A collection of memorabilia from the Beat era in the back of a San Francisco bookstore.

One of the last remnants of the city's Chinese nightclub scene is now a dive bar selling killer mai tais.

The original place where water met land in the City by the Bay is outlined in brass.

The most beautiful Taco Bell in the world even has surfboard parking.

A classically inspired temple in Redwood City.

This old-world mansion with lush gardens is a gem in the heart of Silicon Valley.

The headquarters of a secretive order is also a beautifully-designed park.

The only standing town in the United States that early Chinese Americans built for themselves.

Where the polar bear watches over everything, and every drink is a double.

A sparse, solitary sequoia still stands as a living tribute to the famous conservationist who planted it—but it's dying.

After serving in World War II and picking up Apollo astronauts, this aircraft carrier has been turned into a museum overlooking the San Francisco Bay.

A porcelain company's former dumping ground, completely covered in pieces of collectible ceramics.

Two thirds of this Montreal neon icon has survived to flash another day.

One of Canada's oldest museums, the beautiful Redpath has been serving up Natural History and Ethnography since 1882.

A Montreal deli that was so beloved that it was allowed to circumvent their laws of language.

Every year, the colorful murals of Montreal get a complete makeover.

Montreal's giant farmer's market is a foodie's best friend, especially in the winter months.

From lefty Jewish gathering site to hip cultural site in just 80 years.

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

The "world's biggest dinosaur" once housed a creationist museum in its abdomen.

Odd stone and concrete monuments in the "Poet of the Sierras" eclectic folly garden.

Playable, historic pinball machines fill this Alameda museum.

In all of the 29 years it was in operation, no prisoners ever escaped successfully... or so they claim.

San Francisco's newly reopened hands-on science museum.