Gold panning is alive and well in the 21st century throughout the US, and nothing beats the thrill of sifting through sand and finding pure gold.

Looking for that tingle of excitement you get when you've discovered something valuable? That feeling is waiting for you when you pan for gold.

Gold panning is alive and well in the 21st century throughout the US, and nothing beats the thrill of sifting through sand and finding pure gold. The best part? It's easy to do. All you need is a shovel, a pan, and a sense of adventure.

You've got many areas to choose from for your golden trip. Get started on your own gold rush!
<h2>The gold rush started and is still going right here.</h2>
You can start your own personal gold rush at the place where it all began in 1848. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is named for James Marshall, the prospector who discovered gold in the American River.

You'll see the monument to Marshall, erected on the exact spot where he first struck it rich. Then, you can head to the Mt. Murphy bridge and pan for your treasure. There's a shop nearby with everything you need for panning.

You'll find plenty of other places to pan in California's Gold Country in the town of Coloma and the American River.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/B3LvsvTjpho/" alt="Monument of James Marshall" caption="jessie_jess_martinez" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/jessie_jess_martinez/" /]


<h2>Deadwood is ground zero for the Black Hills Gold Rush</h2>
Make Deadwood your base in the Black Hills. General George Armstrong Custer discovered gold here in 1874 on French Creek, setting off the gold rush which created Deadwood.

Today you can find gold throughout the Black Hills. Most of the land there is government-owned and open to panning. But be sure to get a map at the Black Hills National Forest visitor's center because there's privately-owned land adjacent to the National Forest that's off-limits.

You'll be searching for gold where a lot of Old West history happened, and you'll be able to see Mt. Rushmore, too!

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUWbJ8bAhou/" alt="Black Hills National Forest" caption="sarah.haugen" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/sarah.haugen/" /]


<h2>This Nevada town offers a different type of prospecting</h2>
Rye Patch, Nevada is the place to go if you want to prospect for gold but not get wet. Rye Patch State Recreation Area is where you can strike it rich using a metal detector less than two hours northeast of Reno.

There's not much water near Rye Patch, which is why prospectors use metal detectors. The gold here is close to the surface and is easily found.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/COIYYgQAaGZ/" alt="Rye Patch State Recreation Area" caption="westernbeard" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/westernbeard/" /]


<h2>Pan in the "richest square mile on earth"</h2>
Clear Creek Canyon Park in Colorado has a rich gold history. Colorado's gold rush of 1859 began when nuggets were found at the confluence of Clear Creek and Chicago Creek. The rich ores discovered here led to the area's nickname.

Today, you can still find gold in Clear Creek, even though it has been mined for the past 150 years.

Clear Creek Canyon Park is a short drive west of Denver, minutes from the metro area.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BRcIvjZh-U0/" alt="Clear Creek Canyon Park" caption="joshstendahl" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/joshstendahl/" /]


<h2>Head north to experience the Klondike gold rush</h2>
Alaska's gold rush of 1897-98 led thousands of prospectors to Crow Creek, which would become the largest gold mine in the state. Here you'll be able to pan in the midst of rich Alaskan history.

Crow Creek Gold Mine is still active and you'll be panning alongside experienced prospectors. Don't be afraid to watch them work to learn a few techniques.

Crow Creek is in Anchorage. It offers tours of the original Mining Camp, the oldest buildings in Anchorage, and gold panning lessons if you don't feel like chatting it up with strangers.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRK92GYFC0f/" alt="man gold panning at the Crow Creek Mine" caption="rickyhodge" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/rickyhodge/" /]


<h2>There's gold in Central California, too</h2>
The American River is known to have more gold than any river in the US. The south fork of the American River flows through Jamestown, California, 60 miles east of Stockton.

Gold panners have been finding treasure in Jamestown since 1849, using nothing more than a shovel and pan. That's all you'll need to become one of the thousands who've tried to strike it rich in California.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-52262" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/03/shutterstock_738542998.jpg" alt="American river at fall at South Fork near Lotus, CA" width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>Perfect if you want to camp where you pan</h2>
The Cosumnes River in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Northern California offers great camping as well as gold panning. The river runs through the Eldorado National Forest.

One of the best locations on the Cosumnes is the Pi-Pi (pie-pie) Campground in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Because it's a campground, there's a lot of panning going on in a concentrated area.

The key is to head upstream away from crowds. You'll have a great hike and might even come back wealthy!

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXbq1BxBBVB/" alt="Pi-Pi Campgrround" caption="emilyrbryson" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/emilyrbryson/" /]


<h2>Panning in Gold City and North Georgia</h2>
Gold City is the nickname for Dahlonega, Georgia, and the Crisson gold mine is the place to go for instruction about how to find gold in North Georgia's rivers.

Most rivers in the area have gold, including the Chattahoochee, Chestatee, Etowah, and Nachoochee Rivers. You'll need to make sure you're on public land when you head out on your own.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ZN_nMBshn/" alt="Crisson Gold Mine" caption="karenmhall" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/karenmhall/" /]


<h2>America's first gold rush kicked off here</h2>
When John Reed found some big yellow rocks on his Midland, North Carolina, farm, he didn't know they were gold. He figured it out in a hurry and began mining operations in 1803 at the Reed Gold Mine.

Here you can pan for gold at the Reed mine under the watchful eyes of experienced panners.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CPtE9MuMlds/" alt="children gold panning with adults" caption="ilonabanta" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/ilonabanta/" /]


<h2>Hellgate Recreational Area in Southern Oregon</h2>
Hellgate is located along the Rogue River and offers wide-open gold panning opportunities in a beautiful area. There's excellent camping here, as well.

Gold production in Southern Oregon is abundant, so you've got a good chance of finding gold nuggets along with gold flakes.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca2n956v1Cw/" alt="Rogue River" caption="meagan_nickel" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/meagan_nickel/" /]

Experiences

Quirky

Get a Taste of the 1849 Gold Rush and Get Rich!

The best wildlife encounters follow ethical care practices for the animals and provide a safe, educational, and fun experience for visitors.

If you’ve ever dreamed of close encounters of the wild animal kind, you’re in luck. With dozens of sanctuaries, zoos, parks, and specialized wildlife care centers around the U.S., you can spend some quality time with your favorite critters, face to face, or from an up-close but safe distance. The best wildlife encounters follow ethical and respectful care practices for the animals and provide a safe, educational, and fun experience for visitors.
<h2>1. Wild Animal Sanctuary, Keenesburg, Colorado</h2>
More than 450 rescued animals, including lions, bears, wolves, tigers, and other carnivores, call this 720-acre, open-habitat, serene sanctuary home. A 1.5-mile elevated walkway allows visitors to stroll through the sanctuary while the animals roam freely below. This highly respected and accredited facility has been in operation for more than 20 years. Be prepared for a lot of walking. It takes between three and five hours to complete the tour, but it will top the list of your best animal encounter experiences.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CJSJ6h0BJQH/" alt="Woman looking at wild animal at The Wild Animal Sanctuary" caption="tyrerangwala" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/tyrerangwala/" /]


<h2>2. Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Glen Rose, Texas</h2>
If you love wildlife, you’ll be in heaven at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, one of the world’s leading conservation facilities. Located in Glen Rose, the dinosaur capital of Texas, it sits about four hours north of San Antonio. More than 1100 animals from four dozen species — including endangered ones like the American red wolf, the Addax antelope, the Grevy’s zebra, and the Southern black rhino — roam its 1800 acres. Drive your car on a seven-mile tour through the park or hop aboard a guided tour vehicle and help feed the wildlife.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZR5huop_WS/" alt="girl feeding rhino at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center" caption="fossilrim" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/fossilrim/" /]


<h2>3. Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary, St. Genevieve, Missouri</h2>
The Netflix program, <em>Tiger King</em>, opened our eyes to the massive exploitation of big cats around the globe. But the Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary is a nonprofit, accredited rescue and educational facility. It provides a permanent, caring home for abused and neglected big cats. Choose from a variety of tours, learn about the care and background of the resident cats from the expert staff, and stay overnight at one of its on-site lodging options.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/B6ReEs5Hzd0/" alt="boy posing alongside tiger at Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary" caption="timberplayz" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/timberplayz/" /]


<h2>4. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs, Colorado</h2>
While zoos provide opportunities to see exotic wildlife from around the world, they’re also places to learn more about behaviors, their natural environments, and their conservation. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is committed to ongoing wildlife conservation efforts. Here you’ll find 146 acres of hippos, elephants, monkeys, lions, and wild hogs living their best lives in natural habitats. You can join in on a long list of exciting encounters, including a giraffe feeding experience, a behind-the-scenes look at a super-rare Amur leopard, or an Australian walkabout amid free-roaming wallabies.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-52053" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/02/shutterstock_348253661.jpg" alt="Father and son visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs and feed the giraffe lettuce" width="1000" height="668" />


<h2>5. Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, Hot Springs, South Dakota</h2>
While some may consider horses more of a domesticated farm animal, the mustang is a holdout, one of the enduring symbols of the American West. The Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary provides a home for American mustangs, a place where the unadopted and unwanted equines can run free across 11,000 acres of protected, private, undeveloped land. Schedule one of the two-hour cross-country or photo tours to witness the beauty of wild horses galloping at full speed across the open prairies.

[caption id="attachment_52054" align="alignnone" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52054" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/02/GettyImages-96169099-1.jpg" alt=" Wild Horses from the Black Hills Sanctuary" width="2000" height="1329" /> karenparker2000 / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>6. National Elk Refuge, Jackson Hole, Wyoming</h2>
Thousands of elk migrate to the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole each winter. Dress warmly, grab your camera, and hop aboard a horse-drawn sleigh to get an up-close view of these magnificent animals. You may also see other wildlife along the way, including wolves, deer, badgers, bison, coyotes, eagles, and more. Just head to the Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center in Jackson Hole to book your hour-long sleigh ride.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-52055" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/02/shutterstock_1618386376.jpg" alt=" A horse drawn sleigh crosses the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Wyoming" width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>7. Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, Springfield, Missouri</h2>
For those who love the creatures that live in the world’s oceans, rivers, lakes, and swamps, the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium may be the perfect destination. Visit the aquarium’s Sea Turtle Center, a treatment facility that rescues, rehabilitates, then releases them back into their natural habitats. You can also enjoy an up-close experience at the Penguin Encounter, dive beneath the surface to feed sharks and groupers at the Sea Feeding Frenzy or explore the array of wildlife exhibits.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc-uBQRl5_h/" alt="Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium" caption="wheremytravelingsoul" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/wheremytravelingsoul/" /]


<h2>8. Sandhill Migration, Kearney, Nebraska</h2>
Each year, between mid-February to mid-April, 600,000 sandhill cranes make a stop along a stretch of the Platte River to congregate and rest up before continuing their arduous journey northward. Take a guided two-hour tour or watch this phenomenon from one of the viewing platforms near Kearney. Visit the Rowe Sanctuary to learn more about the local ecosystems and other wildlife living in the area. Plan a sunrise or sunset viewing at the Plautz Platform or Fort Kearney Bridge for the most spectacular views.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZpt4Ubv9VB/" alt="Sandhill Migration" caption="oliveraadrian" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/oliveraadrian/" /]

&nbsp;


<h2>9. Katmai National Park &amp; Preserve, King Salmon, Alaska</h2>
Africa may have incredible safari experiences, but the USA has Alaska, a land of endless, breathtaking landscapes and extraordinary wildlife. Brooks Falls is the premier choice for up-close views of the park’s brown bear population. Catch the awe-inspiring scene of these fascinating carnivores, frolicking and fishing for salmon in the falls. Getting to the locale is part of the fun and includes a flight from Anchorage to King Salmon, then a 20-minute seaplane flight to Brooks Camp. Enjoy four to six hours of taking in nature at its best, exploring the vast preserve, and bear-watching from platforms around the camp.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXotctFv7eo/" alt="brown bear at Katmai National Park &amp; Preserve" caption="atdarwinmay" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/atdarwinmay/" /]


<h2>10. Chimp Haven, Keithville, Louisiana</h2>
This chimp sanctuary is the largest in the world. It’s also the official retirement home for research chimps owned or supported by the federal government. This 200-acre, forested, nonprofit sanctuary, located just outside of Shreveport, provides long-term chimpanzee care for more than 300 chimps ranging in age from four to 61 years old. The sanctuary allows visitors a few times each year during its Chimpanzee Discovery Days, where you can observe the chimps with their families, enjoy a hayride tour, and learn all about primate care from the knowledgeable staff.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CV3hp2HF8B5/" alt="a chimp at Chimp Haven" caption="chimphaven" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/p/CV3hp2HF8B5/" /]

Top Destinations for Getting Close to Wild Animals

The unique stories behind the names of cities are an important part of America's cultural history.

