A local dialect born in the late 19th century is only spoken in this isolated California valley.

The beauty and the beast of hydraulic mining is on full display at this California Historic State Park.

One woman's Viking Castle on Lake Tahoe.

The Empire Mine is "one of the oldest, largest, deepest, longest and richest gold mines in California."

The southernmost outpost of the Russian Empire in colonial America.

Centuries of crashing waves carved out this small hole in the rock, which lights up at certain parts of the year.

California's own majestic geyser is powered by a subterranean volcano.

Wheels of chrome by the thousands adorn this California Historical Landmark.

A sculpture dedicated to Napa Valley's oldest mineral water company.

This historic California cemetery holds the bodies of veterans of both the Civil War and the Donner Party.

A veteran Disney animator turned his gift for storytelling to a museum devoted to his love of a California city.

California's own medieval Italian castle, authentic down to the 300-year-old iron maiden in the dungeon.

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.

The first safe in this California town had to hold all the gold.

The oldest U.S. Government building in California, and it's State Historic Landmark #1.

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

Two rocks in a perpetual kiss and one of "the most romantic spot in America."

The lighthouse central to the 1980s horror classic "The Fog" is, in fact, located in one of the foggiest areas of the Pacific Coast.

Built by the inventor of the radio, this abandoned hotel has housed early radio employees, military men, and a dangerous cult.

The haunting ruins of Jack London's dream house.

Here, visitors can swing with the waves of the Pacific Ocean.

'Cause the fence start shaking, the earth was quaking.

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

A New England-style lighthouse along California's beautiful Highway 1 gets a re-do.