1

Preapproved loan

Image: Alexander Mils

Getting a preapproved loan before going to a car dealer is a good way to be sure of how much money one can spend, and it can also reveal any possible credit issues that were not clearly visible.

2

Safety first

Image: Alexandria Gilliott

It goes without saying; safety is always a top priority when buying your new car. When looking at models, go for vehicles with a high safety rating and features like airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), and electronic stability control (ESC).

3

Driving habits

Image: why kei

What kind of driving you will do should influence what kind of car you will buy . If you do a lot of city driving with stop-and-go traffic, a fuel-efficient car like a hybrid or electric vehicle could save you significant money on petrol in the long run. Do you need a large vehicle for cargo or passengers, or is a smaller, more agile car for local errands and weekend adventures?

4

Cargo space

Image: Andraz Lazic

And, since we are on the subject of driving habits, cargo space is a crucial feature of whichever car you decide to buy. How much space do you really need? Even if you only need a lot of space a couple of times a year, you will want to have that space when the time comes, so don’t neglect this aspect.

5

Mileage and vehicle age

Image: Wesley Tingey

A simple rule to consider when buying a used car is the average mileage a car is supposed to have, relative to its age. That average is 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year . If the car you're looking at has a lower average annual mileage than that, it could be considered a good mileage.

6

Outside look

Image: Parker Gibbs

A quick inspection on the outside is advisable . Check the body for imperfections like gaps, dents, or discolored paint, inspect the windows for chips and cracks, get under the vehicle, and check the wheel wells and underbody for rust, which could lead to future problems.

7

Test drive

Image: Mira Kireeva

When buying a used car, it is always important to take it for a test drive, even if you don’t have a lot of mechanical knowledge. Pay attention to odd sounds or noises coming from the engine, brakes, or transmission . Test the AC and ensure that it cools quickly. Test the electronics, brake lights, headlights, windshield wipers, and see if the tires are not too worn off. And if you see or hear something that you are not sure about, check with a mechanic before buying.

8

Check for water damage

Image: Caspian Dahlström

Water damage can be a real problem for the interior, the engine, and the electrical system . Pull back the carpets in the footwells and check for moisture or signs of water damage. There are many flood-damaged cars on the market, and most of the time, the signs are concealed.

9

Try all the seats

Image: Wade Lambert

Try out all the seats, even if you probably won’t sit in the rear . Upholstery shouldn’t be ripped or badly worn, particularly in a car with low mileage. Try all the seat adjustments to make sure that they work properly and that you can find a good driving position.

10

Service records and possible crashes

Image: Usman Malik

The past history of a used car can predict future issues . Has it been in a crash? If yes, ask about the extent of the damage and who did the work. Does the car have service records? A good, used car has been well cared for. It should have had maintenance done at the manufacturer-specified intervals.

11

Keep it simple

Image: Erik Mclean

Avoid buying add-ons, extended warranties, or very long car loans , since those usually have higher interest rates and a much higher interest component is paid in the first years than the actual loan.

12

Resale value

Image: Hilbert Hill

Research the resale value of any used car you are interested in buying . The resale value can affect the overall cost of ownership and the financial return on your investment.

By researching its resale value, popularity, demand, and potential for retaining its value over time, you can decide whether to proceed with the purchase.

1

Competitive eating

Image: Gigi

Nathan’s Famous claims to have hosted its first Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest in 1916 at Coney Island. According to legend, four immigrants took part to prove who was the most patriotic . The winner, an Irishman, downed 13 hot dogs to claim the title.

Though this origin story was likely an invention for publicity, this quirky event has grown into the beginnings of what would become a long-standing American tradition.

2

Turkey pardoning

Image: Tyler Donaghy

The tradition of pardoning a turkey dates back to 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln reportedly spared a bird after his son Tad begged for its life . Originally meant for Christmas dinner, the turkey was saved thanks to Tad’s compassion.

While a few later presidents, including Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy, also chose to spare turkeys, it wasn’t until 1989 that President George H.W. Bush made the turkey pardon an official White House tradition.

3

Groundhog Day

Image: Camerauthor Photos

Groundhog Day centers around a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil , who is said to predict the weather each February 2nd . If Phil sees his shadow, it signals six more weeks of winter; if not, spring is supposedly on its way.

The tradition began when newspaper editor Clymer Freas pitched the idea to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club in the late 1800s. Despite its popularity, Phil’s weather predictions have only been accurate about 39% of the time, according to the National Climatic Data Center.

4

Pickle-shaped ornaments on Christmas trees

Image: Drew Geraets

The Christmas pickle tradition is believed to have started as a clever marketing move by Woolworths. After receiving a large stock of pickle-shaped ornaments , the store invented a festive game to help sell them.

They encouraged families to hide the pickle in their Christmas tree, with a small prize going to whoever found it first. What began as a sales tactic eventually became a quirky holiday tradition in many American homes.