Every city in the world has an origin story, and American cities are no exception. Early settlers often named new communities after geographical features. Some city names honored founders, prominent leaders, or historical events of the time, while others christened new colonies after cities and villages they left behind in the old country. The unique — and sometimes confusing — stories behind the names of its cities are an important part of America's cultural history.
<h2>1. Chicago, Illinois</h2>
Most historians agree that the Windy City was originally named after the wrong plant and a bad smell. Early explorers who arrived in the area in the 1600s mistakenly determined that the indigenous Miami and Illinois term "chicagoua," which was a type of garlic, referred to wild onions. And in the Ojibway native language, a similar term, "chi-cag-ong," was the word for "skunk." Both were associated with unpleasant odors. It took 200 years to finally figure out the inaccurate translations. In the early 18th century, French speakers changed the name "Chicagou" to "Chikago" or "Chicago."

[caption id="attachment_52198" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52198" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/02/GettyImages-1065188752.jpg" alt="Chicago River Cityscape at Sunset" width="2121" height="1414" /> Mlenny / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>2. Los Angeles, California</h2>
The Europeans who first landed in the Los Angeles area chose a name that honored their Catholic beliefs. The Spanish claimed the area in 1542, established the first settlement in the late 1700s and dubbed it "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles," or the "Town of Our Lady the Queen of Angels." It later fell under Mexican rule until the mid-1840s, when Americans took control. For decades, the English pronunciation for Los Angeles was a source of contention, with some of its residents preferring the Spanish version. But, by the 1930s, the English pronunciation became the most commonly accepted.

[caption id="attachment_52200" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52200" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/02/GettyImages-1179628861.jpg" alt="Los Angeles cityscape at dusk" width="2121" height="1414" /> LeoPatrizi / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>3. New Orleans, Louisiana</h2>
The indigenous people who inhabited the swampy coastal area along Louisiana's coast for 10,000 years — the Chitimacha, Choctaw, Ishak, Tunica, and Natchez indigenous tribes — called it Balbancha, "the land of many tongues." The French arrived and claimed the area as a French territory in 1682. According to indigenous oral histories, tribe members led French explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville to the high ground that would become New Orleans. Bienville named his village La Nouvelle-Orleans in 1718 to honor the French regent, Philippe, Duc d'Orléans.

[caption id="attachment_52201" align="alignnone" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52201" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/02/GettyImages-868971098-1.jpg" alt="Pubs and bars with neon lights in the French Quarter, New Orleans" width="2000" height="1334" /> f11photo / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>4. Portland, Oregon</h2>
In 1845, before it was Portland, it was a small settlement called "The Clearing." But two developers, Asa Lovejoy and Francis Pettygrove, wanted to name the settlement after their hometowns, Boston, Massachusetts, or Portland, Maine. They settled the conundrum with a two-out-of-three coin toss, and Pettygrove's hometown won. The 1835 penny the settlers used to make the decision was found in a safe deposit box that Lovejoy left behind. It was eventually given to the Oregon Historical Society and is currently on display at its museum.

[caption id="attachment_52202" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52202" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/02/GettyImages-1154049225.jpg" alt="Portland, Oregon, USA downtown skyline with Mt. Hood at dawn." width="2121" height="1414" /> Sean Pavone / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>5. Orlando, Florida</h2>
People don't always agree on the origins of their city's name, and Orlando is one of those cities. Some say it was named after a soldier named Orlando Reeves who was killed while on sentinel duty outside of Fort Gatlin in 1835. In 1884, a newspaper reported that, yes, the city was named after a soldier, but his name was Orlando Jennings. Both soldier stories were later disproven when neither man was found on the War Department's list of soldiers killed in action. Some local historians trace the name to a local politician, J.G. Speer, who was a massive fan of Shakespeare and named the city after his favorite character in "As You Like It."

[caption id="attachment_52208" align="alignnone" width="2119"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52208" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/02/GettyImages-1170201458.jpg" alt="Lake Eola Park, Orlando, Florida, USA" width="2119" height="1414" /> aphotostory / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>6. Atlanta, Georgia</h2>
The forcible removal of the Creek and Cherokee people in the 1830s cleared the way for expansion of the state's railroads into its interior sections. In 1837, as the Georgia Railroad was working its way west, the Western &amp; Atlantic Railroad was building eastward. The zero-mile marker, where the two met, became a community, which was originally called Terminus. In the 1840s, it became "Marthasville," after Governor Wilson Lumpkin's daughter, and later changed to Atlanta, which some say was a feminine form of "Atlantic" in the railroad's name. Others claim it was Martha Lumpkin's middle name.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-52207" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/02/shutterstock_1010072140.jpg" alt="Atlanta, Georgia, USA downtown city skyline" width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>7. Las Vegas, Nevada</h2>
A Mexican trader named Antonio Armijo discovered Las Vegas on his way to Los Angeles in 1829. He called it "Las Vegas," which means "the meadows" in Spanish. It was a green, wetland oasis sitting within the massive Mojave Desert, which covers more than 25,000 miles of the area's landscape. It officially became a city when the railroad auctioned off 110 acres of land in 1905. Las Vegas was an ideal refueling point and rest stop for the railways due to the availability of water.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-52206 size-full" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/02/shutterstock_1462390136.jpg" alt="Las Vegas, Nevada" width="1000" height="627" />


<h2>8. Boston, Massachusetts</h2>
Like many other cities in the New World, early settlers named Boston after a city in England. Members of the Massachusetts Bay Company, who hailed from Boston, England, were the first to land there in 1630. At that time, earlier colonists named the locale Trimount due to a large, triple-peaked hill nearby. Not long after they landed, the Massachusetts Bay Company renamed the town Boston.

[caption id="attachment_52205" align="alignnone" width="2120"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52205" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/02/GettyImages-928417954.jpg" alt="Boston, Massachusetts, USA skyline over Quincy Market." width="2120" height="1415" /> Sean Pavone / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>9. Minneapolis, Minnesota</h2>
Minnesota's largest city started as a platted townsite in 1854 on the west side of the Mississippi River. Like many other cities, Minneapolis went through several name changes before it was incorporated. It was the city's first schoolmaster, Charles Hoag, who came up with the city's official name, composed from two words: the Dakota word for waterfall, "Minihaha," combined with the Greek word for city, "polis." He originally spelled it Minnehapolis, but the "h" was dropped to become Minneapolis, which translated as "city of falls."

[caption id="attachment_52204" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52204" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/02/GettyImages-1008004582.jpg" alt="Minneapolis Skyline Aerial With Park And Lake" width="2121" height="1413" /> Davel5957 / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>10. Miami, Florida</h2>
It's hard to imagine the sprawling metropolis that is Miami was once nothing more than a settlement of just over 300 people. Its name comes from the Mayami, an indigenous tribe that lived in the Lake Okeechobee area during the 17th or 18th centuries. The city started as the "Village of Miami," on the south side of the Miami River. By 1900, the railroad had extended into Miami, and the city grew rapidly. Within ten short years, Miami's population grew to nearly 5500 residents.

[caption id="attachment_52203" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52203" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/02/GettyImages-1137673992.jpg" alt="South Beach Miami from South Pointe Park, Florida, USA" width="2121" height="1413" /> Pola Damonte via Getty Images / Getty Images[/caption]

Stories Behind the Names of Great American Cities

Most people travel to explore and relax. But some take it further, and these unusual types of tourism put a whole new spin on world travel.

The goal of travel is pretty simple: get away from the usual day-to-day grind, relax, visit new places, and have fun. Some people choose to match their getaway with a hobby or interest, like culinary globetrotting. Other travelers plan socially conscious trips, based on causes important to them.

But beyond there, there are unusual types of tourism you may never have heard of, geared for those who prefer to explore the unique locales of the world on their own terms.
<h2>1. Alphatourism</h2>
The alphabet becomes your guide with this type of tourism. Once travelers arrive at their destination, they find the street index on a local map and identify the first one listed alphabetically, then the last one, and draw a line on the map to connect them. The goal is to follow the line, taking in as much as you can between the two points.

[caption id="attachment_51182" align="alignnone" width="1200"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/1086145112.jpg" alt="woman map street stalls" width="1200" height="800" /> lechatnoir / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>2. True crime tourism</h2>
The fan base for true crime shows and podcasts has grown exponentially over the last several years. In 2020 alone, an array of true crime documentaries stayed in Netflix’s top slot for 58 days straight, and the demand for more remains high.

That obsession has also become a type of tourism. Visiting sites of gruesome crime scenes — taking Jack the Ripper walking tours in London, touring Vlad the Impaler’s Transylvania killing grounds, or exploring Ted Bundy’s hunting grounds throughout the West Coast of the U.S. — are popular choices.

[caption id="attachment_51374" align="alignnone" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51374" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-500231058-1.jpg" alt="Illuminated cobbled street in old city by night with dark silhouette" width="2000" height="1500" /> PytyCzech / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>3. Contretourism</h2>
Rebels of traditional tourism head to the most popular tourist sites on the planet, then ignore them and focus on the surroundings around the site.

Instead of concentrating on the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, they might turn their attention to the beautiful Field of Miracles, the bell tower of Pisa Cathedral, the Knights Square palace, or the many boutiques and cafes along the Borgo Stretto.

[caption id="attachment_51184" align="alignnone" width="1200"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/655560296.jpg" alt="woman taking selfie pisa" width="1200" height="800" /> ViktorCap / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>4. Erotourism</h2>
For couples who need to spice up their relationship, erotourism might be the answer. Partners plan a visit to the same destination, but without a fixed meeting point. These romantically inspired individuals spend their time exploring the city, searching for each other.

They may choose to send photo clues to the other to provide hints about their whereabouts. Others prefer to tap into their instincts and knowledge about their partner’s habits to find the most likely spot where they’d be. The reward is not only finding each other but exploring an unfamiliar destination and discovering new things to share once you’ve met up again.

[caption id="attachment_51185" align="alignnone" width="1200"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/1047257206.jpg" alt="couple vacationing france" width="1200" height="800" /> serts / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>5. Monopolytourism</h2>
One of the most popular board games in the world, Monopoly has a massive number of fans who have discovered a way to combine their passion with travel. Not only can you find Monopoly games featuring iconic national parks to tour, but a select number of cities sell local versions, too.

