Places christineloldham Wants to Go

Three vintage horses survived a 1976 inferno and found a home on a sister carousel.

The Empire Mine is "one of the oldest, largest, deepest, longest and richest gold mines in California."

A dwindling menagerie of anthropomorphic oil derrick animals still dot the barren California landscape.

Oldest building in California still in use.

One of few lasting examples of the brief octagon craze that developed into folly.

Every weekend, the parking lot of this Buddhist temple turns into a Thai street-food paradise.

This residential door allows San Francisco muggles a glimpse at the wizarding world.

This rare tortoise skeleton has been hanging around the downtown Los Angeles museum for over a century.

Room 32 of the Alta Cienega Motel has grown into a shrine to the Lizard King.

An offbeat angle on the ocean viewed through an antiquated lens.

A tribute to the life and work of the beloved "Peanuts" cartoonist.

A beloved carnival gets a modern makeover in Los Angeles.

While exploring the desert, you can stop by the home of a fictional heretic from a parallel universe.

One of the few remaining carousels built by master amusement park carver Charles I.D. Looff.

The illuminating collection of L.A. street lights is run by the city and only opens one day per month.

Discover for yourself what Herb Caen referred to as "the best kept secret in the Bay Area."

An old California photo stand has been turned into a shrine to the cozy art of crochet.

Two men, two visionaries of Venice Beach, one little hotel that smells like cookies.

This old mining town, deep in the California desert, has a year-round population of one.

Come crisp December nights, this fairly plain neighborhood becomes a holiday dream world.

This Pringle-shaped ledge makes for the perfect photo op.

A hard-to-reach oasis in a desolate corner of Death Valley National Park.

A quirky collection of figurines backdropped by city views is hidden next to a popular restaurant in the Hollywood hills.

"Only the devil could play golf here."