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1. Gainesville, Georgia - Chicken Capital Chaos

In Gainesville, the self-proclaimed "Poultry Capital of the World," you'd better not even think about using a fork to eat fried chicken. That's right— this town passed a law in 1961 making it illegal to consume chicken with anything other than your bare hands . The ordinance was originally a publicity stunt to promote the town's poultry industry, but it's technically still enforceable today.

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2. Wilbur, Washington - Riding Ugly Horses Prohibited

The tiny town of Wilbur takes civic beauty seriously—so seriously that they've outlawed riding an ugly horse down the street . The big question, of course: who gets to decide what constitutes an ugly horse? There's no official equine beauty standard outlined in the ordinance, leaving enforcement entirely up to interpretation.

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3. Pocatello, Idaho - Smiling is Mandatory

Feeling grumpy? Don't bring that frown to Pocatello, Idaho, where a 1948 ordinance made it illegal not to smile in public . The law was passed during a time when city leaders wanted to promote a more positive, welcoming atmosphere in their community. Technically, walking around with a scowl on your face could get you in trouble with the law, though enforcement has been, shall we say, lax.

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4. Carmel, California - High Heels Require a Permit

Fashionistas beware: in the upscale coastal town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, wearing high heels over two inches tall requires a permit . The law, which dates back to the 1920s, was actually created to protect the city from liability lawsuits. Carmel's charming streets are notoriously uneven and filled with quirky design features, making twisted ankles a real hazard for heel-wearers. Rather than fix the streets, city officials decided to require permits for anyone wanting to wear stilettos around town.

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5. Blythe, California - Must Own Cows

In Blythe, a small desert town along the California-Arizona border, you're required by law to own at least two cows before you can wear cowboy boots in public . This head-scratching ordinance apparently aimed to prevent city slickers from appropriating authentic cowboy culture without earning the right. The logic seems to be that cowboy boots are functional workwear for actual cowboys, not a fashion statement for posers.

The reality is that nobody in Blythe enforces this law, and you'll see plenty of people strutting around in cowboy boots without a single cow to their name. The ordinance has become more of a conversation starter than actual legislation

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6. Marshalltown, Iowa - No Horse Eating Fire Hydrants

Marshalltown takes fire safety seriously, which is why they've made it illegal for horses to eat fire hydrants . This bizarre law presumably dates from the days when horses were the primary mode of transportation, though exactly what equine-hydrant-munching incident prompted this legislation remains a mystery.

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7. Yamhill, Oregon - Fortune Telling Forbidden

In Yamhill, Oregon, predicting the future is not just frowned upon—it's illegal . This small town of fewer than 1,200 residents has a law explicitly banning fortune telling, palmistry, and other mystic arts. The ordinance dates back to the early 20th century, when such laws were common across America, designed to protect citizens from scam artists and charlatans.

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8. Cicero, Illinois - Humming Banned on Sundays

This town has an ordinance that prohibits humming on public streets on Sundays . The law likely originated during a more puritanical era, when Sundays were strictly reserved for quiet contemplation and religious observance. Any form of frivolous noise was considered disrespectful to the Sabbath.

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9. Paulding, Ohio - No Cop-on-Dog Biting Allowed

In the small town of Paulding, there's a law that addresses a very specific workplace hazard: it's illegal for a police officer to bite a dog , even in self-defense. Most towns have laws protecting people from dog bites, but Paulding flipped the script and decided dogs needed protection from over-enthusiastic law enforcement.

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10. San Antonio, Texas - Flirting Forbidden

In San Antonio, using your eyes to catch someone's attention romantically is technically against the law. The city has an ordinance that prohibits flirtation and "offensive ogling" in public places . This Victorian-era law was meant to protect people (particularly women) from unwanted attention and harassment before modern sexual harassment laws existed. The rule specifically mentions making eyes at someone or using hands to communicate romantic interest.

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Raven Rock Mountain Complex

Image: Ilagam

Did you know that in the 1950s, the US government carved out a secret underground city that could survive a nuclear attack? It’s called an "underground Pentagon", and very much like Area 51, it is one of the government's most classified projects.

This military complex and nuclear bunker is located near Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania, 768 feet below the ground. It’s protected by 23.5 ft thick 30-ton doors built on top of springs to survive the shock from a blast. Raven Rock has five buildings with 15 floors big enough to live and work. The base has everything it needs to keep running, like a cafeteria, a barbershop, water generators, and even a medical center.

