1

Appalachian Trail, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Image: Wes Hicks

Yes, the entire Appalachian Trail is extremely long. Actually, it is over 2,190 miles long. But, the Shenandoah National Park, 75 miles from Washington, D.C., has over 500 miles of hiking trails, including more than 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail ; You can tackle a small section in a day’s hike.

The park is the perfect place to explore the great outdoors in Virginia and it consists of 200,000 acres of protected land that are home to animals like deer and songbirds.

2

Burroughs Mountain Trail, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Image: Scott Longerbeam

More than 260 miles of maintained trails lead visitors through peaceful old-growth forests, river valleys, and subalpine meadows on the Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state.

The park is home to one of the most iconic mountains in the world: Mount Rainier rises 14,410 feet above sea level straight into the clouds. Check out the Burroughs Mountain Trail for stunning views of mountain peaks and the alpine landscape.

3

Rim Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Image: Tim Golder

Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah is home to the largest collection of odd-shaped pillars of rock left standing from the forces of erosion, known as hoodoos. Many of them can be viewed from the 5.5-mile Rim Trail .

The park also offers hikes for all levels, including backcountry options for those looking for a little added adventure and guided Full Moon Hikes for night-owl explorers.

4

Upper Emerald Pools Trail, Zion National Park, Utah

Image: Jamie Hagan

A park filled with hiking trails for all experience levels, Zion National Park, Utah's first national park , is famous for its massive cream, pink, and red sandstone cliffs, and freestanding arches.

Hikers should attempt to visit at sunrise and sunset to enjoy the breathtaking views of sunlight splashing off the cliffs and into the rivers below. And if it is an approachable trail they’re looking for, the Upper Emerald Pools Trail is an easy hike leading to sparkling waterfalls.

5

Grinnell Glacier Trail, Glacier National Park, Montana

Image: Aaron Clinard

Over 700 miles of hiking trails, including more than a dozen options around the Many Glacier area , like the popular Grinnell Glacier Trail , can be found at the Glacier National Park.

Lucky visitors can spot some of the park's varied wildlife, including 71 species of mammals, from the tiny pygmy shrew to one of the largest remaining grizzly bear populations in the country.

6

Charlies Bunion Hike, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina

Image: Leslie Cross

The Great Smoky Mountains are world-renowned for its animal and plant life diversity, as well as for its miles of official and backcountry trails with views of waterfalls and old-growth forests.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park spreads across two states and offers plenty of activities for hikers. For a particularly breathtaking vista, hike to Charlies Bunion, a popular outcropping along the Appalachian Trail.

7

Billy Goat Trail, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland

Image: Eduardo Gutierrez

Considered a moderate-difficulty trail, Maryland's Billy Goat Trail has three sections totaling eight miles, though portions are strenuous and challenging . Outdoor enthusiasts can experience the raging Potomac River and the rocky crags of Great Falls. The hike is very popular, so early hours are advisable to beat the crowds.

8

Chautauqua Trail, Chautauqua Park, Colorado

Image: Leslie Cross

An old park, Chautauqua Park in Boulder, Colorado, has been around since 1898. The 80-acre park has miles of hiking, much of which are uphill . But there are less strenuous hikes, too, like the Chautauqua Trail, which offers views of the Flatiron mountains and Boulder.

9

Canyon to Rim Loop, Smith Rock State Park, Oregon

Image: Alex Diaz

Hikers of every level can find an appropriate trail at Smith Rock State Park, in Oregon. These vary in length and difficulty, but they all offer beautiful views of the Central Oregon landscape**.**

The park offers hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, and visitors may spot golden eagles, prairie falcons, river otters, and beavers throughout the day.

10

Petroglyph Wall Trail, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Nevada

Image: Kristin Melville

As visitors to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area can testify, not all short-distance hikes are the same. Many are labeled difficult, and it can take four to five hours to complete a five-mile hike.

