Area 51

It’s a long way to drive just to buy a T-shirt and take some quirky photos, but for those with Area 51 on their bucket list it can be worth it. It wasn’t until 2013 that the CIA, following a Freedom of Information Act request, acknowledged the existence of the restricted Air Force installation, but conspiracy theories have been swirling around the desert facility for years. It's been rumored to contain everything from scientists replicating crashed alien spacecraft to those creating time travel. What we actually do know is the Air Force does, in fact, test top-secret aircraft and related technology here, resulting in many of the strange sights and sounds that have been reported for years. But it’s all the mystery and secrecy, wrapped up in a desolate enigma in a locale that looks like the set of a 1950s sci-fi flick that's kept folks from around the world driving to the edge of the landmark (also known as Groom Lake and Dreamland) and its closest neighbor, the tiny hamlet of Rachel, Nevada, population about 100.

Keep in mind, it’s illegal to get too close to the installation, launch drones in the area, or take photographs in the nearby vicinity. Fines are high, and military police have the authority to use deadly force if necessary. Locals can fill you in on the particulars, or simply heed the posted signs.