Strange is a word with many meanings, and many different levels. So we decided to fill this article with unusual activities that people actually might enjoy. From New York to California, Viator hosts a wealth of tours that would be considered unique experiences. But what are the ones that you just don’t see that often? Well, we actually scrolled through the site to find out, using prominent cities as our guide. Here’s our list of the best strange tours in the United States.
Area 51 Day Tour - Las Vegas
Let’s go ahead and jump to a place that doesn’t really need a tour centered around it to be super weird and freaky—Area 51. We may never know exactly what went or goes, on at this desolate Nevada landscape, but you can make your mind up for yourself. Some top stops along this outing include Janet Airlines at Las Vegas International Airport, Joshua Tree Forest, Dry Lake, alien petroglyphs and the Black Mailbox. Cryptid nerds and other visitors have deemed the experience “a dream come true”.
Catacombs by Candlelight - New York City
Have you ever wondered what lies within, or beneath, those old churches that have been fixtures in various cities for as long as generations can remember? Well, visitors can find out at New York’s St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, where a guide will take you beyond the pews, towering ceilings, and even the average graveyard. Those who aren’t too superstitious will get to descend to the burrowing catacombs, which house some of New York’s most prominent deceased of course. While guests note the candlelight stroll to absolutely be creepy, they go on to say it’s all done quite respectfully.
Secret Pizza Tour - New York City
You had us at “secret pizza tour”. This exploration of everything cheesy and saucy digs much deeper into the vast world of true, New York pies. Whether it be a more well-known joint of the East Village or a cheapo shop with some surprisingly mind-blowing slices, this tour will be a highlight of your trip. But why is this a strange tour? Because it pulls its guests into a twisted web of pizza insanity, where you have no idea how you got where you are, you just know you are tasting some of the best-hidden food around—the places only the well versed know.
Narrated Sightseeing Tour Aboard a Vintage Fire Truck - Portland, Maine
Touring the famed sites of gorgeous Portland, Maine, with its lighthouses, wharfs and age-old architect included, doesn’t seem too strange. While we’re not entirely sure this excursion isn’t cooler than it is strange, it’s fair to say your vehicle of transport is a peculiar and unusual way to get around. When eyes fix on the glossy vintage fire engine that will be scooting passengers around downtown, feelings of joy and delight come over our inner child selves.
Underground Donut Tour - Portland
While not really Portland, Oregon’s only donut tour, it’s one of the coolest. You’ll be taken through the donut circuit of the city, excitingly weaving from one sweet stop to the next, with equally enthused donut connoisseurs. And you bet these aren’t just any donuts, each establishment carefully crafts their flavors. Vegan and gluten-free eaters will have options, too. So two hours of your day will be devoted to donuts—Homer Simpson would be proud.
Bungee Workout Class - Seattle
Worried about getting your workout in while vacationing in Seattle? But maybe the thought of hitting up a spin class kind of makes you sad. We’ve got something that might just be weird enough to intrigue you to get those buns to work. Seattle’s bungee workout will have you bouncing and flying, so much that you’ll forget it’s a workout. So yeah, you can work on your core strength before lounging at a cool coffee shop.
Dearly Departed: The Tragic History Tour of Los Angeles
While possibly too morbid for many, this tour earns its spot on our strange list for featuring a less than glamorous side of Hollywood. A bus will take guests around significant sites in the area, but each stop is a serious mood killer—you’ll be seeing places where famous folks have, as they put it, “met their demise”. Classified as a “death tour”, we’re not sure how we feel about it, but’s it’s nonetheless…strange.
6 Day Extreme Storm Chasing Tour - Oklahoma City
Most of us run from tornadoes, or would at least, but others chase them. You can too, departing from twister prone Oklahoma. The inclusive trip actually lasts several days and traverses to other states, in hopes that guests get to see a massive, extreme storm up close. The meteorologists leading the adventure have one priority first, safety. But then it’s about driving into hellishly awesome cloud formations and ferocious weather events, in a state of the art storm chasing vehicle.
Southern Belle Biscuit & Breakfast Class - Nashville
Have you ever bit into a warm, fluffy, moist southern biscuit and just immediately thought, “I want to book an excursion all about biscuits”? It’s hard to beat the simplistic yet dreamy flavors of baked doughy goodness. To the joy of all biscuit fanatics, there’s a Viator excursion made for you. During this expert-led class, you’ll learn to make these delicate Nashville staples, while getting to eat them too—gravy included. Be warned, knowing how to make these at home could ruin any New Year resolutions.
Congress Avenue Bats Bike Tour - Austin
Under Congress Bridge Avenue in Austin resides a colony of over a million bats, which you can see in all their creepy glory as they flood out into the night as if Batman weren’t far behind. While on your own bike, guides lead the way, passing other scenic sites like Lady Bird Lake, then come to a stop just in time to see the “show”. Who knows, you may come away with a new appreciation for these little guys because as strange as this experience is, the bats are actually sort of cute.
Hot Damn! Hot Chicken and Beer Jeep Tour - Nashville
Tasting some of Nashville’s best plates of crispy fried spicy chicken, while getting from point A to point be in a breezy cool jeep sounds like an interesting but superb combination. Passengers are encouraged to bring their own tasty selection of beer to toss in the cooler and enjoy along the flavorful jaunt. The route will weave through Music Row, 12 South, and The Gulch. Nashville has such a colorful food scene, it’s no surprise they make this quirky list twice.
Food of the Gods Chocolate Immersion Workshop - Santa Fe
Chocolate immersion—were interested. In Santa Fe New Mexico, chocolate lovers can dive further into the world of the magical bean than just simply enjoying its flavors. A master chocolatier (um, dream job) will guide taste buds through different variations from around the world, while they instruct pupils on proper hand grinding. Then the cacao juice is served, alongside rich, complex, Mayan hot chocolate.
The Weird, Wacky and Wonderful Bar Crawl of Fremont Street - Las Vegas
Scorpion shot anyone? That’s just one of the weird drinks guests can down on this boozy crawl through vibrant Vegas. Fremont Street is loaded with obscure bars, and guides will take you to the most odd selections while paving the way through the infamous stretch. This is also a good way to see other Las Vegas highlights.
