Funded by John D. Rockefeller, this is one of the earliest, and most beautiful, shopping arcades in America.

Strange sandstone canyon known as the "place broken by itself."

Hidden behind a wall, Spanish nuns distribute their signature sweets on a revolving tray.

A garden in Lisbon filled with giant porcelain creatures.

This lonesome Monterey cypress has survived centuries of wind, salt, and at least one attempt at arson.

Enormous crabs, bioluminescent jellies, and other amazing creatures from the ocean’s depths—some of which are in an aquarium for the first time ever.

Part mural and part sculpture, this work of art sits in the middle of the Promenade, as if swimming in a river of asphalt towards the ocean.

A tribute to the artist and activist who created the rainbow pride flag.

This historic Chinese church was relocated and revived as a museum that preserves and celebrates Chinese art, history, and culture.

A remote desert lookout offers unparalleled views of the California badlands for those who brave the trek.

This whimsical seashell-shaped place of worship was designed to blend into its surroundings.

An eatery within a Bay Area Buddhist temple pulls off all your favorite Vietnamese classics without the meat.

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

Celebrating the transformation of trash into objects of beauty.

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

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

The unedited photograph called "Bliss" has graced the screens of over a billion computers.

The lowest point in North America is home to an undrinkable pool surrounded by fields of geometric salt flats.

Each year these high desert hills are absolutely covered with poppy flowers in a surreal show of nature.

Quite simply the largest tree in the world (by volume).

One of the most scenic stretches of road in America winds between some of the country's oldest trees.

A trash dump made beautiful by nature's power.

Under the right circumstances, this waterfall in Yosemite briefly turns a luminescent fiery orange.

Where Cusack's record store from the film "High Fidelity" was located.