Places lux umbra Wants to Go

A miniature view of the park, caught in time.

The taxidermied remains of the "last wild grizzly bear in California" and of the symbol of the state of California.

One of the last remnants of the city's Chinese nightclub scene is now a dive bar selling killer mai tais.

A hidden subterranean installation offers a view of the sky.

Golden Gate Park's historic collection of plants.

Tiki luxury on Nob Hill.

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

Relics of the 1894 Midwinter Exposition continue to delight visitors today.

Get lost in this haunting fairytale art walk through a man-made eucalyptus grove.

Spiral labyrinth hidden in the hills above Oakland, CA.

Bonsai garden in Oakland is curated by the first non-Japanese female bonsai master in the United States.

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

One of the last free public hot springs is decorated with hippie art.

Exotic feline breeding compound and conservation center.

The final resting place of the great escape artist, where some still gather to wait for his escape from death.

This hidden amusement park is a magical escape for kids and kids-at-heart.

A historic hotel that made a cameo in Hitchcock's classic film has no intention of letting guests forget its fame.

A strange house built only at night, with rumored mystic inspiration.