Random Coolest Places to Spend Your Next Vacation (27 items)

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  (#1) This Out-of-This-World Paradise

  As it turns out, paradise has actually been tucked away in the mountains of Guatemala all this time. Though accessible only by the bravest of four-wheel vehicle drivers, the Semuc Champey natural monument offers visitors breathtaking turquoise pools, underground waterfalls, and some of the most stunning views in the world.

  
  
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  (#2) This Dreamy, Swimable Sinkhole

  In the mood for one of the most unique dips of your life? Check out Dzitnup Cenote, in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula for a gorgeous sinkhole which locals treat like a community swimming pool.  
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  (#3) This Rainbow-Walled Underground Oasis

  China's Reed Flute Cave in Guangxi has been called "the Palace of Natural Arts" due to its stunning rock formations of different colors and forms. The cave also boasts several ink inscriptions dating back to the 8th century.
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  (#4) This Gorgeous Fairy Playground

  Not only is St. Nectan's Kieve in Cornwall, England absolutely gorgeous, it's believed by many to be the gathering place of fairies and other mythical folk. 
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  (#5) This Home of Beautiful, Ancient Architecture

  Said to have been built anywhere between 312 and 1292 BCE, the city of Petra, Jordan is among the most magnificent wonders of the ancient world. Thought to be the capital city of an ancient Semetic people, Petra was virtually unknown to the Western world until 1812, when Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt wrote about its beauty. You can still visit the ancient city to get a look at the stunning architecture carved into its rocks. 
  
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  (#6) This Pathway to the Kings of Folklore

  A natural chasm that runs between two moss-covered walls in the English back forest has become a hotbed of British folklore over the centuries. The mossy shadows of the Lud's Church in Staffordshire are said to have been a refuge for Robin Hood and his Merry Men, as well as the inspiration for the "Green Chapel" of Arthurian legend.
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  (#7) This Flowery Feat of Horticulture

  When Carolus Clusius wrote a book on tulips in 1592, he probably never expected that it'd make the flower so popular that his garden would often be raided by tulip thieves! The craze continued into the 17th century, which saw the rise of "Tulip Mania," a period in which people snatched up tulips like Beanie Babies in the '90s. Today, the Netherlands still boasts a gardener's paradise each year from March to May, when millions of tulips, hyacinths, and other flowers transform the countryside into a sea of color. 
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  (#8) This Eerie Fairy Tale Forest

  If Germany's Black Forest looks like something out of a fairy tale, that's probably because it is. Not only is the forest the original home of the cuckoo clock, it was also said to be the inspiration for several of Grimm's fairy tales.
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  (#9) This Stone-Faced, Scary Facade

  Mother Shipton was a shadowy doomsday prophetess who is said to have been born in a cave in the forests of Knaresborough during the Elizabethan era. In addition to her series of morbid predictions for the future, she took credit for all things dark and shadowy in the region, including the well at Mother Shipton's Cave. According to legend, it can turn objects left in its waters into stone. A source of fascination for visitors since 1630, the well is said to be one of the oldest tourist attractions in England. 
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  (#10) This Massive Field of Mystery Jars

  Though no one is quite sure what the deal is with the multitude of huge jars scattered over the Plain of Jars in Phonsavan, Laos, there are a number of theories. Historians believe that the ancient jars may have been used as burial sites or giant food containers anywhere from 1500 to 2000 years ago. Local legend, however, speculates that the jars were wine containers used by an ancient king of giants to celebrate victories in battle.
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  (#11) This Hallucinogenic Grecian Temple

  For the ancient Greeks, Delphi was not only sacred, but also believed to be the very center of the world. To this day, you can still visit the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, beneath which is a mysterious cavern where a priestess called the Oracle of Delphi used to declare the will of the gods.

  It's said that the oracle used to perch above a chasm where mysterious fumes (that some now believe were hallucinogenic) rose from the earth. Regardless, when the oracle slipped into semi-consciousness and spewed out her often frantic prophecies, the ancient world listened.

  
  
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  (#12) This Mythical Home of Rabid Hell Hounds

  If you're in the mood for a mystical journey, look no further than the fairy-tale landscape of Wistman's Woods in Devon, UK. Legend has it that the sacred worship site of the Druids lay among the twisting trees of Wistman's Woods, as did the holding place of the infamous "Wisht Hounds." These were a pack of rabid hell hounds said to stalk the moors each night in search of lost souls and unsuspecting travelers.  
  
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  (#13) This Spooky Market Full of Witches

  Looking for a natural aphrodisiac or herbal folk remedy? How about a dried llama fetus? Look no further than Bolivia's Witch Market in Nuestra Senora de la Paz, where you can have your fortune told by one of the many witch doctors who roam the market in dark hats and robes.

  
  
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  (#14) This Creepy Resting Place for Notorious Criminals

  If you're into the occult, paranormal, or just plain creepy, check out Highgate Cemetary, one of the most infamous burial grounds in London. Not only can you visit the graves of characters like Adam Worth, a notorious criminal thought to be the inspiration for Sherlock Holme's foe Professor Moriarty, the cemetery has a pretty colorful history of its own. Over the years its been the site of magician duels, grave robbings, and even massive vampire hunts.
  