Instead of properties like Boardwalk or St. Charles Place, the squares feature nearby sites and landmarks. Monopoly groupies use these games to map out their travel plans using a simple roll of the dice.

[caption id="attachment_51303" align="alignnone" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51303" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-1090814948-1.jpg" alt="closeup view of miniature liberty statue character on desktop game" width="2000" height="1125" /> yevtony / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>6. Tombstone tourism</h2>
Although visiting graveyards and burial sites isn’t a new pastime, tombstone tourism has grown in popularity over the last several years. With all the DNA testing available to trace our roots, more travelers are turning their getaways into fact-finding missions to discover where their ancestors lived, died, and were buried. Others seek out the burial sites of historic figures, heroes, or famous writers and musicians.

It may sound a bit morbid, but cemeteries not only provide important historical and cultural lessons but are often some of the most beautiful spots on the map.

[caption id="attachment_51186" align="alignnone" width="1200"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/674457260.jpg" alt="sunset cemetery tombstones" width="1200" height="800" /> mammuth / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>7. Industrial tourism</h2>
Different areas of the world depend on a specific type of industry and have become famous for it. Bordeaux, France is home to 65 wine areas. Switzerland is renowned for its watchmaking, Scotland for its whiskey, and Brazil for its coffee.

Travelers who have a passion for industry create itineraries that include visits to factories, vineyards, distilleries, and sites that hold historical significance for the industry. Countries with top honors for industrial tourism include Japan, Germany, the U.K., and the Netherlands.

[caption id="attachment_51304" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51304" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-542741999.jpg" alt="Workers at a distillery" width="2121" height="1414" /> Kelvin Murray / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>8. Set-jetting tourism</h2>
A lot of people love watching movies. But a number of globetrotters are willing to go anywhere on the planet to visit the locales and sets of their favorite films. Set-jetting can even go beyond seeing the area. A few of the destinations provide immersive experiences connected to the film. Tourism organizations have even created set-jetting travel maps to help travelers experience an array of movie locales.

Itineraries focusing on Harry Potter, James Bond, and Elizabeth, the Golden Age are popular choices for set-jetters.

[caption id="attachment_51372" align="alignnone" width="2267"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51372" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-485407333.jpg" alt="Reynisdrangar on Reynisfjara Beach" width="2267" height="1323" /> demerzel21 / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>9. Battlefield tourism</h2>
Travelers interested in military history may choose to spend their vacations exploring famous battlefields around the world. The U.S. National Park Service offers passports to a long list of battlefields that are now located within the borders of federally owned parks.

Several battlefields in the U.K., including Hastings, Bosworth, Culloden, and the World War I Western Front, make the list of popular battlefield destinations.

[caption id="attachment_51309" align="alignnone" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51309" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-1279332555.jpg" alt="Cannon at Antietam" width="2000" height="1500" /> Erin Egnatz / Getty Images[/caption]

<strong><strong> </strong></strong>


<h2>10. Ghost tourism</h2>
Cities across the globe offer ghost tours, most of which operate year-round for those hoping for a ghost sighting. Washington, D.C. is a hotbed of apparitions, according to supernatural experts. The historic Oak Hill Cemetery, where President Lincoln’s son Willie is buried alongside 20,000 others, is a prime spot for ghostly encounters.

In Australia, tourists can book a nighttime excursion through the Beechworth Lunatic Asylum, where ghosts of former patients roam the halls. Beneath the city of Paris, France, in a web of tunnels called the Mines of Paris, visitors might see a ghost near the abandoned railway or in the catacombs.

[caption id="attachment_51373" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51373" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-1360245778.jpg" alt="Abandoned railway line in Paris" width="2121" height="1414" /> Roman Vershinin / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>11. Aerotourism</h2>
Explorers with lots of time but scant travel funds may choose aerotourism.

Most of us take for granted the architecture, artwork, and the many little spaces inside an airport. Instead of boarding the plane and heading to a new destination, these travelers go to an airport and explore every nook and cranny of it, from top to bottom. This can also be an option for those stuck in an airport during an exceptionally long layover or a missed or canceled flight.

[caption id="attachment_51306" align="alignnone" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51306" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-109718091-1.jpg" alt="Airport terminal, T4 Madrid " width="2000" height="1500" /> ManuelVelasco / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>12. Atomic tourism</h2>
It may not be most people’s idea of a dream vacation, but there are those who seek out destinations tied to the world’s atomic history and its nuclear weapons. Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, the Nevada Test Site, the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, and the Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant in Russia are among the most popular sites on the destination list.

For an inside look at the stories and legacy of the Manhattan Project, atomic tourists can head to Los Alamos, New Mexico for a walking tour and interactive exhibits at Bradbury Science Museum.

[caption id="attachment_48634" align="alignnone" width="1200"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/08/1060912240.jpg" alt="chernobyl apartment buildings" width="1200" height="800" /> kefirm / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>13. Disaster tourism</h2>
The aftereffects of famous disasters and places with a dark history fascinate some travelers, who might plan trips to assassinations sites, such as those of Martin Luther King and President John F. Kennedy . Concentration camps, the 9/11 Memorial, and Hiroshima are also popular destinations.

Many disaster tourists flocked to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina to see its devastation firsthand.

[caption id="attachment_51307" align="alignnone" width="2127"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51307" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-525749557.jpg" alt="The National September 11 Memorial &amp; Museum" width="2127" height="1409" /> Filippo Maria Bianchi / Getty Images[/caption]

<strong><strong> </strong></strong>
<h2>14. Jailoo tourism</h2>
These tourists look for the untouched corners of the world far from the reach of civilization when planning a getaway. Whether it’s the Amazon jungle, a forest in Siberia, or spectacular mountains across Asia, this type of travel is not for the inexperienced explorer nor those who aren’t in excellent physical health.

A number of jailoo tourists immerse themselves in local cultures, such as staying in a shepherd’s yurt in Mongolia and learning customs from the locals there.

[caption id="attachment_51189" align="alignnone" width="1200"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/185419139.jpg" alt="man woman fire yurt" width="1200" height="800" /> Matteo Colombo / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>15. Sagittatourism</h2>
For those adventurers who are up for anything, Sagittatourism is a unique and exciting way to choose destinations. Hang a map on the wall, step back, close your eyes, and throw a dart at the map. Wherever the dart lands is the chosen destination.

While it may not be the preferred method for everyone, this type of travel does spark interest for explorers who prefer remote, less-traveled places on the globe.

[caption id="attachment_51308" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51308" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-172956391.jpg" alt="dart on map" width="2121" height="1414" /> chrisboy2004 / Getty Images[/caption]

Unique Types of Tourism You've Probably Never Heard Of

Sometimes, when filming is over, the props left behind become must&#x2d;see destinations for the movie's devotees. Here are a few you won't want to miss.

Whether it turns out good or bad, a lot of work goes into making a movie. Searching for suitable filming locations and creating dazzling sets are some of the earliest steps in the process, and they're crucial ones.

Sometimes, when everything's said and done and the entire crew departs, they leave behind props and places that become destinations for the movie's devotees. Some of these spots have stood the test of time, so switch that camera on and get ready to explore.
<h2>15. Popeye Village, Mellieha, Malta</h2>
In 1980, Robin Williams starred in a musical version of the beloved comic <em>Popeye</em>. The film was shot on the gorgeous Mediterranean island of Malta. Production built a charmingly colorful town over seven months and abandoned it when the movie wrapped. Today, it's a resort and theme park with boat rides and restaurants that serve a lot more than just spinach.

[caption id="attachment_51074" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="wp-image-51074 size-full" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-1187158591.jpg" alt="Popeye Village in Malta" width="2121" height="1414" /> ewg3D / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>14. Western Leone film set in Andalusia: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly</h2>
You can pretend you've traveled back in time to the Wild West in this bone-dry nook of southern Spain. Play Ennio Morricone's familiar theme from <em>The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly</em> to round out your spaghetti western fantasy. The sets constructed in the '60s and '70s still stand, and they feature a hangman's noose, saloons, and churches.

[caption id="attachment_51076" align="alignnone" width="2119"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51076" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-643894332.jpg" alt="Western Leone film set in Tabernas Desert, Andalusia" width="2119" height="1414" /> Chiara Salvadori / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>13. Sibley, Louisiana: Year One</h2>
You might remember the bawdy 2009 comedy <em>Year One</em> starring Jack Black and Michael Cera. The actors play hunter-gatherers who encounter biblical figures and places, and you can still find Sodom in northwest Louisiana. At the time, the ancient villages were some of the largest sets production designer Jefferson Sage had ever worked on.

[caption id="attachment_51333" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51333" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-1351933607.jpg" alt="A scenic river flowing in Webster Parish in Louisiana" width="2121" height="1414" /> Norm Lane / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>12. Atlas Corporation Studios, near Ouarzazate, Morocco</h2>
At 30,000 sq meters, Atlas Film Studios in the Moroccan desert is the biggest studio on the planet and has been home to some equally epic period and modern movies. Think <em>Gladiator</em>, <em>The Mummy</em>, <em>Black Hawk Down</em>, <em>Kingdom of Heaven</em>, and <em>Babel</em>, for starters.

When you visit, be sure to hit the permanent Egyptian temple. About a half an hour's drive away from Ouarzazate, you'll find the gas station from the 2006 horror The Hills Have Eyes.

[caption id="attachment_51077" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51077" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-1067201684.jpg" alt="Permanent Egyptian Temple set at Atlas Studios, Morocco" width="2121" height="1414" /> James Strachan / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>11. Montgomery, Alabama: Big Fish</h2>
The award-winning 2003 film <em>Big Fish</em> was shot on a purpose-built set on Jackson Lake Island. You could visit it right now if you wanted to. Nature has had its way with the buildings and streets (they survived a tornado in 2021) and the ghost town vibes might make you a little edgy, but there's plenty of fun to be had if you're keen on reenacting your favorite scenes.

Make friends with the resident goats and sheep, and bring $15 if you'd like to camp.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CSLvo4ML4RG/" alt="Welcome to Spectre sign with goats around" caption="marianzing" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/marianzing/" /]


<h2>10. Plaszow Camp in Krakow, Poland: Schindler's List</h2>
Head to Krakow for a heartbreaking reminder of World War II and a slice of cinematic history. When the Oscar-winning movie, <em>Schindler's List</em>, was made, Plaszów labor camp no longer existed. The production team used original blueprints to build a replica in the Krakus Quarry. There's also a replica of Goeth’s villa.

[caption id="attachment_51116" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51116" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-1209675669.jpg" alt="Old quarry and Krakus Mound in distance, Krakow, Poland" width="2121" height="1414" /> Pawel Wewiorski / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>9. Former Harrisburg State Hospital, Pennsylvania: Girl Interrupted</h2>
Angelina Jolie won an Oscar for her role as a sociopath who grew up in a psychiatric hospital. The movie featured a hospital that was a real mental institution until 2006. If you visit, you can still see the movie's "Administration" sign because hospital staff never got rid of it. Now that the building is solely offices, the memorabilia may be on its way out.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVN2L4kLTv3/" alt="Harrisburg State Hospital" caption="hoverjetphotography" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/hoverjetphotography/" /]


<h2>8. Smurf-Blue Town in Júzcar, Spain</h2>
This spot isn't a deserted film set, but it is a movie promotion relic. When the Spanish PR team for the 2011 Smurfs movie was bouncing ideas around, they came up with one to transform the village of Júzcar in Malaga. Cue a smurf-blue town and character-covered walls.

