Forgotten and then destroyed by fire, this was once one of the largest saltwater swimming pools in the world.

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."

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

An vast warehouse of everyday treasures in Berkeley, CA.

Radioactivity still cause for concern at this urban explorer's paradise.

An "anarchical" no man's land, complete with garbage sculptures and a hobo-run "Landfillian Library."

This restaurant offers the original California cuisine.

Alleyway plaque commemorating the death of a fictional character in The Maltese Falcon, not far from the author's home.

A shape-shifting buy-sell-trade bookstore, born to Beatnik Era spirit.

The headquarters of a secretive order is also a beautifully-designed park.

The only museum of sake in the United States is nestled in an unlikely California college town.

One of few lasting examples of the brief octagon craze that developed into folly.

One woman's Viking Castle on Lake Tahoe.

An amazing collection of fantastic reptiles, amphibians, spiders, and insects.

Neoclassical Revival mansion and set of horror cult classic Phantasm.

This Oakland fairytale kingdom, fiercely devoted to childlike whimsy, was an early inspiration for Disneyland.

Celebrating the transformation of trash into objects of beauty.

Playable, historic pinball machines fill this Alameda museum.

Every year, over 25,000 monarchs overwinter in Pacific Grove.

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

Spiral labyrinth hidden in the hills above Oakland, CA.

Its dark depths conceal millions of rare, delicate crystal formations.

Discover for yourself what Herb Caen referred to as "the best kept secret in the Bay Area."

A man-made island in scenic San Francisco Bay.