At the western edge of Palm Springs, a rugged desert canyon trail leads to a waterfall at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains.

You don't have to be a diplomat to visit the so-called Camp David of the West.

Artist Jack Pierson made this surreal sculpture in honor of Wonder Valley, a countercultural community on edge of civilization.

These were the largest wind chimes in the world when artist Tom Van Sant created them for a California mall in 1967.

Sports history, made in the Arroyo Seco.

A giant milk bottle from the 1930s beckons drivers to this diner.

The hike through a narrow river flanked by the 2,000-foot-tall walls of Zion Canyon is one of the best in the world.

Brightly colored 30-foot-tall totems light up the desert sky just outside Las Vegas.

After 97 years of constant vigilance from the dome of the Texas State Capitol, the original Goddess of Liberty retired to a life of climate-controlled leisure.

A free, canine-friendly alternative watering hole near the more famous Barton Springs.

Home to an endangered salamander, a full moon celebration, and a large spring-fed outdoor swimming pool.

Home to the largest urban bat colony in North America, estimated at 1.5 million bats.

Built for an exposition in 1915, these horticultural displays have stood the test of time.

In California, colorful roadside signs remind us all that love transcends borders.

Famous and forgotten figures lie beneath the faded headstones and decaying planks of wood.

This simple highway curve has become a comedic pilgrimage site.

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

One of the largest trees of its kind in California.

Gnomes have their very own bonsai-landscaped settlement on a university campus.

Whiskey lovers, this is your happy place.

The 10-foot-wide Long Beach home was built on a dare.

These four islands right offshore have waterfalls, colorful lights, fancy buildings, and a secret purpose.

Honoring the famed folktale author, this California museum looks like it belongs in the Black Forest.

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