Along the different routes, desert wildlife can be spotted, including lizards, toads, and hawks. One of the park's most beginner-friendly hikes is the 0.2-mile Petroglyph Wall Trail , where centuries-old rock art can be appreciated.

1

Bodie, California

Image: Michael & Diane Weidner's profile Michael & Diane Weidner

Once a booming Gold Rush town in the late 1800s, Bodie now sits frozen in time. Visitors wander through dusty streets past old saloons and storefronts that look as if their owners just stepped out for lunch… a century ago. Locals whisper about strange sounds and ghostly piano music. And here’s a fun superstition: take anything home, even a pebble, and bad luck might just hitch a ride with you.

2

Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia

Image: Alla Kemelmakher

This is Southern Gothic at its finest. Towering oaks drip with Spanish moss over winding paths and Victorian monuments. Some visitors claim to have seen a little girl in a dress near a certain marble statue, while others swear they’ve heard distant laughter or the sound of dogs barking. Even if you never meet a ghost, the beauty of this historic cemetery will linger with you.

3

Crescent Hotel, Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Image: Nick Elmer

Often called "America’s most haunted hotel," it’s also one of the prettiest in the Ozarks. Over its long history, it’s been a resort, a college, and even a so-called cancer hospital. Guests today report friendly phantom encounters, from a Victorian gentleman strolling the halls to a playful little girl. Whether you meet the staff or the "extra" guests, you’ll get a good story out of your stay.

4

Dock Street Theatre, Charleston, South Carolina

Image: Brittani Burns

Charleston is rich in history, and this theater is a key part of its story. The stage has witnessed centuries of performers, fires, and renovations. Visitors sometimes report seeing a woman in a red gown gliding across the balcony, while others hear faint footsteps backstage when no one is there. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, the building’s charm might still sweep you off your feet.

5

The Driskill, Austin, Texas

Image: Matthew Smith

This stately hotel has been greeting travelers since 1886, and some say its original owner never checked out. Guests report flickering lights, strange scents, and the occasional sighting of a figure in old-fashioned clothing. With its grand lobby and polished brass, you might just forget you came for ghost stories and stay for the atmosphere.

6

Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii

Image: Pascal Meier

Not every haunted spot is old and creaky, you know? At this busy airport, passersby tell of a "lady in waiting" seen in off-limits areas, said to be searching for a long-lost love. A few travelers have even reported toilets flushing on their own or paper rolls unraveling without help. We can say mystery flies around here!

7

Hotel Monte Vista, Flagstaff, Arizona

Image: Jacob

This historic hotel has welcomed movie stars and musicians, but it’s the uninvited guests that make it famous. From mysterious phone calls to the sound of a baby crying in an empty hallway, there’s never a dull moment. One legendary long-term boarder even hung raw meat from a chandelier—a story the staff still tells with a grin.

8

Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois

Image: Deborah L Carlson

A zoo might not seem spooky, but this one was built atop an old cemetery. Not all of the bodies were moved, and over the years, visitors have reported spotting mysterious figures or feeling sudden chills. Still, the zoo’s lush gardens and animal exhibits make it a must-see—haunted or not.

9

The Mark Twain House, Hartford, Connecticut

Image: Jessica Furtney

This handsome Victorian home is where Mark Twain penned some of his most beloved works. Visitors have reported faint traces of cigar smoke in the billiard room, even though smoking ended long ago. Others claim to have seen a lady in white near the stairwell. History buffs will appreciate the house’s charm, ghost or no ghost.

10

Pittock Mansion, Portland, Oregon

Image: Sean Benesh

Built by a wealthy couple with big dreams, this mansion boasts sweeping views and fine craftsmanship. Sadly, the owners lived there for only a few years before passing away. Tour guides say the scent of roses sometimes fills the air when no flowers are in sight, and a certain painting is said to move on its own.

