A man-made island in scenic San Francisco Bay.

The miraculous hydrant that saved the Mission District in 1906.

Dive bar built out of the remains of a whaling ship.

A pair of large white marble lions guard this stretch of the Mojave Desert, and it is utterly mysterious how they got there.

This print shop boasts one of the largest pinball arcades in San Francisco.

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

The interior of the Overlook Hotel in "The Shining" was based on this Yosemite original.

A sign at the end of the Santa Monica Pier marks the traditional end of the legendary American highway.

Not merely a museum – but a whirring powerhouse that offers a subterranean peek into the heart and soul of cable car operations.

The giant pair of sexy legs sticking out the window of this costume store have become its main draw.

A modern day curiosity cabinet.

An overlooked and unassuming engineering marvel.

Hundreds of trees made from glass bottles make up this forest on Route 66.

A regular looking rock with an unbelievable history.

This 19th-century church is now a popular roller rink.

San Francisco's oldest surviving monument and meeting place for 1906 survivors.

A hidden subterranean installation offers a view of the sky.

Julia Morgan's Moorish-Gothic labyrinth of fountains, trees, natural light and Oakland's notable dead.

A still functioning vaudeville carousel that has operated for over a century boasts a colorful menagerie and past.

This star-studded Old Hollywood restaurant is where fettuccine Alfredo made its United States debut.

This concrete tangle of square pipes has stood as a proud thorn in the city's side since the '70s.

The unbelievably opulent home built for an infamous newspaperman.

One of the ghostly stops along Route 66.

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