Places Kelly Catalfamo Wants to Go

Hidden above a drug store on a nondescript corner of Lincoln Heights is a private clubhouse for intrepid explorers.

Common all over Japan, kōbans are small community police boxes, and now one is guarding one of L.A.’s megamalls.

A picture-perfect town, perfect for blowing up.

The oldest orange tree in California spawned a generation of citrus farmers.

The skeletal white beams stand as a monument to religious dissent.

The illuminating collection of L.A. street lights is run by the city and only opens one day per month.

This cuddly rodent has a place of honor at a Russian institute for genetic research.

A pair of mutilated bronze octopuses slump at the base of the monument honoring California's admission to the U.S.

An obscure public service from the U.S. government that redeems burnt, moldy, and soiled old greenbacks.

Vintage furniture and art share space with all manner of collectibles at this quirky shop in Bangkok.

An enigmatic natural rock formation with a manmade passage cut through the center.

On a side street near the interstate is the building where the famous anarchist once owned an ice cream parlor.

This oak sculpture at the edge of a small woodland is nine feet tall and shrouded in mystery.

Called the “General Motors of the piano industry,” these buildings once produced as many as 700 pianos a week.

J.R.R Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and other "Inklings" met at the Oxford pub to discuss the now legendary fantasy stories they were writing.

The Slovenian architect designed many landmarks in the capital city, including his own dream house.

A wunderkammer of mysterious objects and stories.

This tiny, hurricane-resistant house in Galveston is one of the city's most notable architectural oddities.

A whimsical sensor instrument for Minneapolitans to play on their walks to work.

Downtown Minneapolis mixed art and function by turning some of their sewer covers into works of art.

This collection of Japanese luck idols beckons visitors with over 2,000 waving paws.

This vast kitty-themed collection illustrates the history of human-cat interaction.

A curious little museum dedicated to the furry feline in the cat haven that is Old Town Kotor.

A slingshot from this delightful collection is awarded each year to someone who has "pulled metaphorical slings in favor of the weak and marginalized."