Places SoCal Creature Wants to Go

The world's largest wooden trestle stretches across this desert canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Where there's quartz, there must be gold. Thus is the story of the mines of Julian, and the titillating times of the Gold Rush.

A remote desert lookout offers unparalleled views of the California badlands for those who brave the trek.

World's largest collection devoted to one fruit.

The sea once considered an ecological wasteland is now called "crown jewel of avian biodiversity" by scientists.

Huge otherworldly domed rocks on the shore of a deadly lake.

This Los Angeles animation studio is keeping the wonder of stop motion puppetry alive.

A one-of-a-kind collection of a unique medium.

One man's homage to the sun continues to grow like a glass fractal.

Historic funicular railway, believed to be the shortest railroad in the world.

The legendary building that needed ghostly approval before being built.

During prohibition, corrupt city officials ran drinking dens under the streets of Downtown Los Angeles.

A visionary, futuristic sculpture in Los Angeles that never met its extraterrestrial potential.

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

An L.A. traffic island where the faces of locals have been carved into massive granite eggs.

An unfortunate geological resemblance to Satan has labeled this Pasadena gorge as a passage to the underworld.

Hike amid the palm trees that thrive among Southern California's Indio Hills.

The most popular attraction in Southern California was once a flock of ornery bipedal birds that pulled carts.

Whiskey lovers, this is your happy place.

Some of the most unusual (and in some cases, disgusting) flavors of soda imaginable.

A bigger-than-life pun that has become a beacon of altruism.

Former 1954 Del Mar Train Station now serves signature cocktails and delightful culinary treats, and still operates as a Metro stop.

This store is dedicated to unique found footage and the strangeness of pre-internet pop-culture.

This simple highway curve has become a comedic pilgrimage site.