Oddities and Curiosities Travel

Vampire Puns

ahubbard — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 20:58:16 +0000

Whether it’s for Halloween or not, having some good vampire puns on hand is definitely a good tool. I don’t know why – I don’t make the rules. If you’re more into classic Dracula or prefer your vampires a bit less … bitey … this wordplay is fangtastic. These are also great for celebrating World Dracula Day.

Looking for some more fun wordplay – we’ve ghost puns too!

Vampire Puns

It doesn’t hurt much.

Find on Etsy.

**Real friends get each other Buffy cards.**

Find on Etsy.

We swear on our cute little bat pin.

Find on Etsy.

We think we slept on it wrong or something.

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Being a vampire sucks… _ #halloween #vampire #halloweenpuns #spooky #spoopy #vampirepuns #umbcpuns #umbc #pun #puns #punny #retrievers #umbcretrievers #umbclife #umbccommons #commons #marquee #college #collegehumor #collegepuns #lol #lmao #funny #cheesy #2018 #fallpuns

A post shared by The Pun Board (@umbcpuns) on Oct 22, 2018 at 5:15pm PDT

The best mash-up ever.

Find on Etsy.

This bat ornament can just hang around on your tree.

Find on Etsy.

It’s not me, it’s you.

Find on Etsy.

Don’t bother us.

Find on Etsy.

Count Dracula meets country music.

Find on Lookhuman.

Music to our ears.

Find on Etsy.

He wants all the pets

Find on Lookhuman.

Show your bisexual vampire pride with this mug.

Find on Lookhuman.

Vampurrrr.

Find on Etsy.

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13 Ghost Puns So Good They’ll Haunt You in Your Sleep

ahubbard — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 00:42:47 +0000

Who’s ready to get spooky? The right answer is everyone and all the time. But, since Halloween is right around the corner and the veil will be thinner, it’s the perfect time for some hauntings and ghost puns.

A little paranormal activity might put you on edge, but if you bring a little humor to the situation, perhaps it won’t seem so scary. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, you can still get in that Halloween spirit. So grab your costumes, put up the decor, schedule the cemetery seances, and BYOB (bring your own boos).

Whatever your plans are for All Hallow’s Eve or if you just stay spooky all year round, these 13 ghost puns are perfect whenever you need the perfect haunting caption.

via GIPHY

13 Ghost Puns

4. They’re all L-7 Weenies.

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Writing your cards is even more fun when they are filled with jokes. Head to our link in bio to find more Halloween jokes for your next card, or drop your fave in the comments for people to use! . . . : @craftmakesmile . . . #SentWithPunkpost #punkpost #snailmail #cards #sendmoresnailmail #sendmoremail #mailart #snailmailrevolution #outgoingmail #greetingcards #app #mailservice #halloweencard #halloween #happyhalloween #halloweengift #spooky #haunting #scary #trickortreat #halloweenjoke #halloweenjokes #jokes #funnyhalloween #ghostjoke #ghostpuns #halloweenies

A post shared by Punkpost (@punkpostco) on Oct 25, 2019 at 6:16pm PDT

5. Preferably not that Coors Light crap tho.

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Ghosts love a good BYOB . . . . . #ghostpuns #ghostpundesigns #halloweenpuns #halloweenpundesigns #halloweenpunsfordays #punnydesigns #punnydesign #punnyillustration #wigraphicdesign #creative_journey #friendsofillustration #illustrationgram #illustrationartist #doodles #graphicdesign #graphicdesigner #illustrator #freelancedesigner #illustrations #designoftheday #papergang #reddesigns @coorslight

A post shared by designs by Hayley Raguse (@red.designs_) on Oct 30, 2019 at 10:55am PDT

6. Possibly the best way to go though?

Get on Etsy via Last Earth

7. Flatten the curve?

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For some, math can be hard to understand, and sometimes feel out of this world. #Math #Statistics #Science #Mathematics #Maths #Psychology #PsychologyStatistics #PsychologyStats #Paranormal #GhostHumor #GhostPuns #GhostJokes #Jokes #PsychStats #PsychStatsClass #MathJokes #PsychologyJokes #PsychologyStatisticsJokes

A post shared by Ky Nguyen (@kytheskeptic) on Jul 4, 2017 at 8:53am PDT

8. They didn’t get the BYOB memo.

Get on Etsy via meadowpaperco

9. The comeback vegetable.

Get on Etsy via DumbShirts

10. I’m okay with this haunting.

Get on LookHuman.

11. I wanna be the little boo.

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Sbooning #illustration #boo #ghost #spooning #cute #romantic #pink #pun #funny

A post shared by Teo Zirinis (@handsoffmydinosaur) on Apr 19, 2018 at 7:22am PDT

12. Expert ghoster here.

Get on LookHuman.

13. Afterlife Chronicles.

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Ghosts #boo #afterlife #quirky #ghosts #funny #silly #comics

A post shared by Teo Zirinis (@handsoffmydinosaur) on Aug 8, 2020 at 7:56am PDT

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What is GISH? Only the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt, Ever.

ahubbard — Sun, 09 Aug 2020 02:29:04 +0000

What is GISH?

Have you ever heard of GISH? It’s essentially one large worldwide internet scavenger hunt that has been going for ten years now and was created by Misha Collins (Castiel from Supernatural). But, what is GISH?!

Well, it’s not very easy to explain at all. But, if you participate, you’ll definitely find yourself saying “it seemed like a good idea at the time” at least once. And, way more than once if you’re doing it right.

GISH stands for Greatest International Scavenger Hunt. And, was formerly known as GISHWHES (Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen). Try to say that ten times fast.

This year, 2020, is my 2nd year participating in GISH. I’m very slowly getting the hang of it. I have a lot of anxiety and I’m a terrible procrastinator … and it turns out I have ADHD which I got diagnosed with between last year and this year and it makes a whole lot more sense why I am the way I am – a perfectionist and a procrastinator. That being said, I definitely was more excited for this year and got more involved ( at least towards the end of the week ).

Here’s GISH’s official description:

GISH is the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt, a game played in over 100 countries each year.
GISH is the weirdest combination of all of the best things — creativity, compassion, courage, and some WTF for good measure.
Play with your best friends or people who will definitely become your best friends and/or accomplices. (Bail money 100% not guaranteed.)
Complete fun, wildly creative GISH challenges on our app or join our annual Hunt for a shot at the Grand Prize — an all-expense paid adventure with your team somewhere amazing (probably on Earth).

How Does GISH Work?

Every year at the beginning of August, GISH drops the list of upwards of 300 items on a Saturday morning. No one knows the list until then and then you and your team (9-15 people) have a week to rack up as many points as possible.

There is, of course, a winning team that takes a trip somewhere, but in reality, it isn’t really about winning.

There are some rules – some serious, but most not serious at all. Take a look at the commandments if you don’t believe me.

Why Participate in GISH?

By the end of the week, you’ll feel more creative, inspired, and motivated to make the world a better place. That’s right. GISH isn’t just about having fun and doing weird things or creating unreasonable pain and suffering. At the core, it’s about making the world better whether that be planting trees, donating meals to people in need, or fundraising for a number of different causes.

I can’t share photos or the list items from this year until it’s officially over, but here are some photos and list items from previous years!

If you’re still really confused, you can watch this video. Which may or may not confuse you more.

The post What is GISH? Only the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt, Ever. appeared first on Oddities and Curiosities Travel.

29 Funny (and, sometimes downright inappropriate) Road Signs Proving it Really is About the Journey

ahubbard — Sun, 28 Jun 2020 21:31:53 +0000

These funny road signs may actually prove that it’s about the journey, not the destination. The amount of ridiculous things I’ve seen on a sign while driving or traveling is amazing. From completely official-looking signs that clearly cost money to simple pieces of paper with some language barrier fails, the weird road signs never seem to fail.

Funny Road Signs

Not surprisingly, people do not listen to this sign.

Sign Location: Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

Sand? Are you sure?

Contributed by Claire of ZigZag On Earth
Sign Location = South Namibia

This is not friendly to our elders.

Contributed by Sabine from The Travelling Chilli
Sign Location: Hogsback, South Africa.

Those mangoes will get ya.

Contributed by Wendy Werneth of The Nomadic Vegan
Sign Location: The colorful Rainbow Village in Taichung, Taiwan

Where the cows are bigger than the cars.

Contributed by Natalie & Steve of Curious Campers
Location: Outback Queensland, Australia

I mean, if you insist.

Contribute by Stuart Fahy of Just Travelling Through
Sign location – Batu Caves, Malaysia

Just one more thing that can kill you in Australia.

Contributed by Bella Falk of Passport & Pixels
Sign Location: The opal mining town of Coober Pedy, Australia. Here, miners have dug so many mineshafts hunting for opals that there are holes everywhere, and if you’re not very careful you could fall in one at any moment.

Genuine? Fake? or, even better, genuinely fake?

Contributed by Josie of Josie Wanders
Sign location: Ephesus, Turkey

I feel 10000% safe.

Sign Location: London, England

In case anyone needed to be told.

Contributed by Lotte of Phenomenal Globe Travel
Sign location: Tokyo MRT

More exciting than rocks, but poor cows.

Contributed by Charles McCool of McCool Travel
Sign Location: Canongate in Edinburgh, Scotland

Everyone is invited!

Contributed by Lisa Lubin of Slow Travel Eat Local
Sign Location: London, England

One of many amazing things about Ireland.

Contributed by Nils of Let’s Go Ireland
Sign Location: Killarney National Park, Ireland

Fully naked people allowed.

Contributed by Michele Peterson of A Taste for Travel
Sign Location: Spiceland Mall, Grenada, Caribbean

Possibly more accurate than the weather channel.

Contributed by Jackie Szeto and Justin Huynh of Life Of Doing
Sign Location: Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam

No witches flying on brooms. Very specific.

Contributed by Lisa Lubin of Slow Travel Eat Local
Location: Bergen, Norway

Agreed.

Contributed by Carole Terwilliger Meyers of Travels with Carole
Sign location: Sierra Nevada House 3, in Coloma, California–California’s Gold Rush Country

“Thank you for the hot dogs.”

