An abandoned, unfinished mansion on grounds strewn with lava rocks.

A working model of the entire San Francisco Bay and much of the Sacramento River Delta, complete with regular tides that change every 14 minutes.

A living time capsule of the 1960s Richardson Bay water-front.

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

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

Handmade treasures from around the world.

Location of the most powerful laser in the world, and the potential birthplace of tiny stars.

Giant jewel-toned statues fill the grounds of this Cambodian Buddhist temple in California.

Eclectic collection of dark and macabre antiques.

Its dark depths conceal millions of rare, delicate crystal formations.

This ultra-modern California span is actually a titanic solar clock in disguise built by famed architect Santiago Calatrava.

This bridge provides safe passage for squirrels.

A roaring, awe-inspiring double cascade of icy water flows through woodland Oregon like something out of a Tolkien novel.

This extravagant Art Nouveau rest stop features a million-dollar view of the Columbia River.

An extraordinary mixture of natural beauty and man-made phenomena.

Despite a legend that says this highest peak in Oregon was climbed in high heels scores of people have died on its slopes.

Shoreline strewn with the remains of ghostly fallen trees.

Stroll through a wonderland of stupendous moss-covered trees.

A tiny red pebble marks what may be the quietest outdoor spot in the United States.

Rustic natural hot springs in the deciduous rain forest.

A surreal landscape where fanged rocks rise from the ground and the ocean feels like a great mystery.

This massive redwood tree has a hole in the base big enough to drive through.

Commonly referred to as the most photographed Victorian home in the United States.

Humboldt's human-powered sculptures race across land and sea for days on end in a wacky quest for dominance.