NPR Staff Compilation of U.S. Travel Destinations

NPR staff members traveled across the U.S. for professional and personal reasons. This article compiles various locations visited, including landmarks, towns, events, and natural landscapes. The selections are categorized into museums/landmarks, outdoor activities, towns, and events, offering a diverse range of destinations.

Landmarks, Museums, and Oddities

Mardi Gras World, New Orleans, Louisiana

Mardi Gras World in New Orleans serves as the production facility for Kern Studios, which creates floats for Mardi Gras and other events. Tours are offered, including samples of king cake. Exhibits feature various float components, such as a bust of William Shakespeare, octopus tentacles, and a sculpture of musician Trombone Shorty. Tours detail the company's history, which began in 1932, and the construction process of the floats, demonstrating the transformation of materials like plastic foam and papier-mâché into various characters.

Bodie State Historic Park, California

Bodie State Historic Park in California preserves approximately 200 structures from Bodie, a former gold-mining town from the late 1800s. The town is maintained in a state of 'arrested decay,' preserving its appearance from 1962, when it became a state park. Visitors can observe artifacts within the buildings, which were left by former residents.

International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell, New Mexico

The International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico, focuses on the 1947 Roswell incident and other reported UFO occurrences. Exhibits include a simulated alien spacecraft crash, a collection of newspaper clippings detailing alien encounters across the U.S., a representation of an alien abduction, and a prop alien from a Roswell-themed film. The town of Roswell features alien-themed public art, including statues at local businesses.

World's Largest Chest of Drawers, High Point, North Carolina

High Point, North Carolina, features the World's Largest Chest of Drawers, a structure approximately 40 feet tall. It was constructed to enclose an older bureau-shaped building from 1926, which honored the local furniture industry. The structure includes two large socks protruding from one drawer. During a recent visit, the site was undergoing repairs and surrounded by a chain-link fence.

Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary, Del Mar, California

The Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary in Del Mar, California, houses birds that have experienced trauma or have injuries, some exhibiting feather plucking. Birds are housed in cages or on perches. Visitors can feed the birds and observe various species, including macaws, cockatoos, African grey parrots, and cockatiels. One bird was observed speaking. The sanctuary facilitates interaction between visitors and the birds.

Shigeko Kubota Video Art Foundation, New York City, New York

The Shigeko Kubota Video Art Foundation in New York City preserves the loft space where video artist Shigeko Kubota lived with her husband, Nam June Paik. Both artists were associated with the Fluxus movement of the 1960s and 1970s. The foundation displays their art and equipment, including robots with televisions, a Duchamp wheel interpretation, personal items, and a home-built video synthesizer attributed to Kubota.

Boardmanville Trading Post, Glamis, California

The Boardmanville Trading Post is located near Glamis, California, within the Imperial Sand Dunes, an area utilized by ATV riders. Access involves crossing train tracks and traveling east toward Black Mountain on a dirt road, marked by a wooden sign and a visible Cessna wreckage. The trading post, a log cabin constructed in the 1970s by a miner, operates seasonally and offers refreshments.

Paisley Park, Chanhassen, Minnesota

Paisley Park, located near Minneapolis in Chanhassen, Minnesota, served as Prince's recording studio and private residence. Public tours provide access to multiple studios, his office, and a vending machine. Displays include Prince's stage outfits, footwear, guitars, and handwritten notes. Visitors can also view the motorcycle featured in the film 'Purple Rain.'

Experience the Blues, Clarksdale, Mississippi

Clarksdale, Mississippi, is recognized as a significant location in the history of the blues musical genre. The Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale features exhibits on Mississippi's contributions to the blues, including a reconstructed sharecropper's shack that was inhabited by Muddy Waters on the Stovall Plantation. Live blues music venues, such as Red's, are also present in the area.

Thorne Miniature Rooms, Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois

The Thorne Miniature Rooms are an exhibit located on the bottom floor of the Art Institute of Chicago. This collection consists of 1:12 scale miniature rooms, each furnished with tiny housewares and furniture reflecting period styles from France, England, and the U.S. The rooms are realistically lit, simulating different times of day. They were constructed in the 1930s.

The Great Outdoors

Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia

The Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia, part of the Monongahela National Forest, is the highest plateau in the Appalachian Mountains. Prevailing winds influence the growth patterns of trees. The wilderness features rocky plains, wind-shaped rock formations, grassy fields, forests containing red spruce and evergreens, scenic overlooks, waterfalls, and an extensive network of hiking trails.

Road to Hāna, Maui, Hawaii

The Road to Hāna, also known as Hāna Highway, is a nearly 65-mile route on the eastern side of Maui, Hawaii. It traverses diverse landscapes including rainforests with waterfalls, arid hillsides leading to the ocean, black sand beaches, and ancient lava flows. The road features numerous hairpin turns, and includes sections of gravel and dirt, narrow one-lane bridges, and cliffside passages. Notable stops include Haleakalā National Park, Ono Organic Farms, Charles Lindbergh's gravesite, and Waiʻānapanapa State Park, which features black sand. The journey can be completed in one day; an early start is recommended.

