Places micheleshreeve Wants to Go

An old whaling station now serves to give the public a look at the commercial whaling industry, no longer a part of Monterey's economy.

This eagle-topped spire remembers the military commander who snatched up California for the United States.

The oldest U.S. Government building in California, and it's State Historic Landmark #1.

The stately birthplace of California's statehood.

This remarkably simple jail went over a century without an escape.

The oldest continuously operating church in California.

Once America’s most beautiful army base, this abandoned military fort on the coast of Monterey Bay has been left to the elements.

Home to the "Circus" trees created by Axel Erlandson.

This concrete ship has had four careers - World War I tanker, floating amusement park, fishing pier, and artificial reef.

Housed in a memorial lighthouse, this museum relays the history of surfing, beginning with the antics of royal Hawaiian teenagers.

This quirky roadside attraction dives into the many theories surrounding North America's most infamous hairy cryptid.

Here, visitors can swing with the waves of the Pacific Ocean.

Elephant seals and sea lions have turned the abandoned buildings on this island into their endangered love shack.

Once close to extinction, there is no shortage of elephant seals on the beaches of Año Nuevo State Park.

A New England-style lighthouse along California's beautiful Highway 1 gets a re-do.

This 252 step staircase offers stunning views of San Jose.

At night, this glittering musical tunnel draws skaters and photographers.

Today's aerospace industry can be traced back to one man and his gliders.

A Roman-inspired temple once controlled half of San Francisco's waters.

The headquarters of the semiconductor giant has a 10,000-square-foot museum.

One of the largest Marian shrines on the West Coast stands rather unexpectedly in Silicon Valley.

This airfield played a key role in both World War II and the Cold War.

One of the largest free-standing structures ever built, this dirigible hangar is now simply a giant skeleton.

From the Difference Engine to the Cray-1, all under one roof.