russellnelson's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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russellnelson's activity rankings
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Places visited in Oakland, California
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Places visited in Berkeley, California
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Places visited in Reykjavik, Iceland
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Places visited in Salinas, California
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Places visited in Bernal, Mexico
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San Luis Obispo, California

Madonna Inn

A hotel and restaurant serving as the mecca of kitsch.
Sponsored by Visit California
San Luis Obispo, California

San Luis Obispo's Bubblegum Alley

An alley covered with 20 years of bubble gum.
San Luis Obispo, California

The Bells of El Camino Real

A chain of bells connect the California Missions and honor the legend of the "King’s Highway."
Morro Bay, California

Morro Rock

A massive volcanic plug is now a protected area that hosts a number of bird species.
Cambria, California

Nitt Witt Ridge

permanently closed
A house built from trash known as the poor man's Hearst Castle.
San Simeon, California

Hearst Castle

The unbelievably opulent home built for an infamous newspaperman.
San Simeon, California

Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery

This stretch of beach along California's central coast is a busy highway for the largest seal in the northern hemisphere.
Big Sur, California

McWay Falls and Waterfall House Ruins

This Big Sur waterfall drops 80 feet directly into the Pacific Ocean, and inspired the hillside house up top.
Big Sur, California

Nepenthe

Offering commanding views of the California coastline, this restaurant was a hub for the artists and bohemians of Big Sur.
Monterey, California

Jellyfish Exhibit at Monterey Bay Aquarium

One of the most elaborate displays of Jellyfish is on display at the aquarium.
Monterey, California

Doc Ricketts' Lab

Steinbeck's old stomping grounds, immortalized in Cannery Row.
Monterey, California

Sloat Monument

This eagle-topped spire remembers the military commander who snatched up California for the United States.
Monterey, California

Monterey's Old Whaling Station

An old whaling station now serves to give the public a look at the commercial whaling industry, no longer a part of Monterey's economy.
Monterey, California

Monterey's Custom House

The oldest U.S. Government building in California, and it's State Historic Landmark #1.
Monterey, California

Casa del Oro

The first safe in this California town had to hold all the gold.
Monterey, California

Old Monterey Jail

This remarkably simple jail went over a century without an escape.
Monterey, California

San Carlos Cathedral

The oldest continuously operating church in California.
Monterey, California

Dennis the Menace Playground

This municipal playground was co-created by the father of one of the most playful characters ever.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Whalers Cabin Museum

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

Monarch Grove Sanctuary

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

Point Pinos Lighthouse

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

Kissing Rock

Two rocks in a perpetual kiss and one of "the most romantic spot in America."
Del Monte Forest, California

Ghost Trees of Pescadero Point

Haunting and beautiful trees, doomed to die.
Salinas, California

Fort Ord

Once America’s most beautiful army base, this abandoned military fort on the coast of Monterey Bay has been left to the elements.