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

Abandoned landscape once home to "the world's largest winery."

The first safe in this California town had to hold all the gold.

One of Hollywood’s favorite government buildings.

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

This whimsical seashell-shaped place of worship was designed to blend into its surroundings.

A modest reminder of treacherous waters at the Golden Gate.

A second generation sun-powered marvel lights up the night.

This crumbling Death Valley mining complex was known for its use of giant, 20-mule team wagons.

Once America’s most beautiful army base, this abandoned military fort on the coast of Monterey Bay has been left to the elements.

This ultra-modern California span is actually a titanic solar clock in disguise built by famed architect Santiago Calatrava.

Where the alchemists dream of transmuting base metal into gold was actually achieved.

A remote crossroads honoring a fallen talent.

The California capital city once stood 10 feet lower than it does today.

Once the largest windmill outside of Holland, with enormous 114 foot sails.

The oldest lighthouse on America's west coast no longer needs keepers, yet they maintain the site anyhow.

Once the largest winery in the world, this castle-like building now sits abandoned on the San Pablo/San Francisco Bay shore.

One poet's handmade, anachronistic home.

It should come as no surprise that the world's largest artichoke lies in the town that calls itself the "Artichoke Center of the World."

Guns that have been defending San Francisco since 1904.

A pair of pure white felines guard the entrance to a spot of California real estate established as an artist's haven.

Concrete strongholds stand guard over the Golden Gate.

Art in the form of a winding, man made crack in stone.

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