11

St. Augustine Lighthouse, Florida

Image: Evgeni Tcherkasski

Perched on the coast, this lighthouse has been guiding ships since the 1800s. Some visitors report hearing the giggles of children playing or catching sight of a figure high in the tower. Even without the ghost tales, the view from the top is worth every step.

12

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston, West Virginia

Image: Andy Li

With its massive stone walls and sprawling grounds, this former asylum looks straight out of a movie set. Once home to thousands of patients, it’s now a historic site where tour guides share both medical history and lighthearted ghost tales. Maybe you’re in it for the architecture, or maybe it’s the stories. Whatever draws you in, it’s a fascinating place to explore.

1

No blindfolded driving in Alabama

Image: Kirill Balobanov

As we said in the introduction, these situations are likely born out of real incidents. At some point, someone must have driven blindfolded in Alabama , and the consequences were serious enough for state legislators to enact a law preventing it from happening again—a reasonable measure if you ask us.

2

No driving with dogs on the roof

Image: Tadeusz Lakota

As terrible and infuriating as it may sound, there is a very real possibility that someone drove with a poor dog tied to the roof of a car in chilly Alaska . Thankfully, local legislators passed a law prohibiting this dangerous and cruel situation.

3

No reverse driving

Image: Hunter Wiseley

This law makes no sense, and we bet—or at the very least hope—that it’s no longer enforced. Otherwise, how would Arizonans back out of their driveways without breaking the law?

Believe it or not, traveling in reverse on an Arizona road is illegal .

4

No horn honking at the sandwich joint

Image: Simon Daoudi

While it can certainly be an annoyance to hear cars honking when you’re trying to enjoy a Croque Monsieur and a diet soda at your favorite spot, most of us wouldn’t expect a state law banning it.

But in Arkansas, it’s illegal to honk a horn after 9 p.m. outside an establishment that serves sandwiches and cold drinks .

5

No jumping out of the car at 65 mph or faster

Image: Mathias Arlund

This one seems more like common sense than anything else, but apparently, enough people attempted this stunt in California for state legislators to pass a law making it illegal to leap out of a moving vehicle traveling at 65 mph or faster .

6

No black vehicles on a Sunday

Image: Steven Erixon

But what if your car is black and you need to drive somewhere? Hopefully, this law is no longer enforced in Colorado. Yet, for some reason lost to time, it’s illegal in this state to drive a black vehicle on a Sunday .

7

No speeding tickets for politicians

Image: Sumeet Kapadia

This one is downright infuriating. In Georgia, it’s illegal to ticket a member of the assembly for speeding while the assembly is in session. It should come as no surprise—after all, those same assembly members are the ones responsible for this law.

8

No driving with a gorilla in the backseat

Image: MARIOLA GROBELSKA

People in Massachusetts don’t need a law to tell them that driving around with a living gorilla in the backseat is a bad idea—that’s just common sense. But just in case, there’s a state law explicitly prohibiting it.

9

No camel-ridding on the highway

Image: Oskars Sylwan

Camels are great for desert travel but not so much for highway traffic. And no US state is more certain of this than Nevada, where it’s illegal to ride a camel on a highway .

10

No driving around the town square

Image: Felix Mittermeier

Driving around the town square can be a popular Saturday night activity in some towns, but someone in Ohio must have taken it to the extreme. In this state, it’s illegal to circle the town square more than 100 times in a row .

11

No reading comic books while driving

Image: Erik Mclean

For public safety alone, reading while driving should be illegal everywhere. But in Oklahoma, it’s specifically illegal to read comic books while driving —not newspapers, not hardcover novels—just comic books.

12

No driving with intoxicated passengers

Image: Jamie Street

Driving under the influence of alcohol is highly dangerous and, fortunately, banned almost everywhere. But in Texas, legislators have taken it a step further, making it illegal to drive if any alcohol is within arm’s reach of the driver —including if that alcohol is in another person’s bloodstream.