A huge collection of rocks, gems, and crystals.

An art supply shop holds the secrets of this quiet neighborhood's raucous Barbary Coast past.

An abandoned Cold War missile radar site.

This stockpile of junked electronic and mechanical gadgets is a favorite among Hollywood prop masters.

An Old West film set seen in countless TV shows and movies is open for the public to explore.

Happy harbor seals frolic and snooze on this warm, sandy stretch of coast.

The Hopi-style structure was built by the man who discovered Desert Hot Springs' famous mineral water.

Fans of the spicy bright-red sauce can tour where it's made.

Burping, gurgling geothermal mud pots by the Salton Sea.

The key to turning shifting dunes into the green oasis of Golden Gate Park.

The California capital city once stood 10 feet lower than it does today.

This little museum has an exhibit devoted to the elusive forest denizens.

Over 300 taxidermied animals in a Californian restaurant make for a taxidermist's dream and an animal lover's nightmare.

Oakland's beautiful monumental cemetery.

A watering hole where the options for seating include a bar, patio, or subterranean cave.

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

The sea once considered an ecological wasteland is now called "crown jewel of avian biodiversity" by scientists.

Huge otherworldly domed rocks on the shore of a deadly lake.

A speck of nature and art in one of San Francisco’s most notorious neighborhoods.

Over 315,000 preserved amphibians and reptiles in jars.

Made famous by cable TV, this oddball collection of antiques and collectibles is a cut above the rest.

Russian history in San Francisco.

Get up close to emus and ostriches, or buy their tasty meat.

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