San Francisco Bay's ghost town.

A peculiar mansion built by the troubled heir to the Winchester Rifle Company fortune.

An overlooked and unassuming engineering marvel.

Art from the latest counter-culture; kids who dye their hair blue and believe the future will be a post-apocalyptic water world.

A garden oasis filled with flowers mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare.

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

Golden Gate Park's historic collection of plants.

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

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

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

Relics of the 1894 Midwinter Exposition continue to delight visitors today.

Carnivorous plants, medieval aphrodisiacs, and the largest original wood structure glass conservatory in the western hemisphere.

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

L. Frank Baum wrote part of the "Wizard of Oz" series in this wooden Victorian beach resort.

Art Deco stylings conceal the true nature of this bridge.

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

This 15-story mural celebrates the 50th anniversary of the musician's iconic "At Folsom Prison" album.

The California capital city once stood 10 feet lower than it does today.

This municipal playground was co-created by the father of one of the most playful characters ever.

One of the most elaborate displays of Jellyfish is on display at the aquarium.

This iconic L.A. bookshop is housed in an abandoned bank—both symbolic and chic.

A trash dump made beautiful by nature's power.

This 19th century hydroelectric powerhouse was the first of its kind.

This former boomtown "island" is now submerged below Folsom Lake.