Places of Interest

The first Ferris wheels were built for fun, but now they're being built for the spectacular views they provide. Here are 10 spectacular rides you may want to check out.

By Jesslyn Shields

Perhaps best known as the last home of Elisa Lam before her mysterious death, the Cecil Hotel has a sordid past full of murders and mayhem. Care to step inside?

By Nathan Chandler

You probably know that the equator is the imaginary line that divides Earth into the Northern and Southern hemispheres. But do you know on which side of 0 degrees latitude these famous landmarks fall?

By Alia Hoyt

You might be stuck at home under quarantine, but that doesn't mean you can't get your cultural fix, virtually, anyway. Here are nine amazing choices.

By Carrie Dennis

The twisting trail wasn’t the most direct route, but its heart-pounding ascents past other ceremonial sites built suspense for the final reveal.

By Dave Roos

From the beginning, this project was mired in political infighting, lack of funds and construction delays. Sounds familiar? Find out more intriguing facts about the Washington Monument.

By Dave Roos

These destinations are definitely for folks drawn to the dark side of life.

By Chris Opfer

It could be your last chance to check out the colossal statues of the first 43 presidents' heads — yes, heads.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

It may not get you to Hogwarts, but it's still fun to take your picture there.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

The tropical island next door that was off limits to Americans for more than half a century is now open for business … as long as you're not a "tourist."

By Jesslyn Shields

Why have small towns like Helen, Georgia, and Solvang, California, gotten all dressed up in immigrant garb?

By Chris Opfer

Toilet-themed restaurants in Toronto and Moscow are two recent examples of this weird craze spreading beyond Asia.

By Christopher Hassiotis

Lost islands are the stuff of adventure movies and ancient tales, but some actually did exist. Others were only alive in imagination or because someone mistook them for another place. Do you know any of these islands?

By Patrick J. Kiger

From murder sites to a building shaped like one of your body's major organs, these rooms for rent deliver way more than free WiFi. You'll never believe all the weird and wonderful places you can bed down.

By Alia Hoyt

Airbnb sounds like a win-win: Guests get a unique vacation experience often at less than a hotel would charge, while hosts make extra cash off spare bedrooms or second homes. But hotels, cities and tenants' groups don't feel as buoyant about Airbnb.

By Dave Roos

For most of us, hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances seem like nice upgrades. But the world's most expensive houses have heated driveways, private gyms and movie theaters. Jealous yet?

By Josh Clark & Dave Roos

Serpent Mound, a winding mound of earth one-quarter mile long and three feet high, remains a mystery despite all the research. Serpent Mound State Memorial is the largest prehistoric animal effigy in the world. Read about Serpent Mound vacations.

By the Editors of Mobil Travel Guide

Stone Mountain, Georgia, is the world's largest exposed piece of granite -- billions of cubic feet of rock. This immense monolith is just a short drive from Atlanta. Learn why it's not just the size of the rock that brings people to Stone Mountain.

By the Editors of Mobil Travel Guide

A hiker's paradise unfolds at Amicalola Falls State Park. Twelve miles of trails weave throughout the Appalachian Mountains. Daring adventurers can brave the 8-mile trail from the park to Springer Mountain. Learn about vacations to Amicalola Falls.

By the Editors of Mobil Travel Guide

St. Augustine Castillo de San Marcos and its 25 acres of old parade grounds are a St. Augustine must-see. The fortress, built by Spaniards between 1672 and 1695, is a marvel of a Renaissance relic. Learn about vacations to the Castillo de San Marcos.

By the Editors of Mobil Travel Guide

The 56-foot statue of Vulcan in Birmingham, Alabama, is the largest cast-iron statue in the world. The creation of the glorious sculpture is tied closely to the roots of the city. Learn about family vacations to see the Vulcan Statue in Birmingham.

By the Editors of Mobil Travel Guide

The U.S. Capitol is an icon of 19th-century neoclassical architecture in the United States. The building's cornerstone was laid in September, 1793; it's been burnt, rebuilt, expanded, and restored since then. Read about vacations to the U.S. Capitol.

By the Editors of Mobil Travel Guide

Though tours of the White House have been very limited since Sept. 11 2001 (trips must be approved six months in advance) a stroll past this iconic home is the perfect way to begin or end a tour of the nearby museums and landmarks in downtown DC.

By the Editors of Mobil Travel Guide

At the center of the Lincoln Memorial is a sculpture of Abraham Lincoln. One hand is clenched, one open. His gaze remains focused across the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument and the National Mall. Learn about vacations to Lincoln Memorial.

By the Editors of Mobil Travel Guide

Monticello, the Virginia home of American founder Thomas Jefferson, is a Roman neoclassical masterpiece. Jefferson moved to the property in 1770, but the mansion was not finished until 1809. Read more about family vacations to Monticello.

By the Editors of Mobil Travel Guide