A large sculptural artwork and garden in Escondido, California.

This dark, quiet forest on the outskirts of San Diego is dense with rumor and lore.

A world-class observatory in the California desert.

Stripes of flowers bloom each spring in a 50 acre rainbow of color.

The "world's biggest dinosaur" once housed a creationist museum in its abdomen.

A desert ghost town—occupied for only 12 years—was once home to more than 500 silver mines.

Costumed elves and mountain bikers co-exist peacefully at this abandoned Christmas-themed adventure park.

Oldest building in California still in use.

Chewing gum tycoon's memorial lies perched over wife's botanical gardens on Santa Catalina Island.

A "haunted" landmark on the coast of Southern California.

A Swedenborgian glass church surrounded by redwoods sits perched atop a massive landslide area.

Remains of a Greek freighter trapped off of Rocky Point in 1961.

This former stomping grounds of the most eminent astronomers of the early 20th century.

The sun acts as a key that only fits this giant keyhole twice a year.

An historic and oft-filmed spot for musclebound iron pumpers on the Pacific coast.

A lonely Gondola stuck on a traffic circle sits in a spot where it once would have floated down the Grand Canal.

After starting as a whimsical tourist attraction that eventually found its way to ruin, these renovated canals offer a lush and exotic locale on the Pacific Coast.

One of Hollywood’s favorite government buildings.

Sports history, made in the Arroyo Seco.

World-famous, Pink's still manages to keep its prized cult fetish status.

There are lots of hands and feet stamped in the cement in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater, but Mel left behind something extra.

Making Ice Cream Hip Since 2008.

A former utopian healing center created by a huckster and built by derelicts.

This giant temperature attraction created some giant electric bills.