This Big Sur waterfall drops 80 feet directly into the Pacific Ocean, and inspired the hillside house up top.

Originally built as a promotional giveaway, this suburban house was designed to be an IRL version of the Simpson home.

Under the right circumstances, this waterfall in Yosemite briefly turns a luminescent fiery orange.

Towering basalt columns, a creation of fire and ice.

Eons old volcanic activity created one of the most stunning rock formations in the United States.

The contents of this safe survived a 37-kiloton nuclear bomb.

A house built from trash known as the poor man's Hearst Castle.

A charming desert roadside bakery that produces 10 times more bread daily than it has residents in its town.

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

An underground mansion with fruit-bearing trees and grapes growing beneath the surface of central California.

One of the few remaining carousels built by master amusement park carver Charles I.D. Looff.

The tiniest tiki room in San Diego.

An inconspicuous footbridge beloved by San Diego locals.

Lucha Libre (Mexican Wrestling) themed taco shop.

A Biblically-based Natural History Museum.

Odd outsider art installations surround a Gold Rush-era ghost town.

A land of debatable treasure.

Along a California highway is a kind of Jurassic Park made of metal.

This desert oddity hides in plain sight thanks to a cartographic error and a desert explorer with a punny sense of humor.

The abandoned train depot now doubles as a well-placed rest stop for those who take the road less traveled.

The most isolated mailbox in America lets desert travelers record their passing.

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

The rocks in this arid basin leave trails of movement behind them.

This sculpture garden in Death Valley makes you feel like you've slipped into some alternate reality.