The miraculous hydrant that saved the Mission District in 1906.

Towering basalt columns, a creation of fire and ice.

The interior of the Overlook Hotel in "The Shining" was based on this Yosemite original.

Aqueducts have dramatically changed this old lake, now home to tufa towers and its very own species of tiny brine shrimp.

The now-abandoned tunnels were built for the transcontinental railroad on the route where the first wagon train entered California.

A hotel and restaurant serving as the mecca of kitsch.

Carnivorous plants, medieval aphrodisiacs, and the largest original wood structure glass conservatory in the western hemisphere.

The corpse bride of Portugal.

The stunning interior of this Gothic church is covered in ornate gold details.

One of the most beautiful bookstores in the world hides a neo-Gothic interior behind an art nouveau facade.

Elaborate tile work in this railway station tells the story of Portugal.

One of the largest Roman settlements in Portugal.

The medieval castle built as headquarters for the Pope's secretive Knights Templar.

This unreal Portuguese palace looks as though it's made from a pile of different castles.

An ancient and majestic fortress that played an integral role in Portugal's road to independence.

Legacy of the earthquake that nearly wiped Lisbon off the face of the Earth.

This Industrial Age architectural and engineering gem helps visitors and residents alike traverse Lisbon, “The City of Seven Hills.”

The final resting place for the remains of 143 Habsburg royalty.

A plaque outside the San Jose airport commemorates the insect's arrival to the West Coast.

An ominous concrete cube cuts a dystopian silhouette atop this California mountain.

Bits and pieces from the ill-fated Donner Party's winter cabins.

This ancient structure is widely thought to be the oldest intact pyramid in the world.

This natural wonder is disappearing at an alarming rate.

This massive mall has hundreds of shops, an amusement park, and a history of deadly amusement attractions.