Contributed by Courtney of Courtney in the Middle Seat
Sign location: Berlin, Germany.

Interesting approach.

Contributed by Helen Fletcher of Holdidaysfromhels
Sign Location: spotted on the docks at Deep Bay, Vancouver Island

Marketing mistake…or not?

Contributed by Karolina Klesta of Polish Foodies
Sign location: Chiang Mai, Thailand

It’s not everyday you see a jaguar crossing, or leprechaun one.

Contributed by Maartje and Sebastiaan of The Orange Backpack
Sign Location: Road to Mayan lost city of Calakmul in southern Mexico

My excuse to skip the gym.

Contributed by Maureen Spencer of So Many Places! So Little Time!
Sign Location: “The Chocolate Eclair Shop” In Ohakune, New Zealand. A great place to stop on your New Zealand motor home road trip.

Wonder how effective this is.

Contributed by Chantae of Chantae Was Here
Sign Location: Spotted driving in Fiji (Viti Levu)

So many questions.

Contributed by Marie of Be Marie Korea
Sign Location: driving on Jeju Island, South Korea

I didn’t realize there was a safe amount of explosives.

Contributed by Matěj Halouska of Czech the World
Sign Location: Tokyo metro

Very specific parking instructions.

Contributed by Nicholas of Rambling Feet
Sign Location: St John’s Church in Wellington, New Zealand.

Are there even words? Why?

Contributed by Alexander of Engineer on Tour
Sign location: Harstad, Northern Norway

Comforting.

Contributed by Julie McCool of Fun in Fairfax VA
Sign Location: Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Unusual punishment.

Contributed by Linn of Brainy Backpackers
Sign Location: Akchour Waterfall, Morocco

Anyone else notice his head is not attached to his body?

Contributed by Wendy Werneth of The Nomadic Vegan
Sign Location: Lake Baikal, Russia

Lets not judge my Twilight days, okay?

Sign Location: La Push, Washington

Where have you seen funny road signs? Or, not even on the road!

RESOURCES

SDASDA
Find more great shows and movies to watch.
Add these super weird things to your bucket list.

Shop my favorites.

Curl up with a Stephen King book.
safafafafa

The post 29 Funny (and, sometimes downright inappropriate) Road Signs Proving it Really is About the Journey appeared first on Oddities and Curiosities Travel.

10+ Weird Things to Do in Portland Oregon (hint: you don’t have to look too far)

ahubbard — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 22:43:39 +0000

Looking for weird things to do in Portland? You won’t have to look very far, but here’s a list to get you started on exploring the strange and quirky!

To me, “weird” is a compliment. Luckily, Portland feels the same way. The city knows how to do quirky and strange and weird just fine.

Previously living in Washington, I made my way to Portland several times and it always charmed me with its hipness, grit, and weirdness.

Use this guide to explore some of the weirdest and most unique things to do in Portland.

Lone Fir Cemetery

Cemeteries are one of my favorite places to visit. Lone Fir is one of the largest and best-kept cemeteries in the city. This particular one is the final resting place for 25,000 souls.

It’s also one of Oregon’s most treasured historic places and Portland’s second-largest arboretum.

Eat a Donut (or Get Married?!) at Voodoo Doughnuts

You’ve probably heard of Voodoo doughnuts -but did you know it all started in Oregon?

They now have locations in Austin, Universal Orlando, Universal Hollywood, Denver, and Houston, and, of course, a few different ones in Oregon.

The donuts are unique, just like the city. Want bubblegum on top, what about Captain Crunch, or the get the famous-looking Voodoo Doll donut.

Open 24 hours a day.

A Museum Inside a Submarine

Contributed by Anda of Travel For A While

Something you won’t stumble upon too often is a retired submarine serving as a museum. Yes, they have that in Portland. The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry has a decommissioned sub partially submerged in the river just outside the museum. The USS Blueback was the last one of its kind, a diesel-electric submarine of the US Navy. The Blueback was retired in 1990 after 30 years of service in the US Navy.

The museum organizes 45 minutes standard tours of the submarine every day. The tour costs 7,5 USD and takes you through the narrow lanes, the tight crew quarters, peeping through the periscope, and even see the torpedo room.

Every month, on the second and fourth Sunday, you can visit the submarine on a special tour, guided by a submarine veteran. This tour lasts about 2 hours and costs 15 USD.

They even organize overnights aboard USS Blueblack, a complete package that will allow you to sleep in the crew quarters and experience first-hand life in a submarine. The package comes with dinner and breakfast, as well as admission to the museum the following morning. Still, if you’re claustrophobic, this is probably not for you. One more thing, you have to bring your pillow and sleeping bag for this one.

Portland Aerial Tram

Contributed by Constance of The Adventures of Panda Bear

Portland, Oregon is known to be particularly quirky and one of the coolest things to do in Portland is to take the Portland Aerial Tram. This tram is more of a locally known spot because it is actually also a method of transportation. It takes students, hospital employees, doctors, nurses, and patients of Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU) up to the university’s hospital.

The tram consists of a lower station and an upper station with trams departing as people board roughly every 5 minutes. The ride itself takes approximately 4 minutes each way making it a quick trip up the hill. The view from the upper station is amazing as you can see the entire city and in the fall, you can even get gorgeous views of the autumn leaves. Plus there is also a cafe and a patio there for you to enjoy!

Because the tram is operated by the university, it does sometimes close for holidays and specific Sundays during the year. Be sure to check their schedule ahead of time for operating hours. Tickets are available for purchase at the kiosk at the lower tram station, here you can purchase one-way and round trip fares depending upon your preference.

The First Amusement Park in the West

Contributed by Carole of Travels with Carole

Portland, Oregon, is home to the seasonal Oaks Amusement Park–the first amusement park in the West.

More than 100 years old, the park has been here since 1905 and was once called “The Coney Island of the West.” The non-profit enterprise charges no admission fee, and parking is free. Visitors just pay for the well-priced rides.

Many locals bring along a picnic to enjoy at the scenic location next to the Willamette River. Amusements include kiddie rides, miniature golf, and bumper cars, as well as a miniature train that chugs all around the park and an elaborate hand-carved 1912 Herschell-Spillman “Noah’s Ark” carousel.

But not all the rides are retro. Oregon’s most extreme roller coaster known as Adrenaline Peak also operates here, as does an updated and more exciting version of the midway classic Zero Gravity.

Open year-round, the Oaks Park roller skating rink still employs an organist who performs live on a beautiful Wurlitzer at scheduled times. This rink is the largest in America, and the last to include a live pipe organ. An odd fact is that the rink’s original floor was destroyed in a flood in 1948 and replaced by an ingenious barrel flotation system that has saved it from disaster several times more.

The World’s Smallest Park

Contributed by Charles of McCool Travel

During a Rose City visit after my Columbia River Uncruise sailing, instead of walking from Pioneer Courthouse Square to the Willamette River on the obvious Yamhill or Morrison streets, I tried Taylor Street.

Focused on crossing Naito Parkway and getting on the waterfront trail, I was suddenly distracted by something in the middle of the crosswalk. Torn between hustling to beat the crosswalk timer and checking out this obstacle, I stopped and was so glad I did.

What might be the weirdest thing to do in Portland is this two-foot diameter cement hole, called Mills End Park and recognized by Guinness World Records as “World’s Smallest Park.”

Dick Fagan, a journalist, overlooked the intersection from his office, saw an empty hole (once inhabited by a telephone pole), and conjured a fantasy world. He wrote tales about Mills End Park in his Oregon Journal column—mostly stories involving the leprechauns living there—starting in 1948 and for over 20 years. He died in 1969 and Mills End Park finally became an official Portland City Park on St Patricks Day 1976.

The current park is not the original one. Due to street construction, it was replaced and then re-dedicated on St Patricks Day 2007. When you visit, you might be lucky to see a resident’s fun addition—like a plaything for butterflies or leprechauns to enjoy.

Powell’s Book Store

Contributed by Kate of Our Escape Clause

Located on the edge of Portland’s popular Pearl District, Powell’s City of Books holds a claim to fame that will excite bibliophiles everywhere: it is the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world.

While Powell’s does have multiple locations these days, its original location is the one dubbed the City of Books and stretches across several floors and an entire city block–in other words, this is a bookstore that you can truly lose yourself in.

Founded in 1971, Powell’s has long been considered one of the coolest bookstores in the USA, and, for that reason alone, it is definitely worth visiting if you have a few days in Portland.

Book lovers, be sure to leave a little extra room in your suitcase when you head to Portland: it’s hard to escape the dizzying maze of Powell’s inventory, which is estimated to be around one million books.

With an onsite cafe, there’s no reason to hurry: grab a snack and a coffee before settling in, and you may just lose track of how much time you spend in Powell’s.

Powell’s City of Books is open seven days a week, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and is a fantastic place to visit when exploring the unique corners of Portland.

Pittock Mansion

Contributed by Chrysoula of Travel Passionate

Pittock Mansion is one of many interesting places to visit in Portland, Oregon and it has a rich and varied history that stands the test of time.

The mansion was built by hard-working pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock who met and were married in Portland after working together on the Oregonian newspaper. The couple moved on from working in journalism to explore the fields of transportation, mining, real estate, banking and charitable endeavours; being extremely active members within the community.

After toiling for many years in different jobs, the Pittocks decided to treat themselves to a fancy new mansion; a French-Renaissance building designed by architect Edward Foulkes. At the time, this mansion was filled with mod-cons such as in intercom system, an Otis elevator and even a “human car-wash”-style shower which are still intriguing visitors today! The mansion grounds also feature lovely manicured gardens with fantastic views of Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood.

Unfortunately, the Pittocks didn’t have much time to enjoy their new home, as just a few years later both Georgiana (1918) and Henry (1919) passed away.

While the home was kept in the family, it did not become a popular tourist attraction until many years later, when the City of Portland decided to buy the property. The house was due to be demolished after extensive storm damage in 1962, but the City of Portland decided to turn it into an attraction as an exemplification of the hardworking men and women of Portland.

Stop and Smell the Roses

Maybe not weird, but still unique is the International Rose Test Garden.

