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Hidden Wonders

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The Lacrosse Players, by Elmer P. Petersen, was dedicated in 1981.
Place of the Day

'The Lacrosse Players'

La Crosse, Wisconsin

This downtown statue pays tribute to the Native American game that gave the city of La Crosse its name.

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Ian Lefkowitz
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  • Colorful, design forward displays.

    Tokyo, Japan

    Museum of Package Culture

    Discover the past, present, and future of packaging in this unique Japanese museum.

    Added By
    Anne Jones
  • Santa's cabin outside of Uummannaq

    Uummannaq, Greenland

    Santa's House

    Danish children are taught that Santa lives in Greenland, at this exact cabin.

    Added By
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  • Fun!!

    Chickasha, Oklahoma

    Chickasha Leg Lamp

    A 50-foot-tall replica of the infamous lamp from 'A Christmas Story' illuminates this small town.

    Added By
    Kenneth Hagedorn
  • Gingerbread-making tools on display inside Pfefferkuchenmuseum Pulsnitz.

    Pulsnitz, Germany

    Pfefferkuchenmuseum Pulsnitz

    An aromatic exploration of the rich history and flavors of this German town's famous gingerbread.

    Added By
    Herman Purrmann the German
  • The restaurant is home to the longest bar in Westminster.

    Westminster, Colorado

    Aspen Lodge Bar & Grill

    Have a heavy metal Christmas at this bizarre Turkish-American restaurant.

    Added By
    Mike Walker
  • Looking across the circular structure of Pamashto, with the two solstice-aligned openings.

    Pamashto, Peru

    Ceremonial Center of Pamashto

    A circle of stones on a hilltop in Peru’s high jungle, aligned with the winter solstice and largely ignored by archaeologists.

    Added By
    Tony Dunnell
  • Chandler's tumbleweed Christmas tree.

    Chandler, Arizona

    Tumbleweed Christmas Tree

    Every Christmas, one Arizona city makes the most of its dry climate by creating an arid desert tannenbaum.

    Added By
    Eric Grundhauser
  • Red and white striped sedimentary rock.

    Siyazan, Azerbaijan

    Candy Cane Mountains

    Swirling layers of white and red rock earned these mountains their festive nickname.

    Added By
    Michelle Cassidy
  • Face of Nakpil-Bautista house

    Manila, Philippines

    Bahay Nakpil-Bautista

    A century-old ancestral home was home to some of the key figures of the Philippine Revolution.

    Added By
    Jon Opol
  • Albany, New York

    The Largest Walmart in America

    The largest Walmart Supercenter in the United States, referred to affectionately as “Mallmart,” has served the residents of Albany, New York, since 1994.

    Added By
    Micah Schneider
  • The Spitfire Visitor Centre.

    Blackpool, England

    Spitfire Visitor Centre

    See reconstructed Spitfires and other World War II-era planes in a hangar originally used by the Royal Air Force.

    Added By
    Dark Nebula Deluxe
  • For nearly a century, this restaurant has only served steak-frites.

    Geneva, Switzerland

    Café de Paris

    The birthplace of a famous steak sauce still keeps its recipe a secret.

    Added By
    CoolCrab
  • Coqueza mummy.

    Coqueza Canton, Bolivia

    Coqueza Mummies (Cementerio de Chullpas)

    Halfway up a volcano at the edge of the world’s largest salt flats is a cave with seven mummies.

    Added By
    elixmia
  • Elburg, Netherlands

    Zandverhalen Sandsculpture Museum

    One of the largest sandsculpture installations in the world, this exhibit boasts a unique combination of sprawling sand scenes, theological musings, and salvaged shipwrecks.

    Added By
    Gabriel Aronson
  • Pie and mash comes with the traditional parsley liquor.

    London, England

    M. Manze

    The oldest surviving “eel, pie, and mash” shop in London is renowned for its infamous jellied eels.

    Added By
    Fred Cherrygarden
  • Muscle car in front of the pits.

    Gueux, France

    Reims-Gueux F1 Circuit

    A road that ends in the middle of a farmer’s field is one of the only remnants of this once-famous racetrack.

    Added By
    julianfkeller99
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Romans Once Filled the Colosseum With Water and Staged an Epic Mock Sea Battle

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January 27, 2016
  • So sweet and adorable, you almost forget it's based on an ancient bloodsucking sea creature.

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    Meet the Sweet Sea Monster of Portuguese Christmas

    By Dania Rodrigues

  • Published in the January 4, 1957, edition of Collier's magazine, "Christmas Party" was a murder mystery novella written by Rex Stout where oddball detective Nero Wolfe has to figure out who killed an esteemed furniture designer.

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    How Christmas Murder Mysteries Became a U.K. Holiday Tradition

    By Eleanor Davis

  • The Yule Cat (or Jólakötturinn) serves as a warning for children to not misbehave, much like the threat of coal for naughty children on Christmas.

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    Beware the Yule Cat, Iceland’s Child-Eating Christmas Monster

    By Suzie Dundas

  • The Schiachperchten traditionally scare away bad fortune.

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    Krampus Has Come and Gone. Next Up, the Perchten.

    By Joy Anderson

  • A 1914 illustration by John Bauer from the Swedish fairy-tale collection Bland Tomtar och Troll, meaning "Among Gnomes and Trolls."

    witchcraft

    The Real-Life Origins of Taboo Fairy Romance

    By Andrew Coletti

Winds from the surrounding plateaus create an ideal environment for curing ham.

churches

The Controversial Hams That Helped a French Cathedral Save Its Organ

A bell tower in the Saint-Pierre cathedral hides a meaty secret.

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Written By
Emily Monaco
December 26, 2024
  • One could say pine needles look a lot like cleaning bristles.

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    5 Unconventional Christmas Tree Stories

    By Roxanne Hoorn

  • 'Tis the season for very festive cocktails.

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    Our Favorite Holiday Cocktail Recipes and Stories

    By Diana Hubbell

  • A mine shaft elevator that descends some 3 kilometers underground offers scientists a glimpse of ancient Earth.

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    Searching for 'Dark Oxygen' in One of the World's Deepest Mines

    By Alice Sun

  • Less terrifying than a traditional Krampuslauf, these breads are a holiday treat.

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    Make Krampus Bread This Holiday Season

    By Diana Hubbell

  • Enjoy stunning winter vistas on horseback at Saddleback Ranch

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    Not Your Average Snow Day: 8 Wild Ways to Experience Winter Fun in Colorado

    Sponsored by Visit Colorado

  • Live out your western winter dreams on a horseride through the snow

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    Western Winter: Your Guide to Colorado’s Cowboy Culture

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  • Around the world, people ward off evil Christmas creatures, from witches to kid-eating cats.

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    Christmas Monsters: Our Favorite Reads

    By Roxanne Hoorn

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