A glittering South Asian anomaly in a wealthy Los Angeles suburb.

The dramatic upward-curving roof is one of the most iconic examples of Googie architecture that still stands today.

Its dark depths conceal millions of rare, delicate crystal formations.

This peaceful garden is hidden on the grounds of a spiritual organization founded by a pioneer yogi.

An ultra-modern vista that has been featured in so many films the house is a celebrity in its own right.

The tragedy of the Japanese internment camps is remembered here by a stark "Soul Consoling Tower."

A visionary, futuristic sculpture in Los Angeles that never met its extraterrestrial potential.

360-degree virtual reality chamber physically immerses scientists into their data.

Early prototype for Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim.

A master of deception, Harry Houdini's greatest trick may have been living in two places at once.

Every weekend, the parking lot of this Buddhist temple turns into a Thai street-food paradise.

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

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

Exotic feline breeding compound and conservation center.

Hidden above a drug store on a nondescript corner of Lincoln Heights is a private clubhouse for intrepid explorers.

A volcanic tunnel illuminated by natural skylights offers a shaded respite from the desert sun.

Stroll the grounds built by murder, suicide, and dirty oil money at one of Hollywood's most filmed mansions.

Acres of natural wonders left behind by a socialite-turned-gardener.

A Swedenborgian glass church surrounded by redwoods sits perched atop a massive landslide area.

Once thought to be the oldest living tree in the world, Methuselah was germinated before the Egyptian pyramids were built.

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

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