This is the oldest official continuously operated public rose test garden in the country and it features over 10,000 rose bushes. It also offers beautiful views of the city.

Movie Madness

This museum and video rental store (just that is “weird” enough these days!) are devoted to rare and obscure films.

You’ll find original costumes and props from movies like The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music.

Not weird enough? They also have the shower scene knife from Psycho.

RESOURCES

SDASDA
Find more great shows and movies to watch.
Add these super weird things to your bucket list.
Shop my favorites.
Curl up with a Stephen King book.
safafafafa

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World Dracula Day – How & Where to Celebrate the Most Famous Vampire

ahubbard — Fri, 22 May 2020 13:00:07 +0000

World Dracula Day is on May 26th every year! How do you celebrate the most famous vampire? Here are some great ways of how and where to honor him!

Every May 26th, lovers of literature and vampires alike gather to celebrate the most famous vampire of all – Dracula. World Dracula Day commemorates the publication date of Bram Stoker’s Dracula on May 26, 1897.

Arguably the most well-known and iconic monsters, Dracula has inspired writers and horror lovers all over the world. It’s only fitting that there is an entire day dedicated to the Count. So, let’s sink our fangs into World Dracula Day!

History of World Dracula Day

Vampires, or at least the concept and legends, have existed for centuries. Bram Stoker based Dracula on a real live person though – not just a legend.

Prince Vlad III of Wallachia (Romania) was the muse behind’s Stoker’s masterpiece. Vlad earned the nickname “Vlad the Impaler” for the many ways he tortured his opponents and betrayers with impaling being his favorite method.

Stoker’s Dracula attempts to move from Transylvania and finally arrives in a small fishing village named Whitby, England.

To this day, Whitby in northern England hosts multiple events to celebrate Dracula including the famous castle in ruins that is lit up during certain seasons.

Dracula may be the OG vampire, but there’s no denying that literature and film boasts a wide variety of vampires from sparkly ones to ruthless ones to mockumentaries.

How to Celebrate World Dracula Day

Read Bram Stoker’s Dracula

I feel like I can’t start this list without putting this as the #1 way to celebrate World Dracula Day. Whether you’ve never read this classic or it’s time for a re-read, this is always a good idea!

Plan a Dracula Inspired Trip

Even if you can’t travel at the moment, why not plan a Dracula inspired trip for the future!

Locations would include Budapest, England, and other Eastern European locations.

Visit Filming Locations of True Blood, The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Buffy and More!

There are tons of vampire shows that have been filmed in the US so why not visit some of the locations.

The Originals is filmed primarily in New Orleans, The Vampire Diaries in Georgia, True Blood is mostly on set in California (but some locations in the South), Buffy has several filming locations including several in California.

Have a Vampire Movie Marathon

Watch some vampire movies and shows as you pay homage to World Dracula Day.

Want classic?

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Interview with the Vampire
Nosferatu the Vampyre

Want comedy?

What We Do in the Shadows
Dark Shadows
The Vampire’s Assistant

Want gore?

30 Days of Night
Queen of the Damned
Dracula Untold

Want action?

Blade
The Lost Boys
Underworld

What to Watch Next

See all our curated lists!

Click Here

Visit Bran Castle in Romania

This castle in Romania has long been believed to be the home of Vlad the Impaler and is often referred to as Dracula’s castle instead of its official name.

No matter what you call it though, it’s beautiful and haunting and definitely worth a visit on World Dracula Day or any other time.

Check Out the Musée Des Vampires, France

Tucked away in Paris, there’s a museum dedicated completely to all things vampire. Visits can only be made by appointment and visitors are treated to an eclectic collection of books, photographs, weapons, masks, models, costumes, and other curios referencing the vampire legend. There’s also a creepy Gothic garden out the back.

RESOURCES

Find more great shows and movies to watch.
Add these super weird things to your bucket list.
Shop my favorites.
Curl up with a Stephen King book.

↓↓↓ PIN FOR LATER ↓↓↓

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15+ of the Weirdest Things to Do in London from Pet Cemeteries to Nuclear Bunkers

ahubbard — Sun, 17 May 2020 16:24:24 +0000

Weird Things to Do in London

If you seek out the strange and unusual things when you travel, then a trip to London won’t be complete without these 15 weird things to do in London.

With nearly two millennia of history, you’re bound to find some haunted destinations, quirky spots, and some unusual and unique attractions beyond the typical guidebook.

From museums to street art and centuries-old tea shops to cemeteries, uncover the best unique, quirky, and weird things to do in London.

House of MinaLima

Contributed by Laura of What’s Hot?

Did you know there’s a free Harry Potter museum in London? House of MinaLima is located in the heart of Soho and the perfect place to go for people looking for all things Harry Potter in London You may not have heard of Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima but this designer duo are the creative brains behind many iconic Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts graphics. From the Daily Prophet to Advanced Potion Making to the Marauders Map, MinaLima is behind the graphics, covers, posters, and more that appear in the films and on merchandise.

It’s definitely niche but a visit to House of MinaLima will make you realize just how intricate the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is. The shop occupies a tall and narrow space and the walls (and staircases and floors and ceilings!) are plastered with Harry Potter related prints. One level’s floor is covered in an enormous Marauders Map print, which is one of the absolute best parts. This gallery is full of designs that you may never have properly noticed whilst watching the films but now you can get up close and see for yourself just how detailed every book cover and print is.

The bottom floor is a shop where you can buy some of these fantastic prints and other Harry Potter merchandise. You could pick up a Hogwarts Express ticket or buy your Hogwarts journals for a magical year at school. This gallery is free to wander around and there’s no time limit so you can spend as much or as little time as you want in here. If you’re going at a peak time then there may be a queue outside the shop but it’s definitely worth the wait! What’s more, it’s just around the corner from The Cursed Child play so you could combine a visit to them both.

Climb over the O2 Arena

Contributed by Victoria Philpott of Day Out in England

I lived in London for seven years, and one of the strangest things I did was to climb over the O2 Arena, in Greenwich. The O2 Arena is one of the best music venues in England, and biggest.

Sign up to climb the O2 Arena and you’re strapped in like you’re rock climbing, with a special suit and everything. After a short safety tutorial you climb up the side of the arena and over to the top, 50 metres high.

It’s perfectly safe, as you’re attached by a carabiner to the side at all times. Such a buzz being at the top!

You go up in groups, and when you’re at the top you can see out over all of Greenwich and across the Thames. The view is pretty special. It’s an amazing way to get a Bird’s Eye View of the city, and be outside for it as well. I’d recommend going at sunset to get the benefits of day and night up there.

After you’ve taken all your pics, and soaked up the vista, it’s time to go down. You deserve a beer and some street food in Greenwich after – keep that high going on your day out in London!

Visit a 300-Year-Old Tea Shop

You can’t go to England without drinking tea. The Twinings Cafe first opened in 1706 so it’s steeping (sorry, I had to!) in history. As one of the first tea merchants in the UK, it’s been providing tea to the royal households since 1837 – and even to the Queen herself!

So make sure to stop into the small cozy shop for a cup of tea or to grab some practical souvenirs or gifts for others. If they’re fit for a Queen, then they definitely make a good gift.

Eel Pie Island

Contributed by Katja of Globetotting

London is full of famous sights and must-see attractions but some of the best places to visit are those that fly under most visitor’s radars. One such place is Eel Pie Island, a large mudflat that sits in the middle of the River Thames.

Located between Richmond and Twickenham, this island is the largest in the London section of the river and has a brilliantly quirky history. Legend has it that this is where Henry VIII used to meet his many mistresses. Day trippers began visiting the island in the 17th century, drawn in part by the eel pies that were served by the inn on the island and in 1830, the Eel Pie Island Hotel opened.

During the 1920s, the hotel started hosting ballroom dances. These gave way to jazz sessions and later blues concerts with visiting US musicians such as Howlin’ Wolf playing. In 1963 The Rolling Stones played a weekly gig here and the hotel then welcomed everyone from The Who to Genesis onto the stage. The hotel closed in 1967 and sadly burned down several years later.

Today, Eel Pie Island is home to 26 sculptors, potters and painters. It’s closed to the public except for two weekends every year when the artists open their doors to visitors. During these weekends you can walk across the bridge onto the island and wander around the studios and boatyards.

The Hardy Tree

Contributed by Wendy Werneth of The Nomadic Vegan

London St Pancras railway station will be familiar to you if you’ve ever arrived in London on the Eurostar train from France, Belgium or the Netherlands. But you might not have noticed the church for which it’s named, which sits just next to it. St. Pancras church, one of the oldest sites of Christian worship in England, is a haven of peace amid the hustle and bustle of the train station and nearby Camden Market. And for the people buried in the surrounding churchyard, it’s a permanent resting place. Or at least, it was supposed to be.

When the Midland Railway line was built in the 1860s, much of the graveyard surrounding the church had to be dug up to make room for the tracks. The most important mausoleums are still standing, but the gravestones of many commoners are now piled up around a large ash tree known as the Hardy Tree, whose roots have since grown in amongst the gravestones.

So why is it called the Hardy Tree? Because Thomas Hardy, the famous English poet and novelist, was given the unenviable task of dismantling the tombs and ensuring that the human remains were properly exhumed. At the time, he was studying architecture and was apprenticed under an architect named Arthur Blomfield, who had been commissioned to supervise the construction of the railway line through the churchyard.

Wild parakeets in Kensington Gardens

Contributed by Demi of Around the World With Her

It is hard to imagine in the UK’s busiest city that you can find exotic birdlife. London is known for being busy and metropolitan. However, in the parks across the capital, you may see wild green Parakeets. These birds look out of place, and more suited to a tropical country. You may just get lucky on any walk around London, but there is one place where you will always find Parakeets – Kensington Gardens! They really like a particular corner of the park, near the Peter Pan statue, and can be found here everyday.

I don’t condone feeding them, but people always do. So even without food, you will certainly see the Parakeets in this area. You can always hold you empty hand out, and as they are so used to being fed, they tend to just hop into you hand anyway. The birds are extremely inquisitive. They are also very gentle, so you need not worry about them hurting you.

