Places joparkman Wants to Go

The second-largest giant sequoia in the world.

At the edge of the high desert, California's second-largest natural lake is home to a unique subspecies of trout adapted to its alkaline waters.

A series of vibrant murals celebrate the culture and community of Oakland.

The Flatiron Building's storied West Coast cousin is a lot more into religion.

A four paneled, brightly multicolored mosaic adorns the side of this popular grocery store.

This L.A. fixture has been serving hot dogs out of a giant hot dog since 1946.

Measuring approximately 200 feet long, Swampy is the world's largest alligator-shaped building.

Fuel your honky-tonking with this venue's unbeatable “Recession Special.”

This seasonal soft serve shack has been doling out silky swirls since 1951.

Flaunt your karaoke chops at this pitch-perfect dive bar.

An out-of-the-way wildlife haven with a rich and storied past of harboring thousands of fugitive slaves, or "Maroons" during the mid 1800s.

This lighthouse has been guiding shipping into the Golden Gate since before the American Civil War.

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

In 1857, the Mardi Gras parade tradition began at this intersection.

The flow from this waterfall sometimes comes out of springs below its rim.

The newsstand that never closes its doors—well, almost never.

A wondrous place to watch a special flower bloom.

Inside this library, the history of Los Angeles is retold through a mural.

This small shack near the entrance to Sequoia National Park has been in almost continuous operation for the last century.

A peaceful international sculpture garden in upstate New York.

A once grand hotel is being retaken by the wilderness it once capitalized on.

Neon signs that grace the windows of Bergdorf Goodman's and Tiffany & Co. come from this studio in Brooklyn.

The abandoned ruins of America's first private zoo are open for exploration in the Catskills.

A journey to a hand-crafted island involves a trip across this lattice bridge.