1

Harrison Ford - Carpenter

Image: Hunter Haley

Before the world got to know him as Han Solo or Indiana Jones, Harrison Ford was a struggling actor dissatisfied with the roles being offered to him. To support his wife and his two young sons, Ford started learning carpentry and worked as a professional carpenter for several years.

Had history taken a different turn and Harrison not achieved the stardom he deserved, we are sure he would have still managed to build an extremely impressive business. Fortunately for us, casting director Fred Roos introduced him to George Lucas, and the rest is history.

2

Rachel McAdams - McDonald’s

Image: Jurij Kenda

There’s a slim chance that in 2004, someone went into a movie theater to watch that summer’s blockbuster The Notebook and yelled, "Hey! That girl sold me a Big Mac once!" And, as crazy as it sounds, they wouldn’t be wrong: after all, Rachel McAdams did work at her local McDonald’s while attending high school.

As it turns out, McAdams was quite an overachiever during her teenage years. Although she wasn’t particularly interested in her school subjects, she was remarkably active in student life, playing several sports and participating in her student council. Not only that, she was an exceptional figure skater, competing until she turned 18.

3

George Clooney - Insurance salesman

Image: Scott Graham

Surely, the insurance firm George Clooney worked for must have been sorry to see him go. Can you honestly think of a more charming door-to-door salesman than him? Before landing his first major role in 1984, Clooney worked many odd jobs that included selling women's shoes, cutting tobacco, and working in construction. Not only that, he even attempted to become a professional baseball player and tried out for the Cincinnati Reds, but didn’t make it past the first round of player cuts.

Clooney landed his first role in a CBS comedy named, of all things, E/R . This show shouldn’t be confused with the now iconic medical drama ER , on which Clooney played Dr. Doug Ross for five seasons. A few years after his debut on this show, he starred in his first breakthrough role, the 1996 film From Dusk Till Dawn .

4

Jennifer Anniston - Bike Messenger

Image: Florian Kurrasch

Do you think that, during her years as a bike messenger, Jennifer Anniston wore a special helmet to keep her soon-to-be world-famous "Rachel" haircut intact? Probably not, since this stint happened years before her big break starring as Rachel Green in the groundbreaking sitcom Friends . However, thinking that this struggling actor was aware of the great future ahead of her is still an encouraging thought we’d like to hold on to.

Much like her character in Friends , Aniston worked a number of part-time jobs before her big break. Besides her aforementioned job as a bike messenger, she worked as a telemarketer and a waitress. She also had several small roles before Friends , which included the 1993 horror film Leprechaun .

5

Christopher Walken - Circus

Image: Becky Phan

From his strange dancing to his magnetic presence, Christopher Walken is no stranger to eccentricity. This iconic actor is known for his strange yet captivating mannerisms, which have resulted in a myriad of nominations and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. In that sense, it stands to reason that such a unique actor landed his first job in an equally unique place.

As a teenager, Christopher Walken worked in a circus as a lion tamer trainee. Much like with Harrison Ford, should history have been different, we are confident that Walken would have made a superb lion tamer, dazzling big cats with his delightfully odd ways.

6

Steve Carell - Mailman

Image: Ethan Hoover

For many Americans, our mail carrier is almost another neighbor, that familiar face that always greets us with a big smile and often takes those extra 5 seconds to wish us a good day. For a brief period in the ‘90s, some lucky residents of Littleton, Massachusetts had actor Steve Carell delivering their mail. We can be sure that these citizens began their days with a big laugh from this all-around comedian.

Granted, Carell wasn’t particularly good at his job as a USPS mail carrier. He left after seven months, partly because his boss told him that he needed to be faster. Regardless, shortly after quitting, Carell got his TV start in the 1996 short-lived series The Dana Carvey Show.

