Atlas Obscura

Atlas Obscura, founded in 2009 by Joshua Foer and Dylan Thuras, is a privately held U.S.-based travel media company headquartered in Brooklyn, NY. It catalogs over 30,000 unusual and lesser-known global places through a mix of professionally curated and user-generated content, as well as via books, podcasts, films, and small-group travel experiences called “Adventures”.

Key offerings:

• Hidden Places Library: Rich global database of obscure sites—from living root bridges to roadside oddities—with detailed write-ups, photos, and interactive maps.
• Stories & Media: Original long-form journalism, video features, and the daily “Atlas Obscura Podcast” exploring the weird, historic, scientific, and culinary facets of world travel.
• Curated Adventures: Small-group trips (12–14 travellers) to remote or unusual destinations, often in partnership with Intrepid Travel and guided by experts.
• Community & Events: Atlas Obscura Societies host local events in major cities, including Obscura Day and themed gatherings.

Strengths:

• Offers a distinctive lens on the world—goes far beyond mainstream tourism to reveal hidden marvels.
• Multi-format approach: immersive articles, audio podcasts, books, and experiential travel.
• Engages an active community of explorers and contributors; media awards evidence editorial strength.

In summary, Atlas Obscura excels at inspiring curiosity-driven travellers through discovery, storytelling, and immersive, offbeat experiences—ideal for those itching to explore beyond the typical tourist radar.