1

Gilroy Garlic Festival, California

Image: team voyas

The city of Gilroy, California, is known for being a major garlic producer and is even more known for hosting one of the most important food festivals in America. Originally inspired by a French garlic festival, Gilroy opens their doors to all garlic lovers the last weekend of July, and attracts thousands of visitors every year. Not recommended if you are allergic or just a vampire.

2

Mothman Festival, West Virginia

Image: LucasVphotos

Mothman is one of the most distinguished cryptids in American folklore and a point of pride for its home turf, Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Since 2002, a festival centered around the figure of Mothman has been celebrated yearly, and has been a big source of tourism for the town.

3

Humongous Fungus Festival, Michigan

Image: Transly Translation Agency

In the 1980s, Crystal Falls, Michigan, was the site of a significant discovery: a vast underground colony of Armillaria gallica , commonly known as the honey mushroom. Since 1991, Crystal Falls has celebrated its fungal neighbors with the Humongous Fungus Festival, which includes a parade, a cook-off —mushroom themed, of course—, and many more community events.

4

Surfing Santas, Florida

Image: krakenimages

Florida beaches might not have the ideal Christmas weather, but they are perfect for surfing. This is why, every Christmas Eve, Cocoa Beach, Florida, is the scene of Surfing Santas, a festival where, as the name suggests, people surf dressed as Santa Claus. Initially an open beach party turned festival, the proceeds are destined to local charities and to the Florida Surf Museum.

5

Frozen Dead Guy Days, Colorado

Image: Simon Berger

As the name of this certainly peculiar festival indicates, there is a corpse involved. The remains of Bredo Morstøl, originally from Norway, are cryopreserved in the town of Nederland, Colorado. While the town’s ordinances forbid the private keeping of remains, human or otherwise, a special clause was added for Bredo. Nederland celebrates its most unique resident the second weekend of March, and the celebrations include coffin races and a ‘frozen dead guy’ lookalike contest.

6

Waikiki Spam Jam Festival, Hawaii

Image: newhallpublishing

Hawaii is the biggest SPAM consumer in the U.S., so it’s only right that they hold a SPAM festival. Held during the last week of April, it includes fireworks, parades, live music, and all kinds of spam dishes.

7

Underwater Music Festival, Florida

Image: NEOM

Florida homes the biggest coral reef in the continental U.S., and this festival is all about it. With the intention of raising awareness for reef conservation and eco-friendly diving, this event holds an underwater concert for divers and snorkelers.

8

San Fermin, Louisiana

Image: mana5280

You might have heard of the San Fermin celebrations in Spain, where people run in front of bulls in the street. Louisiana’s San Fermin festival is similar, minus the bulls. In the New Orleans Running of the Bulls, people run from derby skaters armed with foam bats, which are aimed at anyone they encounter in their way.

9

Cow Chip Throw Festival, Wisconsin

Image: Daniel Quiceno M

Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, certainly knows how to party on Labor weekend. Besides the chip throwing, you can enjoy music, food, and family activities. Don’t worry about bringing your own cow chips: official festival-sanctioned chips are provided to contestants to ensure fair competition.

10

North American Wife Carrying Championship, Maine

Image: Priscilla Du Preez

Wife carrying as a competitive sport was first introduced in Finland, but it has had its own festival in Newry, Maine, since 1999. Participating couples have to traverse a 278-yard obstacle course, with some of the prizes including the wife’s weight in beer and cash. Single? No problem. As long as you are 21 or older and you have a companion, you can participate.

1

Tri-State tornado

Image: Greg Johnson

In 1925, the Tri-State Tornado carved a path of destruction across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. With winds exceeding 300 mph, it remains the deadliest tornado in U.S. history, claiming more than 700 lives and leaving thousands homeless.

This record-breaking F5 tornado—classified as such by modern standards—traveled over 200 miles in just three and a half hours, leveling entire towns. Its unprecedented speed and longevity exposed the limitations of early warning systems, prompting significant advancements in tornado research and forecasting.

2

The Dust Bowl

Image: Sophia Simoes

The 1930s Dust Bowl was a man-made disaster exacerbated by a severe drought across the Great Plains. Decades of over-plowing and unsustainable farming practices had left the farmland highly vulnerable to erosion.