Evel Knievel Jump Site, Twin Falls, Idaho

The Evel Knievel Jump Site in Twin Falls, Idaho, is the location where Evel Knievel attempted to jump the Snake River Canyon in 1974 using a 'skycycle,' a steam-powered rocket. The attempt was unsuccessful due to the early deployment of Knievel's parachute. A dirt mound is the remaining visible structure from the launch platform. The site is situated along the Snake River Canyon.

Isle au Haut, Maine

Isle au Haut is an island off the coast of Maine, containing a section of Acadia National Park and a small permanent community. The central and southern areas of the island are accessible to visitors and campers via mail boat. The landscape is shaped by Atlantic winds and features pine and oak trees, moss, lichen, and blueberry and blackberry bushes.

The Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah

The Narrows, located within Zion Canyon in Utah's Zion National Park, is a gorge characterized by high cliffs and is the narrowest section of the canyon. The route involves wading or swimming through the river. Specialized rubber waders and poles are often rented for this hike, though some individuals complete it in standard hiking attire.

Nolichucky River Gorge, Cherokee National Forest, North Carolina/Tennessee

The Nolichucky River Gorge, situated in the Cherokee National Forest across North Carolina and Tennessee, is among the steepest gorges in the eastern U.S. Following significant flooding from Hurricane Helene, cleanup and rebuilding efforts have been undertaken. The U.S. Forest Service anticipates reopening river access in the spring, enabling activities such as kayaking, rafting, fishing, and hiking.

Barton Springs Pool, Austin, Texas

Barton Springs Pool in Austin, Texas, is a 3-acre natural swimming pool. It is equipped with lifeguards and a surrounding deck. The pool's depth varies, including a shallow area and a roped-off section for a diving board. Aquatic plants grow in certain areas. The pool is fed by natural springs, which impart minerals and a sulfuric aroma to the water.

Glass Beach, Fort Bragg, California

Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California, is a former municipal dump site. Over time, discarded glass on the beach has been smoothed and frosted by wave action and friction with pebbles and sand, resulting in polished fragments.

Wallace Falls, Wallace Falls State Park, Washington

Wallace Falls is located in Wallace Falls State Park, Washington. During a visit, the weather transitioned from rain to sun. The falls are characterized by powerful water flow, surrounded by lush green moss and visible blue sky.

Geode Hill, Payson, Arizona

Geode Hill in Payson, Arizona, is a location where geodes of varying sizes can be found. The site is accessible via a dirt road. Geodes are present on the surface, particularly at the hill's peak. Breaking them open with a hammer reveals internal crystal formations, some with mineral deposits. The activity is free of charge.

Take the Whole Town In

Flint, Michigan

Water in Flint, Michigan, is now considered safe for consumption. The city's Flint Institute of Arts is the second-largest art museum in the state, featuring exhibits that have included tattoos, glass collections, and works by contemporary Detroit artists such as Mario Moore and Carole Harris. Other attractions include the Flint Farmer's Market, which offers local produce, prepared foods, and international groceries, as well as independent bookstores like Totem Books and Comma Bookstore & Social Hub.

Tangier Island, Virginia

Tangier Island, Virginia, is one of the last inhabited islands in the Chesapeake Bay, experiencing land loss due to erosion and sea level rise, with two-thirds of its landmass lost since 1850. The island has a population of 200-300 residents, many engaged in crabbing and fishing. It is navigable by foot or rented bicycle. Golf cart tours provided by locals offer insights into the island's history. Dining options include Lorraine's. Boat tours, sea glass hunting, and artifact hunting are offered by local businesses such as Cameron Evans' dockside photography shop. Local cuisine includes soft-shell crabs.

Cozad, Nebraska

Cozad, Nebraska, a town of approximately 4,000 residents, is located centrally within the continental U.S. The town features the Robert Henri Museum, dedicated to the painter Robert Henri, who was known for teaching other artists and working in various styles. The museum exhibits Henri's paintings and is staffed by knowledgeable individuals.

Mark Your Calendar

Mothman Festival, Point Pleasant, West Virginia

Point Pleasant, West Virginia, hosts an annual Mothman Festival, dedicated to the local legend of the Mothman. Initial sightings of a winged humanoid creature were reported in 1966, gaining international attention and later renewed interest through 'The Mothman Prophecies' book and film. The town also offers historical information on a former TNT facility from World War II and local folklore regarding 'Men in Black.' The Mothman-themed tourism has contributed to the town's economic activity.

New York State Sheep and Wool Festival, Rhinebeck, New York

The New York State Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, New York, originated around 1980 as a bred ewe sale by local shepherds. The event now includes activities such as basket-weaving workshops, wool sales, llama leaping competitions, and interactions with angora goats. Attendees can also observe fiber-related crafts and purchase apple cider doughnuts.

City of Halloween, Conway, South Carolina

During October, downtown Conway, South Carolina, officially adopts the name 'Halloween, S.C.' for the season. The area is decorated with jack-o'-lanterns and cobwebs on trees and bushes along the main road. Businesses and public spaces feature thematic displays, which have included an animated skeleton band. The displays are free to view.

Pawpaw Festival, York, Pennsylvania

The annual Pawpaw Festival, held in mid-September in York, Pennsylvania, focuses on the pawpaw, North America's native tropical fruit. The fruit is noted for its distinct aroma and cultivation challenges. The festival provides an opportunity to sample pawpaws in various forms, including raw, ice cream, and lemonade.