The shop's owner has spent decades in the desert wearing nothing but a strategically placed sock.

The biggest solar telescope in the world helps reveal the secrets of our sun.

This set of three large, volcanic hot springs is a favorite haunt for intrepid divers.

Oddly shaped rock formation, misassociated with a nearby utopian community.

A shady solar power system that couldn't hold up to the harsh desert conditions.

Visitors to this library are in for a real-world education in modernist architecture.

What's a diner from the 1939 World's Fair doing in a remote Utah mountain town?

A Mars simulation in the southern Utah desert.

An absolutely beautiful 200-foot stained glass installation traces the evolution of knowledge.

A sculpture for the sun and stars, created by Nancy Holt.

This concert pavilion on the shore of the Great Salt Lake has been destroyed by fire, water, and disinterest but keeps coming back.

This nature center has one of the largest collections of native raptors in the Pacific Northwest.

A volcanic landmark located on an Ice age lake bed.

Bridges, terraces, and replicas of historic structures all built of rock and petrified wood by one man.

Two massive rock outcroppings on the Oregon coastline.

A rare surviving example of a pre-WWII Japanese garden, restored after years of neglect.

The artwork that Italians felt California didn't deserve.

Trails through lava-carved tube-caves display sparkling bacteria and a rich history.

A hidden subterranean installation offers a view of the sky.

Acres of natural wonders left behind by a socialite-turned-gardener.

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

The L.A. Zoo has a secret garden of rare bootleg cycads, a palm specimen dating back 280 million years.

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

One of the last free public hot springs is decorated with hippie art.