This little valley along Highway 1 is engulfed by thousands of lilies during the spring season.

A natural dome made of volcanic glass in Inyo National Forest.

The original place where water met land in the City by the Bay is outlined in brass.

This park is home to California's first oil boomtown, with structures that have stood for more than a century.

A porcelain company's former dumping ground, completely covered in pieces of collectible ceramics.

Centuries of crashing waves carved out this small hole in the rock, which lights up at certain parts of the year.

A sparse, solitary sequoia still stands as a living tribute to the famous conservationist who planted it—but it's dying.

Hidden inside a gift shop that doubles as a museum, this gargantuan yo-yo can only be operated by crane.

Abandoned in 2009, this once popular resort destination now stands frozen in time.

Here, visitors can swing with the waves of the Pacific Ocean.

Anyone can control this glittery light installation with just a phone call.

Outside San Francisco lies a small clown cemetery and memorial.

It took years to decode its mysterious messages.

Eight huge lanterns lining a city street can change color on command.

These six walrus head statues harken back to a time when this area wasn't far from the oceanfront.

At night, a grove of towering redwood trees growing through the pavement block out all light from the so-called “Dark Park” of Madrone Avenue.

Believe it or not, this is the final resting place of the man who created the Odditorium.

The first mural ever dedicated to the women of the Black Panther Party.

At this 1940s-era neighborhood favorite, you can still drink a cherry phosphate.

This settlement on the original Transcontinental Railroad began by harvesting timber, but transitioned to a forgotten 19th-century industry: harvesting ice.

A shockingly detailed small scale recreation of the temples of Abu Simbel.

This massive statue of John Muir on the side of a California highway was carved from a redwood tree.

These were the largest wind chimes in the world when artist Tom Van Sant created them for a California mall in 1967.

At night, this glittering musical tunnel draws skaters and photographers.