No one is quite sure how the Parakeets came to live in London. There is an estimated 8000 breeding pairs in the capital. Theories on their existence in the capital range from being accidentally released from a pet shop during a fire, to Jimi Hendrix setting a pair free in Carnaby Street. We will probably never know for sure how they got to London.

The Old Operating Theatre

Contributed by Angela of Where Angie Wanders

In an unassuming building standing in the shadow of the Shard at London Bridge in the City of London, you will find a curious place called the Old Operating Theatre, rediscovered in the 1950’s having stood forgotten for decades.

On entering this seemingly normal brick building you are asked to make your way to the attic by way of a winding wooden stairway and it is there that you will find all manner of gruesome, but once operational, paraphernalia.

This timbered herb garret was once used by apothecaries for the concoction of herbal medications and tinctures to cure ailments such as madness, venereal diseases and symptoms of childbirth. Now the remnants of a time in history where anaesthesia had not been invented stare you in the face as scary looking surgical implements including amputation saws and organ removal clamps vie for your attention.

Continue through the attic and you will be led to the actual operating theatre. Its wooden operating table holding on to stories of horror where patients from the connecting St Thomas’s hospital would be brought. All around the table are viewing stands were doctors and spectators could watch the gory procedures taking place all without the use of an anesthetic.

It is said that the screams could be heard for miles around and if a patient survived they would be transported through the attic eaves back to the ward, who knows what happened to them if they weren’t so lucky. All I know is that there were plenty of specimen jars in the herb garret crammed with intestines and other body parts – so come to your own conclusion.

photo via Wikimedia

The Benjamin Franklin House

Contributed by Ella from ManyMoreMaps

Did you know that Benjamin Franklin, a US Founding Father, spent 16 years of his life in London? Neither did anybody else! His residence, 36 Craven Street, London, is the only remaining Franklin residence in the world. The Benjamin Franklin House, probably the weirdest museum in London aims to bring Franklin’s time in London to life inside those very walls.

The House is tucked away just behind Charing Cross station, and, although slightly tricky to find at first, is very easy to get to on public transport or on foot.

Rather than exhibit artifacts like a traditional museum, the Benjamin Franklin House offers “historical experiences” to its guests. For £8, a 45-minute historical experience is yours.

The experience starts in the basement of the house, where, in 1998, over 1,200 human bones were found, with unclear origins. The museum doesn’t really delve into this, leaving it up to your imagination to try to work out what on earth happened down there. Once you’re thoroughly spooked, a costumed actress will appear out of the darkness, pretending to be the daughter of Franklin’s landlady. As she guides you through the house, the actress interacts with sound and visual projections. These are supposed to tell the story of Franklin’s time in London, and his relationship with the building. Watching the actress interact with thin air is downright bizarre, but for added awkwardness, head there in winter. You’ll probably be the only visitor on the tour!

Check out Franklin’s only surviving residence is definitely one of the best weird things to do in London but it’s the weird “ historical experience” that will leave you laughing in bewilderment for hours after it has ended.

Highgate Cemetery

Contributed by Maria & Katerina of It’s All Trip To Me

One of the quirkiest things to do in vibrant London is to roam around the gorgeous Highgate Cemetery. Situated in northern London, Highgate Cemetery is among the city’s best alternative attractions for many reasons.

First of all, it’s a historical site of great significance for the British capital. Secondly, there are many prominent people buried in its grounds. Last but not least, you can admire superb architecture scattered across the most stunning natural setting there.

Highgate Cemetery dates back to the 19th century, the famous Victorian Era. The latter was probably the most important period in London’s history. It was during that period that London flourished and the city’s population grew rapidly reaching an impressive 6.2 million in the beginning of the 20th century. This sudden increase in the city’s permanent residents created the need for large burial grounds. Hence, the construction of Highgate Cemetery.

The Cemetery is divided into two sections: the West and the East. Visiting the West Cemetery is only possible by guided tour that lasts about 70 minutes. Highgate West is home to impressive monuments such as the Egyptian Avenue and the Circle of Lebanon.

On the other hand, you can roam around the East Cemetery on your own for as long as you like. What Highgate East lacks in stunning architecture and natural beauty makes up for in celebrity tombs, the most popular of which is the burial ground of no other than the Father of Socialism himself, Karl Marx.

All in all, a visit to Highgate Cemetery is one of the best ways to gain valuable insight into London’s past while, at the same time, enjoy a day wandering around lush greenery, away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city.

The Leake Street Tunnel

Contributed by Lauren of Justin Plus Lauren

The Leake Street Tunnel is a public, pedestrian walkway where nearly every surface is covered with graffiti art. The tunnel is about 300 meters long and runs beneath the tracks at Waterloo Station. Even though graffiti is against the law in London, this is one place where it’s encouraged. The street art on the walls and ceiling of the tunnel is continually changing from one day to the next.

This street is also known as the “Banksy Tunnel”. Back in 2008, world famous street artist, Banksy, held the inaugural Cans Festival in the Leake Street Tunnel. Banksy invited 29 street arts to spray paint an original creation there. Six months later, road traffic was terminated on Leake Street and the tunnel became closed off to pedestrians only. Nowadays, artists are always painting new works in the tunnel, and it will look different every time you visit London.

It’s one of the most interesting displays of public art in London, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find an imaginative tunnel full of impressive graffiti anywhere else in the world. I recommend checking out the Leake Street Tunnel the next time you travel to London, whether you’re spending a few days in the city or you’re taking a London layover tour.

Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker

Contributed by Steve of The Trip Goes On

Deep beneath the Essex countryside and only a few miles from the capital lies the Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker. It’s not a very well-kept secret it has to be said, as there are even signposts helping visitors find the place. Given that the site was home to the UK government’s emergency response center in the event of a nuclear strike, those signs did not exist during the cold war and certainly not in Russian!

Kelvedon Hatch is a sleepy village in the Essex countryside on the outskirts of London, making it the perfect location for the government to escape to in times of emergency. The site contains a subterranean collection of communication rooms, barracks, sickbay, and canteen which could house hundreds of people for months a time. There was even a BBC radio desk down there to broadcast important information on any ongoing/incoming nuclear attack.

Thankfully the cold war is a distant memory and the bunker at Kelvedon Hatch now serves as an excellent museum. The aforementioned rooms, comprised over three floors below ground, house collections of old computer and radio equipment, propaganda posters, and various artifacts of the time. A visit to the secret nuclear bunker gives a fascinating insight into what life would have been like for those living and working under such terrible conditions.

Kelvedon Hatch is easily reachable from London by underground (take the Central Line to Epping) or by train to Brentwood and then a short taxi ride.

Victorian Pet Cemetery- Hyde Park, London

Contributed by Steph & Lewis of Book It Let’s Go

The Pet Cemetery in Hyde Park is one weird attraction. It is an insight into the past and is a must-see on any visit to London. Most people who have pets commemorate them in some way when they die. In Victorian London however, Mr. Winbridge the gatekeeper of Hyde Park took the tradition to a whole new level. The Victoria Gate Lodge, former home of the gatekeeper is also home to the Pet Cemetery for London’s wealthiest families.

The pet cemetery started in 1881 with the passing of a Maltese Terrier named Cherry. Cherry was owned by the Barned Family who were friends of the gatekeeper and would regularly walk Cherry in the park. The idea gained traction when the Duke of Cambridge’s Yorkshire Terrier Prince departed his life and the small garden in Hyde Park became the place for pet burials.

Cherry and Prince were joined by around 300 other beloved companions in the 22 years the cemetery was in operation. Mostly cats and dogs were buried here but the cemetery also holds some exotic birds and a few pet monkeys. The tiny headstones dotted in neat rows hold sentiments for much-loved pets such as ‘Dear Little Smut’ and ‘Dearly Loved Trap’ with most pets declared ‘a faithful friend’. A few, however, are less sentimental and some are downright disturbing with Fritz and Balu who were ‘poisoned by a Swiss’ and poor Scamp who was ‘run over’.

The Hyde Park Pet Cemetery is not open to the public, but special hour-long tours can be arranged for £60 for up to 6 people by contacting The Royal Parks. Alternatively, you can walk along the Bayswater Road and sneak a look through the railings into the cemetery and catch a glimpse of this small slice of Victorian history.

God’s Own Junkyard

Contributed by Liliane of My Toronto, My World

“God’s Own Junkyard is one of the weirdest yet somehow coolest and most unique places in London. It’s advertised as the place where neon never dies and it’s the most accurate description ever. Chris Bracey was an artist who worked with neon lights creating signature pieces for many movies like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the Batman movie starring Jack Nicholson. He salvaged neon lights from all over and repurposed them for original pieces.

When you enter the store you’ll be pretty blown away. The walls are covered from top to bottom in different sized and different colored neon lights. Everywhere you look you’ll want to take a picture and it’s easy to see why it’s one of the most instagrammable places in London.

Gods Own Junkyard is open on weekends only. On Fridays and Saturdays it’s open between 11am and 9pm and on Sundays it’s open between 11am and 6pm. It’s completely free to enter but you can make a purchase in the cafe to support the business. You can find Gods Own Junkyard at Unit 12, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall St in Walthamstow but you won’t have a hard time finding the unit. It practically screams out at you when you get near by. The closest stations are Walthamstow Central Underground Station and Wood Street Overground Station located. Both are a 10-15 minute walk away from Gods Own Junkyard. While it’s slightly outside of the central London area, it’s definitely worth a detour.”

Abbey Road

Contributed by Lori of Southerner Says

If you are looking for weird quirky things to do in London, look no further than the Abbey Road zebra crossing made famous by The Beatles in 1969. The iconic photo of John, Paul, George, and Ringo crossing the street, appeared on the cover of their final album together, aptly entitled Abbey Road. Of course, it was a hit and so was the photograph. In fact, it’s probably one of the most famous photos of the foursome. Hundreds of thousands of people have made the journey just to see the crossing and pay homage to the fab four by taking their own photo.

The zebra crossing is outside the studio where The Beatles spent most of their time and recorded the majority of their music. At the time of the recording of the album, the studio was called EMI studios. However, after the success of the LP and the notoriety of the photo, the name was changed to Abbey Road. While you can’t tour the inside of the studio, there is a graffiti wall where the public is invited to leave messages and there’s a small souvenir shop on the premises.

