Are you looking for something interesting to do? Here’s some ideas!!
1. the Cardboard Sled Race
location: Grand Haven, Michigan, United States
when: January
cost: free
site(s): Winterfest
The race is part of Winterfest, along with contests for best designs, team spirit, etc. Sleds have to pass inspection in order to race, made entirely of corrugated cardboard, tape, and glue. And the latter two can only be used on joints and seams. One allowance is made for easier sliding, the application of wax to no more than 50% of the portion that touches the snow. There’s even a grudge match competition.
2. Microlight over Victoria Falls
location: Zambia/Zimbabwe
when: any time
cost: $200-$400 USD
site(s): multiple companies
This one is not an adventure for the feint of heart. A microlight is open to the sky, which does give great views of the world around you but likely creates a bit of an adrenaline rush.
3. Corgi Beach Day
location: Huntington Beach, California, United States
when: biannually in April and October
cost: free
site(s): SoCal Corgi Beach Day
This one’s for the corgi lovers. They have two beach days a year, with lots of vendors, contests, activities, and food trucks. In the years since it began in 2012, the event has grown exponentially, spawning other events, too.
4. the Rougarou Festival
location: Houma, Louisiana, United States
when: October
cost: free
site(s): Rougarou Fest
What is a rougarou? It is a creature of lore, one with the head of a wolf or dog on the body of a human. The festival is family-friendly, celebrating the folklore of southeast Louisiana. There are all kinds of activities, parades, food offerings, etc.
5. Santa Claus Village
location: Rovaniemie, Lapland, Finland
when: any time
cost: varies
site(s): Santa Claus Village
The village has all kinds of activities and experiences available. There are husky experiences, photography tours, saunas, hiking, snow activities, museums, animal encounters, even an elf academy. Not gonna lie… I want to go here!!
6. the duck parade
location: Peabody Memphis Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee, United States
when: any time
cost: free to $$
site(s): Peabody Ducks
This is a tradition that has been going on for many years. In the 1930s, the general manager of the hotel returned from a hunting trip and thought it would be funny to place his live duck decoys (which was a legal practice at the time) in the Peabody’s fountain. So three small English call ducks found a new home in the fountain. A few years later, a former circus trainer became a bellman at the hotel and offered to train the ducks to make the walk to the fountain each day, teaching them the now-renowned Peabody Duck March. He then became the Peabody Duckmaster, a position he held for 50 years, until he retired in 1991. Today, some 90 years later, the ducks still travel to the fountain from 11am to 5pm, each and every day. While the march is free to the public, if you are a guest of the hotel, you can pay for a special package that gives you more access to the ducks, as well as other perks. And when the ducks are off duty? They live in the Royal Duck Palace on the roof, in a $200K structure made of glass and marble with its own fountain. There’s even a small house that is a replica of the hotel.
7. the Yunessun spa
location: Hakone, near Tokyo, Japan
when: any time
cost: $10-$25 USD per adult
site(s): Yunessun Spa
The spa has two main areas, Yunessun and Mori no Yu. The Yunessun part of the spa has public shared spaces, while Mori No Yu is largely private baths and saunas, with some separated by make and female. Among them are 23 hot spring baths, some open air and some within the domed enclosure. There are baths with not only water but with wine, tea, coffee, or Japanese sake. There’s also a foot bath filled with fish that nibble away the rough skin of the feet.
It’s important to note that, if you have tattoos as I do, you may only be in the Yunessun area and your tattoos must be fully covered. The sole exception is the reserved, private rooms within the Mori no Yu section.
8. Coasteering
location: Wales, United Kingdom
when: any time
cost: about $45 USD per adult
site(s): multiple companies
The Welsh sport of coasteering is a relatively new activity, beginning in 1986. According to Visiting Wales, it’s a combination of rock-hopping, swimming, shore-scrambling, swell-riding, cave-exploring, cliff-diving, and jumping along the coastline. It can be dangerous when done alone or without expertise, which is is why it always best to go with an experienced and accredited operator. There’s a list of various companies here.
9. the UFO Festival
location: Roswell, New Mexico, United States
when: early July
cost: free, with ticketed events
site(s): UFO Festival
This is a four-day event with all kinds of things to do. There are drone shows, costume contests, karoke, museums, panel discussions, games, parades, and lots of music and other events. Even if aliens aren’t thing, it looks fun!
10. Rainforest Wild Asia
location: Singapore
when: any time
cost: $35+ USD per adult
site(s): Rainforest Wild Asia
This is one of 5 parks within the Mandai Wildlife Reserve in Singapore. This is a unique park in that it’s main goal is conservation, and the 36 species of animals are free to roam throughout the refuge. Any animal encounters are entirely random. There are 10 different zones to explore, with activities and talks scattered throughout.
11. the Mysterious Bookshop
location: Tribeca, New York City, New York, United States
when: any time
cost: free
site(s): The Mysterious Bookshop
Otto Penzler opened the store in 1979, and it is the oldest mystery specialist book store in the United States. The store stocks only mystery fiction, thrillers, etc, both old and new. The owner also owns The Mysterious Press and has published esteemed authors the likes of Raymond Chandler, James Ellroy, Patricia Highsmith, and Ed McBain, among others. It has high ceilings, and shelves that reach from the floor to the rafters, packed with novels and detective magazines. My kinda place.
12. the Royal Botanic Gardens
location: Kew, Richmond, London, England
when: any time
cost: $15+ USD
site(s): Kew Gardens
The gardens are widely recognized to be the biggest in the world, with a huge collection of plants. There are so many places to visit, so many exhibits. On the grounds is 27 acres of land left wild. There’s also an arboretum that houses 11,000 trees. Rare and threatened plants are on display in the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse, Temperate House. The Davies Alpine House is a unique structure that recreates the conditions of the alpines, using ecofriendly methods.
13. the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta
location: Damariscotta, Maine, United States
when: any time
cost: $15+ USD
site(s): Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta
This is an annual festival that brings local Maine pumpkin artists together to create pumpkins that tell the stories of the community. There are all kinds of contests, displays, parades, and activities.
I learned about the Rougarou from Swamp People. My husband watches that show.
The London Botanical garden is now on my list. The Pumpkin Fest in Maine may be doable!
The Corgi festival is near me, and I had never heard of it before. (Not that I have a Corgi…) Definitely a unique list.
Those all sound like so much fun and such unique experiences. I’d really love to go to the Christmas thing in Finland! Or the one in Japan.
My niece lives near Grand Haven and has never mentioned the Sled Race! I shall have to take this up with her. About 15 years ago, saw the ducks march through the Peabody Hotel in Little Rock. It was a sweet and solemn affair and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Alas, that Peabody location is now a Marriott so the ducks have retired.