A man-made island in scenic San Francisco Bay.

Concrete strongholds stand guard over the Golden Gate.

This rare example of a "tidefall" is a spectacular drop from the cliffs down onto the beach.

Towering basalt columns, a creation of fire and ice.

Standing in a state of "arrested decay," this ghost town allows for a detailed peek into Gold Rush life in an unusually harsh climate.

Aqueducts have dramatically changed this old lake, now home to tufa towers and its very own species of tiny brine shrimp.

Curiously, this large sporting goods store features 14 wax representations of American presidents.

This beloved roadside attraction welcomes visitors with his signature neon smile.

Bill Murray bowled three straight strikes here at Reno's "Taj Mahal of Tenpins."

The only surviving prototype of Buckminster Fuller's revolutionary car.

A fire lookout atop a glacial pinnacle is reached by climbing three vertiginous flights of stairs.

The beauty and the beast of hydraulic mining is on full display at this California Historic State Park.

The Empire Mine is "one of the oldest, largest, deepest, longest and richest gold mines in California."

Pillars made of 700 pieces of luggage climb to the ceiling of Sacramento Airport's baggage claim.

Explore a misty river canyon from a metal bridge system.

These unique volcanic rock formations offer the perfect opportunity to camp and hike.

This quirky hot springs town known to locals as "T or C" was named after a radio show.

A wealth of pop culture statuary and green chile dishes give this roadside restaurant clout.

The state bird of New Mexico, constructed entirely out of garbage.

Wee (and not so wee) footprints that insects and reptiles of the Paleozoic Era left behind.

The outcropping is graffitied with the name of the beloved musical Muppet television series.

After a short-lived attempt to bring America in line with the rest of the world, this road was left in metric.

America's only nuclear missile silo open to the public.

This bomb shelter-themed bar has barely changed since it opened.