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SubTropolis

Image: mwewering

Below Kansas City, Missouri, lies the world's largest underground business complex. SubTropolis is a structure located inside a mine north of the Missouri River. It was carved out of limestone some 135 to 185 feet underground and covers a total of 55 million square feet.

Kansas City Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt built this subterranean city in the 1960s. It has offices, storage space, and even factories. Over 1,600 people work here every day, largely because SubTropolis remains cool all year, making it an ideal location for businesses. Fun fact: some of Hollywood’s most beloved masterpieces are kept here, including the original film reels of Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz.

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Underground Atlanta

Image: Ronny Sison

Underground Atlanta is a historic spot in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. It was built in the late 1800s, right after the Civil War, as a commercial district centered around the railroad. In the 1920s, viaducts were built and the streets were raised, creating a second level of streets, buildings, and shops.

During Prohibition, the abandoned underground space served as the best spot for speakeasies and juke joints. For decades, people forgot about the hidden city, but in the 1960s, it was brought back to life as a fun place for music bars and nightlife.

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New York City Subterranean World

Image: Photographer: unknown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Under America’s most populous city, there's a whole hidden world. For example, beneath Little Italy and the Public Library, there are secret vaults. Beyond the subway millions of people use daily, there is City Hall station, opened in 1904 and closed in 1945. It's a hidden gem with stained glass and mosaics that you can still visit by staying on the 6 train past the last stop.

But that’s not all! There are trading tunnels in SoHo and old cattle tunnels in the Meatpacking District. Also, in 1897, there were mail tubes built around the city to send letters between post offices that operated until the 1950s. Some of these underground spaces go as deep as 800 feet!

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Permafrost Tunnel Research Facility

Image: Paxson Woelber

A large part of the land in the northern hemisphere is Permafrost, so it makes sense that there is a research facility specially built to study it. The Permafrost Tunnel in Alaska is the best place to learn about frozen soil that's over 40,000 years old.

The long tunnel was dug from 1963 to 1969 to study how to build and mine in frozen environments. Inside the facility, scientists study ice, ancient plants, and even bones from animals like mammoths. The tunnel shows different layers of earth, uncovering frozen ground from different time periods that help scientists anticipate what might happen as the world gets warmer.

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The Greenbrier Bunker

Image: Alex Holzreiter

The Greenbrier Bunker in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, is a secret underground facility beneath a luxury hotel that has hosted numerous US presidents and famous guests. It was built during the Cold War to protect the US Congress in the event of a nuclear attack. The bunker was designed to house all 535 members of Congress and their staff for a long time.

This classified underground facility remained a secret until 1992, when a Washington Post article exposed it. Today, visitors can take tours to see special rooms, blast doors, and decontamination areas.

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The Caverns

Image: jymy duhomme

Would you attend a concert underground? If you travel to Tennessee is totally possible! The Caverns, formerly known as Bluegrass Underground, is a very cool spot in Grundy County, Tennessee. Lying deep in a cave 333 feet underground, this concert venue with natural acoustics is the perfect place for live music.

People come from all over to hear a variety of performances, especially Bluegrass music. The Caverns can accommodate up to 1,200 people standing up and are equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lights. The cave's cool and quiet atmosphere makes the experience extra special!

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Crystal City Underground

Image: Gustavo Alejandro Espinosa Reyes

Beneath the neighborhood of Crystal City, near Washington, DC, lies a network of shops, restaurants, and offices. It opened in 1976 and was designed to feel like an old shopping village with cobblestone streets and antique glass windows.

The underground space covers 150,000 square feet and connects several buildings. It's a popular spot for office workers and visitors, especially when the weather is bad. Unfortunately, in 2024, the shops closed, ending their retail era. Yet, the underground walkways and connections to the Metro remain open for pedestrians.

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Los Angeles Prohibition Tunnels

Image: Alpha Perspective

In the 1920s, during Prohibition, people had to find ingenious ways around the restrictions on selling and consuming alcohol. That's why they built about 11 miles of underground tunnels right under Los Angeles.

Many of these subterranean sites are now closed, but you can still find a few hidden entrances around the city. You can even go on a tour to explore the tunnels and learn about their secret history.

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Havre Beneath the Streets

Image: Đào Việt Hoàng

After a big fire in 1904 destroyed Havre’s business district in Montana, many shops moved underground. They used the old steam tunnels to stay safe from fires and bad weather. For years, the tunnels were busy with people and stores, such as saloons, drugstores, laundromats, and even a brothel. But today it is completely silent.

Fortunately, you can still visit what is left of this hidden city to see old shops and learn how people stayed safe and worked over 100 years ago. It's like going back in time!