While the once-white town is no longer allowed to market itself as Smurf Village, it stuck with its new tourist-attracting blue color and the spectacle has been delighting visitors ever since.

[caption id="attachment_51078" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="wp-image-51078 size-full" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-548233435.jpg" alt="Smurf Blue Town in Júzcar" width="2121" height="1414" /> _548901005677 / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>7. Cinecittà, Rome, Italy: The Borgias and Rome</h2>
If you thought <em>Gangs of New York</em> was filmed in NYC, here's a little factoid for you. It was actually shot in Rome, at Europe's biggest film studio, Cinema City, aka Cinecittà. Set designer Ferretti built a section of 19th century New York from the ground up. Most of it is gone, but you'll be able to see sets from the 2005 TV series Rome, and The Borgias too.

[caption id="attachment_51337" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51337" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-912683440.jpg" alt="ROME, ITALY - JANUARY 31: The 'Ancient Rome' set built for the HBO series 'Rome', which is the biggest set at Cinecitta Studios on January 31, 2018 in Rome, Italy. " width="1024" height="683" /> Simona Granati - Corbis / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>6. Blue Cloud Ranch, California: Zero Dark Thirty</h2>
Blue Cloud Ranch in greater LA is a popular place to make movies and includes Marvel blockbusters and award season favorites on its resume. Pop by and see how the Santa Clarita Valley stood in for Afghanistan in <em>Zero Dark Thirty</em> and <em>Iron Man</em>.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDe2Mbeg5cZ/" alt="Blue Cloud Movie Ranch movie set" caption="bobbyshaker" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/bobbyshaker/" /]


<h2>5. Tataouine, Tunisia: Star Wars</h2>
We're heading to an otherworldly place. Anakin Skywalker's home planet of Tatooine gets its name from the Tunisian desert town that brought it to life.

The Berber caves and Hotel Sidi Idriss are huge, well-preserved drawcards for franchise fans. Five hours away, the city of Tozeur also served as a filming location, and you can stop by to make the most of your <em>Star Wars</em> pilgrimage.

[caption id="attachment_51109" align="alignnone" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51109" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/shutterstock_1188077329-1.jpg" alt="Underground Berber Caves In Sidi Driss, Matmata, Tunisia" width="2000" height="1500" /> Slimstyl / Shutterstock[/caption]


<h2>4. Wallilabou Bay, St. Vincent: Pirates of the Caribbean</h2>
Wallilabou Bay in Saint Vincent got a makeover to become Port Royal in 2003's <em>Pirates of the Caribbean</em>. Stay over at Wallilabou Anchorage, and you'll get a surreal glimpse of props and parts of the set. Just don't be caught stealing anything or getting drunk like Jack Sparrow.

[caption id="attachment_51110" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51110" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/GettyImages-1200940117.jpg" alt="Skeleton props in coffins in Wallilabou Bay, Saint Vincent" width="2121" height="1414" /> thierry64 / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>3. Cypress Gardens, South Carolina: The Notebook</h2>
'It wasn't over. It still isn't over!' Before Noah uttered this iconic line in <em>The Notebook</em>, there was a lot of gentle rowing through a beautiful swamp. That swamp is Cypress Gardens, a stone's throw away from Charleston, and unsurprisingly, it's super popular with young lovers.

You'll also spot this nature preserve in <em>The Patriot</em>, and <em>Cold Mountain</em>. After being closed for over three years in the wake of floods, Cypress Gardens is open to the public once more.

[caption id="attachment_51111" align="alignnone" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51111" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/shutterstock_1321604816-1.jpg" alt="Cypress Gardens, Charleston, South Carolina" width="2000" height="1334" /> Paul Brady Photography / Shutterstock[/caption]


<h2>2. Henry River Mill Village, North Carolina: The Hunger Games</h2>
Henry River Mill Village harks back to the early 20th century when textiles made North Carolinians a fair amount of money. But times change. Location scouts found an abandoned and decaying place east of Asheville and thought the town looked just as down-and-out as District 12 should.

You can book accommodation and chat with fellow <em>Hunger Games</em> fans because they're the only other people you're likely to see here since the last residents moved away in the '80s.

[caption id="attachment_51113" align="alignnone" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51113" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/shutterstock_1241284453-1-1.jpg" alt="Abandoned houses in the old mill village of Henry River" width="2000" height="1343" /> Nolichuckyjake / Shutterstock[/caption]


<h2>1. Hobbiton, New Zealand: The Lord of the Rings</h2>
Ah, Hobbiton. This well-maintained piece of the Shire will have you grinning from ear to ear. During a day trip to Matamata's impossibly green countryside, you'll get the complete tourist experience, including drinks at The Green Dragon Inn and all the selfies you want in front of quaint hobbit holes. Abandoned movie sites don't get better than this.

[caption id="attachment_51114" align="alignnone" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-51114" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/01/shutterstock_1137860495-1.jpg" alt="Hobbit house in Hobbiton. New Zealand" width="2000" height="1280" /> Svetlana Orusova / Shutterstock[/caption]

Set Your Sights on These Remarkable Former Movie Sets

Whether they're famous for where their location, their eeriness, or their residents, each of these cemeteries has something you just can't miss.

Cemeteries are fascinating places full of history, and they score high on the creepy scale. You can wander through lush and beautiful grounds or make rubbings of different grave markers to your heart's content. You can even attend ghost hunts and paranormal tours. Whether they're famous for the place they're located, how eerie they are or the people laid to rest there, each of these cemeteries, located all over the United States, has something you just can't miss.
<h2>1. Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA</h2>
Perhaps one of the most well-known cemeteries in the US is Arlington National Cemetery. This is the final resting place for over 400,000 soldiers. Established during the Civil War, today it contains remains of soldiers from every US conflict. Several notable graves can be found here, including those of former presidents and astronauts. Memorials abound at Arlington as well: the eternal flame that marks JFK's burial site, one honoring the Shuttles Challenger and Columbia, and perhaps most famously, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This single gravesite has an entire amphitheater surrounding it. The soldiers interred inside were unidentifiable, and have been watched over 24/7 since July 2, 1937. The guard changes hourly and the ceremony is open to the public, as long as they are silent and respectful.

[caption id="attachment_50416" align="alignnone" width="2123"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50416" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/11/GettyImages-963087512.jpg" alt="Arlington National cemetery" width="2123" height="1411" /> Patrick Yuen / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>2. Saint Louis No. 1 in New Orleans, LA</h2>
One of three similarly named cemeteries, Saint Louis No. 1 is quite a sight. As with most cemeteries in the city, it's filled with vault tombs and mausoleums, having few in-ground graves. This site is closed to the public, but accessible via tours, primarily because of concerns about vandalism. One of the most famous residents is famed 19th-century Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. It is said that if you leave three x's on her grave, her spirit will grant you a wish.

[caption id="attachment_50406" align="alignnone" width="1200"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/11/1133186576.jpg" alt="Vault tombs in New Orleans' Saint Louis No. 1 Cemetery" width="1200" height="801" /> Page Light Studios / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>3. Neptune Memorial Reef in Miami, FL</h2>
This unique memorial is still being built, but definitely deserves a trip to see. Cremated remains are mixed with cement and molded into different features, such as shells. Then, these items and joined to the manmade reef and a copper plaque is placed on the reef. This man-made reef is building an ecosystem for plants and animals in Key Biscayne, just off the coast of Miami. Visitors are welcome via boat or scuba diving.
[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQZ1K8dBs2c/" alt="A statue at Neptune Memorial Reef" caption="fla_woman" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/fla_woman/" /]


<h2>4. Granary Burying Ground in Boston, MA</h2>
This site is the third cemetery established in Boston for the growing population, established in 1660. The beautiful grounds house the remains of many notable figures from the American Revolution, including Declaration of Independence signers John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Robert Treat Paine. Several other early American patriots, including Paul Revere and the casualties of the Boston Massacre, are here, too. While Benjamin Franklin is buried in Philadelphia, a large obelisk marks the resting place of his parents.

[caption id="attachment_50407" align="alignnone" width="1200"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/11/642319903.jpg" alt="Granary Burying Ground in Boston, MA" width="1200" height="800" /> Barry Winiker / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>5. Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, NY</h2>
As one of the largest cemeteries in New York City, Woodlawn is the final resting place for many influential people throughout time. There are authors, like Herman Melville and business tycoons like J.C. Penney and F.W. Woolworth. However, it is a must-visit destination for Titanic aficionados and Jazz music fans. Woodlawn is the only cemetery in New York with a Titanic memorial and has many survivors (and recovered bodies of those who didn't survive) in its ranks. Many musicians, including Irving Berlin, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, and Celia Cruz, have found an eternal home here. You can wander on your own, or take any one of several available tours to learn more about the great entombed here.
[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTFDAIUAs4z/" alt="A grave at Woodlawn Cemetery" caption="jfonseca.520" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/jfonseca.520/" /]


<h2>6. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, NY</h2>
The name of this site may sound familiar to you, via Washington Irving's classic short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." In fact, Irving lived in nearby Sunnyside and based his story on this cemetery and the adjacent Old Dutch Church. It was known as Tarrytown Cemetery before a request by Washington Irving to rename it, which was granted posthumously. In addition to visiting Irving's grave, you can find several other notable politicians, philanthropists, and well-to-do businessmen, such as William Rockafeller and Andrew Carnegie, buried here. The cemetery offers various walking tours, highlighting Irving and his storytelling, notable residents, and even some shocking stories only appropriate for the over 18 crowd.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-50415" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/11/shutterstock_693841108.jpg" alt="Sleepy Hollow Cemetery" width="1000" height="750" />

<h2>7. Howard Street Cemetery in Salem, MA</h2>
This cemetery is interesting in that its most famous resident was buried here when it was not a cemetery at all, but an open field. During the Salem Witch Trials, Giles Corey was accused of witchcraft and refused to enter a plea. As a result, he was "pressed" in the field beyond the jail, and was crushed to death under a pile of heavy rocks. His last words were said to be a curse against the town, and his ghost is often reported walking in the fields which now house the Howard Street Cemetery. Other notable graves here include Revolutionary War soldiers and local ship captains.
[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVYDPMplkGq/" alt="A crooked line of tombstones at sunset in he Howard Street Cemetery in Salem, MA" caption="magicpizzamemories" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/magicpizzamemories/" /]


<h2>8. Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone, AZ</h2>
One of the few sites on our list that is not on the East coast, Boothill is the final resting place of many Old West characters. While the location you visit today has been refurbished and new stones (or planks of wood as the case may be) mark the graves, this is indeed a real cemetery and not just a tourist trap. Some grave locations are approximate and many markers bear only the title "unknown." However, we also can see the graves of many famous residents from the heyday of the wild West, such as China Mary and Dutch Annie, and Billy Clanton with the McLaury brothers, killed in the gunfight at the OK Corral. Perhaps the best epitaph there reads "Here lies Lester Moore. Four slugs from a 44. No Les, No More."