Abbey Road also has a webcam. The footage is saved for twenty-four hours so you’ll have time to check out the website to see how you looked striding across the road.

Located in the borough of Camden in Westminster, northwest of London, Abbey Road can be reached via London’s tube by taking Jubilee Line to St. John’s Wood Station. Keep in mind it is a real street with cars, so it may take a little patience to get your photo.

Broad Street Pump

Contributed by Sydney of A World in Reach

One of the best weird things to do in London is to pay a visit to the Broad Street Pump, the source of London’s 1854 cholera outbreak.

The 1854 cholera outbreak occurred in London’s Soho district, an area lacking a sewage system. During the outbreak, many physicians in London believed that cholera was caused by particles in the air, known as “miasma.” John Snow, a British anesthesiologist, did not believe that this could be the cause of the outbreak; rather, he thought that it was spread via germ cells in contaminated water.

To test his theory, Snow began interviewing Soho residents and mapping all of the cases in Soho. The map showed that nearly all of the cases lived near the Broad Street Water Pump, and thus obtained their drinking water from that pump. Based on his evidence, Snow convinced the London city council to remove the pump handle from the Broad Street Pump; as a result, there was a significant decrease in the number of cholera cases. Because of his investigation, John Snow is now viewed as a hero in the field of public health.

Today, the site of the Broad Street Pump draws epidemiologists and fans of weird attractions to Soho. To find the pump, head to Broadwick Street (renamed in 1936) in Soho. The original pump was removed, but a replica now stands in its place. There is also a red curbstone that marks the site of the original pump. Right beside the pump is the John Snow Pub, which is filled with information about Snow and his work. If you have a drink here, you’re officially a member of the John Snow Society!

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8 Weird Things to Do in the Midwest, United States

ahubbard — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 19:22:33 +0000

The Midwest is known for a lot of things, but if you’re looking for weird things to do in the Midwest, this post is for you!

The Midwest may not be known for UFO sightings like the Southwest or Bigfoot sightings like the Northwest or Voodoo in the South, but they have their own mixture of weird.

This is in no way an exhaustive list of all the weird things to do in the Midwest. Not even close. But, it will give you a teaser into why the Midwest is worth a visit if you’re into the weird and unusual things of life.

Weird Things to Do in the Midwest

Lemp Mansion in St. Louis, Missouri

Lemp Mansion is one of the most haunted houses in America. You can go and check it out for free and take all the pictures you want. You can also stay here overnight (I may try to do this next time!), have lunch, dinner and check out their museum + gift shop as well.

It’s a gorgeous property and you’d never guess it’s supposedly haunted! Don’t leave without using the restroom, seriously!

Check out my visit here!

Houdini Museum in Appleton, Wisconsin

Care to learn how to escape from a straitjacket or make a table levitate like Harry Houdini? A museum exhibit in Wisconsin will teach you how to do just that.

The famous illusionist and performer, Harry Houdini, moved to Appleton, Wisconsin from Budapest, Hungary when he was 4 years old. Because of Houdini’s time in Appleton, we have a museum exhibit dedicated to his awesome magic tricks/escapes! It’s located inside “History Museum at the Castle” and is called AKA Houdini. (This exhibit takes up the majority of the museum.)

AKA Houdini takes visitors through Houdini’s childhood, early career, rise to fame and legacy – with photos, video, and interesting artifacts used by Houdini himself. You’ll find many interactive displays ranging from a display that teaches you how Houdini escaped a jail cell in the nude to one that allows you to make a table levitate! They even have Houdini’s straitjacket on display from his shows and from when he escaped while being suspended from a crane. You can also try your hand at escaping from a straitjacket while at this museum!

It takes about 1 hour or less to walk through the Houdini exhibit – longer, though, if you stop to try every interactive display. This is also a very kid-friendly exhibit.

The History Museum at the Castle is open Tuesday-Sunday (closed on Mondays) from 10 am – 4 pm. Admission is $12 for adults and $7 for kids (under 18).

Address: 330 E College Ave, Appleton, WI 54911

Contributed by Lindsey of Have Clothes, Will Travel

The World’s Largest Rubber Stamp in Cleveland, Ohio

The World’s Largest Rubber Stamp, also known as, Free Stamp, is one of the weirdest things to see in Cleveland, Ohio. This seemingly randomly placed rubber stamp can be found at Willard Park, a public park in downtown Cleveland, located at the intersection of East 9th Street and Lakeside Avenue next to Cleveland City Hall.

Though an odd choice for an outdoor sculpture and public piece of art, the Free Stamp was originally commissioned by Standard Oil of Ohio (Sohio) in 1982 and created by Claes Oldenburg and his wife, Coosje van Bruggen. The stamp’s “FREE” messaging was intended as a reference to the emancipation of American slaves during and after the Civil War.

Originally, the sculpture was to be placed inside the company’s headquarter building however after Standard Oil of Ohio was acquired by BP, the executives at BP felt that the headquarters was an “inappropriate” location for the stamp and began looking for a new place to move the sculpture within the city of Cleveland.

A few locations were considered for the stamp’s placement including Cleveland Museum of Art, but the artists finally settled on Willard Park where it remains near Public Square, a central plaza in downtown Cleveland.

The Free Stamp is a cool sight to see with an equally unique backstory, be sure to visit it on your next trip to Cleveland!

Contributed by Constance of The Adventures of Panda Bear

Randyland in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Nestled in the heart of the Mexican War Streets neighborhood in Pittsburgh is an attraction that is simultaneously weird and endearing: Randyland.

Randyland is by far one of the most fun things to do in Pittsburgh and this homage to happiness will leave you smiling from ear to ear.

What is Randyland? It’s a brightly-painted home turned modern art project by a long-time resident. Every available surface of the house and yard is covered from top to bottom in salvaged stuff. Randyland is free to enter and claims opening hours of 10 am until dusk.

Admire Randyland’s facade and then trace the fence around to the side of the house. Peek into the yard and salute the red suit of armor that appears to be guarding the entrance. If you’re lucky, you’ll meet Randy himself. Randy has proclaimed that he is the happiest man alive. While it feels weird for anyone to be this happy, Randy comes across as incredibly sincere. He ushers in visitors and gives impromptu tours while sharing his life philosophy which is grounded in happiness.

Randy has collected and decorated every item of flair at Randyland over more than 30 years turning his home into a beacon of happiness in the heart of the Mexican War Streets.

You’ll find that Randy’s happiness is truly infectious. I guarantee that you’ll leave Randyland happier than when you arrived with a big smile on your face and a full heart.

Contributed by Jennifer from Sidewalk Safari

The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio

The Ohio State Reformatory is an old prison found in Mansfield, Ohio, and makes for a great weird roadside stop if you are traveling between Columbus and Cleveland.

This prison was closed in 1990, and you can now visit it today to explore the historic site. For $15 you can take a self-guided tour, and see the grounds where prisoners were once kept.

You can see the cells and learn more about what it was like to be an inmate who was imprisoned there. The reformatory is over 130 years old and is open to tourists driving by throughout the year.

The Mansfield Reformatory is best known for being the site where The Shawshank Redemption was filmed. As you walk around on your self-guided tour, you will see many posters and notes explaining what was filmed in each room.

When I visited with a few of my friends, we made sure to watch The Shawshank Redemption the night before, so it was all very fresh in our minds. It was really interesting to see how the prison may have been modified specifically for filming, and how the crew got creative with a lot of the rooms that would typically have been located outside of the prison. It was not only interesting to see the movie site but to learn more about being a prisoner there as well.

Contributed by Michelle of Travel After Five

Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center in Bloomington, Indiana

Just south of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana is the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center. The center was founded in the 1970s by the 14th brother of the Dali Llama Thubten Jigme Norbu, the eldest brother of the 14th Dalai Lama and a professor of Tibetan Studies at Indiana University.

The center is open to all people and all faiths and is a great place to have a cultural experience or just find a little solitude.

Take a walk around the grounds and see the only two Tibetan chortens/stupas in the United States. These religious monuments are said to represent Buddha and are a place to meditate.

While you stroll around the property, don’t miss the prayer wheels. Each spin is said to say one thousand prayers at once. Inside the main building, see traditional, vibrantly colored butter sculptures, sand mandalas, and other artwork.

The center hosts workshops and events throughout the year, and you can even rent one of their yurts if you’re looking for a peaceful retreat when visiting Bloomington.

Contributed by Emily of Em’s on the Road

The World’s Largest Truck Stop in Walcott, Iowa

A Midwest roadside attraction that we love is the World’s Largest Truck Stop, just outside of Walcott, Iowa. Open since 1964, the truck stop has been a home away from home for truckers and travelers driving in Eastern Iowa along I-80. As you explore, it feels like the truck stop is a small city. There are so many amenities available; much more than any regular truck stop.

Besides the usual store with snacks and knickknacks, there is also a chapel, game room, barber shop, chiropractor, dentist, laundromat, library, private showers, workout room, and even a movie theater! We can imagine that if you’ve been on the road for quite a while and stop at the World’s Largest Truck Stop, it’s going to feel like heaven.

We also recommend heading over behind the World’s Largest Truck Stop. There you’ll find the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum. Admission is free, although they do appreciate donations. Inside, visitors can see over 100 trucks, dating back to the early 1900s as well as lots of other cool memorabilia like original petroliana signs and vintage gas pumps.

Contributed by Vicky of Buddy, the Traveling Monkey

Medical Museums, Jim Jones, and Catacombs Under the City in Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis has it’s own arguably large share of weird, dark, and unusual things.

You may think – oh Indy is just a midwest city where nothing crazy has happened – but there’s plenty of dark history here.

Charles Manson, one of the most notorious murderers spent part of his troubled childhood in Indianapolis – right down the street from Central State Hospital – Indiana’s ‘insane asylum.’

Jim Jones, the mastermind behind the Peoples Temple, called Indianapolis home for a while and even started the first official church of the Peoples Temple right in Indy.

So, as you can see, we could have an entire post on just the dark history of Indianapolis, but first, let’s start by letting you in on all the weird things to do in Indianapolis.

