The Weirdest Things to Do and See Across North America

From bottomless lakes and desert lights to ghost towns and surreal road attractions, there’s plenty of strange and fascinating things to see across North America. There are loads of weird, legal, and memorable experiences to be had across the continent for adventurers seeking something out of the ordinary. Some of the most fascinating oddities—both natural and manmade —that represent an entirely different category of sightseeing are mentioned below.

The Sailing Stones of Death Valley, California

Buried in Death Valley National Park, California, is Racetrack Playa, a dry lakebed famous for its “sailing stones.” These massive rocks glide across the smooth landscape, leaving behind long trails. No one was able to tell how these giant stones slid for decades without any assistance from man or beast. Current studies suggest that a special combination of thin ice, water, and wind allows them to roll slowly over a period of time. It’s a pretty surreal experience, especially when you realize nature is the only thing that is involved.

The Magnetic Hill in Moncton, New Brunswick

A bizarre optical illusion known as the Magnetic Hill exists in eastern Canada. As you park your car at the bottom of the hill, put it into neutral, and release the brakes, it appears to roll up the hill. Of course, gravity has not taken the day off here—it’s an illusion of perspective. Trees slant at strange angles and the topography of the region makes downhill look like uphill. Tourists continue to flock to the place, some of them guffawing with surprise as their vehicles travel “up” the slope.

The Eternal Flame Falls, New York

Deep in the heart of Shale Creek Preserve, part of New York’s Chestnut Ridge Park, is a tiny waterfall with a fiery twist. Concealed behind its turbulent waters is a tiny natural gas fire. Appropriately called Eternal Flame Falls, the event occurs when bubbles of methane gas move through cracks in the shale rock and are burned. Though the fire is occasionally snuffed out, it is frequently rekindled by those hiking, keeping the enigmatic and beautiful flame burning.

Spine-Chilling Experiences in Canada’s Spookiest Corners

For anyone interested in the paranormal, North America has a treasure trove of spooky locations full of more than ghost stories. Some sites seem to hum with a creepy aura that is difficult to put into words. In Western Canada, for example, ghost walking tours and urban myths entice thrill-seekers to haunted locations. One of the most chilling experiences can be found by visiting some of the haunted houses in Edmonton, where stories of unexplained noises, sudden chills, and sinister histories lead visitors questioning what they are really seeing. These aren’t movie locations—these are real buildings with long histories and eerie reputations.

The Vanishing Lake in Alberta

Alberta’s geography is teeming with anomalies, and perhaps none are more puzzling than Lake Disappears. Nicknamed Lake Minnewanka’s springtime cousin, the “phantom lake” appears during spring snowmelt and vanishes during summer. Limestone beneath the lake is porous, and water percolates into it and is gone underground. It’s a strange but altogether natural hydrological phenomenon that befuddles newcomers, who come back only to find nothing is left where a lake once shone.

The UFO Capital of the World: Roswell, New Mexico

Few places in North America provide so much mythos over alien life as Roswell. In 1947, something crashed into this quiet New Mexico town. The U.S. military told us it was a weather balloon, but others believed that it was something more alien. The event stirred a maelstrom of theories, and today Roswell commemorates its extraterrestrial reputation. Roswell has alien diners, museums, and an annual UFO Festival that draws thousands of believers and doubters alike. Whether you are a believer or not, Roswell is an odd and fascinating side trip for any road trip.

The Mystery Spot near Santa Cruz, California

Since the 1940s, humans have been scratching their heads at the Mystery Spot, an odd gravitational anomaly in the redwoods just north of Santa Cruz. Here, people get smaller or larger depending on where they are, brooms balance upright on their own, and balls roll uphill. Doubters characterize it as a clever optical illusion; aficionados insist it’s proof something strange is occurring. In either case, the disorienting effect of walking through the tilting cabin is worth visiting to experience firsthand.

Carhenge in Nebraska

Imagine Stonehenge—but built from old American cars. That’s exactly what you’ll find near Alliance, Nebraska, where a farmer-turned-artist erected a replica of the ancient monument using 39 spray-painted vehicles. Known as Carhenge, this bizarre sculpture has become a local landmark and photo hotspot. It’s a testament to creativity, recycling, and the peculiar humor of roadside America.

Conclusion

Travelling in North America doesn’t always equate to having it include conventional sites and tourist spots. At times, the most amazing experiences are in the most unexpected places—the ghostly creaks in a vacant house, the dreamy sheen of an evaporating lake, or the slant of a cabin where gravity seems perplexed. These happenings boggle your senses, tantalize your imagination, and have a tendency to leave you with more questions than answers.

0

0