Places sierrawest Wants to Go

A monument in Washington D.C. marks the spot from which all other roads were supposed to stem.

An atomic bomb-proof strongbox protects the U.S. Constitution from terrorists and thieves.

It was once the base for a series of domestic terror attacks.

This stunning blue and gold room changed cities twice before becoming part of the Smithsonian.

Odd stone and concrete monuments in the "Poet of the Sierras" eclectic folly garden.

Playable, historic pinball machines fill this Alameda museum.

Antiques by the Bay.

This tall and trim architectural oddity is one of the skinniest buildings in San Francisco.

A quiet nook at the top of a little-known hilltop park named after California's first poet laureate.

This print shop boasts one of the largest pinball arcades in San Francisco.

Only hotel where you can legally launder money.

Recovered from the brink of extinction, at home in the Financial District.

Collective dedicated to restoring steam engines.

The oldest burial ground in the city, final resting place of city founders, Ohlone natives and murderers alike.

Tiki luxury on Nob Hill.

This shop specializes in oddities and Victorian-inspired wonders.

The unedited photograph called "Bliss" has graced the screens of over a billion computers.

The longest burning light bulb in the world.

The black lab that was voted mayor of a California town is forever remembered by a life-size statue.

This small monument to the great inventor contains a time capsule and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

From the sky, a kaleidoscope of color brightens the grey landscape of the San Francisco Bay.

This rare example of a "tidefall" is a spectacular drop from the cliffs down onto the beach.

The timepiece that exonerated a labor radical accused of a parade bombing that killed ten people.

The remains of a deserted steamboat sit rusting beside an old ferry pier and an abandoned train platform.