1

Fresh fish

Image: Chris Chow

If you were new to the army , you were "fresh fish." Veterans spotted them a mile away, wide-eyed, uniforms still smelling like the depot, and not yet hardened by camp life. They got teased, trained, and sometimes tricked. Of course, every seasoned soldier once wore the "fresh fish" badge, so the teasing came with a knowing grin.

2

Grab a root

Image: Lars Blankers

Dinner time in camp could mean beans, hardtack, or, if you were lucky, a potato. Asking someone to "grab a root" was soldier shorthand for "let’s eat." Potatoes were cheap, filling, and easy to cook over a campfire.

3

Sawbones

Image: Piron Guillaume

Medical science in the 1860s wasn’t exactly what we call gentle. Army surgeons were nicknamed "sawbones," partly for their skill with amputations, a normal procedure during wartime. It wasn’t always fair, since many doctors were dedicated and resourceful, but the name stuck.

4

Graybacks

Image: Scott Umstattd

Ask a soldier about "graybacks" and you might get two very different answers. One was lice, the pest that thrived in crowded camps. The other was a nickname Union troops used for Confederate soldiers . Either way, it wasn’t a compliment.

5

Bonnie Blue Flag

This was the hit song of the Confederacy , praising the states that left the Union. The "Bonnie Blue Flag" itself showed a single white star on a blue field, the first banner of the Confederacy. The song’s lively chorus made it a favorite at rallies, campfires, and any place soldiers needed a boost of spirit.

6

Furlough

Image: Stijn Swinnen

A furlough was a soldier’s golden ticket home , even if only for a short while. The paperwork described the soldier’s looks, regiment, and exact return date, plus a stern warning about being labeled a deserter if he didn’t show up on time.

7

Housewife

Image: Annie Spratt

Every soldier carried a "housewife," though it wasn’t a person; it was a sewing kit . Packed with needles, thread, and spare buttons, it kept uniforms in one piece. With supply lines stretched thin, a quick stitch could mean the difference between looking like a soldier or a scarecrow.

8

Insult

Image: Aleksey Kashmar

On a Civil War battlefield, an "insult" wasn’t words, it was a sudden attack on a fortified position. The idea was to strike before the defenders could react. Success could turn the tide of a fight, but failure usually meant heavy losses. It was risky and brutal.

9

Kepi

Image: Jen Theodore

The kepi was the go-to cap for Union soldiers, with a flat circular top and short visor . It was light, practical, and easy to make, so it became part of the classic Civil War look. Confederate soldiers sometimes wore them too, but it was a Union signature item.

10

Ordnance

Image: Rick Lobs

If it was in any way designed to make the enemy’s day worse, it was "ordnance." This covered everything from muskets to cannonballs . Armies guarded their ordnance like gold, since running low meant fighting at a disadvantage.

11

Skirmish

Image: Carol Highsmith's America

Not every fight was a massive battle. A "skirmish" was a smaller clash , often between scouting parties or outposts. Quick, unpredictable, and sometimes over in minutes, skirmishes kept soldiers on edge and commanders guessing what the enemy was really up to.

1

The Plaza Hotel, New York

Image: Harri Nieminen

The Plaza Hotel, located at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South in Manhattan, New York City, is one of the most famous hotels in the world . It was opened in 1907 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. Known for its luxury, iconic architecture, and high-society clientele, it has a past of having hosted figures like F. Scott Fitzgerald (who immortalized it in The Great Gatsby ) and Marilyn Monroe.

The Plaza’s featuring in several films has gained international fame. Scenes from Home Alone 2 or North by Northwest , and Eloise at the Plaza have the iconic backdrop of the hotel as its setting. It was also the lodging The Beatles chose for their first stay in the U.S. in 1964, but the hullabaloo of the fan craze was such that they chose lower-profile hotels for their subsequent visits.

2

Willard InterContinental, Washington

Image: Pixabay

Just two blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C. stands the Willard InterContinental. The same site has hosted a hotel since 1818, but the current building opened in 1901. It’s nicknamed the "Residence of Presidents" because nearly every U.S. president since Franklin Pierce has either stayed there or visited.

Its notable location granted the Willard other historical honors. For example, it’s said that President Ulysses S. Grant enjoyed spending calm moments in the opulent hotel’s lobby, but there he would be crowded by people who would seek favors or influence policy decisions. He coined the term "lobbyists" to refer to them. It was also where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. completed his famous "I Have a Dream" speech before delivering it.

3

The Stanley Hotel, Colorado

Image: Luke Scarpino

If the sight of The Stanley Hotel makes you a bit uncomfortable, you are not alone. It is the very building that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining (1977). After staying there in the 1970s, King had a dream about his son running through the hotel’s halls, which led to the idea of the haunted Overlook Hotel featured in the book. Though the Stanley itself is not the setting for either the novel or Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation, the myth surrounding this 1909 hotel has made it a hotspot for paranormal tourism.