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Cheyenne Mountain Complex

Image: See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the safest places in the world is right here in America, more specifically in El Paso County, Colorado. Hidden inside a mountain, Cheyenne Mountain Complex was built in the 1960s to protect the US military from nuclear attacks.

The bunker stands under 2,000 feet of solid Granite, making it super strong and safe. It was once the command center for NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command). The complex has blast doors that weigh 25 tons each and can withstand a nuclear blast. It also has its own power, water, and food supply. People could survive there for months!

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Forestiere Underground Gardens

Image: Levi Clancy, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

A Sicilian immigrant called Baldassare Forestiere spent 40 years digging and building a series of subterranean structures by hand in Fresno, California. Inspired by Roman catacombs and old wine cellars, he created around 65 rooms, tunnels, and courtyards to escape the hot summer sun.

The Gardens have fruit trees, grapevines, fishponds, and even a chapel. Some of the trees are more than 90 years old! Today, Forestiere Underground Gardens is a Historical Landmark you can visit if you want to discover a true underground paradise.

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Give up your favorite food to lose weight

Image: amirali mirhashemian

Small amounts of your favorite high-calorie foods can be included in a weight-loss plan . Just remember to keep track of your total calorie intake. To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume.

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Avoid bread, pasta, and rice

Image: Eaters Collective

Grains themselves aren’t necessarily bad or unhealthy. Consuming whole grains—such as brown rice, whole-wheat bread, cereal, and pasta—as part of a healthy eating plan is a good idea because whole grains provide iron, fiber, and other important nutrients .

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Choose gluten-free foods

Image: mohamed hassouna

Gluten-free foods are not necessarily healthier if you don’t have celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye grains. If you don’t have these health issues but avoid gluten anyway, you may miss out on important vitamins, fiber, and minerals.

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Avoid all fats

Image: Kelly Sikkema

Despite all the bad press, not all fats are bad. Fat provides essential nutrients and should be an important part of a healthy eating plan. However, because fats have more calories per gram than protein or carbohydrates (or "carbs"), it is important to limit fat intake to avoid consuming extra calories.

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Avoid dairy products

Image: Kenny Eliason

Dairy products are an important food group because they provide proteins needed to build muscles and support organ function , as well as calcium to strengthen bones.

Most dairy products, such as milk and some yogurts, have added vitamin D to help the body absorb calcium, since many Americans don’t get enough of these nutrients.

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Go vegetarian to lose weight

Image: Anna Pelzer

Embracing a fully vegetarian diet only leads to weight loss if you reduce your total calorie intake . As often happens, some vegetarians may make food choices that could lead to weight gain, such as eating large amounts of foods high in sugar, fat, and calories.

Eating small amounts of lean meats can also be part of a healthy plan to lose or maintain weight.

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Don’t snack between meals

Image: Shreyak Singh

There is nothing wrong with snacking. It can help prevent overeating at meals , provided the snacks are healthy —like apples, peanut butter, low-fat cheese, or whole-grain crackers.

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Healthy eating is expensive

Image: Louis Hansel

Healthy eating can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. With a little planning and smart shopping , you can enjoy a much healthier diet on a budget . Many people think produce is too costly, but there are plenty of examples that prove otherwise. For instance, a large bag of lettuce is affordable and lasts a long time.

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Avoid late-night snacks

Image: nrd

Late snacking isn’t inherently a problem. The real issue is when your late-night snacks are unhealthy . The time of day is not as important as what you eat. If you’re eating ice cream or chips and dip, you’ll gain weight—no matter what time it is.

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Diet soda is better than regular soda

Image: Kenny Eliason

Multiple studies have linked diet soda to an increased risk of diabetes , metabolic syndrome, and obesity, though causation is still debated. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a healthier soda alternative, try flavored water, sparkling water, or unsweetened tea.

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Non-nutritive sweeteners are healthy

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya

The increasing demand for low-calorie, low-carb, sugar-free foods has led to a larger portion of products containing non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS).

While it’s clear that a diet high in added sugar increases disease risk, intake of NNS may also raise the risk of type 2 diabetes by causing negative changes in gut bacteria and promoting blood sugar dysregulation.

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White potatoes are unhealthy

Image: Lars Blankers

Delicious potatoes are often labeled as "unhealthy" because they are frequently eaten in unhealthy ways. However, these starchy vegetables are highly nutritious , providing potassium, vitamin C, and fiber , and can be included as part of a healthy diet. The key is to cook or bake potatoes, but never fry them.