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50+ Weird Podcasts to Listen To That Will Leave You Up All Night Hiding Under the Covers

ahubbard — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 21:51:25 +0000

Looking for weird podcasts to listen to? Here are the best – everything from true crime to paranormal to myths to death and diseases!

Weird Podcasts You Have to Listen To

Is the truth really stranger than fiction? I think so. Fiction is usually based on some facet of truth anyway or at least inspired by it. These weird podcasts definitely prove it too. Aside from the 4 or so at the bottom that are fictional, these 40+ podcasts will seriously creep you out and wish that they were fiction.

There are a ton of historical events, strange disappearances, horrible true crimes, and more that will leave you amazed, a little shook, and hiding under your covers.

Podcasts have certainly gotten popular and I often wonder how people keep up with them all. But, you’ll figure out how it’s so easy to binge on these weird podcasts.

There are a bunch of different categories that can follow under this creepy and weird podcasts genre: true crime is definitely popular, mythology, paranormal, and folklore make for good storytelling, dark historical podcasts are fascinating and will teach you something new.

Grab your headphones, turn off the lights, and hide under the covers and dig right on into these weird podcasts.

And, if podcasts aren’t your thing, that’s okay! Here are the best horror films and shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime.

True Crime Podcasts

Crime Junkie

About – Crime Junkie is a weekly podcast dedicated to giving you a true crime fix. Every Monday, Ashley Flowers will tell you about whatever crime she’s been obsessing over that week in a way that sounds like you’re sitting around talking crime with your best friends. The storytelling is straightforward and free of rabbit holes so the cases stay suspenseful and are easy to follow. If you can never get enough true crime… Congratulations, you’re a Crime Junkie!
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – December 2017
Where – crimejunkiepodcast.com

Last Podcast On The Left

About – The Last Podcast on the Left covers all the horrors our world has to offer both imagined and real. From demons and slashers to cults and serial killers, The Last Podcast is guaranteed to satisfy your blood lust.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – sometime in 2014 [for whatever reason, ep 1-33 isn’t available on Spotify or their website, but this Youtube account has uploaded ep 1-4)
Where – lastpodcastontheleft.com | Spotify

Criminal

About – Criminal is an award-winning podcast about true crime. Stories of people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle.
Frequency – bimonthly
Date Started – January 2014
Where – thisiscriminal.com

The Minds of Madness

About – The Minds of Madness is a True Crime Podcast that examines the most disturbing criminal minds and the impact violent crimes have on survivors of homicide.
Frequency – bimonthly
Date Started – January 2017
Where – mindsofmadnesspodcast.com

Morbid

About – Morbid: A True Crime Podcast was born out of genuine love for true crime and all things spooky. We cover serial killers, unsolved mysteries, spooky history, paranormal happenings, conspiracy theories and anything that sends chills down your spine and gets your mind working overtime.
Frequency – twice weekly
Date Started – May 2018
Where – morbidpodcast.com

Unsolved Murders

About – A podcast drama with a modern twist on old time radio that delves into the mystery of true cold cases and unsolved murders. With the help of an ensemble cast, follow our hosts as they take you on an entertaining journey through the crime scene, the investigation and attempt to solve the case. With many surprising plot twists, it’s important you start listening from the first episode of a cold case.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – June 2016
Where – Spotify

Sword and Scale

About – A podcast that covers the underworld of criminal activity and the demented minds that perform the most despicable and unthinkable actions.
Frequency – bimonthly
Date Started – January 2014
Where – swordandscale.com

Up and Vanished

About – Up and Vanished is an investigative documentary-style podcast hosted by Payne Lindsey. The series investigates missing persons cold cases by reviewing old leads, interviewing witnesses and townspeople, and on-site investigation.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – August 2016
Where – upandvanished.com

S Town

About – S-Town is an investigative journalism podcast hosted by Brian Reed and created by the producers of Serial and This American Life. A limited series only.
Frequency – was a limited series
Date Started – March 2017
Where – stownpodcast.org

Root of Evil

About – In this eight-part documentary series, sisters Rasha Pecoraro and Yvette Gentile, the great-granddaughters of George Hodel, take a deep dive into their family history to try to figure out what really happened regarding The Black Dalhia Murder, and where do they all go from here? Root of Evil is the companion podcast to TNTs limited series I Am the Night.
Frequency – was a limited series
Date Started – January 2019
Where – Spotify

In The Dark

About – In the Dark is a podcast produced by American Public Media. Hosted and narrated by Madeleine Baran, and produced by Samara Freemark, the series features investigative journalism and in-depth reportage from APM Reports, the investigative reporting, and documentary unit of APM. Each season investigates a different case.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – September 2016
Where – Apple Podcasts

Small Town Murder

About – Two comedians look at a small town, what makes it tick, and a murder that took place there. In depth research, horrible tragedy, and the hosts’ comedic spin on the whole thing. New episodes every Thursday!!
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – September 2016
Where – Apple Podcasts

Generation Why?

About – Digging deep into cases, Generation Why? covers mostly unsolved murders, but will sometimes look into wrongful convictions in these killings. The cases range from popular – like Emmett Till – to the relative unknown.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – October 2014
Where – genwhypod.com

Podcast 1289

About – An internet radio show that explores the most ridiculous conspiracy theories, coolest UFO sightings, spookiest hauntings, gnarliest true crime cases, and hairiest cryptids – all with a humorous spin.
Frequency – bimonthly
Date Started – May 2016
Where – Spotify

The Shrink Next Door

About – The Shrink Next Door is a podcast by Wondery that tells the story of Isaac Herschkopf, a psychiatrist who allegedly abused his relationship with his patients to exploit them for personal gain.
Frequency – limited series
Date Started – May 2019
Where – wondery.com/shows/shrink-next-door

Lore

About – Lore is a podcast about non-fiction scary stories. Each episode examines historical events that show the dark side of human nature and is presented in a style that’s been compared to a campfire experience.
Frequency – bimonthly
Date Started – March 2015
Where – lorepodcast.com

My Favorite Murder

About – My Favorite Murder is the hit true-crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – January 2016
Where – myfavoritemurder.com

Historical Podcasts [from a Dark Perspective]

Dark Histories

About – A podcast that tells the stories of our darkest moments, deepest mysteries and strangest happenings. From large cultural events to smaller, localized legends.
Frequency – bimonthly
Date Started – July 2017
Where – darkhistories.com

Infamous America

About –Take a journey through the wildest, and sometimes darkest, chapters of American history. From the Salem Witch Trials to the gangsters of the 1930s to assassins, traitors, outlaws, scandals, and events that still defy explanation, you’ll hear them all on this historical true-crime podcast.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – September 2018
Where – blackbarrelmedia.com/infamous-america

Unexplained

About –A story-based show mixing spoken-word narrative, history, and ideas – often to terrifying effect – that explores the space between what we think of as real and what is not; where sometimes belief can be as concrete as ‘reality,’ whatever that is…
Frequency – bimonthly
Date Started – January 2016
Where – unexplainedpodcast.com

Behind the Bastards

About –Behind the Bastards dives in past the Cliffs Notes of the worst humans in history and exposes the bizarre realities of their lives. Listeners will learn about the young adult novels that helped Hitler form his monstrous ideology, the founder of Blackwater’s insane quest to build his own Air Force, the bizarre lives of the sons and daughters of dictators and Saddam Hussein’s side career as a trashy romance novelist.
Frequency – twice weekly
Date Started – April 2018
Where – behindthebastards.com

You’re Wrong About

About –Mike and Sarah are journalists obsessed with the past. Every episode we circle back to an event, person or phenomenon that’s been miscast in the public imagination.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – May 2018
Where – Spotify

You Must Remember This

About –This is the podcast exploring the secret and/or forgotten histories of Hollywood’s first century.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – April 2014
Where – youmustrememberthispodcast.com

Witness

About –History as told by the people who were there.
Frequency – daily
Date Started – February 2010
Where – BBC

Cabinet of Curiosities

About – An exploration of some of the most unusual and bizarre people, events, and objects in history. Each episode features two short, curious tales.
Frequency – twice weekly
Date Started – June 2018
Where – aaronmahnke.com/curiosities

Noble Blood Tales

About – This podcast explores the stories of some of history’s most fascinating royals: the tyrants and the tragic, the murderers and the murdered, and everyone in between.
Frequency – biweekly
Date Started – July 2019
Where – noblebloodtales.com

Mythology/Lore Podcasts

Myths and Legends

About – This show brings you folklore that has shaped our world. Some are incredibly popular stories you think you know, but with surprising origins. Others are stories that might be new to you but are definitely worth a listen. These are stories of magic, kings, Vikings, dragons, knights, princesses, and wizards from a time when the world beyond the map was a dangerous, wonderful, and terrifying place.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – April 2015
Where – mythpodcast.com

Dark Travels Podcast

About –Dark Travels Podcast is a podcast about dark tourism, dark myths folklore and legends from around the world and some personal stories about the darker side of travel!
Frequency – unsure
Date Started – September 2019
Where – anchor.fm/dark-travels-podcast

Weird & Disturbing Podcasts

This is Actually Happening

About – This podcast probes the chaotic interiors of the human experience to find out what happens when everything changes.
Frequency – bimonthly
Date Started – September 2013
Where – wondery.com/shows/this-is-actually-happening

Caustic Soda

About – A podcast about the science, history, and pop culture of the weird, gross and disturbing.
Frequency – no longer on air, but seven seasons worth of content to listen to!
Date Started – March 2010
Where – causticsodapodcast.com

Night Vale

About – A podcast in the style of community updates for the [fictional] small desert town of Night Vale, featuring local weather, news, announcements from the Sheriff’s Secret Police, mysterious lights in the night sky, dark hooded figures with unknowable powers, and cultural events.
Frequency – bimonthly
Date Started – June 2012
Where – welcometonightvale.com

Things That Keep Me Up At Night

About – A podcast that explores all the things that make you want to pull the covers over your head and disappear from this wretched world — but with comedy!
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – June 2018
Where – ttkmeup.com

The Box of Oddities

About – Kat & Jethro Gilligan Toth bring their irreverent brand of humor and unique chemistry to an exploration of the strange, the bizarre and the unexpected.
Frequency – twice weekly
Date Started – February 2018
Where – theboxofoddities.com

Dark Stuff

About – It’s the horrible things variety hour with two South Africans who you’ve never heard of. From murder to abuse, to horrifying mishaps and scary movies we’ve got it all. If it’s dark, and it is stuff, then you can guarantee we’ll talk about it.
Frequency – bimonthly
Date Started – December 2017
Where – Apple Podcasts

Disaster Artists

About –Disaster Artists, the Survival Podcast for people who take movies too seriously. Hosts Johnny and Shane tackle the various disaster scenarios you’ve seen played out in fiction. From Nuclear War to Zombie Outbreaks, from taking on a rogues’ gallery of horror movie villains to surviving a trip to a madman’s chocolate factory, we see how likely these scenarios are, and what you can do to survive.
Frequency – monthly
Date Started – October 2015
Where – iHeart Radio

Bizarre States

About –Join Jessica Chobot and Andrew Bowser as they lift the veil and showcase the hauntings, urban myths, unsolved murders and general oddities that everyone has experienced but no one wants to talk about.
Frequency – unsure
Date Started – June 2014
Where – Bizarre States

Old Gods of Appalachia

About –Old Gods of Appalachia is a horror-anthology podcast set in the shadows of an Alternate Appalachia, a place where digging too deep into the mines was just the first mistake.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – October 2019
Where – oldgodsofappalachia.com

Paranormal Podcasts

Spooked!