7

Melissa McCarthy - Starbucks

Image: kevs

At age 20, Melissa McCarthy left her hometown of Plainfield, Illinois to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. After a few years in New York City, she moved to Los Angeles hoping to make it in "La La Land." What followed were years of resilience and casting calls for this struggling actor, which were supported by part-time jobs in the local YMCA and as a barista at Starbucks.

Thankfully, McCarthy’s efforts paid off, her first break came with a recurring role in the 2000 drama Gilmore Girls . Not only that but she was catapulted into stardom after her role in the 2011 comedy Bridesmaids, which eventually turned her into one of the highest-paid actresses in the world.

8

Ken Jeong - Doctor

Image: Online Marketing

If there’s one thing you’ll often see while flipping channels on your TV, is actors and actresses playing doctors, and for good reason. Medical dramas are extremely successful, in large part due to their compelling casts. However, seeing a doctor-turned actor playing a doctor is a rare sight (and a refreshing one at that), which is exactly what happened with Ken Jeong’s performance in the 2007 film Knocked Up .

Jeong is a fully licensed doctor, specializing in internal medicine, although he chose to stop practicing after becoming an actor. While working as a physician in Los Angeles, he began performing in comedy clubs, which led to some TV appearances. His big break occurred with the 2009 comedy The Hangover , which eventually led to a main role in the NBC sitcom Community .

9

Sandra Bullock - Bartender

Image: Daniel L

Can you imagine going to your local bar and being handed your drink by none other than Miss Congeniality herself? Well, if you lived in New York City in the late ‘80s then there’s a pretty good chance Sandra Bullock mixed your cocktails.

After receiving her BFA in Drama from East Carolina University in 1987, Bullock moved to the Big Apple, where she took on a number of part-time jobs while auditioning for roles, which included bartender, cocktail waitress, and coat checker. In 1989, Bullock was offered her first film role in the made-for-tv movie Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman .

10

Steve Buscemi - Firefighter

Image: Matt C

We’ll finish this article with a tale of heroism and selflessness. Years before playing his breakthrough role in Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs , Steve Buscemi worked as a firefighter for the New York City Fire Department. During this time, he secretly took acting classes, which eventually led him to fully embrace an acting career in 1985 with his debut in the film The Way It Is .

However, Buscemi still looks proudly onto his firefighter days, often acting as a spokesperson and activist for firefighter rights. Not only that, after the September 11 attacks, he went back to New York and volunteered in his old firehouse to aid his fellow firefighters.

1

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Image: Mandy Beerley

If you've ever imagined what hell might look like, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park could come close—not because it’s a place of suffering (you'll actually witness some of the most incredible views on Earth), but because it's full of glowing, molten, menacing lava. The lava flows from Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. But not everything here burns; this national park is also home to unique flora and fauna.

2

Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming

Image: Dan Meyers

What you're looking at might resemble a weather forecast map, but it's not. It's the Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone's most famous hot spring. With its brilliant blue, orange, yellow, and green hues, it looks like a surrealist painting. Although it might look small in pictures, the Grand Prismatic Spring is huge—about 370 feet in diameter and 160 feet deep. That makes it the largest hot spring in the US and the third largest in the world!

3

Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Image: Fudo Jahic

If you want to feel like you're walking through a giant red stone maze, Antelope Canyon near Page, in northern Arizona, is the perfect spot. Carved over thousands of years by flash floods and erosion, its towering walls allow sunlight to stream in from above, creating an unforgettable experience for visitors.

4

Painted Hills, Oregon

Image: Ashley Bard

If an artist were to paint a series of enormous hills in vibrant colors, it would probably look a lot like Oregon's stunning Painted Hills. Located within the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, these hills display stripes of red, yellow, gold, and black. But that's not all! The colors shift with the seasons and change throughout the day, creating a breathtaking, ever-changing landscape.

5

Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves, Alaska

Image: Salomé Guruli

Exploring caves can be risky and terrifying for many, but imagine a cave system made entirely of ice! It sounds like something from a fantasy movie, but it really exists—and it's in Alaska. The stunning Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves lie beneath the glacier of the same name, formed by meltwater carving tunnels and chambers deep within the ice.

