Enormous crabs, bioluminescent jellies, and other amazing creatures from the ocean’s depths—some of which are in an aquarium for the first time ever.

This lonesome Monterey cypress has survived centuries of wind, salt, and at least one attempt at arson.

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

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

The unbelievably opulent home built for an infamous newspaperman.

An alley covered with 20 years of bubble gum.

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

A hotel and restaurant serving as the mecca of kitsch.

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

A remote crossroads honoring a fallen talent.

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

A scenic hike in the High Sierra that ends at an old gold mine.

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

A peculiar mansion built by the troubled heir to the Winchester Rifle Company fortune.

California's oldest existing theater building hosted an impressive cast of celebrities, including hosting Mark Twain's first lecture.

Orcas on display and in the water.

The tragedy of the Japanese internment camps is remembered here by a stark "Soul Consoling Tower."

The hundreds of movies and television shows shot in this high desert town are commemorated in a unique museum.

This rock formation named for its unique shape is one of many that call the Alabama Hills home.

Towering basalt columns, a creation of fire and ice.

A natural dome made of volcanic glass in Inyo National Forest.

A triumphant marble and bronze fountain depicting a 15th-century Hungarian king and his hunting party.

From Austrians to Nazis to Soviets, this historic Budapest fortress has a history as complex as the city itself.

The former home of one of America's greatest short story writers is home to an annual pun competition.