Beneath the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge is the “Gibraltar of the West Coast,” a fort built to protect the San Francisco Bay from naval attack.

A hidden gem, named after a San Franciscan icon, offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

The United States' first transcontinental automobile road came to its end at this spot in San Francisco's Lincoln Park.

The oldest dim sum restaurant in the United States is a nostalgic jewel.

One of the last remnants of the city's Chinese nightclub scene is now a dive bar selling killer mai tais.

An art supply shop holds the secrets of this quiet neighborhood's raucous Barbary Coast past.

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

These six walrus head statues harken back to a time when this area wasn't far from the oceanfront.

The last used bookstore in Downtown San Francisco is one of the smallest bookstores just about anywhere.

This Alamo Square mansion is rumored to have hosted satanic rituals and other occult practices.

One of the smallest parks in San Francisco honors the legacy of the "Mother of Civil Rights in California."

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

From printing money to live music, this Beaux-Arts style building has had many identities over the last century.

Eighty million natural history specimens call this gargantuan museum home.

These unusual houses look like giant boats that washed ashore on a residential street.

Illegal drag racing two stories beneath Chicago’s streets.

A lush green oasis in the middle of Chicago.

Partially submerged Buddha heads freckle Chicago’s neighborhoods.

This whimsical Oz-themed park had a wonderful impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

Odd, decrepit fountain honors Chicago author who had mixed feelings about his hometown.

An outdoor urban gallery of large-scale artworks by the world's most influential street artists.

Chicago's Navy Pier on Lake Michigan was a training hub for aircraft carrier pilots during WWII.

A display of magnificent stained glass windows is the first exhibit of its kind.

The palatial McDonald's that inspired Wesley Willis.