Bold black and white motifs of life and death add a dramatic flair to this 17th-century crypt.

The California capital city once stood 10 feet lower than it does today.

Happy harbor seals frolic and snooze on this warm, sandy stretch of coast.

About 80% of all U.S. avocados are descendants of Rudolph Hass's glorious tree.

The long, arduous journey of the stones of the Abbey of New Clairvaux.

This San Diego museum, housed in a former Navy training facility, is dedicated to preserving women’s historic achievements.

A popular winter vacation destination for migrating monarch butterflies.

This beautiful ridge-top trail is dotted by tiny homes apparently built by a group of itinerant fairies.

Marta Becket's hand-painted theater in the desert.

The last orange grove of the San Fernando Valley is owned and protected by CSU Northridge.

Gorgeous purple flowers drape from the world's largest blossoming plant.

Oldest building in California still in use.

A "haunted" landmark on the coast of Southern California.

This stunning sea creature-shaped home blends into the landscape like a fantasy villa.

Travelers leave tea kettles in a remote part of Death Valley as part of a mysterious, decades-old tradition.

An eccentric folk art landmark made out of discarded bottles by an inspired "grandma."

Arcadia is home to a haven for nature geeks and 80s TV lovers alike.

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

Contemporary art inspired by natural history and science drawing on ancient techniques in a modern world.

The ruins of the castle that chemicals built.

The restored and active Victorian-era final resting place of San Francisco.

This hilltop park offers magnificent views and a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece.

Bonsai garden in Oakland is curated by the first non-Japanese female bonsai master in the United States.

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