6

Turnip Rock, Michigan

Image: Maria Teneva

Turnip Rock, located in the famous Lake Huron in Michigan, is as fascinating as it is mysterious. What makes this rock so special? Standing about 20 feet tall, it has a turnip-like shape—its narrow base supports a much wider top—giving it a perfectly balanced appearance that amazes all who see it.

7

Hubbard Glacier, Alaska

Image: Peter Hansen

The Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves are just one of Alaska's many spectacular sights. Another must-see is the incredible Hubbard Glacier in southeastern Alaska, one of the largest and most active tidewater glaciers in North America. Trust us— its sheer size and dramatic ice cliffs will absolutely blow your mind!

8

Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico

Image: Robert Harkness

When it comes to surreal landscapes, New Mexico's Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness can't be left out. Its towering rock formations, blending shades of white, gray, red, and orange, were shaped by erosion and look like something straight out of another planet!

9

Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

Image: Adrien Tanic

A cave doesn't always have to be a small, cramped space. Mammoth Cave stands out with its enormous underground chambers, filled with impressive rock formations in both shape and size. In fact, it's the world's longest-known cave system—and it's right here in the state of Kentucky!

10

Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana

Image: Carlo Lisa

If you're easily spooked, Louisiana's Atchafalaya Basin might not be your idea of a fun trip, especially at night! It's the largest swamp and wetland area in the US, packed with twisting bayous, spooky cypress trees, and massive alligators lurking around.

1

Bay to Breakers

Image: Cecep Rahmat

Back in 1986, Bay to Breakers set the Guinness World Record for the largest footrace, with 110,000 registered participants. If you want to understand what type of sports event would summon so many athletes, you need to picture a unique blend of a race and an all-out costume parade.

This 7.5-mile course stretches from the San Francisco Bay (at Howard Street) to the Pacific Ocean. Held every third Sunday of May, the event is a local party where people wear elaborate costumes —think cartoon characters, colorful animals, and even synchronized group outfits. Bay to Breakers began in 1912 as a way to boost morale in San Francisco after the devastation of the 1906 earthquake.

2

Running of the Bulls

Image: San Fermin Pamplona - Navarra

You’d be wrong to think that the San Fermin Festival is only held in Pamplona, Spain. In 2007, New Orleans created its own version of the "Running of the Bulls." Here in the U.S., participants dress in all-white clothing with red accessories, as per tradition. But they don’t run from bulls: they run from roller derby skaters wearing horned helmets , wielding plastic bats, and chasing them around the streets.

Held in the summer to coincide with Pamplona's festival dates, this event is accompanied by food, drinks, live music, and a lively atmosphere that blends Spanish and New Orleans styles.

3

Goffstown Pumpkinboat Regatta

Image: Kris Møklebust

Did you know that you can sail inside a pumpkin ? This is standard procedure at Goffstown Pumpkin Regatta, held every autumn in New Hampshire. In the year 2000, local growers envisioned an event that would turn oversized pumpkins—some weighing as much as 1,000 pounds—into something fun and unusual.

Their challenge? Hollowing out massive pumpkins to turn them into boats, to then paddle them in a regatta down the Piscataquog River. Over the years, more and more contestants signed up to participate with flamboyant pumpkin designs and matching costumes. Of course, the event also features a pumpkin weigh-off , craft and food vendors, as well as live music and games.

4

Twins Days

Image: Keisha Montfleury

Twinsburg, Ohio, decided many decades ago that it was the perfect location to hold a yearly celebration of twin siblings. After all, the town was named after identical twin brothers who owned most of the land in the 1800s. Over the years, the festival has grown to become the world’s largest annual gathering of twins, triplets, and other multiples.

Traditionally, all participating twins show up dressed either identically or mismatchedly. Some of them even showcase their talents, ranging from music to comedy. Among food stalls, carnival rides, and live music, there is also a "Research" spot. There, scientists and researchers attend to study willing twins for insights into genetics, biometric data, and their health conditions.

