This color-changing crater lake in El Salvador is occasionally impenetrable to sunlight.

The masses at this church incorporate enough moonshine and animal sacrifice that they are no longer recognizably Catholic.

Catch a glimpse of local, native wildlife at this zoo dedicated to conservation and education.

A mysterious pillar in an ancient burial chamber is said to predict how long you have to live.

An Aztec temple, the largest man-made pyramid in the world, sits buried in earth with a Spanish church set on top.

These enigmatic columns tower over the ruins of an ancient Toltec city.

Stained glass windows bathe this botanical garden in cosmic light.

This former 17th-century church now houses a university's public library along with several mural masterworks.

This upscale restaurant specializing in Michoacán cuisine serves sauces tied to important life events.

The oldest lighthouse on America's west coast no longer needs keepers, yet they maintain the site anyhow.

Every year, over 25,000 monarchs overwinter in Pacific Grove.

This cabin from the 1850s is one of the first structures built by Chinese immigrants in California.

A charming easy-to-miss sculpture garden filled with whimsical and thought-provoking metal sculptures.

Smooth basaltic rocks tell a tale of ancient glacial waterfalls.

This giant temperature attraction created some giant electric bills.

Along a California highway is a kind of Jurassic Park made of metal.

A world-class observatory in the California desert.

Megachurch turned Catholic church comprised of 10,000 glass panes.

An unexpected and peaceful oasis on a hillside.

Version of the French Riviera destroyed by the sea.

A fake town founded by Western movie stars is now becoming a hip desert community.

The world’s largest concentrated solar plant generates as many problems as megawatts.

Some of the Old West's most notorious outlaws frequented this mining town.

Once called the Jersey Lilly, this former saloon was the domain of infamous Judge Roy Bean.