The United States has it all — an Arctic and tropical coastline and every environment known to humans within. Therefore, we should never be surprised by its potential to surprise us.
Roadtrippers and vacationists alike make a habit of scouring the land for new places to visit. It can all become a little paint-by-numbers. That is until you realize America has so many unique places, many of which you would never expect to see. We have researched some of the coolest sites on — and off — the map.
1. Salvation Mountain, California
Leonard Knight has featured in dozens of documentaries for his Salvation Mountain feature near the Salton Sea, California. Salvation Mountain is a 50-foot-high mound handcrafted by Knight, who started building his structure after a spiritual encounter.
At the top of his 150-foot-wide clay, the message “God is Love” sits in prime position above many other multicolored Psalms. Knight died in 2014 following 28 years of devoted craftsmanship. Salvation Mountain consists mainly of adobe clay and donated paint, constructed without running water or electricity.
2. Castello DI Amorosa, California
Is that a brick fort you see on the horizon? Yes. Are you in Tuscany? No, you are in Napa Valley, at a real-life, functioning wine chateau and resort, Castello di Amorosa. The only differences here are the currency and the language — the scenery and climate feel wholly Tuscan.
This magnificent castle on a hill overlooks hectares of vine groves and a lake, but don’t be mistaken — it is a fully furnished medieval castle. Guests can visit a torture chamber and armory or explore hidden passages and rooms.
3. Devil’s Kettle, Minnesota
The Great Lake States are renowned for their proximity to large bodies of water, though this may detract from other wonders. In Minnesota’s case, it’s the Devil’s Kettle that falls under the radar. This waterfall on the Brule River splits into two, with half heading toward Lake Superior, but where does the rest go?
For many years, visitors have puzzled over this question, leading to speculation about hollowed lava tubes or an underground river. In 2017, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) found that water was re-entering the river from the Kettle further downstream.
4. The World’s Only Corn Palace, South Dakota
Imagine driving into a small town in a mostly flat state and passing by a building covered from facade to floor in corn and other grains. You don’t need to imagine if you visit South Dakota, where you will find (literally) the World’s Only Corn Palace.
The first structure was built in 1892 in Mitchell, South Dakota. According to the attraction’s website, the goal was to “prove to the world that South Dakota had a healthy agricultural climate.” The Corn Palace is more than a sideshow; it also hosts live events, banquets, and state basketball tournaments.
5. Neon Boneyard, Nevada
Fans of Old Vegas will love visiting Nevada’s Neon Museum, home to the whimsical “Neon Boneyard.” Effectively, all unused or neglected neon has a home here, where it becomes repurposed to fit the yard’s aesthetic.
The result is a walk-through monument to deceased neon icons, many of which are lit up from the ground. It is a gallery of the Las Vegas zeitgeist, providing guests with some of the coolest selfie spots on Earth.
“Each sign in The Neon Museum’s collection offers a unique story about the personalities who created it,” reads the website. This is a great place to see remnants of a Vegas lost to time.
6. Leavenworth, Washington
The Pacific Northwest is a unique location and one where you will find a fully functioning Bavarian mountain town. For Americans without passports, Leavenworth offers a chance to don lederhosen, drink steins of beer, and learn to yodel (okay, these are all optional).
Naturally, the locals would be mad not to host an annual Oktoberfest here each fall. It goes without saying that throughout winter, the town becomes a winter wonderland made for families. “When it comes to things to do in Leavenworth, Washington during the holidays, you won’t be short on options,” writes travel blogger Becca Jean.
7. Cadillac Ranch, Texas
Like Salvation Mountain in Nevada, Cadillac Ranch in the Texas Panhandle was an artistic vision. This installation was created after an art collective called Ant Farm decided to erect an open-air Cadillac mural. Some would say it is America’s answer to Stonehenge, though no druids rolling obelisks on logs were involved.
Detour Road Trips’ James Mills writes, “In its early years, people would scratch their names into the paintwork of the cars, to leave their mark.” Now, the statues are a patchwork of neon-colored graffiti and stickers.
8. Biosphere 2, Arizona
Rising from the deserts surrounding Tucson, Arizona, is a physical anomaly known as Biosphere 2. In contrast to its surroundings, Biosphere 2 is a three-acre research facility that contains five of Earth’s landscapes. As you approach the site, a network of glass windows and a white geodesic dome greet you.
