Places nicoleeellan Wants to Go

Travelers leave tea kettles in a remote part of Death Valley as part of a mysterious, decades-old tradition.

The rocks in this arid basin leave trails of movement behind them.

These lush groves of fan palms rise up like oases out of southern California's Colorado Desert.

The first life claimed by this record-breaking peak wasn't lost to exposure or a fall, but rather lightning.

A volcanic tunnel illuminated by natural skylights offers a shaded respite from the desert sun.

With its peeling paint and faded sign, this theater-turned-recycling plant is a nostalgic relic of 1950s Americana.

Peek inside this sandy mailbox and you'll spot kids' letters to Santa.

This futuristic bridge is one of the longest self-anchored pedestrian bridges in the world.

A museum dedicated to a sea that should have never been.

The classic Atari game's iconic aliens have invaded downtown San Diego.

The tiniest tiki room in San Diego.

The world's largest outdoor organ is played weekly by one of just two civic organists in the U.S.

North America's largest accredited model railroad museum.

One of the largest trees of its kind in California.

An inconspicuous suburban street corner is the site of San Diego's worst air disaster.

An ode to the friendship between four Pacific Rim countries.

This historic graveyard was partially paved over to create a streetcar line.

Finally the worlds of UFO enthusiasts and beef jerky lovers have come together in this roadside shop.

In California, colorful roadside signs remind us all that love transcends borders.

In this roadside "community for the small," abandoned toys gain new lives.

This large pile of traveler-curated rocks by the dry lakebed is a longstanding tradition on the Old Mojave Road.

Get up close to emus and ostriches, or buy their tasty meat.

California's oldest wind harp represents a historic piece of America's Danish history.

A giant desert bird that once swung music fans at Coachella now has a home in a nearby traffic circle.