1

Montpellier, Vermont

Montpellier is the smallest state capital in the United States, with only about 8,000 residents along the Winooski River. Instead of traffic jams and towers, you get shops, quiet streets, and a gold-domed Capitol rising above the roofs .

Founded in the late 1700s and named after a city in France, Montpellier still feels more like a New England village than the seat of power that it is.

2

Pierre, South Dakota

Pierre, South Dakota’s capital, is one of the quietest capitals in America , with only around 14,000 residents. It sits high on the bluffs of the Missouri River, where prairie hills roll into wide water and sunsets.

Life here runs at a slower pace than in most capital cities. Government buildings share streets with modest homes, fishing spots, and family-run shops.

3

Augusta, Maine

Maine’s capital is a compact city on the banks of the Kennebec River. With a population well under 20,000 , it trades towering skylines for church steeples, brick storefronts, and a tidy state house.

The city’s roots go back to colonial trading days, and that history shows in its older neighborhoods and riverside mills. Museums, offices, and small coffee shops occupy most of the city’s center.

4

Frankfort, Kentucky

Frankfort, the capital of Kentucky, sits in a river valley surrounded by grass hills. With only 28,000 inhabitants, it’s smaller than many nearby college towns , and keeps a relaxed pace even while housing the ornate state capitol and many of the state’s main offices.

Old brick buildings, historic bourbon distilleries, and close neighborhoods give Frankfort a cozy, walkable feel. On workdays, lawmakers and staff share streets with locals grabbing lunch.

5

Helena, Montana

Montana’s capital began as a gold rush camp in the 1860s and never became a huge metropolis . Today, it remains a mid-sized mountain town, with 33,000 inhabitants, historic brick blocks, steep hills, and the state capitol dome.

Trails and open land sit only minutes away from government buildings, so hikers and cyclists mix with office workers at day’s end.

6

Juneau, Alaska

The remote capital of Alaska is one of the few state capitals that you cannot reach by road . It can only be reached by air or sea. Wedged between steep mountains and icy waterways, it remains relatively small, with a population of 31,000 individuals.

Cruise ships, fishing boats, and floatplanes share the waterfront with government offices and houses on the hillsides. Glaciers, forests, and whales are never far away, making this capital city an incredible place to live.

7

Dover, Delaware

With a population of around 39,000, Delaware’s capital keeps the feel of a small colonial town even as it manages modern state business . Streets near the Capitol Square are lined with brick homes, churches, and public buildings that date back to the American Revolution.

Instead of a dense downtown, Dover offers broad streets, open lawns, and local shops that serve residents more than tourists.

8

Annapolis, Maryland

With 40,000 individuals, Annapolis, Maryland’s capital, proves that a city can be small in size and big in history . Narrow streets wind past eighteenth-century houses, brick taverns, and the domed state house that once served as the nation’s capital.

Its harbor holds sailboats, crab boats, and U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen more often than commuters. Coffee houses, galleries, and waterfront benches make Annapolis feel more like a relaxed resort town than a state capital.

9

Jefferson City, Missouri

The capital city of Missouri sits above a bend in the Missouri River. Smaller than many of the state’s other cities, it is the home of 42,000 individuals. It trades sprawl for tidy neighborhoods, a compact downtown, and a tall capitol overlooking the water .

Named for President Thomas Jefferson, the city balances government workdays with a slower Midwestern rhythm.

10

Concord, New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s capital is a modest New England city where church steeples and a granite state house rise above low-rise streets. With a population of 44,000, it’s smaller than many capitals, and it keeps rush hour brief and downtown walkable.

The city’s history stretches back to colonial days, and older buildings still frame the main streets. Concord also hosts civic events, shops, and offices that keep it lively, mixing a hometown feeling with the grandeur of a state capital.

11

Charleston, West Virginia

West Virginia’s capital sits where the Elk and Kanawha Rivers meet, backed by lush green hills. With 45,000 individuals calling it home, it is smaller than many people expect , with neighborhoods climbing the slopes and a gold-domed Capitol reflecting in the water below.

Coal country history, riverfront parks, and a modest downtown give Charlestown a charming regional flavor. Commuters share roads with barge workers and weekend fishermen, and the city’s size makes government feel close to everyday life.

12

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

The capital of Pennsylvania is modest in population compared with its big neighbors, like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh . It "only" has about 50,000 inhabitants. Its green-domed Capitol can be seen from afar, in the skyline of mid-rise offices and row houses along the wide Susquehanna River.

Once a major transportation crossroads, Harrisburg still feels more manageable than many urban centers. Riverfront walkways, historic districts, and nearby small towns keep this capital’s rhythm comfortable.

1

Snowball fights

Image: Arina Krasnikova

It may sound like the premise for a coming-of-age comedy film, but it’s absolutely true: in Wausau, Wisconsin, throwing a snowball is technically against the law. The city once grouped snowballs in the same category as "stones and missiles," as if every kid with a pair of mittens were a potential threat to public safety. Of course, local police don’t patrol sledding hills looking for offenders anymore. The rule mostly lives on as a charming reminder that even winter fun can end up in the law books.

