One of my favorite websites of all time has to be Atlas Obscura, a crowd-sourced website which strives to be a “definitive guide to the world’s wondrous and curious places.” It’s not really a travel guide in the traditional sense, though, more like a reference designed to help you wander just a little further off of the beaten path. Whenever I head out on the road these days, one of the first things I do after packing is to consult the Atlas. If my travels are going to take me within striking distance of a colossal squid, for example, you can bet I’m going to make a detour. World’s biggest ball of twine? Don’t worry, I’ve got my eye on you as well!
And even though the good folks at Atlas Obscura came out with their first reference book last year, I’m still a diehard fan of the website. One of the Atlas’ basic tenets is that there might be something around the corner which will “surprise the hell out of you”, so half the fun is having a platform to brag about your own local gems with other urban explorers. I got a lot of cool feedback for highlighting the historic Robert Louis Stevenson museum in Apia, Samoa, which is definitely worth a visit if you ever find yourself island-hopping through the South Pacific.
The only negative point I have to concede is that the Atlas STILL hasn’t come up with a mobile app, one which could send an alert to your smartphone whenever you happen to be passing by a hidden gem. (Team AO, if you’re reading this, you can have that idea for free. You’re welcome!) But whether you’re charting out your next transcontinental journey or just exploring the globe from your armchair, be sure to block off a few extra minutes for wandering through Atlas Obscura.