World War II-era Nazi compound nestled in the Santa Monica hills.

A faux European lane smack dab in downtown L.A.

Giant Redwood-themed cafeteria operates under the golden rule, "Dine Free Unless Delighted."

Hollywood's most famous landmark, the "temporary" sign that has stood for decades longer than intended.

An Italian restaurant became a rock-and-roll hangout and the lair of the "Hollywood vampires."

An offbeat angle on the ocean viewed through an antiquated lens.

Life in this isolated, hilltop lighthouse was lonely, but it sure was lovely.

A restored 1920s cascade stairway provides one of the best views of Oakland's Lake Merritt.

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

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

Rodin's famous depiction of Dante's 'Inferno', amidst a sculpture garden of many of his other works.

A hidden world of exotic succulents and cacti.

For nearly 50 years, this San Francisco nonprofit has been serving as a mix of recycling center and art school.

In the basement of a San Francisco performing arts center, a small museum dedicated to the history of showgirls.

San Francisco's most expensive hotel suite includes a secret passageway rumored to have been used by JFK.

The remains of a 12th-century chapter house in Golden Gate Park.

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

The remains of a ruined mansion memorialize the 1906 earthquake.

The one-time watch house for incoming ships at the Golden Gate now stands abandoned and hidden in trees.

The awe-inspiring ship from the golden era of cruising has an incomparable history and a reputation as one of the world’s most haunted places.

Junkbots and mud babies are the masterpieces in this fantastically sci-fi art museum.

One of the best absinthe distilleries in the United States.

The headquarters of a secretive order is also a beautifully-designed park.

The oldest house in the capital of Silicon Valley.