Places alisonhballard Wants to Go

The tiniest tiki room in San Diego.

Giant jewel-toned statues fill the grounds of this Cambodian Buddhist temple in California.

Folk art crafted from discarded vegetable crates.

A pair of disused Los Angeles electrical poles now glow with delicate windows into the past.

George Lucas donated this park to honor the birthplace of his two biggest movie franchises.

This print shop boasts one of the largest pinball arcades in San Francisco.

You don't want to get caught in this trap--or do you?

A spiritual center in the Santa Monica Mountains founded by Alice Coltrane after the death of her husband and fellow jazz musician John Coltrane.

Behind legendary Meltdown Comics is a marker for an engineered musical roadway of the Tehachapi, the great road builders of Kcymaerxthaere.

A Tibetan Temple and Buddhist organization just off the beaten path in Northern California.

The blinking light atop the iconic landmark has been sending secret messages for decades.

For over 20 years, Lil Toot has delighted guests with narrated boat rides between Stearns Wharf and Santa Barbara Harbor, becoming a beloved local legend and top-rated experience for visitors.

Of all the origin stories for weed's secret code, this one likely has the goods.

A living time capsule of the 1960s Richardson Bay water-front.

At this deceptively beautiful beach, nothing is what it seems.

The southernmost outpost of the Russian Empire in colonial America.

This symbol of peace is appropriately positioned overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The classic Atari game's iconic aliens have invaded downtown San Diego.

This odd little museum holds exhibits on everything from blacksmith equipment to hair jewelry.

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

The first U.S. town to secede from the Union, only to vote themselves right back in.

A local dialect born in the late 19th century is only spoken in this isolated California valley.

A hardware store Buddha statue installed to deter vandalism wound up attracting Vietnamese immigrants who came to pray.

The beloved dining spot stands at the cross-section of Hollywood and the Old West.