Within these white glass frames, one will find the ocean, wetlands, tropical rainforests, savannah grasslands, and fog desert biomes. Guests can “wander through the rainforest, walk across the ocean overlook… and travel through the underground technosphere,” read the website’s details.
9. The Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma
One of the best paths to whimsical America is Route 66, the United States’ oldest transcontinental artery. Here, you will find years of history, remarkable stories, and some of the best “what the heck is that?” moments. One of them might be Oklahoma’s Blue Whale of Catoosa.
If the idea of a giant cartoon whale swimming in a pond rest stop appeals to you, look no further. The Blue Whale is the brainchild of local zoologist Hugh S. Davis and was initially a feature for his children. It still acts as a popular picnic spot, and it’s a must-see for Route 66 revelers.
10. Carhenge, Nebraska
If you are passing through Alliance, Nebraska, be sure to swing by the Cornhusker State’s answer to England’s Stonehenge: Carhenge. There is no need for a description, really. It is a henge made of cars — you just need to understand what a “henge” is. No, it isn’t a row of obelisks or stones, and Stonehenge has hijacked the term, which translates as human-made earthworks.
Nevertheless, Carhenge borrows its title from the misnamed English monument, so all is forgiven. While historically, Stonehenge may be superior, there is no argument about which is better value. Carhenge is free; Stonehenge is expensive.
11. Winchester Mystery House, California
Winchester is a name more synonymous with weapons than tourist hotspots, but the same Winchester gun-making family also built the Mystery House. What was once a San Jose farmhouse grew into what the Winchester website labels “the world’s most unusual and sprawling mansion.”
There are staircases to nowhere scattered all over the place: some go straight to the ceiling, and others lead to 15-foot drops outside. The fact a bereaved heiress would dedicate her entire life to building such a curious, sprawling monument is a mystery indeed.
12. The Mindfield, Tennessee
The next entry is in Brownsville, 60 miles north of Memphis, Tennessee. At first glance, The Mindfield may appear as an antiquated power station. In reality, it is America’s largest man-made metal sculpture.
In 1989, creator Billy Tripp saw the artistic potential of a burned-out auto parts store, whose remaining beams became the framework. The monument now includes “a water tower, the frame of a drive-in movie screen, tank treads, and even a tugboat,” reads the Haywood County guide.
13. Portland Japanese Garden, Oregon
We next land in what appears to be Japan. In reality, it is Oregon where the Portland Japanese Garden is located. The temperate forests of the Pacific Northwest are the perfect environment for Japanese foliage, which thrives in a similar biome.
The Garden has a reputation as a world-class tribute to Japan’s gardening mastery. The former Japanese Ambassador Nobuo Matsunaga was impressed when he visited. He called it “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan.”
14. Lucy the Elephant, New Jersey
Like The Blue Whale of Catoosa, New Jersey has its own wildlife-based monument, Lucy The Elephant. Margate, which used to be called South Atlantic City, saw Lucy arrive in 1881.
Formerly known as Elephant Bazaar, Lucy is a 65-foot-tall wood-framed tin elephant, initially placed there for real estate viewing. Sadly, the Lucy the Elephant website is now dedicated to saving this monument, which has already survived one restoration.
15. The Mystery Spot, California
California already has Winchester Mystery House, but it pales in comparison to the Golden State’s other mystery: The Mystery Spot. According to the official website, “The Mystery Spot is a gravitational anomaly located in the redwoods outside of Santa Cruz.”
Within its walls are a series of science-bending rooms, such as the Tilted Room Experience. Travel writer Vinayak Khattar says, “The slanted walls, floors, and furniture give the illusion that gravity has shifted, creating a disorienting yet thrilling experience.” It’s just one of five other illusion-based experiences one can enjoy there.
16. The Gum Wall, Washington
This list includes many enchanting names, leaving much to the imagination. Conversely, Washington State’s Gum Wall isn’t playing one of them. It is, of course, a huge wall of gum with a thirty-year history. This timeline of minty bacteria began in the ’90s in Pike Place Market, Seattle.