When the drought struck, winds swept loose soil into colossal clouds that darkened cities and devastated remaining crops. These massive dust storms, known as "Black Blizzards," choked the skies and forced thousands of families to abandon their homes . Eventually, the disaster led to significant agricultural reforms under the New Deal.

3

Lake Michigan's seiche wave

Image: Silas Baisch

On the morning of June 26, 1954, a 10-foot-high seiche wave crashed onto the Chicago shoreline , sweeping away eight people and injuring many others. But what exactly is a "seiche wave"?

According to researchers, seiche waves are large, sudden standing waves that form in enclosed bodies of water due to extreme atmospheric changes, such as abrupt shifts in air pressure or strong winds. This rare event shocked the Midwest and prompted scientists to study lake oscillations and their connection to storm systems.

4

Great Alaska earthquake

Image: Joris Beugels

In 1964, Alaska was struck by a devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 9.2, making it the most powerful ever recorded in North America and the second most powerful worldwide. Lasting four minutes and thirty-eight seconds, the earthquake triggered massive tsunamis and landslides across the state, along with significant geographic changes —some coastlines sank while others rose dramatically.

The destruction it caused led to major updates in seismic safety protocols and infrastructure standards throughout the U.S. This event emphasized the need for better preparedness and stricter building codes , to handle similar future events, especially in earthquake-prone areas.

5

Hurricane Katrina

Image: NASA

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, claiming more than 1,300 lives and leaving millions homeless, sparking an urgent humanitarian crisis. The storm caused an estimated $125 billion in damages, making it one of the costliest hurricanes in history , tied with Hurricane Harvey in the Atlantic basin.

Katrina exposed critical flaws in the region's levee systems and emergency response efforts, prompting widespread criticism and driving essential reforms in disaster preparedness and infrastructure.

6

The Peshtigo firestorm

Image: Tim Mossholder

On the same day as the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, a catastrophic firestorm near the small town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, scorched approximately 1.2 million acres, making it the deadliest wildfire in recorded history . The uncontrolled blaze claimed over 1,500 lives, though the exact number of fatalities remains uncertain.

Since 1883, there has been speculation that the simultaneous outbreaks of major fires across Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, including the Peshtigo and Chicago fires, were not coincidental but caused by burning fragments from Biela's Comet . However, this theory remains unproven.

7

Superstorm Sandy

Image: Matt Hardy

Nicknamed "Superstorm" by the media, Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on the Caribbean and the coastal Mid-Atlantic region of the United States in late October 2012. While it affected 24 states, the most severe damage was concentrated in New Jersey and New York .

The storm caused an estimated $70 billion in damages, flooding New York City's subway system and displacing thousands of residents. It also ignited a nationwide debate about the role of man-made climate change in amplifying the intensity of seasonal storms.

8

Death Valley heatwave

Image: Johannes Plenio

Death Valley recorded the world’s hottest temperature —134°F—in 1913. A testament to America’s climatic extremes, the region’s unique topography traps heat, effectively turning it into a natural furnace.

While the record remains a point of fascination for meteorologists and tourists alike, some recent researchers have challenged the accuracy of the 1913 measurement. Regardless, the region has come close to this temperature in recent years, indicating that a new record-breaking summer may be in the cards.

9

The Great Blizzard of 1888

Image: Jan Canty

The "White Hurricane" of 1888 buried the Northeast under as much as 55 inches of snow, crippling major cities and resulting in over 400 fatalities. Railroads were shut down, and many residents were confined to their homes for up to a week.

As one of the most severe blizzards in American history , the storm compelled New York City to bury power lines and redesign its transportation systems to better withstand future extreme weather events.

10

Mount St. Helens eruption

Image: Tetiana Grypachevska

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington, triggering massive landslides and pyroclastic flows, killing 57 people and causing over $1.1 billion in damages. The violent blast also reduced the mountain’s height by more than 1,300 feet and sent a plume of ash 80,000 feet into the atmosphere, disrupting air travel for weeks.

This volcanic event, the first in the contiguous United States since the much smaller 1915 eruption of Lassen Peak in California, is considered one of the most disastrous volcanic eruptions in U.S. history. Its aftermath raised awareness of volcanic hazards and underscored the importance of geological research in the country.

1

Garage

Image: Danielle-Claude Bélanger

If you’re like most of us, when you hear the word garage , you think of a place to store cars—on land. But if you belong to the super-rich, you might think otherwise. Octopus is a superyacht owned by an extremely wealthy individual (as with every other massive boat on this list, we’ll avoid naming names) that features a two-story wet dock functioning as the explorer yacht's very own mini-marina.

