Have you ever stumbled upon a place so intriguing, so off the beaten path, that it feels like you’ve uncovered a secret treasure? The kind of place that when you tell someone about it they ask, “What? Where’s that??”
That’s the magic of travel we live for, and it’s a big part of what drives our adventures. But even with all our exploring, there are still countless hidden wonders of the world waiting to be discovered. And that’s where Atlas Obscura comes in.
If you’re not familiar with Atlas Obscura, let me take you on a little journey. Imagine a guidebook to the world’s most curious, unexpected, and downright bizarre places—the kinds of spots that don’t usually make it into the mainstream travel guides. Atlas Obscura is just that, an online compendium of the world’s wonders, both natural and man-made, that might otherwise go unnoticed.
How It All Began
Atlas Obscura started back in 2009, founded by Joshua Foer and Dylan Thuras. They were on a mission to create a guide to the world’s hidden wonders, a place where explorers could share their discoveries of unusual and offbeat destinations. Over the years, it’s grown into a vast community of curious travelers, each contributing their own finds to the collective atlas. Today, Atlas Obscura isn’t just a website—it’s a movement, inspiring people to seek out the strange and marvelous.
The App That Keeps Us Curious
One of the best ways to tap into Atlas Obscura’s treasure trove is through their app. This little tool has become one of our favorite travel companions. It’s like having a local with a taste for the unusual in your pocket, ready to reveal the weirdest and most wonderful spots wherever you are in the world. From quirky museums to forgotten historical sites, the app has led us to some truly unforgettable places.
The app offers some fantastic features that make exploring even more fun. You can keep track of places you’ve been with the "Been Here" function, and those that you want to visit with "Want to Visit". The "Add to List" feature allows you to create custom lists—like "Must-See Castles" or "Weirdest Museums." And after you’ve experienced one of these unique spots, you can mark it with "Been There", which not only keeps a record of your adventures but also helps other curious travelers discover the best of the world’s hidden gems.
A Partnership with Intrepid Travel
Atlas Obscura’s mission to uncover the world’s hidden wonders aligned perfectly with Intrepid Travel’s commitment to authentic and sustainable travel experiences. A few years ago, they partnered up to create one-of-a-kind trips that dive deep into the unknown. These are not your typical tours. They’re carefully crafted adventures that take you off the well-trodden tourist paths and into the heart of the strange and fascinating.
Our Adventures with Atlas Obscura
Mark often shares his enthusiasm for Atlas Obscura with visitors at his art booth during art fairs. His passion for photographing the lesser-known gems of the world often turns into a lively conversation starter. Many people are so intrigued that they jot down the name of Atlas Obscura right then and there, eager to explore its wonders for themselves.
Mark and I have used Atlas Obscura as a resource many times on our travels. It’s led us to places we never would have found otherwise. For instance, during a train journey from Berlin to Prague, we made an impromptu stop in Dresden, Germany, thanks to a tip from Atlas Obscura. There, we discovered the Frauenkirche and the fascinating Singing Drain Pipes at the Kunsthofpassage—a hidden art installation that we would have otherwise missed.
Another time, while exploring Deep Ellum, a vibrant neighborhood in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, we used Atlas Obscura to seek out "Walking Tall," a stainless steel sculpture that became one of Mark’s favorite photography subjects. The site not only helped us find this unique artwork but also gave us insights into the best times of day to capture its reflective beauty.
We even wrote an article titled "Our Favorite Websites For Unique Experiences," where we highlighted how essential Atlas Obscura has been in transforming our trips into unforgettable adventures.
We joke that Atlas Obscura should partner with us, considering how much we "advertise" for them at every art fair. Hey, Atlas Obscura—reach out to us! We’d be thrilled to be your brand ambassadors!
Ready to explore with Atlas Obscura? Check out there site and tell us in the comments, what hidden gem will you discover next?
Related Links
Atlas Obscura - Curious and Wonderous Travel Destinations
Atlas Obscura x Intrepid Travel Trips
Our Most Recent Articles
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I love Atlas Obscura. Wherever we land it’s the first app I open and have a look-ee-loo.
Fabulous! I've used Atlas Obscura to look for more interesting, off the beaten path places during our travels plenty of times, but had completely missed that it's also an app! Downloading it asap!