[caption id="attachment_50412" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50412" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/11/GettyImages-598545368.jpg" alt="a tombstone in Boothill Graveyard in the historic western town of Tombstone, Arizona" width="2121" height="1414" /> makasana / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>9. Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, GA</h2>
Sitting on 160 acres, the Bonaventure Cemetery is located on a bluff near the Wilmington River. Lush with trees and plant life, it also plays a background for the book and movie <em>Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil</em>, detailing the life and misdeeds of Savannah's socialites. The beautiful Bird Girl statue which is featured on the book's cover has since been moved to the Jepson Center for the Arts, but the cemetery still features many beautiful memorials, such as that of 6-year-old Gracie Watson, and the nation's second-largest memorial and gravesite dedicated to those who were killed in the Spanish-American War.

[caption id="attachment_50409" align="alignnone" width="1200"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/11/554282853.jpg" alt="Memorials under the trees in Bonaventure Cemetery" width="1200" height="800" /> Bruce Yuanyue Bi / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>10. Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, CA</h2>
Last but certainly not least is the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. It's the only cemetery in Hollywood and has a history full of scandal, misappropriated funds, and fame. The main claim to fame here is the host of entertainment stars buried within, such as Marion Davies, Mel Blanc, Cecil B. DeMille, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, and so many more. After being purchased out of bankruptcy, the cemetery has been completely renovated. It has been the setting for many music videos, TV shows, and movies. Besides visiting the gravesites of many stars, you can also catch a movie projected onto the wall of the Cathedral Mausoleum during Cinespia events, or attend a music festival among the dearly departed.

[caption id="attachment_50413" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50413" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/11/GettyImages-756704.jpg" alt="The landmark Hollywoodland &quot;Hollywood&quot; sign can be seen from the Hollywood Forever Cemetery March 8, 2002 in Hollywood, CA. The historic cemetery, final resting place for many Hollywood stars, offers digital rememberances of the deceased which are viewable at the cemetery and over the internet at no charge. " width="1024" height="667" /> David McNew / Getty Images[/caption]

Spooky Cemeteries You've Got to See

With space tourism for non&#x2d;billionaires out of reach, for now, it’s good to know there are plenty of places right here on earth where you can explore the stars.

Humanity is rapidly approaching a new golden era of space travel, where commercial flights outside the earth's atmosphere are finally available, at least for those with the riches to pay for them. Perhaps even more excitingly, preparations are underway to send the first astronauts beyond the moon.

With space tourism for non-billionaires still out of reach, for now, it's good to know there are plenty of places right here on earth where you can explore the stars.
<h2>1. Space Center Houston</h2>
The legendary home of NASA's Mission Control Center was key to the Apollo moon landings. You can view the very room where Neil Armstrong's famous words were first heard on earth. However, the focus here is on the future, as much as the past. The aim is to inspire young people into STEM careers, so expect exhibitions of ground-breaking SpaceX reusable technology. The center is open for most of the year, with extended hours for impressive light displays over the holiday season.

[caption id="attachment_50221" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50221" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/11/GettyImages-1157145084.jpg" alt="The first stage of the Saturn V rocket on display at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, circa 1975." width="1024" height="695" /> Space Frontiers / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>2. Atacama Desert, Chile</h2>
If you're an intrepid traveler as well as a keen stargazer, make a trip to this other-worldly desert, which runs along the Pacific coasts of Chile and Peru. Arid conditions mean there's no cloud cover for around 200 nights per year. Combine this with the high altitude, and you have the perfect setting for views across the galaxy. Unsurprisingly, an international effort has been made to build observatories here, including the aptly named Extremely Large Telescope. The desert is best visited in summer, which runs from December to February.

[caption id="attachment_50222" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50222" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/11/GettyImages-590981231.jpg" alt="A traveler stands under the Milky Way galaxy as seen from the Atacama desert in northern Chile. The Atacama desert outside of San Pedro de Atacama is one of the world's best stargazing locations because of its combination of high altitude, dry air, and lack of light pollution." width="2121" height="1414" /> Eric Hanson / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>3. Greenwich Observatory, London</h2>
The history of Western astronomy always leads back to the Royal Observatory. Visit the Great Equatorial Telescope inside the instantly recognizable onion dome, or visit the planetarium, which regularly hosts astronomer-led shows with impressive footage of the stars. No trip is complete without a selfie taken on the Greenwich meridian line, where the eastern and western hemispheres meet. While you're there, you can take in some great views over London, British weather permitting.

[caption id="attachment_50223" align="alignnone" width="1000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50223" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/11/shutterstock_509400832.jpg" alt="Flamsteed House with the famous red Time Ball at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich" width="1000" height="665" /> Gary Perkin / Shutterstock.com[/caption]


<h2>4. Erg Chebbi Sand Dunes, Morocco</h2>
It's hard to imagine a more evocative place to observe the stars and planets than these mesmerizing dunes. Legend has it that the sea of sand was formed by God's wrath when a wealthy family refused to help a poverty-stricken woman and her son. Local tourism companies based around the village of Merzouga provide glamping facilities beneath stunning night skies, knowledgeable guided tours, and everything you'll need for the ultimate Moroccan desert experience. Temperatures can reach over 40 degrees Celsius in the summer months, so opt for a Spring or Autumn visit

[caption id="attachment_50224" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50224" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/11/GettyImages-1145861843.jpg" alt="Night sky in desert - Hot air balloons" width="2121" height="1414" /> seolbin / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>5. Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal</h2>
Combine breathtaking views of the cosmos with the world's highest peaks. On a clear night, the lack of light pollution makes this UNESCO world heritage site in the Himalayas one of the planet's most awe-inspiring stargazing spots. You won't be surprised to learn that this location, close to Mount Everest, is suited to those who are up to the physical demands of trekking. Early Spring and late autumn have a lower chance of rain and the best chance of views across the galaxy.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-50225" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/11/shutterstock_1542985124.jpg" alt="Kangtega and Thamserku mountain night view in Sagarmatha National park, Nepal, Himalayas" width="1000" height="678" />


<h2>6. Charleville Cosmos Centre, Queensland, Australia</h2>
This outback-located visitor attraction takes both a personal and universal approach to space exploration. Expert guides offer individual night-time tours for families to encourage an emotional connection with the Milky Way. Meanwhile, the Big Sky Observatory is famed for its dramatic roof opening, complete with music, to encourage visitors to look up and see the sky in all its glory. You'll also get unbelievable views of the planets through the center's powerful telescopes.
[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CPaWLI3BcUv/" alt="Cosmos Center, Queensland" caption="qldmusictrails" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/qldmusictrails/" /]


<h2>7. Kennedy Space Center, Florida</h2>
Get ready to see the "Greatest Space Adventure on Earth" at this fun-packed visitor attraction for the nearby NASA field center offers a chance to explore the history of space travel through the decades. Take the opportunity to get up close to iconic spacecraft like Saturn V and the Space Shuttle Atlantis and experience microgravity as part of your astronaut training. You can even buy tickets to view NASA SpaceX's launches. Check the launch schedule ahead of time to avoid disappointment.

[caption id="attachment_50226" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50226" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/11/GettyImages-89042029.jpg" alt=" A space suit and a Manned Manuvering Unit that astronauts use to move around outside the shuttle is displayed at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on the eve of the launch of STS-127 Space Shuttle Endeavour July 14, 2009 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. More than a month behind schedule due to hydrogen leaks and bad weather, Endeavour is supposed to deliver the final components of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory to the International Space Station. " width="1024" height="683" /> Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>8. Euro Space Center, Belgium</h2>
Europe's only space-themed park is especially great for families who want to experience an astronaut day together. Meanwhile, older children and teenagers can sign up for a week-long astronaut camp. Exciting activities, like the chance to take a simulated walk on Mars or the moon, are included in the standard entry ticket price. This attraction is open all year round.
[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFuF60So9In/" alt="Euro Space Center, Belgium" caption="eurospacecenter" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/eurospacecenter/" /]


<h2>9. South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town</h2>
This dual-location observatory will help you understand how astronomers and astrophysicists conduct ground-breaking research. The South African Large Telescope, the biggest in the southern hemisphere, is at the forefront of exploration of the Southern Sky.

The observatory's role in the development of astronomy in the region stretches back into colonial times. The Sutherland telescopes are situated 1800 meters above sea level, meaning they produce dependably clear skies and awe-inspiring views of the stars. You'll need to book ahead and check current regulations for open night availability and tours.

[caption id="attachment_50227" align="alignnone" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50227" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/11/GettyImages-1139642579.jpg" alt="Observatory Astronomy Telescopes out in the open near Sutherland South Africa" width="2000" height="1500" /> wilpunt / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>10. Maunakea Observatories, Hawaii</h2>
Maunakea is a dormant volcano and the tallest mountain on earth if you count the portion located beneath sea level. Beyond its official status, the high altitude means the observatories have astonishing views of the galaxy, with minimal light pollution. There's a helpful Visitor Information Station located roughly halfway up the mountainside, offering guidance on everything from health and safety concerns to the weather.

The journey up the mountain is suitable for a self-guided tour for those who are in robust health and aren't phased by a rapid drop in oxygen at high altitudes. Visit between April and October to avoid the rainy season.

[caption id="attachment_50217" align="alignnone" width="1200"]<img class="attachment-large size-large" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/11/1208495812.jpg" alt="Maunakea Observatories" width="1200" height="750" /> Hotaik Sung / Getty Images[/caption]

Reach For The Stars With These Space-Themed Vacations

Here's a look at some of India's most notorious "ghostly" hangouts. If you encounter a ghost while touring, consider it a bonus!

If you're a horror junkie and must have your fix of thrills and chills (even when you're holidaying), make sure to put India on your itinerary. While renowned for its astounding diversity of cultures, traditions, and natural wonders, the country has a sinister dimension: a variety of supposedly haunted places ranging from forts to mountain retreats that are sure to give you the heebie-jeebies (depending on how impressionable you are).

Here's a look at some of India's most notorious "ghostly" hangouts. Their creepiness aside, they have much historical appeal, so you might want to check them out regardless of the fear factor. Many of them are easily accessible from popular tourist destinations, so consider taking a detour to the dark side when you visit India.
<h2>1. Bhangarh Fort (Alwar District, State of Rajasthan)</h2>
Notices put up by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) forbid visitors from entering the premises between sunset and sunrise seem to validate Bhangarh's ghost stories. But it must be pointed out that all historical sites under the protection of the ASI have similar restrictions.

Reputedly "the most haunted place in India," Bhangarh Fort lies west of Bhangarh town in the Alwar district of Rajasthan.

Built in the 17th century, the ruined fort complex comprises marketplaces, mansions, dancers' chambers, temples, and a crumbling three-storied palace with arches, walkways, columns, and ramparts.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-50023" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/shutterstock_1538462513.jpg" alt="Spooky ruins of Bhangarh Fort, the most haunted place in India" width="1000" height="563" />


<h2>Bhangarh Fort Folklore</h2>
According to folklore, the Bhangarh fort town was deserted by its inhabitants (and subsequently fell into ruin) after it was cursed by a certain Baba Balanath, an ascetic who was angered when the fort cast its shadow upon his dwelling. Locals speak of the spirits of an ancient princess and a mystic haunting the complex. There have been reports of travelers getting lost, ghostly sightings, strange sounds, and freak accidents. While none of these stories have been verified, they help sustain the mysterious aura of the place.

[caption id="attachment_50024" align="alignnone" width="4255"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50024" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/GettyImages-993371456.jpg" alt="The historic ruins of Bhangarh, Rajasthan" width="4255" height="2214" /> The Storygrapher / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>Directions to Bhangarh Fort</h2>
The nearest airport is Jaipur International Airport. To get to Bhangarh Fort, you must drive eastward from Jaipur to Dausa and then continue toward Bhangarh town, from whence you must travel west to reach Bhangarh Fort. The trip should take two hours.