5

Houston Art Car Parade

Image: Christopher Osten

Houston’s Art Car Parade began in the 1980s as a way to promote unconventional creativity and art . Back then, only 40 vehicles participated, but today the festival has become one of the most colorful art car parades in the world.

Participants transform their cars, bikes, and other vehicles into mobile artworks for this yearly parade held every April. Cars with the most outrageous designs—styled to look like dragons, unicorns, fruits, or even structured to appear to be stacked on top of one another—have been featured in past celebrations. Nowadays, the parade attracts over 250 art cars from across the U.S., as well as an audience of 250,000 lined up to watch.

6

Corgi Beach Day

Image: huoadg5888

A beach invaded by corgis sounds like a heavenly sight for dog lovers . Every year at Huntington Beach, California, this event gathers corgi enthusiasts and their furry friends to celebrate their love for the breed.

Sometimes the dogs wear costumes, and contests are run with categories like "Best Themed Outfit" and "Cutest Corgi." Short races are also organized, though owners know their corgi's legs aren't built for speed, so the event is held in good humor to watch the corgis happily walk around. Mr. Pickles the Corgi, the mascot of the event, has become an internet sensation. Of course, the beach day features merchandise stands with corgi-themed products for dogs and their humans to take home.

7

Fremont Solstice Parade

Image: Jordan Crawford

Organized on the Saturday closest to the summer solstice in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, this celebration has become a symbol of creativity, self-expression, and community . It was conceived in the late ‘80s to counter corporate-sponsored parades, which locals found cold and generalistic. They decided to combat it by organizing a parade that would showcase warmth and individuality.

The parade prohibits motorized vehicles, written words, and commercial logos. Only handmade arts and crafts are allowed. Puppets, dance troupes, musicians, and giant kinetic sculptures are often seen parading the streets of Freemont under the sun. The event usually wraps up at sunset with picnics and music at Gas Works Park.

8

Underwater Music Festival

Image: Victoria Ballesteros

You read that correctly. There’s an underwater music festival held every summer at Looe Key Reef , off the coast of the Florida Keys. The event was designed to combine two things the region is known for: the preservation of marine life and laid-back music.

Don’t worry, the music is not played directly underwater. Musicians pre-record the performances and these are transmitted through waterproof speakers placed along the reef. The playlist also often includes water-themed hits like "Yellow Submarine" by The Beatles and "Fins" by Jimmy Buffett. Many participants show up to dive in wearing fanciful costumes, like mermaids or sea creatures.

9

Texas Renaissance Festival

Image: Matt Benson

Some of the most famous festivals across the country are Renaissance fairs that draw visitors into an immersive celebration of medieval and fantasy culture . The largest of these is the Texas Renaissance Fair, which takes place on a former strip-mining site near Houston.

Hundreds of thousands of fans flock to this festival. It features a 55-acre village with cobblestone streets, themed buildings, and costumed performers. In it, fans can wander through medieval taverns , blacksmith shops, and artisan booths. Different shows add to the atmosphere, including jousting tournaments and falconry demonstrations. The event is held over several weekends, each with a different theme, such as Oktoberfest, Pirate Adventure, or Celtic Christmas.

10

Garlic Festival

Image: Min An

We conclude with the only festival in the country where you could ask for garlic ice cream . Until 2019, every July in Gilroy, California, garlic growers and lovers would gather for the Gilroy Garlic Festival, which had become a world-renowned event. Sadly, after 2020, the event was discontinued.

Of course, you could approach the food stands and ask for your typical garlic fries or garlic bread. But there was much more to do. You could attend cooking demonstrations, and garlic-themed contests (like the garlic-braiding competition), and enjoy live music across several stages. There was also a Miss Gilroy Garlic Queen pageant, where contestants were judged not only on traditional pageant criteria but also on their knowledge of garlic.