Relics of the 1894 Midwinter Exposition continue to delight visitors today.

Gift shop offering toe tags and chalk body beach towels tucked into a coroner's office.

Carnivorous plants, medieval aphrodisiacs, and the largest original wood structure glass conservatory in the western hemisphere.

The old Niles Canyon Aqueduct in the San Francisco Bay Area is a bemusing and secret trail through nature for wayward travelers.

This iconic L.A. bookshop is housed in an abandoned bank—both symbolic and chic.

A series of abstract, silly sculptures represent the works of a great modern classical composer.

An "inside out" building in the historical center of Paris, featuring Europe’s largest modern art museum.

Lyon, France is home to two remarkably preserved Roman theaters, one dating back to 15 BCE.

Furniture tries to escape an abandoned building in San Francisco.

The 40-foot-tall votive candle is the largest of its kind.

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

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

A New England-style lighthouse along California's beautiful Highway 1 gets a re-do.

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

A giant chess set, minus the psychedelic drug trip.

Once close to extinction, there is no shortage of elephant seals on the beaches of Año Nuevo State Park.

It should come as no surprise that the world's largest artichoke lies in the town that calls itself the "Artichoke Center of the World."

A pair of pure white felines guard the entrance to a spot of California real estate established as an artist's haven.

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

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

At this California chicken ranch, four bucks will get you 18 eggs and a chorus of dancing animatronic poultry.

San Francisco's newly reopened hands-on science museum.

The private clubhouse for the members of the Academy of Magical Arts.

Each year these high desert hills are absolutely covered with poppy flowers in a surreal show of nature.