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

Since World War II people have been decorating this stretch of the Yuma desert with signatures arranged out of rocks.

One of the largest helium balloons in the U.S. is a 112-foot ginormous orange.

A miniature view of the park, caught in time.

The world's first permanently occupied mountain-top observatory continues to report on the stars.

One of the most elaborate displays of Jellyfish is on display at the aquarium.

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

Inky sludge oozes to the surface of this beach thanks to a rare natural tar seep.

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

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

Hike amid the palm trees that thrive among Southern California's Indio Hills.

Successful artist residence program has filled this ranch with dozens of sculptures over the years.

Massive prehistoric mammals used these stones as oversized scratching posts.

The taxidermied remains of the "last wild grizzly bear in California" and of the symbol of the state of California.

Elephant seals and sea lions have turned the abandoned buildings on this island into their endangered love shack.

The first AIDS memorial chapel in San Francisco and one of only a few in the U.S.

Hidden among the multi-million dollar mansions in the Santa Cruz hills is a sanctuary for troubled birds.

Burping, gurgling geothermal mud pots by the Salton Sea.

Thousands of migrating monarchs overwinter clustered amongst the eucalyptus trees.

Salt is slowly eating away this abandoned saltworks town in the desert.

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

This large collection of tiny things revels in the art of fine machinery well made.

An alley covered with 20 years of bubble gum.

A popular winter vacation destination for migrating monarch butterflies.