Two primary tenders are stored and launched through a giant transom door, while the floodable dock is complemented by rows of smaller toy garages.

2

Spa

Image: Jared Rice

Many cruise ships offer spas as part of their onboard amenities, but sharing those accommodations with other passengers is usually to be expected. Unless, of course, you happen to own Kismet , a superyacht that boasts a " 7-star wellness suite ." This luxurious space includes a hammam, sauna, cryotherapy chamber, private treatment room with a massage table, and a chromotherapy bathtub. Not bad, right?"

3

Air-conditioned helicopter hangar

Image: Andrew Palmer

If you own a superyacht, chances are you probably own a helicopter too. So, it only makes sense to have a proper deck on your yacht to land your helicopter. However, the owner of Moonrise took things a step further by adding an air-conditioned helicopter hangar to the mix.

4

Bespoke chandelier

Image: William Krause

Probably due to the fact that these things always seem to hang rather precariously from the ceiling, chandeliers tend to be installed on dry land and not on moving vehicles. However, if your yacht is large enough, anything is possible.

Such is the case with the Aquila superyacht, which boasts a bespoke chandelier crafted by the Czech company Preciosa. This masterpiece made up of more than 850 pieces of hand-blown glass , stretches an astonishing 36.7 feet , cascading elegantly through four of Aquila’s five decks.

5

Nature-inspired spa

Image: Roberto Nickson

The Ahpo superyacht features a massive spa designed with curves, leaves, waves, and bamboo for a serene, nature-inspired aesthetic. Located on the lower deck, this luxurious facility includes a plunge pool , a Himalayan salt sauna , a hammam , and a massage room . Each space is decorated with intricate nature-themed mosaics and ceilings embedded with twinkling fiber optic lights, creating a tranquil and immersive experience.

6

A snow room

Image: Nathan Wolfe

If an onboard spa isn’t luxurious enough, how about a walk-in snow room ? The Faith superyacht takes indulgence to another level with its spa, which includes this unique feature. Aside from the fun of building a snowman while navigating across the Caribbean, spending time in the snow room offers several health benefits , such as stimulating metabolism , improving sleep , and relieving pain .

7

Underwater lounge

Image: Jeremy Bishop

Imagine relaxing in your superyacht’s private lounge, gazing through a huge window in front of you, half of it over the water line and half of it, underwater . This is the kind of extraordinary experience awaiting owners and guests aboard the Savannah . Spot marine life with a drink in your hand, anytime.

8

Private library

Image: Iñaki del Olmo

Arguably the most understated feature on this extravagant list, the massive L-shaped library aboard the M5 superyacht exudes a cozy, residential charm. With hundreds of volumes neatly arranged in rows and a plush L-shaped sofa to match, this library offers the perfect space to unwind in style.

9

Outdoor cinema

Image: Andre Ouellet

Imagine a drive-in theater—but at sea, and without the cars. That’s the kind of experience you can enjoy aboard Grey , another big boat with a glass-sided swimming pool complete with a high-luminosity cinema setup . Flanked by plush sofa seating, the area boasts integrated speakers and a state-of-the-art surround sound system.

And yes, in case you were wondering, the screen can completely retract and fold away when not in use.

10

Basketball court

Image: JC Dela Cuesta

Imagine playing basketball while the entire court is rocked by the waves —quite an experience! The lucky owner of Joy , another luxurious ship, can do just that. The court can also be converted into a badminton court. And after the workout, the dedicated onboard spa is ready to soothe those sore muscles.

11

A jaguar

Image: Jeff Heaton

Figureheads on the bow of ships are an ancient tradition, but placing a car-style hood ornament on a ship is something else altogether. And doing it on a massive scale creates quite the spectacle. The Whisper superyacht boasts a 12-foot silver jaguar statue on its bow , a tribute to its previous owner, who also happened to own the Jacksonville Jaguars football team.

12

Greek pool

Image: Alex Harmuth

Picture a massive pool, set underneath dramatic lighting to give the appearance of a night-lit sky, and surrounded by grand Greek statues , all aboard a luxury private yacht . That’s Leona , a 240-foot superyacht. The lavish atmosphere is completed by water outlets and fresco walls that make its visitors feel like they are in a Greek villa .