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All the United States California Santa Margarita

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Santa Margarita

3 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Santa Margarita, California

Updated July 12, 2022

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Unusual Attractions in Santa Margarita

View of the processing equipment.

Santa Margarita, California

Rinconada Mercury Mine

Machinery left over from California's once thriving mercury industry now attracts artists and explorers.
Painted Rock

Santa Margarita, California

Painted Rock

The oldest pictographs on this decorated rock formation in California's Carrizo Plain date back as many as 4,000 years.
Wallace Creek crossing the San Andreas Fault.

Santa Margarita, California

Wallace Creek

The San Andreas Fault spectacularly offsets this creek.
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The Underground House.

San Luis Obispo, California

Poly Canyon - Experimental Structures Lab

A deserted hodgepodge of experimental structures designed by nearby university students.
5 miles from Santa Margarita
Motel Inn

San Luis Obispo, California

Motel Inn

The world's first motel is now an administrative building for an apple farm.
7 miles from Santa Margarita
Bell at Mission Santa Inez

San Luis Obispo, California

The Bells of El Camino Real

A chain of bells connect the California Missions and honor the legend of the "King’s Highway."
7 miles from Santa Margarita
Ah Louis Store - View from across Palm Street.

San Luis Obispo, California

Ah Louis Store

One of the last surviving buildings of a once large and thriving Chinatown.
8 miles from Santa Margarita
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Recent Santa Margarita Activity

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    wants to go to Painted Rock

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    has been to Rinconada Mercury Mine

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    wants to go to Rinconada Mercury Mine

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