A sign at the end of the Santa Monica Pier marks the traditional end of the legendary American highway.

A burnt orange monolithic dome structure perched on a hillside near Interstate 280.

Golden Gate Park's historic collection of plants.

The interior of the Overlook Hotel in "The Shining" was based on this Yosemite original.

The unbelievably opulent home built for an infamous newspaperman.

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

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

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

Haunting and beautiful trees, doomed to die.

A man-made island in scenic San Francisco Bay.

One of the largest free-standing structures ever built, this dirigible hangar is now simply a giant skeleton.

An alley covered with 20 years of bubble gum.

A glimpse into the lives of the the Miwok and Paiute people in Yosemite National Park.

A remote crossroads honoring a fallen talent.

One of the largest Marian shrines on the West Coast stands rather unexpectedly in Silicon Valley.

This controversial depiction of the "Founder of California" looks as though it was sculpted from mashed potatoes.

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

This monster board rode a monster wave to break two world records.

A chain of bells connect the California Missions and honor the legend of the "King’s Highway."

This sun-scorched lakebed contains samples of half the natural elements known to humankind.

A giant can of fruit cocktail is all that remains of what was once the world's largest cannery.

This stretch of beach along California's central coast is a busy highway for the largest seal in the northern hemisphere.

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

Where the writer penned his famous story about a jumping frog.