About – Spooked features true-life supernatural stories, told firsthand by people who can barely believe it happened themselves.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – September 2015
Where – spookedpodcast.org

And That’s Why We Drink

About – A paranormal and true crime podcast hosted by Christine Schiefer, Em Schulz, and boxed wine.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – February 2017
Where – andthatswhywedrink.com

Everything is Spooky in the Dark

About – Ghost stories from around the world.
Frequency – bimonthly
Date Started – August 2019
Where – wanderingcrystal.com

Podcasts about Medicine, Death & Diseases

Death in the Afternoon

About – Welcome to your mortality, humans! It’s a new podcast called Death in the Afternoon, from the team behind Ask a Mortician. The death cast will dispel myths about death and dead bodies, dive into history and dark tales you’ve never heard before, and hopefully make you less afraid to talk about the inevitable.
Frequency – weekly (not since September 2019)
Date Started – October 2018
Where – deathintheafternoon.libsyn.com

This Podcast Will Kill You

About – Grad students studying disease ecology, Erin and Erin found themselves disenchanted with the insular world of academia. They wanted a way to share their love of epidemics and weird medical mysteries with the world, not just colleagues. Plus, who doesn’t love an excuse to have a cocktail while chatting about pus and poop?
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – October 2017
Where – thispodcastwillkillyou.com

Medical Mysteries

About – Medical Mysteries brings high-stakes story-telling and intrepid investigation to the hospital, in a medical procedural for the podcast space. Every week, we follow desperate patients battling mysterious symptoms–from the bizarre to the terrifying–as determined doctors race against the clock for a diagnosis
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – July 2019
Where – parcast.com/medicalmysteries

Sawbones

About – A marital tour of misguided medicine as they discuss the weird, gross, and sometimes downright dangerous ways we tried to solve our medical woes through the ages.
Frequency – unsure
Date Started – January 2013
Where – maximumfun.org/podcasts/sawbones

Podcasts that Will Teach You Weird Things

Ologies

About – Volcanoes. Trees. Drunk butterflies. Mars missions. Slug sex. Death. Beauty standards. Anxiety busters. Beer science. Bee drama. Take away a pocket full of science knowledge and charming, bizarre stories about what fuels these professional -ologists’ obsessions. Humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward asks smart people stupid questions and the answers might change your life.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – September 2017
Where – alieward.com/ologies

Say Why to Drugs

About – The internet is full of misinformation about recreational drugs – both legal and illegal. Dr. Suzi Gage, a psychologist interested in understanding associations between substance use and mental health, tackles one substance per episode – providing information about what we know – the harms, but also the potential benefits of these substances. There’s no hype, no spin, and no judgment, just information.
Frequency – bimonthly
Date Started – May 2016
Where – Say Why to Drugs

Stuff to Blow Your Mind

About – A podcast that examines neurological quandaries, cosmic mysteries, evolutionary marvels, and technological advances.
Frequency – bimonthly
Date Started – August 2013
Where – megaphone.link/stufftoblowyourmind

Those Conspiracy Guys

About – Those Conspiracy Guys is an Irish comedy podcast about conspiracy theories and other cultural, political, mysterious and strange topics!
Frequency – every 2-3 weeks
Date Started – September 2014
Where – thoseconspiracyguys.com

Fictional Podcasts

The No Sleep Podcast

About – In the spring of 2010, a new forum appeared on Reddit.com. It was called “Nosleep” and the concept of this forum (or “subreddit”) was to be a place for people to post original scary stories about frightening experiences. It was an online version of telling spooky stories around the campfire. A year later, as Nosleep was growing at a rapid pace, one member named Matt Hansen proposed the idea of doing a podcast where some of the top stories from Nosleep would be narrated in audiobook style.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – June 2011
Where – thenosleeppodcast.com

Wolf 359

About – A radio drama in the tradition of Golden Age of Radio shows. Set onboard the U.S.S. Hephaestus space station, the dysfunctional crew deals with daily life-or-death emergencies, while searching for signs of alien life and discovering there might be more to their mission than they thought.
Frequency – bimonthly
Date Started – August 2014
Where – wolf359.fm

The Magnus Archives

About – A weekly horror fiction anthology podcast examining what lurks in the archives of the Magnus Institute, an organization dedicated to researching the esoteric and the weird.
Frequency – weekly
Date Started – March 2016
Where – rustyquill.com/the-magnus-archives

I am In Eskew

About – A horror podcast, taking place in a nightmarish and ever-changing city.
Frequency – bimonthly
Date Started – January 2018
Where – iamineskew.com

RESOURCES

SDASDA
Find more great shows and movies to watch.
Add these super weird things to your bucket list.
Shop my favorites.
Curl up with a Stephen King book.
safafafafa

↓↓↓ PIN FOR LATER ↓↓↓

The post 50+ Weird Podcasts to Listen To That Will Leave You Up All Night Hiding Under the Covers appeared first on Oddities and Curiosities Travel.

35+ of the Best Horror Movies & Shows on Amazon Prime to Watch Right Now

ahubbard — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 19:17:29 +0000

Are you looking for the best horror movies on Amazon Prime? Here are the best (and up to date) horror movies and shows currently streaming on Prime!

There is a rather large selection of movies on Amazon Prime so I’ve narrowed this list down as much as possible to the best horror movies on Amazon Prime. I also only included movies that free with Amazon Prime. As things change monthly, I will keep this list up to date as often as possible.

Best Horror Movies on Amazon Prime

31

I’ve always been a Rob Zombie fan and have been watching his movies for years. Probably not for everyone but still. Also, he and his wife, Sheri Moon, are ethical vegans as well. Five carnival workers are kidnapped the night before Halloween and held hostage in a large compound. At the mercy of their captors, they are forced to play a twisted game of life or death called 31. For the next 12 hours, they must fight for their lives against an endless parade of homicidal maniacs.

47 Meters Down: Uncaged

As a scuba diver, I just want you to know these movies are completely unrealistic. However, entertaining. So take it with a grain of salt. Four teenage divers discover that the sunken ruins of a Mayan city are also a hunting ground for deadly great white sharks. With their air supply steadily dwindling, the frightened girls must navigate the underwater labyrinth of claustrophobic caves and eerie tunnels in search of a way out of their watery hell.

A Quiet Place

John Krasinski and Emily Blunt aren’t just real-life husband and wife, they play one in A Quiet Place too. If they hear you, they hunt you. A family must live in silence to avoid mysterious creatures that hunt by sound. Knowing that even the slightest whisper or footstep can bring death, Evelyn and Lee are determined to find a way to protect their children while desperately searching for a way to fight back Similar to The Silence which can be found on Netflix. Both are good, but I think I prefer A Quiet Place. Also available on Hulu.

All Through the House

A deranged Santa slayer leaves behind a grisly trail of mutilated bodies as he heads towards the town’s most feared home.

Babysitter Wanted

A new life is starting for Angie, who is leaving the embrace of her mother to study at university. She applies for a babysitting job on a remote farm; however, her first night of work may be her last as she is terrorized throughout the night.

Child’s Play (1988)

Gunned down, a dying murderer uses black magic to put his soul inside a doll named Chucky. When Chucky kills Andy’s baby sitter, the boy realizes the doll is alive and tries to warn people, but he’s institutionalized. Now Karen must convince the detective of the murderous doll’s intentions before Andy becomes Chucky’s next victim.

Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things

Six friends dig up a corpse named Orville and use him in a satanic ritual that causes the dead to rise from their graves craving flesh.

Dark Water (2002)

In this moody Japanese horror film, a newly-single mom is enduring a bitter divorce and struggling to keep custody of her young daughter. As the unstable Yoshimi tries to make a fresh start in a new apartment, strange occurrences in the building gradually begin to take their toll. When Yoshimi and Ikuko both start seeing unsettling visions of a ghostly little girl, it’s clear that they’re being drawn toward the supernatural.

Deathgasm

Two teenage boys unwittingly summon an ancient evil entity known as The Blind One by delving into black magic while trying to escape their mundane lives.

Eaten Alive

Deep in the swamps of Louisiana, disfigured psychotic Judd (Neville Brand) manages a sleazy, decaying motel. Upon learning that one of his guests is a prostitute, he promptly impales her with a pitchfork and tosses her to the crocodile that stalks the nearby waters. This is just the first in a series of slayings, and, as the croc’s belly begins to bulge with victims, people grow suspicious. Outsiders begin to poke around the motel, but Judd simply sees them as more treats for his pet.

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark

The cult-movie TV hostess (Cassandra Peterson) inherits an old New England house, a poodle and a black-magic cookbook.

