Once close to extinction, there is no shortage of elephant seals on the beaches of Año Nuevo State Park.

Elephant seals and sea lions have turned the abandoned buildings on this island into their endangered love shack.

I Street Bridge is the heaviest swinging center bridge in the United States.

This quirky roadside attraction dives into the many theories surrounding North America's most infamous hairy cryptid.

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

A "gravitational anomaly" located in the redwood forests just outside of Santa Cruz, California.

The oldest lighthouse on America's west coast no longer needs keepers, yet they maintain the site anyhow.

Every year, over 25,000 monarchs overwinter in Pacific Grove.

This concrete ship has had four careers - World War I tanker, floating amusement park, fishing pier, and artificial reef.

An old whaling station now serves to give the public a look at the commercial whaling industry, no longer a part of Monterey's economy.

This municipal playground was co-created by the father of one of the most playful characters ever.

Cambria's most unique B&B features creative surroundings and fantastic food.

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

Home to the "Circus" trees created by Axel Erlandson.

The lowest point in North America is home to an undrinkable pool surrounded by fields of geometric salt flats.

Thousands of turbines whir at at the origin of North American wind power.

This crumbling Death Valley mining complex was known for its use of giant, 20-mule team wagons.

Standing in a state of "arrested decay," this ghost town allows for a detailed peek into Gold Rush life in an unusually harsh climate.

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

Four hundred granite steps were built into this massive rock by the National Park Service.

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

Fortified medieval tower house with lovely roof garden.

Medieval torture techniques with a modern conscience.

Renaissance hospital featuring a rotating door into which unwanted babies were dropped.