The hotel is said to be haunted, after all. Reports of mysterious piano music, flickering lights, and strange apparitions keep drawing fans to it. Room 217, where Stephen King stayed, is the most famous of these "haunted" rooms . Guests and staff have reported seeing Mrs. Wilson, a housekeeper who worked at the hotel in the early 1900s, tidying up the room.

4

The Bellagio, Las Vegas

Image: Antonio Janeski

Las Vegas Strip, an area bright enough to be visible from space, holds in its heart many impressive hotels. But The Bellagio probably takes the crown. It was the most expensive hotel ever constructed when it opened in 1998, having cost $1.6 billion. Its facade features the famous Fountains of Bellagio , which perform water shows synchronized to music and lights daily.

In its boastful style, the hotel also has an upscale casino, five-star restaurants, and the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art , which features rotating expositions but once featured works from Picasso, Monet, and van Gogh, among others. The hotel has also, since its opening, been home to Cirque du Soleil’s show "O", aquatic-themed and occurring in and around an on-stage pool.

5

Palace Hotel, San Francisco

Image: Pixabay

San Francisco’s Palace Hotel opened in 1875, so it was already around for the 1906 earthquake, which damaged it and demanded renovations. But it always remained a stunning hotel, featuring a grand lobby with a stained-glass dome and chandeliers. Many prominent guests walked its halls, including Mark Twain, Frank Sinatra, and Queen Elizabeth II .

In its inauguration in the 19th century, it was the largest hotel in the world. 19 presidents of the U.S. have been esteemed visitors, and most notably President Woodrow Wilson hosted luncheons at the Palace Hotel when he was building support for the Treaty of Versailles to end World War I.

6

Crescent Hotel and Spa, Arkansas

Image: Evgenia Basyrova

Eureka Springs’ Crescent Hotel and Spa is a top tier in many lists of "most haunted hotels." Its old age and eerie story are enough to earn it this honor. Opened in 1886, the Victorian in the 1930s functioned as a hospital for treating cancer patients. It is said that a con doctor called Norman Baker took patients in to allegedly cure them, but caused some untreated guests to pass away as a result.

Legend has it, that one of his patients, as well as Baker, still haunts the rooms of Crescent Hotel. Some TV shows, like "Ghost Hunters" and "Ghost Adventures", have explored the venue. Of course, the hotel also offers ghost tours .

7

Jekyll Island Club Resort, Georgia

Image: Pixabay

The Jekyll Island Club Resort is located on Jekyll Island, one of the barrier islands off the coast of Georgia. It was founded in 1886 as a winter retreat for some of America’s wealthiest families , including the Morgans, Rockefellers, and Pulitzers. This earned the place the reputation for being one of the most exclusive and prestigious social clubs in American history.

The hotel houses the Historic Jekyll Island Museum, which showcases the island’s past in the Gilded Age. To this day it is still praised for its beautiful natural landscapes and trails. The island offers stunning natural surroundings , and the hotel prides itself on its commitment to preserving its environment.

8

Omni Parker House, Boston

Image: Patrick Foreman

The Omni Parker House from Boston, Massachusetts, opened in 1855 as the "Parker House", and is now the oldest continuously operating hotel in the United States. It has hosted many notable guests, like Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and John F. Kennedy. Babe Ruth and other baseball greats frequented its restaurant. The place also holds the separate honor of being the birthplace of the Boston Cream Pie , a chocolate-and-cream dessert that now symbolizes Massachusetts.

Of course, a hotel that is 169 years old cannot be free from haunted allegations. Reports of ghostly apparitions and unexplained noises are common for the Omni Parker House, particularly around its historic rooms.

9

Chateau Marmont, Hollywood

Image: Edgar Colomba

Chateau Marmont, from West Hollywood, California, has been operating since its opening in 1929. It was designed in a French Gothic style, inspired by the Château d'Amboise in France. Its location has granted it a long history of receiving a large celebrity clientele and fame associated with glamour, legend, and scandal.

James Dean and Judy Garland would find refuge in the hotel, which soon became known as a haven for stars for its strict privacy policies . The Chateau has also appeared in Hollywood self-referential films like The Player or A Star is Born .

10

Hotel del Coronado, Coronado Island

Image: Donhu Rickerby

The Hotel del Coronado, a.k.a. "The Del," is a historic beachfront hotel that opened in 1888. Its grand exterior with red-and-white striped roofs is easily recognizable, and it has been declared a National Historic Landmark. Many dignitaries have visited it, like Richard Nixon, Princess Grace of Monaco, and Thomas Edison, although, opposing popular belief, he had nothing to do with the early installation of electricity that the hotel boasted.