[caption id="attachment_50025" align="alignnone" width="2124"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50025" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/GettyImages-552735471.jpg" alt="Bhangarh, located in Rajasthan, is considered to be one of the most haunted place in India that dates back to 16th century. These are ruins of Johri Bazaar at the Bhangarh Complex." width="2124" height="1411" /> Manoj Photography / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>Agrasen ki Baoli (New Delhi)</h2>
Located in the heart of Delhi, this architectural wonder is a remake of the original that was believed to have been built by the mythological Maharaja Agrasen.

Built during the Tuglaq period of the Delhi Sultanate, the Agrasen Ki Baoli is a rectangular step well, unlike the more common circular step wells. Constructed from rocks and stones, it is 60 meters long and 15 meters wide. It has three levels with arched alcoves and a flight of more than a hundred steps leading from road level down to a circular grille-covered well.

Although no longer a functioning well, the baoli continues to attract scores of visitors. Some come to admire its architectural beauty, while others are drawn to the place by the stories that surround it.

[caption id="attachment_50028" align="alignnone" width="3766"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50028" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/GettyImages-872608158.jpg" alt="'Agrasen Ki Baoli' also called 'Ugrasen Ki Baoli' is central Delhi’s oldest monument. It is located in the narrow Hailey Lane, off Hailey Road, near Connaught Place, New Delhi." width="3766" height="2511" /> Neha Gupta / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>Agrasen ki Baoli Folklore</h2>
Legend has it that the well was cursed, and its water turned black. Despite this sorry turn of events, people continued to visit the baoli, some choosing to commit suicide in its inky-black depths. Locals insist that no body had ever been recovered and that the baoli is the domicile of demons.

[caption id="attachment_50030" align="alignnone" width="1000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50030" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/shutterstock_1264416553.jpg" alt="Famous step well Agrasen ki Baoli in New Delhi." width="1000" height="665" /> atsushi nemoto / Shutterstock.com[/caption]


<h2>Directions to Agrasen ki Baoli</h2>
The Agrasen Ki Baoli is a short walk from Connaught Place in the heart of Delhi. The well is open throughout the year, and entrance is free, though visits are not allowed between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-50029" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/shutterstock_1246099345.jpg" alt="Ugrasen ki Baoli is an ancient step well for storing water in Connaught Place, Delhi. " width="1000" height="662" />


<h2>The Savoy Hotel (Mussoorie, State of Uttrakhand)</h2>
Built-in the hill station of Mussoorie by an Irish barrister from Lucknow, the Savoy Hotel opened for business in 1902.

Replete with fine Edwardian furnishings, Steinway pianos, billiard tables, and a grand dining hall, the hotel attracted Indian royalty, the upper crust of the British Raj, and even Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Wales, who would later become Queen Mary. It was ranked with the best hotels in India, including The Cecil in Shimla, The Carlton in Lucknow, and Mussoorie's own Charleville Hotel.

The Savoy's reputation as a haunted place rests on the story of a death that occurred on its premises in 1911. One of the hotel's occupants, a 49-year-old spiritualist, named Frances Garnett-Orme, was found dead in her room. During a post-mortem examination, traces of prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide) were found in the body. A police investigation led to a female acquaintance of Frances's being charged with her murder, but the woman was later acquitted for want of adequate evidence.

[caption id="attachment_50032" align="alignnone" width="1189"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50032" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/14593050655_577ab10402_o.jpg" alt="" width="1189" height="1189" /> Nick Kenrick / Flickr[/caption]


<h2>The Savoy Hotel Folklore</h2>
The old Savoy Hotel was bought by the ITC Welcomgroup Hotels in 2009 and is now an ultra-modern hostel offering a range of accommodations, facilities, and services. However, it continues to have an eerie connection with its past. Some guests claim to have seen Garnett-Orme's ghost prowl the corridors, while others have reported hearing whispers and seeing doors opening and closing on their own.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CRarAFwpbwS/" alt="Rolling hills looking out the Savoy Hotel" caption="welcomhotelthesavoy" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/welcomhotelthesavoy/" /]


<h2>Directions to The Savoy Hotel</h2>
The city nearest to Mussoorie is Dehradun. It has its own railyard and airport, so you can get to it from any part of India. However, you must travel by road from Dehradun to Mussoorie, which lies 33 km to the north, within sight of the Himalayas. The uphill journey, through dense forests and picturesque hillscapes, should take an hour and twenty minutes.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-50033" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/shutterstock_1341700169.jpg" alt="Mussoorie, Uttarakhand arial view" width="1000" height="612" />


<h2>The Lambi Dehar Mines (Mussoorie, State of Uttrakhand)</h2>
In its heyday, the Lambi Dehar Mines employed upwards of 50,000 workers. But in the 1990s, owing to rising casualties resulting from truck accidents and unsafe mining practices, mining operations were stopped, and the site was abandoned.

In ruins today, the mines are dark and forbidding and overrun by vegetation. They have little appeal for anyone but visitors to Mussoorie who have heard the stories surrounding the mines and wish to test their mettle at the site after sundown.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQv-t2PNSJV/" alt="View from the top of the Lambi Dehar Mines" caption="explorer.mp4" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/explorer.mp4/" /]


<h2>Lambi Dehar Mines Folklore</h2>
The ghost of a witch is said to haunt the mines. Stories are told of tourists hearing strange noises, travelers meeting with road accidents, and visitors inexplicably disappearing. A helicopter crash in the vicinity of the mines has added to their dubious reputation.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHH5LwGBWEU/" alt="View of the Dehar Mines" caption="mr_nobodeey" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/mr_nobodeey/" /]


<h2>Directions to the Lambi Dehar Mines</h2>
The Dehar Mines lie 10km west of Mussoorie. If you plan to visit, hire a taxi or a private vehicle at Dehradun and retain it for the duration of your stay in Mussoorie.
[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CBekPRmgvHX/" alt="Road to the Lambi Dehar Mines" caption="anujkhattri" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/anujkhattri/" /]


<h2>Kuldhara Village (Jaisalmer, State of Rajasthan)</h2>
Established in the early 13th century, Kuldhara village was active and prosperous until the 19th century, when its population began to dwindle. Eventually abandoned, it gradually fell into ruin, leaving nothing but crumbling dwellings, cremation grounds, cenotaphs, wells, and a temple.

A report published in Current Science in 2017 suggests that the village was destroyed by an earthquake, which led to its abandonment. It is equally possible (if historical facts are to be considered) that the people of Kuldhara left their village when dwindling water resources, coupled with a heavy tax burden imposed by their rulers, made self-sustenance difficult.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-50034" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/shutterstock_1182986365.jpg" alt="View of Kuldhara abandoned village near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India" width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>Kuldhara Village Folklore</h2>
Legend has it that Salim Singh, a cruel, debauched minister of 19th century Jaisalmer State, was responsible for the ruination of Kuldhara village. As the story goes, Salim sent his soldiers to the village to bring back a girl he was attracted to. Shocked and outraged, the villagers told the guards to return the next day but left the village at night after cursing it to remain forever abandoned.

Perhaps owing to numerous unsuccessful attempts to repopulate it, Kuldhara village developed a reputation for being haunted. According to a 2013 report in Daily Bhaskar, members of the Indian Paranormal Society observed various sudden drops in temperature, moving shadows, and other phenomena when they examined the site to determine if it was haunted.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-50035" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/shutterstock_1088903888.jpg" alt="Graveyard stone in abandoned cemetery in Rajasthan" width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>Directions to Kuldhara Village</h2>
The "Golden City" of Jaisalmer has its own airport and a fair number of hotels and hostels. After taking in the attractions of the city, you could visit Kuldhara, a short drive away. Visiting hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-50036" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/shutterstock_1446356090.jpg" alt="Kuldhara is an abandoned village outside Jaisalmer. It is home to ruins of homes and Hindu temples. Local legends say that this once prosperous village was abandoned because of persecution by the rule" width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>Shaniwar Wada Fort (Pune, State of Maharashtra)</h2>
Shaniwar Wada served as a Peshwar fortification in the city of Pune during the Maratha Empire. It came under British control after the Third Anglo-Maratha War and was destroyed in an unexplained fire in 1828.

Once a large complex comprising massive fortification walls, gates, bastions, halls, fountains, reservoirs, and the main seven-storied palace, Shaniwar Wada is but a shadow of its former self. Despite this, it continues to attract history buffs and tourists, including thrill-seekers who've heard the story of Narayanrao, its resident ghost.

The ruling Peshwa in 1773, Narayanrao was murdered by guards on the orders of his aunt and uncle. Ignoring Hindu custom, which demands that last rites (including cremation) be performed, the killers dismembered the body of the 13-year-old ruler and dumped it in a river.

Locals believe that this unholy act led to the haunting of the palace by the ghost of young Narayanrao.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-50037" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/shutterstock_714838009.jpg" alt="Shaniwar wada fort, Pune." width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>Shaniwar Wada Folklore</h2>
Those living in the vicinity of the complex mention hearing Narayanrao's spirit calling to his uncle on full moon nights, crying "Kaka mala vachava!" (Marathi for "Uncle, save me!") But is the ghost of Narayanrao for real? Spend a night at the site and discover the truth for yourself.

[caption id="attachment_50039" align="alignnone" width="1000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50039" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/shutterstock_1560331415.jpg" alt="Tourist visiting historical shaniwar wada in Pune city. Shaniwar wada is a historical fortification in the city of Pune in Maharashtra, India. Built in 1732" width="1000" height="667" /> Abhishek Sah Photography / Shutterstock.com[/caption]


<h2>Directions to Shaniwar Wada</h2>
Pune is a sprawling metropolis with its own airport and rail station. If you're visiting from Mumbai, it's best to travel by road or rail. Shaniwar Wada lies to the west of Pune railway station, just a quick drive away.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-50040" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/shutterstock_1032424798.jpg" alt="Stairs of Shaniwar wada fort" width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>Mukesh Mills (Mumbai, State of Maharashtra)</h2>
Mukesh Mills was a thriving commercial center in the early years of the 20th century. Sitting right beside a port in South Bombay, it accepted raw cotton offloaded from ships and exported finished cotton fabric under the management of the East India Company. The mill was renovated in the late 70s but ground to a halt during the textile worker's strike of 1982. It was gutted in an unexplained fire around that time and has stayed shut ever since.

Today, all that remains of Mukesh Mills are dilapidated, soot-stained structures overrun by weeds. Though the place is desolate and forbidding, it has long been a popular locale for fashion, television, and film shoots.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba5zwKDgwoM/" alt="Ruins of Mukesh Mills" caption="karishma_sakhrani" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/karishma_sakhrani/" /]


<h2>Mukesh Mills Folklore</h2>
A story has been doing the rounds that Bollywood actor Bipasha Basu found it difficult to deliver her lines at a certain spot in the mills. However, she had no problem with dialogue anywhere else. It is said that actress Kamya Punjabi refuses to shoot at the location because she heard of a crew member becoming possessed at the site. Many visitors report hearing voices when there was nobody around. Though Mukesh Mills may or may not be haunted, one thing is certain: film crews shooting at the location ensure they pack up and leave before sundown.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-50041" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/shutterstock_1112459444.jpg" alt="This is the view of the remains of the Mukesh mills from Sassoon Docks in Colaba. The mill chimney stands prominently amongst the ruins." width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>Directions to Mukesh Mills</h2>
Mukesh Mills lies to the east of the southern stretch of Colaba Causeway on the Mumbai peninsula. If you're planning a visit, you might have to wait a bit because the Mumbai municipality has asked the mills' owners to keep the place shut pending a structural audit.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BvGhpZiHDb1/" alt="Inside the Mukesh Mills" caption="nisarg__barot" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/nisarg__barot/" /]

Though India boasts numerous haunted spots, the places have been selected as much for their historical value as their ghostly appeal. Whether you're a history buff, a culture vulture, or simply curious, a visit to these sites would be worth it. If you do encounter a ghost while touring, consider it a bonus!

