Home to the largest urban bat colony in North America, estimated at 1.5 million bats.

Turning night into day in Victorian-era Austin to thwart a serial killer.

A store full of vintage and indie toys designed to bring out the kid in even the crustiest of adults.

Controversially claiming the title of world's biggest bass drum, UT's Big Bertha was once made radioactive by the Manhattan Project.

Official museum, hall of fame, and repository of the Texas Rangers.

Some islands... they come, they go, especially on Lake Travis.

An enormous pink granite batholith, long attributed with spiritual powers by the Tonkawa Indians.

A glimpse into the lives of the the Miwok and Paiute people in Yosemite National Park.

Quite simply the largest tree in the world (by volume).

A walk-in working camera obscura produces 360-degree live images of the San Francisco coast.

Staircase winds down the side of Telegraph Hill through gardens, wild parrots flying overhead.

A shop full of natural curiosities, carnivorous plants, and costumed taxidermied mice.

Tiny castle in the middle of the Rhine made you pay to pass.

The world's oldest known salt mine.

The vast, legendary catacombs hold secrets much stranger than stacked bones.

The fairy tale castle of the "fairy-tale king."

A huge musical instrument played by the ocean.

Nordic giants resurrected from the sea and restored to their former greatness.

Belly up to the bar in Cowtown, don't forget to buy some boots.