December 06, 2021

Give the Gift of Wonder Looking for a great gift for that hard-to-buy-for person on your list? Atlas Obscura has you covered! Our Online Course Gift Card is the perfect choice for anyone who thrives on curiosity and a sense of adventure. Our online courses offer interactive and fun learning opportunities in a wide range of under-explored topics from lock picking and taxidermy to perfumery and honey tasting. Your recipient is sure to find a course that piques their interests!  BUY NOW → GASTRO OBSCURA Attention All Shoppers The “Aisle of Shame” is the unofficial name Aldi enthusiasts have given the discount store’s middle aisle, home to a weekly rotation of curious edible and non-edible products available only while supplies last. We’re talking everything from vegan lasagna made from lentils to a churro maker and apple cinnamon latte-flavored dog biscuits. And if you’re in the vicinity and hear a “caw-caw!” sound? That’s just a member of the "Aisle of Shame" Facebook group sending out a call in their natural habitat. READ MORE → MOAB, UTAH Gemini Bridges The area around Moab, Utah, is famous for its natural arches, and many are preserved in Arches National Park. Enter the Gemini Bridges—a pair of crossable robust arches— that stand in the heart of the scenic red-rock country for which Moab is famous. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Making Music With Nature In tomorrow's four-part seminar, led by musician and philosopher David Rothenberg, we’ll turn our ears to the unsung music makers found in the sea, sky, and right in our own neighborhoods. We’ll walk through how to listen to the natural environment, record sound, and use those recordings for creating musical pieces or soundscapes as we hone our ability to tune in to the music of nature for healing, art, and adventure. ENROLL NOW → Rolley Hole Champions What is rolley hole? It’s a marble game, but not just any marble game: it has a specially designed playing yard and distinct rules. Players form a pair, and armed with one marble each, their goal is to sink their marble in each hole in a certain pattern for a total of 12 holes. Rolley hole has prospered for generations in Tennessee, and while its exact origins are unknown, rolley hole may have derived from ancient Native American, British, or French marble games. Given its history, then, what does it take to join the pantheon of rolley hole champions? READ MORE → CONTOOCOOK, NEW HAMPSHIRE Contoocook Railroad Covered Bridge Originally constructed in 1850 and rebuilt in 1889, the Contoocook Railroad covered bridge is the oldest surviving covered railroad bridge in the United States. The bridge, a double-web town lattice design, originally served the Concord and Claremont Railroad, and has survived being washed off its abutments twice in its lifetime. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Tracing the Threads of Frida Kahlo’s Dresses Explore Mexico through the lens of Frida Kahlo. Frida’s garments offer a kind of sartorial map of her life. On this journey, we’ll travel to the regions that influenced her dress, from the bustling streets of Mexico City to the tropical Isthmus, all the way to the markets of Oaxaca City. VIEW FULL ITINERARY → Truffle-Eating Marsupials Look at this absolute cutie-pie. This is a northern bettong, a truffle-eating marsupial found in Queensland. The foot-tall marsupials are sometimes referred to as “ecosystem engineers” because of the important role they play in dispersing fungi when they dig in the soil for food. Unfortunately, though it’s adorable, there are only two remaining populations of these creatures, and one of those populations may be smaller than originally thought and could be declining further, according to new research. READ MORE → KELLIHER, MINNESOTA Paul Bunyan's Gravesite Paul Bunyan’s mythical gigantic likeness appears all across Minnesota. However, only one location in the state claims to be home to his final resting place, a camping ground known as Paul Bunyan Memorial Park. Beyond the headstone that notes “Here lies Paul, and that’s all” is a 20-foot grass-covered mound signifying the mythical man’s imposing stature. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY MORNING BREW Get Smarter in Just 5 Minutes If you like keeping up with business trends but can’t stand dry and dense articles, Morning Brew is your answer. It’s a daily newsletter read by more than 2.6 million people that will keep you informed and entertained, for free.