Places westcoastspirit Wants to Go

A strenuous, unofficial trail leads to spectacular views in one of America's most remote national monuments.

A graceful natural rock formation stands astride the point where the Gulf of California meets the Pacific Ocean.

The fifth-longest natural arch in the world, and the longest outside China.

This striking arch, one of the first architectural elements constructed in Prospect Park, was recently restored to its original glory.

It's safe—and permitted—to walk across these twin natural sandstone arches.

A triumphal steel arch on the side of a German mountain.

More than 10,000 small mirrors cover the curved surface of the world's second-largest solar oven, located in a remote village in Uzbekistan.

The remains of an abandoned dinosaur theme park litter the woods just off the highway.

Hundreds of glow-in-the-dark objects light up a museum in a historic zinc mine.

A reproduction of earth's many biomes.

This giant steer-skull edifice refuses to die.

Take a monster truck tour around an ostrich farm in the middle of the desert.

Hidden on a cattle ranch in Arizona, this bookstore has been celebrating Southwest literature for more than 40 years.

Limestone caves with spectacular showcase chambers.

This church on a Tohono O'Odham reservation has stood since 1797.

Some of Arizona's best spit-roasted tacos al pastor can be found here.

This scrap yard doubles as a naive art gallery full of found art and farm animals.

Miniature art that tells an enormous story.

This collection of neon icons is preserving Arizona's history, one sign at a time.

Despite a recent paint job, the factory still sits empty.

Giant telescope mirrors built in a spinning furnace under a college football stadium.

An Arizona museum with a collection of pharmaceutical oddities, including a jar of a gangster's chewed gum.

Make a wish at what might be America's only Catholic shrine to a sinner.

From working out of his garage to the James Beard semifinals, one Tucson baker has kept his fan base—and his grains—local.