2

Camel hunting

Image: Shaun Danny

Camels in Arizona? Well, technically. Back in the mid-1800s, t he U.S. Army brought camels to the Southwest, hoping their strength and stamina would make them the perfect means for desert transport. The experiment didn’t last—soldiers preferred their mules—but the camels did, wandering off into the wild. To protect the survivors, the State of Arizona outlawed camel hunting, a law that still stands today. So if you ever spot one, grab your camera, not your hunting license!

3

Texting while walking

Image: Elizabeth Woolner

Crossing the street with your eyes glued to your phone is the 21st century’s twist on jaywalking. In Honolulu, Hawaii, that nasty habit can cost you up to $99, thanks to a local ordinance meant to curb "distracted walking." Officials say it’s about protecting pedestrians from accidents; residents jokingly call it "the eyes-up law." Whether you see it as common sense or overreach, the rule makes one thing clear: the text, meme, or emoji can wait until you’re safely on the other side.

4

Apple pie must come with ice cream

Image: Patrick Fore

Here’s a rule everyone can get behind. Vermont, proud home of rolling orchards and autumn harvests, officially crowned apple pie as its state dessert. But lawmakers didn’t stop there; they added a charming twist, recommending that each slice be served "in good faith" with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a piece of sharp cheddar, or a glass of cold milk. It’s less a regulation and more a warm invitation to enjoy a simple American treat. Yes, the law can sometimes be fun and downright delicious!

5

Bear wrestling

Image: Florian Schindler

Believe it or not, there was a time when people thought wrestling a bear was a good idea. Traveling shows and roadside attractions once featured men squaring off against hulking bruins for cheers and pocket change. Eventually, Alabama decided it was a spectacle best to leave it in the past. In 1996, the state officially banned bear wrestling, making it illegal to train, promote, or even sell tickets to such events. Today, the law stands as a small but noble victory for animal welfare. As for the bears? They walked away undefeated, every single one of them.

6

Password sharing

Image: cottonbro studio

Before Netflix made it official, Tennessee was already ahead of the curve. Back in 2011, the state passed a law making it illegal to share passwords for paid streaming services. The rule was originally meant to stop hackers from selling stolen logins, but it ended up being a cautionary tale for the streaming wars to come. Technically, lending your password to a friend could cost you $2,500 and even land you a year in jail. What once seemed overcautious now feels oddly prophetic, almost like Tennessee read the fine print of the future.

7

Dueling

Image: Leon Kohle

If you’ve ever challenged someone to a duel—yes, the kind with pistols and a handshake at dawn—you can forget about running for office in West Virginia. The state’s constitution, written in the 1800s, includes a clause that permanently bars any duelist from holding public office. The idea was to keep gentlemen of "honor" from turning government into a shooting gallery. More than a century later, the law remains untouched, a relic of a time when reputations were defended at ten paces.

8

Roller-skating

Image: Harrison Haines

Can you imagine roller-skating being banned in your town? Back in the 1930s in Biddeford, Maine, sidewalks were sacred ground for Sunday strolls, not racetracks for daredevils on wheels. So, the city downright prohibited skating and biking on sidewalks. Believe it or not, the rule, established in a slower era when the biggest traffic hazard downtown wasn’t a speeding car, but a kid on skates, still lingers in the city code today.

9

Fishing with your hands

Image: Patti Black

Think you’re tough enough to catch a catfish with your bare hands? In Indiana, that risky stunt—known as "noodling"—will earn you more than bragging rights; it could get you fined. The practice involves reaching into murky holes and hoping the fish bites, but lawmakers decided it was safer for everyone if they didn’t. The ban protects catfish during breeding season and probably saves a few bold fishermen’s lives. So, if you’re visiting Indiana and are feeling adventurous, bring a rod instead!

10

Confetti

Image: jameson wu

Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama, bursts with color, music, and flying beads, but there’s one thing you won’t see floating in the air: confetti or silly string. The city banned both to keep its historic streets clean after the celebrations. The rule might sound like a party pooper, but locals don’t mind. They’ve turned cleanup into an art form, celebrating with floats, jazz bands, and smiles instead of streamers. After all, the joy of Mardi Gras isn’t in what you toss but in the rhythm, the laughter, and the sparkle that doesn’t need sweeping up.

1

Edinburgh Manor, Iowa

Image: Yener Ozturk

Thanks, in no small part, to horror movies and documentaries, asylums make great abandoned places. So, we might as well start our list with Edinburgh Manor , a once-bustling institution located in Iowa. Built in the early 1900s, this huge building served as a home for the mentally ill, the elderly, and the indigent, until 2010.

Today, Edinburgh Manor continues to harbor visitors but in the form of thrill chasers who seek to experience the paranormal within the mysterious walls of the immense asylum, even daring to stay the night on its premises. Would you dare to be one of them?

