Delaware

Delaware may not be the largest state in the country (in fact, it’s the second-smallest, and could squeeze into the next biggest state, Connecticut, two times comfortably). It’s not the most metropolitan, either (in fact, its capital city, Dover, is one of the least populated capital cities in the country). Delaware is, however, the oldest state in the country. The rich history therein, along with the natural beauty of the Blue Hen State and the unique characters who have called it home, make it a true hidden gem. From opulent family gardens to cannonball-riddled homes to fascinating defense structures, this itinerary will guide you through some of the state’s most extraordinary attractions. Beside outdoor activities like kayaking, horseback-riding, and fishing, there’s also historic homes, museums, and art installations of unthinkable scale. Sometimes, it’s true what they say—the best things do come in small packages. Welcome to Delaware.

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The Secret History & Hidden Wonders of Charlotte, North Carolina

Sponsored by Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority

At the heart of the south, Charlotte is a booming city full of new life. Cranes have dotted the skyline for more than a decade as it has become the most populous city in North Carolina. There is so much to see in Charlotte, from a rose garden hidden just outside the city center to a retro video rental store with over 30,000 titles. What many newcomers don’t know is Charlotte’s deep-rooted history that dates back to before the colonies became the United States. This list of 10 destinations will only scratch the surface of the many special places to visit in the Queen City.

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Exploring Colorado's Historic Hot Springs Loop

Sponsored by Visit Colorado

Nestled in the imposing Rocky Mountains of Colorado and the gorgeous high-alpine valleys, the Historic Hot Springs Loop is a treasure trove of geothermal hot spring resorts and destinations, offering visitors a chance to unwind and recharge in pristine natural mineral waters. The loop, which stretches from Glenwood Springs to Ouray, is home to an array of distinctive hot spring resorts, each with their own unique history, atmosphere, and therapeutic properties. From the luxurious spa-like feel of Glenwood Hot Springs with the world’s largest geothermal pool, to the rustic charm of Ouray Hot Springs with soothing vapor caves, there's something for every type of hot spring enthusiast.

Explore
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