5

Alaska's Nenana Ice Classic

Image: Ariane Frei

The tradition began in 1917, when a group of railroad engineers placed bets on when the ice on Alaska’s Nenana River would break . They wagered a total of $800, trying to predict the exact date, hour, and minute of the thaw.

What started as a friendly bet turned into an annual event known as the Nenana Ice Classic. Today, it’s a major Alaskan tradition that draws thousands of participants each year—and offers a jackpot that can exceed $300,000.

6

Cherry pit spitting

Image: Quaritsch Photography

During cherry season, cherry pit spitting contests pop up across the U.S., inviting participants to launch pits as far as they can —or even try to hit specific targets. These contests are famously held at events like the International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship in Eau Claire, Michigan, which began in 1974.

It’s a lighthearted test of skill that draws crowds in search of classic summer fun.

7

Tailgate parties

Image: Zachary Keimig

For many American sports fans—especially at football games—just attending isn’t enough. Hours before kickoff, parking lots fill with fans decked out in team colors , grilling food , and enjoying drinks as part of the pregame ritual known as tailgating.

Some tailgaters go all out, bringing TVs, sound systems, and even satellite dishes to create the ultimate game-day setup.

8

Black Friday shopping spree

Image: Erik Mclean

Just hours after Thanksgiving feasts wrap up, millions of Americans shift into shopping mode for Black Friday. This massive retail event kicks off a weekend spree that also includes Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday—newer traditions that have quickly gained traction.

9

Holiday family cards

Image: Community Archives of Belleville and Hastings County

One beloved holiday tradition in the U.S. is sending and receiving festive family photo cards . These often feature coordinated outfits and include a short update on the family’s highlights from the past year—even from people you may barely remember.

10

Ostrich racing

Image: Dominic Yegon

Ostriches were introduced to the U.S. in the 1880s, and it didn’t take long for people to start racing them. These unusual competitions sprang up in several states and quickly gained attention for their novelty.

Today, the most well-known event is the Chandler Ostrich Festival in Arizona , which has been running for decades. As of 2024, it marked its 36th year, continuing the quirky tradition with a modern twist.

11

Roadkill cook-off

Image: Christoph Wick

With abundant wildlife and countless vehicles on American roads, animal collisions are an unfortunate reality. But in Marlinton, West Virginia, locals have found a unique way to turn that misfortune into a celebration.

Every September, the town hosts the Roadkill Cook-off, where adventurous eaters can sample dishes like squirrel gravy on biscuits, teriyaki bear, or deer sausage —all made from animals legally collected after road accidents.

12

Pumpkin chucking

Image: Marius Ciocirlan

In America, pumpkins aren’t just for pies and lattes—they’re also launched through the air in a tradition known as pumpkin chucking.

The largest and original event, Punkin Chunkin, originated in Delaware, where teams use contraptions like trebuchets, catapults, and air cannons to hurl pumpkins as far as possible .

1

Cypress Gardens (Winter Haven, Florida)

Long before the Disney parks arrived in Florida, another attraction was the most popular, drawing visitors from across the country.

It was Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Florida, which opened in 1936 as a botanical garden showcasing the state’s natural beauty. Over time, it became even better known for its water ski shows, something many Americans still remember from family trips in the 60s and 70s. But by the late 70s, things began to shift. The rise of the Disney parks changed tourism expectations, and Cypress Gardens slowly lost its spotlight, ultimately closing in September 2009. But it's not all bad news; parts of the original gardens still survive today, preserved inside LEGOLAND Florida.

2

New York State Pavilion (New York)

At the 1964 New York World’s Fair in Queens, the United States unveiled a brave vision of the future: the New York State Pavilion.

With its "Tent of Tomorrow," three towering observation structures, and a giant map of New York on the ground, it drew crowds throughout 1964 with exhibitions, shows, and concerts. But when the fair closed in 1965, the future it represented started to fade. Without a long-term plan or funding, the pavilion declined, and by 1974**,** it was permanently closed due to structural issues. Today, its rusted towers still stand over Queens, NYC, alongside the empty concrete frame. However, restoration efforts have recently begun, hinting at a possible second life for this future that never was.

3

Six Flags New Orleans (New Orleans, Louisiana)

In the early 2000s, it was one of the most popular amusement parks in the region, but soon after, it was left underwater and abandoned.

We’re talking about Six Flags New Orleans, which opened in May 2000 as Jazzland Theme Park. In 2002, Six Flags took over, rebranding it and improving its roller coasters, rides, and water attractions. Its downfall wasn’t due to lack of visitors or investment; it was something far more powerful: in 2005, Hurricane Katrina flooded the park , causing irreversible damage, so it never reopened. Today, it still stands abandoned, with rusting rides and empty streets that are now a reminder of the storm. But it still gets some use: today, the now-haunting site has been transformed into a frequent filming location for movies, including Jurassic World (2015) and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014).

