17th century streets hidden under Edinburgh were once a breeding ground for the black death.

This mundane post marks the old location of the city's main postal hub.

The colorful stairs are made with marble from the world's major quarries.

Ruined 11th century abbey built by King David I in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Remnants of the 16th-century defensive wall still stand unassumingly within Edinburgh.

A series of three shiny letters mark the boundary of an old refuge for those being pursued by debt collectors.

Neon artworks light up this dark Edinburgh tunnel.

Now home to a drinking establishment, this building has a macabre history.

A labyrinthine network of chambers with a storied past hides below Edinburgh's South Bridge.

This obscure walkway links Edinburgh’s Old Town with one of the city's prime vantage points.

The oldest orange tree in California spawned a generation of citrus farmers.

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

The Flatiron Building's storied West Coast cousin is a lot more into religion.

Collective dedicated to restoring steam engines.

With statues of Nelson Mandela and Harvey Milk this monument has been called the Mount Rushmore of California.

This mysterious series of teeny guerrilla installations sheds a whimsical light on street art in Oakland.

A hardware store Buddha statue installed to deter vandalism wound up attracting Vietnamese immigrants who came to pray.

The largest Star Wars collection in the world is its own galaxy of collectibles.

Neoclassical Revival mansion and set of horror cult classic Phantasm.

Bonsai garden in Oakland is curated by the first non-Japanese female bonsai master in the United States.

A massive ultra-modern church presents a science-fiction view of Catholicism's inclusive future.

This Oakland fairytale kingdom, fiercely devoted to childlike whimsy, was an early inspiration for Disneyland.

A restored 1920s cascade stairway provides one of the best views of Oakland's Lake Merritt.

A pier that used to act as a busy ferry dock is now a decaying favorite of local fisherman and urban artists.