2

Dinosaur Mini Golf Ruins, California

Image: Dan Meyers

Dinosaurs and golf are two entirely different things. But in the cultural melting pot that is California, it seemed like a good idea to build a dinosaur-themed mini golf course in the town of Apple Valley, complete with 15-foot-tall creatures rendered in concrete.

Alas, the economics of the whole endeavor proved too much for its creator, who was forced to abandon his dream to the desert. Today, the deteriorating remains of these dinosaurs can still be visited, as an attraction that lures travelers off the highway.

3

Space Shuttle Fuel Tank, Green Cove Springs, Florida

Image: SpaceX

Picture a humongous 154-foot-long space fuel tank sitting alone in the middle of nowhere. For many years, this tank stood on display at the Kennedy Space Center. But after the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011, NASA announced that they would remove the test fuel tank to make room for the retired space shuttle Atlantis, along with a new exhibition facility. The tank was auctioned off and sold to the Wings of Dreams Aviation Museum in Keystone Heights, Florida.

It took a 200-foot barge, two tugboats, and cranes to transport the massive tank to Green Cove Springs, where it would be temporarily held before moving to its final destination. But the logistics of moving such a massive structure proved difficult, and that temporary staging site seems to have become the fuel tank’s final home.

4

Meigs Field Tower and Terminal, Illinois

Image: Mads Eneqvist

An abandoned airport ranks high amongst the personal goals of any urban explorer worth its salt. And, to anyone close to Chicago, Meigs Field certainly delivers. Built on an artificial peninsula, the airport functioned as such from 1948 to 2003.

Today it no longer works as an airport but the stubby control tower is still very much recognizable as such, standing watch over the breezy park and its native grasses and birds.

While the tower is closed to the public, the old terminal building is not; it houses a Parks Department Visitor’s Center.

5

Old Zoo Nature Trails, Texas

Image: Matthew Cabret

A long-abandoned zoo repurposed as a hiking trail? Sign me up! The Cisco Zoo in rural Texas functioned as such for only a few years starting in the 1920s until it closed its doors due to a poisoned bear, a mysterious deer death, and other factors.

Visitors can walk through the rusted enclosures and concrete shelters where the animals were once kept, and even find the remains of what were once offices used by zoo staff. The ruins form an eerie backdrop to an otherwise tranquil 1.5-mile track still in the shadow of the dam.

6

Redstone Coke Ovens, Colorado

Image: Nadia Jamnik

Picture a mysterious "town" made up of several lines of man-made caves of equal dimensions, with open entrances like dark mouths. Now place it in a mountainous terrain, in the middle of nowhere. Welcome to Colorado Fuel and Iron coke ovens , in Coal Basin.

Built in 1899, the 249 ovens worked only for a few years, until 1908. In recent decades, the site was recognized as a historic one, and nowadays, many ovens remain intact and open to the public.

7

Black River Ghost Ship, Ohio

Image: zhao chen

Another high-ranking site in the books of any urban explorer is a ghost ship . Located on the banks of the Black River outside of Cleveland, lies a bit of a nautical mystery for the residents of Lorain, Ohio. Sinking into the muddy water along the shore and listing to one side, rusting away a little more each season, is a 90-foot-long Canadian automobile ferry that mysteriously appeared docked under the bridge sometime around 2003.

For the last 20 years, the ship has remained where it dropped anchor all those years ago. No one knows what will happen to the ship. But, for now, it serves as a decaying piece of maritime history that is well worth the walk to the top of the bridge in Lorain to view.

8

Lando School, South Carolina

Image: Evgeny Matveev

Going back to your former school as an adult is a recurring dream for many. Going back to your former school and walking through its ruins is a slightly less common dream, but it is also known to happen. And, if you went to school before the year 1955 in the Lando Schoolhouse in South Carolina, you can live the dream.

The school ruins feature classrooms, an auditorium, and balcony seatings above, all on three floors full of eerie corners, dusty blackboards, and forgotten tables. Quite creepy, right?

9

Abandoned Castle Video Games, South Carolina

Image: Chris Anderson

A defunct casino building fashioned as a castle, complete with a stone exterior, an arched wooden door, a looming knight statue, turrets, and other cliché castle features. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Castle Video Games was a video gambling center in the late 80s and early 90s until the Carolina Supreme Court ruled video gambling illegal, thus shutting the casino castle doors forever.

10

Camp Hayden, Washington

Image: Greg Panagiotoglou

Bunkers are gloomy places by design, with very little room for windows, if any, and an oppressive atmosphere. Now, imagine being in a World War II abandoned bunker at the end of a thickly forested road inside the Salt Creek Recreation Area west of Port Angeles, Washington.

One of seven locations in Washington’s system, this bunker featured a fire control radar and harbor entrance radar. Constructed of steel-shielded concrete, the structure was designed to withstand a direct hit. All of the bunkers still stand, and portions of the interiors are accessible to explorers.