Housed in a memorial lighthouse, this museum relays the history of surfing, beginning with the antics of royal Hawaiian teenagers.

Offering commanding views of the California coastline, this restaurant was a hub for the artists and bohemians of Big Sur.

The stately birthplace of California's statehood.

The first safe in this California town had to hold all the gold.

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

This remarkably simple jail went over a century without an escape.

A tree grown from astronaut seeds which were exposed to cosmic rays.

Elephant seals and sea lions have turned the abandoned buildings on this island into their endangered love shack.

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

The graffiti-covered remnants of a former triangulation station are balanced precariously on this California peak.

An expansive and intricately restored mansion remains from over a century ago--and so do its ghosts.

San Francisco Bay's ghost town.

A playground built by the kids that is a child's wonderland, and a helicopter parent's nightmare.

This cabin from the 1850s is one of the first structures built by Chinese immigrants in California.

An old whaling station now serves to give the public a look at the commercial whaling industry, no longer a part of Monterey's economy.

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

This concrete ship has had four careers - World War I tanker, floating amusement park, fishing pier, and artificial reef.

This incredible collection of vintage pinball machines can be played at 25 cents a pop.

The only museum with its curator—and her pets—buried inside.

Two stone columns flank the grand Venice square, but there were supposed to be three.

This quirky museum has a collection of more than 15,000 bobblehead dolls.

This palatial spiral staircase was so unusual the name "snail" was given to the noble family who built it.

The bugs crawling down the front of this office building are almost as big as a '68 VW Beetle.

Statue dedicated to the star of an old television show.