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  (#15) The Home of the Philosopher Stone's Secrets

  Built in 1407, the oldest stone house in Paris was constructed by famed alchemist Nicolas Flamel, who many believe to have discovered the Philosopher's Stone. The house has since been turned into a restaurant where you can admire the strange symbols that cover the architecture, learn about Flamel, and grab a bite all at the same time.
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  (#16) This Ancient Refuge for Sinners

  Though the Temple of Valadier in Genga, Italy was constructed in 1828, the cave it sits in has been used as a refuge for the nearby population since at least the 10th century. To this day, the temple is known as the "Refuge of Sinners" and is often visited by those seeking forgiveness.
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  (#17) Ireland's Most Haunted Castle

  Leap Castle, which is said to be the most haunted castle in Ireland, was build around 1250 as the seat of power for the infamous Ely O’Carroll clan. Among the first of the ghosts said to have haunted the castle was Thaddeus O'Carroll, a priest who was stabbed in the back by his own brother while preforming mass.

  Other infamous killings include those of 40 members of the McMahon clan during a poisoned dinner party that must have made Game of Thrones' Red Wedding look like a kid's birthday party.

  But the most dreaded ghost was created after ownership of the castle was transferred to the Darby family in the 1600s. Near the turn of the 20th century Mildred Darby was said to have accidentally unleashed an "Elemental," a terrifying primitive ghost who roams the castle's halls.
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  (#18) These Floating WW2 Relics

  Along the shores of Kent, England you can still see a series of now-abandoned sea forts which once protected the country from the Germans during WW2. After the war, the Maunsell Army Forts were occasionally used for broadcasting pirate radio and were once inhabited by artist Stephen Turner for 36 days. Turner later wrote a book about the experience.
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  (#19) This Mysterious Cave of the Knights Templar

  Perhaps the coolest thing about the carvings on the walls of Royston Cave in Hertfordshire, UK is that nobody is really sure who carved them or what they mean. Based on various symbols found throughout the cave, historians have speculated that it may have been anything from a haven for the Knights Templar to an ancient site of worship. 
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  (#20) This Tiny, Secret Church in a Dutch Attic

  From the outside, you'd never know that the house where this 17th century gem hides is any different than the other 400-year-old residences that line the block. However, once inside, you can climb up to the attic and attend mass in a small chapel built by Jan Hartmann, the owner of the house in 1663. Hartmann built the tiny church (known as "Our Lord in the Attick") so that he and his fellow Catholics could worship in secret back in the 17th century, when the persecution of Catholics was rampant in Holland.
  
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  (#21) Sherlock's Infamous Abode

  Although the numbers of London's Baker Street didn't actually go all the way up to 221 at the time Sir Arthur Conan Doyle began writing about Sherlock Holmes, a building extension in the 1930's made the famous address a reality.

  The building at 221B Baker Street ended up housing the Abbey National Building Society, who immediately began receiving both fan mail and genuine pleas for help. It wasn't until 1990 that the Sherlock Holmes museum was erected a few doors down, featuring an authentic looking replication of Holmes's famous apartment.

  So impressive was the museum, in fact, that it was eventually given 221B Baker Street as it's official address, even though it through a few addresses on the street out of order.  
  
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  (#22) This Tiny Pharmacy for Ancient Meds

  Nestled in the attic of prominent 5th century Denmark citizen Jens Bang, visitors will find a small museum which now houses the Svaneapotek or "Swan Pharmacy" chemist's collection. The museum is home to a number of centuries-old medications, which were originally merchandise in a lower level grocery store. However as medical care evolved over the years, more and more of the old school remedies were rendered obsolete. They were tucked away in Bang's attic, where they remained virtually untouched for hundreds of years.
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  (#23) This Grave for a Boy Who Was Raised by Wolves

  In 1725, a teenage boy was discovered in the woods outside of the city of Hamelin, Germany. The boy, or Peter as he came to be called, walked on all fours, spoke no words, and appeared to be literally raised by wolves. He was eventually adopted by the British royal family and was quite the sensation throughout England. Though attempts were made to educate him, Peter never learned to talk, though some claimed he seemed to understand what was being said to him at times. He died at the age of 72 and was buried in the cemetery of St. Mary's Church in Hanover, England. 
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  (#24) This Wacky Mexican Garden

  The extraordinary surrealist sculpture garden in Las Pozas, Mexico was built by eccentric English poet and artist Edward James during the 1960s-1980s. 
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  (#25) The Tiniest Theater in the World

  Despite its ornately carved wooden accents and deep red curtains, the most interesting thing about the Theatre of Small Convenience is it's history. Originally a public urinal for Victorian men, the tiny space was transformed into the smallest theater in the world in 1997. Seating only 12 people per show, the tiny theater features performances by both professional and amateur puppeteers, actors, poets, storytellers, and even opera singers.

  
  
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  (#26) This Museum of Doomsday Prophecy

  The Panacea Museum in Bedford, UK is a delightfully odd little place dedicated to preserving the teachings and visions of a prophetess named Joanna Southcott. She was born in 1750, and in her early 40's, Southcott began having a series of visions. She recorded them and sealed them in a box, which was only to be opened during a time of national crisis.

  The Panacea museum was originally built as a place where the bishops of the Church of England could gather and, per Southcott's instructions, study the contents of the box for a full seven days. The Church, however, refuses to give any credence to Southcott or the box, which has remained sealed for 200 years.
  
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  (#27) This Afterlife on Earth

  If you're up for an out of this world experience, check out Beijing's Dongyue Temple, which offers quick trips to the Taoist afterlife. The museum is kind of like a DMV version of the pearly gates, complete with a myriad of otherworldly statues ready to handle various post-death situations. The museum features over 70 different "offices", including the "Department of Paying Back Evil with Evil," and the "Unjust Death Department."
  

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