This naturally heated mountainous creek has created a group of neon blue pools of potentially deadly boiling water.

Towering basalt columns, a creation of fire and ice.

Aqueducts have dramatically changed this old lake, now home to tufa towers and its very own species of tiny brine shrimp.

Standing in a state of "arrested decay," this ghost town allows for a detailed peek into Gold Rush life in an unusually harsh climate.

This museum looks at the history of one of America's most famous prisons and most beloved albums.

Art Deco stylings conceal the true nature of this bridge.

A mesmerizing disco ball-like sculpture along the Sacramento River Walk.

This graffiti-covered bridge is the quintessential vision of a place for disillusioned youth to escape the complexities of burgeoning adulthood.

Special tunnels built so that frogs won't be killed when crossing the highway.

Seven ceramic sculptures are scattered around this California college campus.

This quaint archive of the silent era preserves and pays homage to a seminal moment in film history.

After serving in World War II and picking up Apollo astronauts, this aircraft carrier has been turned into a museum overlooking the San Francisco Bay.

Playable, historic pinball machines fill this Alameda museum.

The lighthouse central to the 1980s horror classic "The Fog" is, in fact, located in one of the foggiest areas of the Pacific Coast.

Monumental sculptures of Patrick Amiot, constructed from debris, detritus, and determination.

The largest drain hole in the world.

The headquarters of a secretive order is also a beautifully-designed park.

A Roman-inspired temple once controlled half of San Francisco's waters.

From the sky, a kaleidoscope of color brightens the grey landscape of the San Francisco Bay.

This giant shopping mall still holds signs of its automotive past.

The only standing town in the United States that early Chinese Americans built for themselves.