If you’ve seen Some Like It Hot , featuring Marilyn Monroe , you have spied places in the hotel. Many scenes were filmed there, which made it appear as the "Seminole Ritz Hotel" in Miami in the film.

1

Cardboard sled race

Image: Jeremy McKnight

Want to have fun? Get cardboard, tape, and go to Grand Haven’s Winterfest in Michigan where, every January, kids and adults build their own sleds and race down a snowy hill, hoping to make it to the bottom before their creation falls apart.

Prizes are handed out for speed, creativity, and team spirit. It’s all in good fun, at least for the crowds who watch as contestants slide hoping their creation comes to nothing before reaching the finish line!

2

Frozen dead guy days

Image: Henrik L.

If you think your family has odd traditions, wait until you hear about Frozen Dead Guy Days in Estes Park, Colorado.

This festival is inspired by the real-life story of Bredo Morstoel, a Norwegian man who was cryogenically frozen in a shed in Colorado (yes, really.) After local officials discovered the situation, instead of shutting it down, they embraced it and turned it into a full-blown festival.

Now, every March, thousands of visitors gather to watch coffin races, polar plunges, and even a Frostbite Fashion Show. A festival to die for, huh?

3

North American wife carrying championship

Image: Kyle Sudu

Ever thought of carrying your spouse through an obstacle course? In Newry, Maine, that’s exactly what happens every October at the North American Wife Carrying Championship.

Let us explain: Teams race across a 278-yard course with two dry obstacles and one water challenge, all while carrying their partner upside down, legs over the shoulders.

You don’t have to be married to enter, any duo can participate. The winners get a hilarious prize: the carried person’s weight in beer and five times their weight in cash. We’re in!

4

Corgi beach day

Image: fatty corgi

Twice a year, Huntington Beach, California, becomes a fluffy paradise thanks to Corgi Beach Day. What’s not to love about these short, stubby-legged dogs? This festival is to celebrate them!

Thousands of corgis, and their humans, of course, gather on the sand to play, dress up, and compete in fun contests. There are food trucks, vendors selling corgi-themed goodies, and even giveaways. Best part? All breeds are welcome, just be sure to dress up your pup in something fun, so they stand out among the sea of short legs and wagging tails.

5

Underwater music festival

Image: Sarah Lee

Music festivals are fun, but how about one underwater? Every July, divers and snorkelers in the Lower Keys, Florida, gather for the Underwater Music Festival, where music is played through special underwater speakers.

People dress as mermaids and sea creatures, pretending to play fish-shaped instruments as they float through the ocean. The festival promotes coral reef conservation, making it both entertaining and educational. The kind of fun we love!

6

Art Car Parade

Image: Ichsan Pratama

Every April, the streets of Houston, Texas, transform into a moving art gallery. The Art Car Parade features vehicles that have been painted, sculpted, and decorated into rolling masterpieces.

Some cars look like bananas, shoes, or space-themed creations, while others resemble Mad Max-style hot rods. What started as a small event in the 1980s has grown into the biggest free event in Houston, with up to 300,000 spectators lining the streets.

7

Twins days festival

Image: Jørgen Håland

Have you got a twin? Pack your bags and head to Twinsburg, Ohio. A place that lives up to its name by hosting Twins Days every August, the largest annual gathering of twins in the world.

Twins from all over attend, participating in a "Double Take! parade, contests, and research studies. Scientists and universities even conduct twin-related research, with some offering cash or gift incentives for participation. Every year, the festival has a theme, and many twins show up in matching costumes.

8

UFO Festival

Image: ruddy.media

If you’ve ever wondered about aliens and UFOs, Roswell, New Mexico, is the place to be in July.

The UFO Festival celebrates the famous Roswell Incident of 1947 when a flying saucer crash-landed near the town. We know that the government later said it was just a high-altitude research balloon, but many people still believe aliens were involved. The festival includes parades, alien costume contests, laser shows, and an "Alien Crawl" bar event for adults. An out-of-this-world experience, if we may say so!

9

WNC Bigfoot Festival

Image: Jon Sailer

Bigfoot may be a Pacific Northwest legend, but in Marion, North Carolina, he’s a local celebrity. The WNC Bigfoot Festival started in 2018 after reported Bigfoot sightings in the area, and it’s been a hit ever since.

Every May, visitors travel to the town to hear Bigfoot experts give lectures, watch a Bigfoot-calling contest, and browse Sasquatch-themed art and souvenirs. Would you like to go to this one?

10

Mothman Festival

Image: Carol Petri

In Point Pleasant, West Virginia, people embrace the mystery of the Mothman, a red-eyed winged creature first spotted in 1966.

Now, every September, the Mothman Festival celebrates the legend with vendors, cryptid-themed art, Mothman-shaped food, and hayrides. Visitors can also tour the Mothman Museum or take a bus tour of the infamous TNT area, where the creature was first seen.