An artsy hidden staircase leads to breathtaking views of San Francisco.

This controversial depiction of the "Founder of California" looks as though it was sculpted from mashed potatoes.

A burnt orange monolithic dome structure perched on a hillside near Interstate 280.

A giant chess set, minus the psychedelic drug trip.

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

The largest permanent Monopoly board makes one of the longest games even bigger.

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

A massive volcanic plug is now a protected area that hosts a number of bird species.

A charming desert roadside bakery that produces 10 times more bread daily than it has residents in its town.

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

Experience a charming 1930s version of "infotainment."

Honoring the famed folktale author, this California museum looks like it belongs in the Black Forest.

The best Tiki bar in Las Vegas.

The tragedy of the Japanese internment camps is remembered here by a stark "Soul Consoling Tower."

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

The liveliest ghost town in the state.

From Japan to Italy, this California park explores the world's cultures through their gardens.

An offbeat angle on the ocean viewed through an antiquated lens.

A Looff creation in Santa Monica best described as “a California-Byzantine-Moorish-style fantasy.”

In one Santa Monica parking lot a mushroom cloud made of chains heralds a message of peace.

Stroll the grounds built by murder, suicide, and dirty oil money at one of Hollywood's most filmed mansions.

Ingenious bakery opens up the first Cupcake ATM at their flagship location in Beverly Hills.

Hiding amid the largest camellia collection in the country lies a charming children's maze, donated by a secret admirer.

A stellar example of Art & Crafts architecture, and a movie set to boot.