Seven Sinister Destinations Worth Visiting in India

Many vortexes are located in places of outstanding natural beauty, and some of these locales also feature excellent cultural and recreational opportunities.

If you've ever been to a meditation or yoga class or to any type of New Age gathering, you might have heard about energetic or spiritual vortexes. Unlike the vortexes you learned about in physics class, these spiritual vortexes can't be measured scientifically, as they allegedly don't exist in the physical realm. Rather, they are purported to be "swirling centers of spiritual energy" that promote healing, positive emotions, and creativity. Often, people report feeling energized and peaceful when visiting a vortex. Plus, many vortexes are located in places of great natural beauty, and some of these locales also feature excellent cultural and recreational opportunities. All of them are fascinating destinations to explore.
<h2>1. Sedona</h2>
Sedona, Arizona, is arguably America's best-known vortex site. The Sedona area boasts four different vortexes, although all of Sedona is reputed to be imbued with uplifting energy. Set in a stunning landscape of red-rock desert, Sedona draws spiritual seekers from all over the world. The town has become a sort of New Age Disneyland, with a full roster of holistic health practitioners, shamans, and "energy workers," along with metaphysical stores, spiritual retreat centers, and spas galore. Many local tour companies offer guided excursions to Sedona's vortexes. But, since the vortexes are located in areas that are open to the public, you can also visit them on your own. Maps to Sedona's vortexes are widely available online.

[caption id="attachment_50003" align="alignnone" width="2122"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50003" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/GettyImages-512195679.jpg" alt="Red Rocks in mirror are closer than they appear. Driving past Bell Rock in Sedona, Arizona with Mount Wilson in the rear view mirror" width="2122" height="1412" /> Kelli Klymenko / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>2. Mount Shasta</h2>
This volcano in northern California occupies a central place in the legends of local Native Americans, who consider the mountain to be a sacred entity with mystical powers. Many other people have also sensed something special about Shasta beyond its pristine natural beauty and the excellent setting it provides for outdoor activities. In New Age circles, Mount Shasta is considered to be one of the most powerful vortex locations in the United States, if not the entire world. Theories have sprouted, connecting Shasta to Atlantis and extraterrestrial beings. A local tour company, Shasta Vortex Adventures, leads "vision quest" excursions to the Shasta vortex.

[caption id="attachment_50004" align="alignnone" width="2119"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50004" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/GettyImages-543069466.jpg" alt="Mt. Shasta reflected in the lake during sunset." width="2119" height="1414" /> spikeehair / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>3. Ojai</h2>
Set in a picturesque valley filled with citrus and olive groves, the small southern California town of Ojai has long attracted hippies, celebrities, and refugees from urban life. Ojai is home to seven energy vortexes, which might contribute to its laid-back atmosphere. Some people also attribute Ojai's special ambiance to the valley's east-to-west orientation, which results in spectacular sunsets that feature a uniquely local phenomenon: "the pink moment." This is a brief time in the evening when the mountains that surround the valley are flushed pink by the setting sun. Adding to Ojai's appeal are charming boutique hotels and farm-to-table restaurants featuring fresh, locally grown food. Visitors to Ojai should consult local sources for more information about the precise locations of the vortexes.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-50005" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/shutterstock_1249033852.jpg" alt="The Pink Moment in Ojai Mountains" width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>4. Eureka Springs</h2>
Eureka Springs has long been a special place. In the Victorian era, this small town in the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas flourished as a popular resort. The waters from its many springs reputedly imbued with healing properties were incorporated into spa treatments. Today, Eureka Springs is still a popular destination. With bountiful natural beauty, a well-preserved historic downtown, and a solid reputation as a healing center and open-minded community, Eureka Springs draws alternative health practitioners, tourists, artists, and quirky characters. Brimming with festivals and offbeat attractions, the town offers "something for everyone," according to the locals. So, perhaps it's only natural that Eureka Springs would have a vortex, as well. It's not as widely publicized as some of the more famous vortexes in other places, but the staff at Eureka's visitor centers might be able to help point the curious in the right direction.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CG3BphqMY1G/" alt="View inside Grotto Spring in Eureka Springs, Arkansas" caption="livinglucidwithlexi" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/livinglucidwithlexi/" /]


<h2>5. Oregon Vortex</h2>
More roadside attraction than a spiritual hub, the Oregon Vortex might not actually qualify as a real vortex. On its website, it's described as a "sphere of energy" rather than a "swirling center of energy," which is how spiritual vortexes are usually defined. Or, perhaps the Oregon Vortex is an example of what some people deem a "negative vortex," which is a place full of negative energy. Negative vortexes are reputed to cause feelings of depression, anxiety, and illness in some who visit them. In fact, the local Native Americans referred to the area of the Oregon Vortex as "Forbidden Ground." Today, the Oregon Vortex, near the city of Medford, is run as a tourist attraction. Admission includes a guided tour with demonstrations of the strange natural phenomena that supposedly occur in the vortex, such as brooms balancing upright on slanted floors and balls rolling uphill.
[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVMFWu5vInl/" alt="An old photo of a man standing straight up in the Oregon Vortex" caption="happycampersbend" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/happycampersbend/" /]


<h2>6. Haleakala</h2>
The highest mountain on the Hawaiian island of Maui, Haleakala, is the "house of the sun" in the Hawaiian language, sacred to Native Hawaiians and considered to be a center of spiritual energy. The top of Haleakala is where people have reported feeling this energy at its strongest. Watching the sunrise or sunset from Haleakala's peak can be an especially powerful experience. You can visit Haleakala on a guided tour or on your own. There is no public transportation to the summit of the mountain, so if you make a solo journey, you'll need a car. Because of its high elevation, at more than 10,000 feet, visitors to Haleakala might experience altitude sickness.

[caption id="attachment_50006" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-50006" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2021/10/GettyImages-516506302.jpg" alt="The sunrise in the Haleakala National Park Crater in Maui, Hawaii. A volcanic crater on the peak of the Haleakala Volcano on top of the island of Maui. Over 10,000 feet above sea level, an incredible view from the crater at sunrise. A popular tourist destination all day, especially at sunrise and sunset. Photographed in horizontal format." width="2121" height="1414" /> YinYang / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>7. Ringing Rocks</h2>
In eastern Pennsylvania's Buck County, there is a large, open field of rocks and boulders of all sizes. The rocks ring when struck with a hammer or tire iron, and sometimes different tones can be produced by striking different parts of the same rock. Scientists don't know why the rocks ring or how the field of rocks even came to exist. One theory is that they were scattered across the landscape by glaciers during the last Ice Age. The rocks are located in a park, so the public is welcome to come and strike them to experience the effect for themselves. Reportedly, the field of rocks is also an energy vortex where no vegetation will grow, and allegedly birds don't fly over the rocks, either.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/COsWVwOlgU4/" alt="Using a hammer at Ringing Rocks" caption="analacubana.1988" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/visitbuckspa/" /]


<h2>8. Vortexes around the world</h2>
These are just a handful of the reported vortexes in the world. The locations offer a multitude of attractions, and visiting them can be inspiring and enriching on many levels.

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[gallery ids="50008,50009,50010,50011,50012,50013,50015,50016,50017,50014"]

Visiting America's Vortexes

Hidden within the world's most notorious sights, you'll discover everything from secret compartments to churches, cemeteries, passageways, and more.

There's more to iconic landmarks than meets the eye, and when you dig deeper, eye-opening surprises await. Hidden deep within the walls of the world's most notorious sights, you'll discover everything from secret compartments to churches, cemeteries, passageways, and much more. These destinations make the world's wonders even more incredible, showing that history holds surprising secrets our imagination can't quite comprehend. While some of these sites are open to the public and others remain hidden, interesting stories abound.
<h2>Gustav Eiffel's apartment, Paris</h2>
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most iconic landmarks on earth, with millions of annual visitors. While they can travel straight to the top, glimpse the city from every angle, and experience a romantic dinner with a view, one stop remains entirely off-limits — a one-of-a-kind top-floor apartment designed exclusively for Gustav Eiffel himself. He's the only one who's ever lived there, and he refused to sell it to anyone else, regardless of the price. Using it to host close-knit gatherings during his lifetime, the apartment remains furnished with his decor.

[reddit url="https://www.reddit.com/r/BeAmazed/comments/n0rdxt/gustave_eiffel_had_his_own_private_apartment_at/" /]


<h2>Vatican City's necropolis, Rome</h2>
The Vatican houses countless secrets, from long-lost tunnels to abandoned spaces from centuries gone by. However, the most macabre is the expansive catacomb hidden beneath St. Peter's Basilica. Essentially a second city for the dead, this massive grave houses mysterious figures at depths between 16 and 40 feet underground. Over 1,000 graves are buried there, some dating back to the Imperial Period of Ancient Rome. The first Pope, Peter, and Jesus's disciples are rumored to call the cemetery their final resting place.

[reddit url="https://www.reddit.com/r/ancientrome/comments/qfkjb0/1st_century_ad_tomb_of_the_caetennii_discovered/" /]


<h2>Khufu's hidden chamber, Giza</h2>
The Great Pyramid of Giza, built to memorialize Pharaoh Khufu between 2550 and 2490 BCE, is the largest of the ancient Egyptian pyramids, so not every space has been discovered in detail. Filled with secret rooms and hidden passages, the most mesmerizing is a recently discovered 400-foot tall secret chamber. A second, smaller passage has also been identified. While archaeologists aren't 100% sure about the purpose, many believe this is the opening to Khufu's hidden burial chamber — a site that remains unexplored after thousands of years.

[caption id="attachment_52659" align="alignnone" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52659" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/05/GettyImages-147104333-1.jpg" alt="Great pyramid of Khufu" width="2000" height="1300" /> Taken by Archie Wong / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>One Times Square, New York City</h2>
Visit New York, and One Times Square is impossible not to notice, imposing over the avenue with its around-the-clock advertisements and eye-catching grandeur. Step inside, however, and you'll discover a surprise... nothing. That's right, absolutely nothing. While a pharmacy takes up space on the ground floor, the rest of the building is brimming with vacant offices, including supplies and equipment from decades past. After its bankruptcy in 1992, the building was sold solely for advertising purposes, with the interior left empty for the unforeseen future.

[reddit url="https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/8srmh6/for_the_people_interesting_in_the_inside_of/" /]


<h2>Cave of the Evil Spirit, Niagara Falls</h2>
Niagara Falls is one of North America's most popular tourist destinations, but a quaint limestone cave carved into the gorge's side is hidden away from the action. It was given its name by the Seneca people, who believed that the darkened den housed an inimitable spirit. Notable explorers, including Robert Cavalier de LaSalle, didn't heed the warnings and stepped inside, suffering the penalties when he was abandoned by his team, lost his fortune, and was murdered by his own men. According to legend, the spot is not just haunted but cursed, and visitors can explore at their own risk.