4

Palisades Amusement Park (Bergen County, New Jersey)

For decades, especially between 1950 and 1970, it was a classic summer destination for families, but today, it’s completely gone.

Palisades Amusement Park opened in 1898 on the cliffs of the Hudson River in New Jersey. And what began as a trolley stop became one of America’s most famous amusement parks, known for its roller coasters, neon lights, and a massive saltwater pool once called "the largest in the world." However, by the 1960s, overcrowding, rising costs, and local pressure pushed it into decline, and it closed permanently on September 12, 1971. Today, high-rise apartments stand where the rides once were.

5

Disney's River Country (Lake Buena Vista, Florida)

Have you heard about Disney’s abandoned park? Disney's River Country opened in 1976 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, inspired by the vibes of classic American summer vacations. It had a rustic atmosphere, with wooden slides, rope swings, and water drawn directly from the nearby lake. It was a total success in the 1980s, but by the late 1990s, things began to change.

Newer water parks with advanced systems and stricter safety standards made River Country feel outdated, and Disney gradually shifted its attention elsewhere. The park closed "temporarily" in 2001, but it never reopened. Today, it still sits in the same place, partially reclaimed by nature, quietly overshadowed by the modern resorts around it.

6

Grossinger’s Catskill Resort Hotel (Liberty, New York)

What was once one of the most popular family resorts in the country is now an extensive, decaying space with peeling wallpaper and collapsing floors.

Grossinger’s Resort Hotel began in the 1910s as a small guesthouse in the Catskill Mountains of Liberty, New York. What started modestly soon grew into one of the region’s most famous destinations, reaching its peak in the 1950s and 1960s with a golf course and both indoor and outdoor pools. It was incredibly popular with urban and suburban families in the tri-state area, and it even inspired the fictional "Kellerman's Mountain Resort" from Dirty Dancing (1987).

But in the late 1960s, American vacation habits began to change. Air travel and cruise vacations attracted families, and younger generations no longer returned to the places their parents had once loved. The resort gradually declined, leading to its permanent closure in 1986.

7

Dogpatch USA (Marble Falls, Arkansas)

Dogpatch USA opened in the Ozarks of Marble Falls, Arkansas, in 1968, taking its name from the fictional town in the popular comic strip Li’l Abner by Al Capp.

Rustic buildings, rides, fishing ponds, and a small amusement area brought the comic world to life. It first attracted curiosity from local visitors, but never reached the popularity its creators had hoped for. Almost from the start, it struggled, in part due to its remote Ozarks location, which made it difficult for most tourists to reach, and its operating costs that surpassed attendance. Over time, the park gradually declined, changing ownership and shrinking in activity, before finally disappearing in the mid-1980s.

8

Ghost Town in the Sky (Maggie Valley, North Carolina)

A Wild West–themed amusement park sitting above the clouds in the Smoky Mountains sounds too good to be true, right? But it was real.

Ghost Town in the Sky opened on May 1, 1961, in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, at the top of Buck Mountain. Visitors rode a chairlift up to a full Old West town with saloons, staged gunfights, and mountain views. For its first two decades, it attracted steady crowds, but by the 1990s, it began to shrink. Rising maintenance costs, difficult access, and unstable ownership pushed it into decline. By the 2000s, the aging infrastructure became unreliable, leading to its first closure in 2002 and final closure in 2009. Today, the park still sits abandoned on the mountain.

9

Geauga Lake (Aurora, Ohio)

In the early 20th century, many Midwestern families had a go-to summer destination: Geauga Lake Park.

Geauga Lake opened in 1887 in Aurora, Ohio, as a simple lakeside resort. By the 1920s, it had grown into a full amusement park with rides, games, and roller coasters –like its classic wooden coaster, the Big Dipper– attracting thousands of visitors each year. Throughout much of the 20th century, it was a must-stop on family road trips. It reached its peak in the 1990s, after major expansions turned it into a large regional attraction, but those same upgrades also drove up costs and complexity. In the end, the expansion that improved it also sealed its fate, leading to its final closure in 2007.

10

Heritage USA (Fort Mill, South Carolina)

Sometimes called "Christian Disneyland," Heritage USA opened in 1978 in Fort Mill, South Carolina, founded by famous televangelists Jim and Tammy Bakker with the idea of building a major Christian-themed resort to rival the big amusement parks.

For a time, it was hugely popular, at one point even ranking as the third most-visited theme park in the U.S., with rides, a water park, hotels, and a large church auditorium. But in 1987, a financial scandal involving Jim Bakker shook public trust, and in 1989, Hurricane Hugo caused further damage. By the end of 1989, the park had effectively shut down, leaving its once-famous 21-story hotel as a hollow reminder of what it had been.