Ginger Snaps

The story of two outcast sisters, Ginger (Katharine Isabelle) and Brigitte (Emily Perkins), in the mindless suburban town of Bailey Downs. On the night of Ginger’s first period, she is savagely attacked by a wild creature. Ginger’s wounds miraculously heal but something is not quite right. Now Brigitte must save her sister and save herself.

Hereditary

When the matriarch of the Graham family passes away, her daughter and grandchildren begin to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry, trying to outrun the sinister fate they have inherited.

House on Haunted Hill (1959)

Rich oddball Frederick Loren (Vincent Price) has a proposal for five guests at a possibly haunted mansion: Show up, survive a night filled with scares and receive $10,000 each. The guest of honor is Loren’s estranged wife, Annabelle (Carol Ohmart), who, with her secret lover, Dr. Trent (Alan Marshal), has concocted her own scheme to scare Loren’s associate, Nora Manning (Carolyn Craig), into shooting the potentially crazy millionaire. But more spooks and shocks throw a wrench into the plan.

Let Us Prey

A mysterious stranger in a remote police station takes over the minds and souls of everyone.

Midsommar

Probably one of my favorite movies last year! A couple travels to Sweden to visit their friend’s rural hometown for its fabled midsummer festival, but what begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult.

My Friend Dahmer

The true, haunting story of young Jeffrey Dahmer — the shy adolescent in high school who becomes a notorious serial killer years later.

Nosferatu (1922)

In this highly influential silent horror film, the mysterious Count Orlok (Max Schreck) summons Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) to his remote Transylvanian castle in the mountains. The eerie Orlok seeks to buy a house near Hutter and his wife, Ellen (Greta Schroeder). After Orlok reveals his vampire nature, Hutter struggles to escape the castle, knowing that Ellen is in grave danger. Meanwhile, Orlok’s servant, Knock (Alexander Granach), prepares for his master to arrive at his new home.

Nosferatu the Vampyre

Jonathan Harker is sent away to Count Dracula’s castle to sell him a house in Virna, where he lives. But Count Dracula is a vampire, an undead ghoul living off men’s blood. Inspired by a photograph of Lucy Harker, Jonathan’s wife, Dracula moves to Virna, bringing with him death and plague… An unusually contemplative version of Dracula, in which the vampire bears the cross of not being able to get old and die.

Overlord

On the eve of D-Day, American paratroopers drop behind enemy lines to penetrate the walls of a fortified church and destroy a radio transmitter. As the soldiers approach their target, they soon begin to realize that there’s more going on in the Nazi-occupied village than simple military operation. Making their way to an underground lab, the outnumbered men stumble upon a sinister experiment that forces them into a vicious battle against an army of the undead.

Paranormal Activity 2

The first one is available to watch on Netflix. When the Reys move into their new Southern California home, little do they realize that the house is already occupied. After coming home one day to find the house in disarray — but with no signs of forced entry or robbery — they install a video surveillance system to catch the perpetrators. But nothing prepares them for what happens next. Also available on Hulu.

Pet Sematary (1989)

Doctor Louis Creed (Dale Midkiff) moves his family to Maine, where he meets a friendly local named Jud Crandall (Fred Gwynne). After the Creeds’ cat is accidentally killed, Crandall advises Louis to bury it in the ground near the old pet cemetery. The cat returns to life, its personality changed for the worse. When Louis’ son, Gage (Miko Hughes), dies tragically, Louis decides to bury the boy’s body in the same ground despite the warnings of Crandall and Louis’ visions of a deceased patient.

Rosemary’s Baby

A young wife comes to believe that her offspring is not of this world. Waifish Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow) and her struggling actor husband Guy (John Cassavetes) move to a New York City apartment building with an ominous reputation and odd neighbors Roman and Minnie Castavet (Sidney Blackmer, Ruth Gordon). When Rosemary becomes pregnant she becomes increasingly isolated, and the diabolical truth is revealed only after Rosemary gives birth.

Sleepy Hollow

Set in 1799, “Sleepy Hollow” is based on Washington Irving’s classic tale “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Faithful to the dreamy custom-bound world that Irving paints in his story, the film mixes horror, fantasy and romance and features an extraordinary cast of characters that dabble in the supernatural.

Stake Land

After a plague turns America into a realm of vampires, a hunter (Nick Damici) of the depraved creatures travels cross-country with an orphan (Connor Paolo) he rescued, searching for a safe haven.

The Cabin in the Woods

I really liked this movie. I remember when it came out because I couldn’t get anyone to go with me so I went to the theater on my own to watch it. Five college friends head to a remote cabin where they fall victim to backwoods zombies one by one but there’s a surprise factor at play. This is a unique twist on your “typical” horror movie.

The Children of the Corn

You’ll never look at a cornfield the same way again…or children? A couple wanders into a small town populated only by children, followers of a sinister young preacher. Soon the couple is fleeing the youthful fanatics, who want to sacrifice them to their demonic deity.

The Collector

Desperate for money to pay off a debt, a man targets a wealthy family’s home and plans to break in and steal a valuable gem. He soon learns that he picked the wrong night to carry out his plans, for a masked madman has gotten there first, imprisoned the family, and lined the mansion with deadly traps.

The Crazies

Anarchy reigns when an unknown toxin turns the peaceful citizens of Ogden Marsh into bloodthirsty lunatics. In an effort to contain the spread of the infection, authorities blockade the town and use deadly force to keep anyone from getting in or out.

The Descent

Sarah heads spelunking with friends after severe emotional trauma. After descending, the women find they are not alone. Underground predators inhabit the crevasses, and they have a taste for human flesh.

The Midnight Meat Train

Underrated movie in my opinion! When struggling photographer Leon Kaufman (Bradley Cooper) meets the owner of a prominent art gallery, he sees a chance for the success that has, so far, eluded him. Determined to show the darker side of humanity for his debut showing, Leon crosses paths with Mahogany (Vinnie Jones) a serial killer who preys on late-night subway commuters. His fascination with Mahogany pulls him — and his lover (Leslie Bibb) — deep into an evil abyss.

The Night of the Living Dead

The radiation from a fallen satellite causes the recently deceased to rise from the grave and seek the living to use as food.

The Woman in Black

Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), a lawyer, is recently widowed and grieving the loss of his wife when he is sent to a remote village to put a deceased eccentric’s affairs in order. Soon after his arrival, it becomes clear that the villagers are hiding a terrible secret. Kipps discovers that his late client’s house is haunted by the spirit of a woman who is trying to find someone and something she lost and that no one — not even the children — is safe from her terrible wrath.

Zodiac

In the late 1960s and 1970s, fear grips the city of San Francisco as a serial killer called Zodiac stalks its residents. Investigators (Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards) and reporters (Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr.) become obsessed with learning the killer’s identity and bringing him to justice. Meanwhile, Zodiac claims victim after victim and taunts the authorities with cryptic messages, ciphers, and menacing phone calls.

Zombeavers

College friends find their weekend of sex and debauchery ruined when deadly zombie beavers swarm their riverside cabin.

Best Horror Shows on Amazon Prime

Lore

One of my favorite podcasts turned shows is an Amazon original. Both seasons of Lore tell a handful of real-life stories that illustrate the origins of some of our world’s spookiest legends and events. Narration combined with live-action recreations present tales of vampirism, grave-robbing, werewolves, and more.

American Horror Story

American Horror Story is a long-running horror show – arguably the best horror tv show? AHS is an anthology horror drama series created and produced by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. Each season has a different theme, but as you find out, they’re somehow connected from season to season. Many of the same cast returns each season but as different characters. One of my favorite seasons? Coven (season 3) which was filmed in New Orleans.

Outer Limits

“There is nothing wrong with your television set.” That famous line opens each episode of the classic science fiction anthology series as part of a narration that makes people think their TVs are being controlled. Episodes of the series, which numbered 49 over the course of two seasons, range from a mix of sci-fi and horror that feature “scary monster” motifs to episodes focused on the sci-fi aspects of the stories. Episode writers include such notables as series creator Leslie Stevens and Harlan Ellison.

RESOURCES

SDASDA
Find more great shows and movies to watch.
Add these super weird things to your bucket list.
Shop my favorites.
Curl up with a Stephen King book.
safafafafa

↓↓↓ PIN FOR LATER ↓↓↓

The post 35+ of the Best Horror Movies & Shows on Amazon Prime to Watch Right Now appeared first on Oddities and Curiosities Travel.

Oddities and Curiosities Travel

Vampire Puns

Vampire Puns

It doesn’t hurt much.

Real friends get each other Buffy cards.

We swear on our cute little bat pin.

We think we slept on it wrong or something.

The best mash-up ever.

This bat ornament can just hang around on your tree.

It’s not me, it’s you.

Don’t bother us.

Count Dracula meets country music.

Music to our ears.

He wants all the pets

Show your bisexual vampire pride with this mug.

Vampurrrr.

13 Ghost Puns So Good They’ll Haunt You in Your Sleep

13 Ghost Puns

1. And, I shall call you Casper.

2. I’m a little jealous of these friends.

3. Better love story than Twilight.

4. They’re all L-7 Weenies.

5. Preferably not that Coors Light crap tho.

6. Possibly the best way to go though?

7. Flatten the curve?

8. They didn’t get the BYOB memo.

9. The comeback vegetable.

10. I’m okay with this haunting.

11. I wanna be the little boo.

12. Expert ghoster here.

13. Afterlife Chronicles.

What is GISH? Only the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt, Ever.

What is GISH?

Here’s GISH’s official description:

How Does GISH Work?

Why Participate in GISH?

If you’re still really confused, you can watch this video. Which may or may not confuse you more.

29 Funny (and, sometimes downright inappropriate) Road Signs Proving it Really is About the Journey

Funny Road Signs

Not surprisingly, people do not listen to this sign.

Sand? Are you sure?

This is not friendly to our elders.

Those mangoes will get ya.

Where the cows are bigger than the cars.

I mean, if you insist.

Just one more thing that can kill you in Australia.

Genuine? Fake? or, even better, genuinely fake?

I feel 10000% safe.

In case anyone needed to be told.

More exciting than rocks, but poor cows.

**Real friends get each other Buffy cards.**