This conservation area is also home to many of the region's desert tortoises.

This Southern Californian Conservation Center is home to singing and howling apes.

An off-grid art installation that encourages its visitors to imagine a world without waste.

A modest reminder of treacherous waters at the Golden Gate.

A remote desert lookout offers unparalleled views of the California badlands for those who brave the trek.

A massive volcanic plug is now a protected area that hosts a number of bird species.

This giant temperature attraction created some giant electric bills.

A giant chess set, minus the psychedelic drug trip.

Centuries of crashing waves carved out this small hole in the rock, which lights up at certain parts of the year.

One of the largest helium balloons in the U.S. is a 112-foot ginormous orange.

This rock formation named for its unique shape is one of many that call the Alabama Hills home.

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

Here, visitors can swing with the waves of the Pacific Ocean.

This quirky UFO-shaped curiosity is often mistaken for the airport’s control tower.

A charming desert roadside bakery that produces 10 times more bread daily than it has residents in its town.

An alley covered with 20 years of bubble gum.

Version of the French Riviera destroyed by the sea.

This dormant volcanic crater has been converted from a roiling pit of magma to a pleasant hiking spot.

Semi-recognized center of the world, with many oddities.

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

Millions of years of oxidation make a drive down this winding Death Valley road surprisingly colorful.

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.

The largest dune field in the Mojave offers a chance of hearing the 'singing sands.'

Along a California highway is a kind of Jurassic Park made of metal.