Turning night into day in Victorian-era Austin to thwart a serial killer.

Home to an endangered salamander, a full moon celebration, and a large spring-fed outdoor swimming pool.

A Cold War site complete with rusty structures, hiking trails, and beautiful views.

First LEED-certified gas station in the United States.

Hollywood's most famous landmark, the "temporary" sign that has stood for decades longer than intended.

Home to the largest urban bat colony in North America, estimated at 1.5 million bats.

The highest point in Maine is a grand gift to the state citizens that also happens to be one end of the Appalachian Trail.

An old California photo stand has been turned into a shrine to the cozy art of crochet.

Traversing these canyons, visitors can take in stunning views and glimpses of the region's history.

This strange seaside tower got its name from a wealthy eccentric who would hide coins among its stones.

One of the largest helium balloons in the U.S. is a 112-foot ginormous orange.

A modern day curiosity cabinet.

A collection of 20th-century automata, penny arcade games, and musical contraptions.

The former Naval shipyard is open for exploring - mostly.

With the touch of a button, you can read a randomly selected short story.

The Laureates here get something even more coveted than a Nobel Prize: free parking for life.

The century-old bell and clock tower at UC Berkeley is the third-tallest in the world, and has fossils.

This subtle Berkeley paving stone actually marks off a lawless tube of air that extends into space.

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

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

This giant temperature attraction created some giant electric bills.

A desert ghost town—occupied for only 12 years—was once home to more than 500 silver mines.

At least seven hues of blue and turquoise make this freshwater lagoon unique.

A 90-year-old underground water reservoir offers a more industrial kind of tranquility.