To the people of Singapore (where chewing gum is illegal), the Gum Wall could be a complete shock. For others, it represents an icon of Seattle’s leftfield mindset. You will know you are there when you smell the wall’s minty decay. The Pike Place Market website shares all the details that would-be visitors need.
17. The Enchanted Highway, North Dakota
South Dakota already made the list, so it’s only fair that her northern twin joins in. The Enchanted Highway is located on the prairies near Gladstone, North Dakota, off Interstate 94. Here, a series of giant scrap metal installations greet drivers on their journey.
The North Dakota Tourism page details the spectacles and lists places to stop for photo opportunities. Visitors can access titles such as “World’s Largest Tin Family” and “Theodore Roosevelt Rides Again” for free.
18. The Parthenon, Tennessee
America loves recreating historical European landmarks, and Tennessee shows its unique sense of humor with The Parthenon. There is something funny about seeing a like-for-like copy of ancient Greece’s most famous structure in Nashville.
That isn’t to say the building is unsightly; on the contrary, it stands as a proud tribute to Greece’s storied history. The replica is as practical as it is impressive, doubling as Nashville’s official art museum.
19. The International Car Forest of the Last Church, Nevada
The United States has a love affair with the automobile, which is evident from the number of car-based monuments. Nevada sees your Cadillac Ranch and Carhenge, and it raises you the International Car Forest of the Last Church.
Like Cadillac Ranch, this spectacle is in the desert — a fact that only makes the place cooler. The landmark needs little explanation: a network of cars half submerged in the sand like the Titanic. Its owners describe the monument as being in a “state of transition” and welcome donations on their homepage.
20. The Biltmore Estate, North Carolina
Up in the Tar Heel State’s Appalachian region, the city of Asheville has America’s most impressive mansion and estate: Biltmore House. It couldn’t have a more precise (or more nominative) name — it is America’s largest home, after all.
Naturally, constructing a 175,000-square-foot palace with 250 rooms and four acres of floor space required substantial wealth. Only someone as rich as George Vanderbilt could afford the undertaking. The estate now covers 8,000 acres, though it was once a huge 125,000 acres. Visiting Biltmore Estate must be like time-traveling to Renaissance France.
21. Hamilton Pool Reserve, Texas
Texas is a state full of wonders, though its size requires effort to reach all of them. One of the more accessible ones is Hamilton Pool Preserve, which looks like a Prehistoric drinking hole. It is also near Austin, making a day trip simple.
Hamilton Pool is similar to a Mexican cenote, where a hole in the bedrock reveals groundwater. Over time, sunlight exposes the water hole to vegetation, creating a beauty spot. While Hamilton Pool’s authorities prohibit swimming due to the risk of rockfall and rainfall, it makes for a great hike.
22. The Wave Organ, California
California appears again, this time in the marinas of San Francisco. The Wave Organ is a wind organ powered by the tide. Friends Peter Richards and George Gonzales created the installation, a sensory picnic area punctuated by pipes.
It draws wind power from the incoming tides and, on stormier days, sounds like a marine jazz orchestra. “The Wave Organ is located on a jetty that forms the small Boat Harbor in the Marina district of San Francisco,” reads the Exploratorium’s guide.
23. Pella, Iowa
One of America’s coolest tricks is recreating small pieces of its ancestral heritage and scattering them around the states. Iowa’s offering in this field is the town of Pella, which gleefully embraces its agrarian Dutch past.
The downtown district is home to America’s tallest working windmill. Meanwhile, the Molengracht Canal snakes through this thoroughly pleasant Midwest town. A little piece of the Netherlands can go a long way. The town boasts being voted the third-best place to live in the United States by USA Today.
24. Mendenhall Ice Caves, Alaska
American residents are extremely lucky in that their territory spans an entire semi-hemisphere of our planet. Alaska’s vast Arctic land reserves are full of natural rarities, such as the Mendenhall Ice Caves.
Visitors to Juneau can make a 12-mile detour for a guided tour of one of mainland America’s most ethereal sites. The entire cavernous void is bathed in eerie blue light. However, it isn’t for novices. Last Frontier Magazine’s ironically named adventurer, Brian Weed, warns against first-timers attempting the caves alone.