The oldest alley in San Francisco is paved with a reminder of the city's original shoreline.

This mountaintop refuge rehabilitates tigers, lions, bears, and more from illicit wildlife trade—and offers overnight lodging.

California's largest steel arch bridge.

A Romanesque sanctuary of calm amid the bustle of downtown Los Angeles.

This weird abode has inspired everything from the "House On Haunted Hil" to a robot hunter's pad.

The ceiling of this cavern is dripping with multicolored marble stalactites.

This Colorado fire station has been in continuous operation for more than a century.

This trail was once used to smuggle cigarettes, sugar, and other black market goods between Italy and Switzerland.

You've probably seen these distinctive orange-tiled columns on the big screen.

Life-sized statues of two characters from a decades-long Japanese film series stand outside Shibamata station.

The grand marquee of this abandoned Hawaiian theater remembers the building's elegant past.

This stunning sea creature-shaped home blends into the landscape like a fantasy villa.

Colorful boxes placed over the dead are left to rot and crumble.

Buildings from the fictional planet of Tatooine still litter the Tunisian desert.

One man's attempt to create an artistic wonder on a run-down block in Detroit.

This picturesque monastery at the base of a cliff is a peaceful oasis open to all visitors.

This bizarre hotel on historic Route 66 has been plagued by rumors of paranormal activity.

The hallucinogenic center of the ancient world.

A beautiful combination of living flora with preserved bones covers the shelves of this shop.

The roof of one of the world’s largest spice markets provides a grand view over the neighborhood's glorious bustle.

This 14th-century temple is also known as the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" for its gorgeous gilded reliquary hall.

There are ongoing efforts to preserve this village, the best known work of Egyptian architect Hasan Fathy.

These structures were inspired by both Native American shelters as well as, strangely, an ice cream shop.

A retirement home for soldiers that can trace its history to the Elizabethan era and beyond.