[caption id="attachment_52653" align="alignnone" width="640"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52653" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/04/place_image-image-82c2602e-bdc2-40bb-a427-7a8073be0dc9.jpg" alt="Cave of the Evil Spirit" width="640" height="360" /> Photo by Roadtrippers[/caption]


<h2>The Statue of Liberty's torch, New York City</h2>
Another New York City must-see, the Statue of Liberty, is an American icon that's enchanted visitors from across the globe. While you can still travel to the top, did you know that the torch was also open for adventuring? Until 1916, tourists could explore the room enclosed within Liberty's torch, capturing an entirely new view of the city. After a WWI explosion damaged the infrastructure, the room was closed. It remains off-limits to this day. A TorchCam can give curious travelers a small peek inside.

[reddit url="https://www.reddit.com/r/nyc/comments/ixmvq3/a_rare_view_of_the_statue_of_liberty_from_the/" /]


<h2>Mount Rushmore's Hall of Records, Keystone, South Dakota</h2>
There's a hidden door behind Lincoln's head, and it's home to some bold ambitions. Built between 1938 and 1939, the Hall of Records was meant to honor American history in-depth, with plans to hold vital historical documents like the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, busts of famous Americans, and a list of U.S. contributions to the arts and sciences. When creator Gutzon Borglum died in 1941, work came to a close, and the room was sealed off to the public.

[reddit url="https://www.reddit.com/r/AlternateAngles/comments/e04flm/this_view_of_mount_rushmore_showing_the_entrance/" /]


<h2>Harvington Hall's priest holes, Harvington, UK</h2>
Hidden deep in the Worcestershire countryside, Harvington Hall holds many secrets. The site was used as a hideout for Catholic priests fleeing persecution during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and it still houses rare antiques and paintings from that era. Also held within are seven secret crawl spaces known as priest holes. Regarded as "The House of Secrets," there's plenty to discover, but these cramp, cold, dark spaces are by far the most terrifying. In the 16th century, priest hunters stripped the paneling and floors of great houses around the country, playing a petrifying game of hide-and-seek. While the terror is long gone, these spaces remain open for exploration today.

[tweet id="582183745635135488" /]


<h2>The Doge's Palace prison, Venice</h2>
While many visitors are aware of this not-so-secret destination, few have actually seen it. Nestled directly under the palace's roof, this notorious prison was harsh on its inhabitants, covered with sturdy lead slabs that conducted heat in summer and passed cold through in winter. During its 400-year history, only one person escaped to this difficult destination — renowned lothario Giacomo Casanova in 1765. Top-secret tours are available for a limited number of guests to make their way through.

[caption id="attachment_52651" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52651" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/04/GettyImages-1180624211.jpg" alt="Doge's Palace Prison" width="2121" height="1414" /> alla_iatsun / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>Our Lord in the Attic, Amsterdam</h2>
Sunday service was conducted in secret in this hidden church with a marble altar and pews for a 150-person congregation. Attended by locals in the 17th century, this attic church was hidden away to avoid Catholic persecution. On the outside, it's a traditional home that blends in effortlessly with its surroundings. Once you head up the stairs, however, the attic church comes into view, and tourists are free to explore it in full, including remaining artifacts from the period.

[caption id="attachment_52652" align="alignnone" width="1000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52652" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/04/shutterstock_1642082143.jpg" alt="AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, - MARCH, 19, 2018: Ons Lieve Heer op Solder, Our Lord in the Attic, a secret house Church spanning three townhouses in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Holland." width="1000" height="667" /> Robert Mullan / Shutterstock[/caption]

Hidden Spots in the World's Most Famous Buildings

Whether you're on the ground exploring or on the couch daydreaming, discover the incredible stories of islands that exist solely as abandoned remains.

We're so used to seeing hundreds of people in our day-to-day lives that the thought of an abandoned society is unspeakable. The thing is the people who inhabited these infamous oases once had that same thought. Around the world, communities that were brimming with luxurious homes, schools, and restaurants suddenly ceased to exist, drawing the curtain on once-flourishing societies. Where were they? And what happened to them? Whether you're on the ground exploring or on the couch daydreaming, discover the incredible stories of islands that exist solely as abandoned remains.
<h2>Gunkanjima Island, Japan</h2>
A company town in the truest sense of the word, Gunkanjima, or "Battleship" Island, was settled by over 5,000 inhabitants in its heyday. Filled with sought-after coal deposits, the Mitsubishi Corporation bought the island in 1890, then filled it to the brim with apartment complexes, shops, restaurants, and schools to accommodate the rapidly-growing mining population. However, those coal deposits didn't last forever, and once they ran out, the entire city — once the most densely populated place on earth — transformed from a bustling metropolis to an abandoned ghost town.

[caption id="attachment_52627" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52627" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/04/GettyImages-1165878337.jpg" alt="Gunkanjima Island (Battleship Island) near Nagasaki" width="2121" height="1414" /> Ruben Earth / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>Deception Island, Antarctica</h2>
Nations were up in arms over Deception Island for years, seeking the rich resources it supplied fur trappers, hunters, whalers, research scientists, and explorers. At one point, Argentina, Chile, and the UK all had research bases located there. Little did these adventurers know, but something was brimming under the surface — an active volcano that erupted not once but twice! In 1967 and 1969, the volcano destroyed everything in their vicinity, including all existing bases, equipment, and supplies. It remains uninhabitable to this day.

[caption id="attachment_52629" align="alignnone" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52629" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/04/GettyImages-641492694.jpg" alt="Deception Island" width="2000" height="1500" /> ValerieVS / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>Suakin Island, Sudan</h2>
It might just be crumbling remains now, but Suakin Island was once the Sudanese center of wealth and prosperity, leading empires to success for over 3,000 years. Developed by Ramses III in the 10th century BCE, this vital trading port was filled with luxurious buildings, homes, trading posts, and temples constructed with coral. Many contained mesmerizing carvings and fine art, and the entire community was gated. The height of medieval luxury, Suakin Island started slowing down drastically as the slave trade diminished. By the 1920s, it was falling into disrepair, with the beautiful coral buildings disintegrating bit by bit. Only ruins remain today, but visitors can explore what was once the trading capital of a flourishing empire.

[caption id="attachment_52630" align="alignnone" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52630" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/04/GettyImages-1161970927-1.jpg" alt="Fishing boats in Suakin, an ancient abandoned port city made of coral on a Red Sea island in northeastern Sudan." width="2000" height="1415" /> JordiStock / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>Poveglia Island, Italy</h2>
The macabre backstory is enough to keep us away, but Poveglia Island is completely off-limits either way. Located between Venice and Lido, the island has been used as a dumping ground for the unwanted and the diseased for hundreds of years. Originally settled in 421, it became a quarantine colony in 1348, with tens of thousands of symptom-bearing citizens exiled there to die. In the late 1800s, a mental asylum was installed on the island, with doctors performing strange, torturous, and deadly experiments on patients. The island was officially closed in 1975, with the remaining facilities entirely abandoned. Today, it's recognized as one of the most haunted places on the planet, with 50% of the soil containing human ash.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-52631" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/04/shutterstock_2036338592.jpg" alt="Aerial view of the plagued ghost island of Poveglia in the Venetian lagoon, opposite Malamocco along the Canal Orfano near Venice, Italy." width="1000" height="666" />


<h2>Ross Island, India</h2>
Regarded as the "Paris of the East," Ross Island was used by British officers as a penal colony and jail. Brimming with elegant properties, restaurants, pools, clubs, and gardens, the island became an extravagant, over-the-top home, with British residents sparing no expense in its design. In 1941, however, luxury living came to an end when an earthquake devastated the island and destroyed many of these structures. That same year, the Japanese invaded and claimed the land. Ross Island was abandoned in 1979, with only the ruined remains in place for visitors to explore.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-52632" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/04/shutterstock_744697231.jpg" alt="Abandoned colonial architecture covered with big tree roots at Ross island" width="1000" height="667" />


<h2>St. Kilda, Scotland</h2>
This isolated archipelago was once home to a tiny yet flourishing community of locals. While humans have called the three islands of St. Kilda home for thousands of years, its population peaked at 112 in 1851 and began to wane through the decades. In 1930, it was just 26 people, all of whom were evacuated that same year due to crop failure, malnutrition, disease, and the impact of World War I. These inhabitants never looked back, and these islands remain abandoned except for restored homes, huts, and a bar welcoming visitors.

[caption id="attachment_52633" align="alignnone" width="2000"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52633" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/04/GettyImages-176082823-1.jpg" alt="The main street of ruined cottages on Hirta, the main island of the St Kilda archipelago." width="2000" height="1267" /> RollingEarth / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>McNab's Island, Nova Scotia</h2>
Originally settled by British explorers in the 1750s and resettled by merchant Peter McNab in the 1780s, McNab's Island remained the namesake home of his descendants until 1934. Since there were no other inhabitants to keep daily life moving, existing structures fell into disrepair and destruction, despite the spot's vital role in protecting Halifax Harbor through the centuries. Once home to a top-secret Prohibition-era distillery that serviced thirsty travelers and military men, mighty forts, gardens, and a lighthouse, everything remains abandoned and open for adventuring.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-52634" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/04/shutterstock_1028646553.jpg" alt="Old defense fortifications on McNab's Island in Halifax Harbour Nova Scotia Canada" width="1000" height="662" />


<h2>Spinalonga, Greece</h2>
The island may be deserted, but dark history is alive and well on Spinalonga, near Crete. While the island was settled and ruled by Venetians from the 16th century onward, it became best known as a 20th-century leper colony that lasted from 1903 to 1957. Under-staffed and under cared for, the island did anything but thrive, and it was shut down entirely in 1957 — one of the last remaining leper colonies on earth with a population of up to 400 inhabitants.

[caption id="attachment_52635" align="alignnone" width="2121"]<img class="size-full wp-image-52635" src="https://thegetaway.mblycdn.com/uploads/tg/2022/04/GettyImages-1303043538.jpg" alt="View of the island of Spinalonga" width="2121" height="1413" /> Gatsi / Getty Images[/caption]


<h2>Brentford Ait, England</h2>
Once a paradise for rowdy travelers, Brentford Ait was home to the infamous Three Swans Pub in its heyday, drawing crowds of questionable customers who couldn't wait to experience the most indecent behavior in public. Notorious for its wild gatherings and dusk-till-dawn parties, the rowdy institution was finally bought by an annoyed neighbor and closed down in 1812, leaving it uninhabited with zero remaining buildings. Now that's a level of pettiness we can only dream of.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BQlhUZejcwu/" alt="Brentford Ait" caption="fat.les" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/fat.les/" /]


<h2>Discovery Island, Florida</h2>
Disney opened Discovery Island in 1974 as a bird sanctuary, adding a selection of exotic animals for its take on the traditional menagerie. Guests could explore the flamingo pool or relax at the beach, and they had to take a resort boat or cruise just to access it. A flourishing tourist attraction for over two decades, the island safely relocated the animals before closing in 1999 due to deadly bacteria and free-roaming 'gators. Today, it remains abandoned, with tourists forbidden all access.

[instagram-image url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDUoQVBjCoE/" alt="Discovery Island, Florida" caption="exploringthedisneyworld" captionUrl="https://www.instagram.com/exploringthedisneyworld/" /]