Places Edited by Sandi Hemmerlein

This strangely vacant Western amusement seems to be an empty tribute to residents of Lucerne Valley.

This dormant volcanic crater has been converted from a roiling pit of magma to a pleasant hiking spot.

This former Mormon settlement is reemerging from the receding waters of Lake Mead.

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

The so-called "Statue of Liberty of Los Angeles" is on a one mutant mission to keep L.A. weird.

This California eatery has made a name for itself by embracing Asia's rich history of eating bugs.

The peaceful gravesite of a rugged wild west gunman echoes the touching story of his last days.

A historic hotel that made a cameo in Hitchcock's classic film has no intention of letting guests forget its fame.

The famous animator's private station house and man-cave was the birthplace of imagineering.

Space program, pneumatics and more, bits and pieces, for movie sets or the common man.

It should come as no surprise that the best view of the Hollywood sign is from Batman's lair.

Hidden in plain sight on the Hudson River is an abandoned train station where nature has taken over.

Arcadia is home to a haven for nature geeks and 80s TV lovers alike.

This former stomping grounds of the most eminent astronomers of the early 20th century.

The ruins of the castle that chemicals built.

Each year these high desert hills are absolutely covered with poppy flowers in a surreal show of nature.

Stripes of flowers bloom each spring in a 50 acre rainbow of color.

Every day a troupe of pampered water fowl walk the red carpet to their favorite fountain.

One man's homage to the sun continues to grow like a glass fractal.

The house that birthed The Old Man and The Sea is now a museum devoted to the old man who wrote it.

One of the world's longest murals depicts the history of diversity in Los Angeles.

A fortified city, home to a remaining population of five families

The creator of the carousel's bingo-pinball hybrid survives in California's oldest gaming establishment.

The liveliest ghost town in the state.