Prone to disastrous fires, the city of San Francisco has the Guardian, a fireboat gifted by residents, to watch over them from the bay.

The flow from this waterfall sometimes comes out of springs below its rim.

Puzzling...this tree looks like an assemblage of dismembered monkey limbs.

A remote crossroads honoring a fallen talent.

Concrete strongholds stand guard over the Golden Gate.

This municipal playground was co-created by the father of one of the most playful characters ever.

Built for an exposition in 1915, these horticultural displays have stood the test of time.

A 1920s speakeasy that had rum runners racing up and down the shores of California.

A lighthouse built to save lives that took quite a few with its treacherous location.

These structures were inspired by both Native American shelters as well as, strangely, an ice cream shop.

A humble garage, world-famous for being the epicenter of a technology revolution.

A modest reminder of treacherous waters at the Golden Gate.

This conservation area is also home to many of the region's desert tortoises.

This concrete ship has had four careers - World War I tanker, floating amusement park, fishing pier, and artificial reef.

A giant chess set, minus the psychedelic drug trip.

This ultra-modern California span is actually a titanic solar clock in disguise built by famed architect Santiago Calatrava.

A massive volcanic plug is now a protected area that hosts a number of bird species.

A plaque and memorabilia collection mark where A&W got its start.

Housed in a memorial lighthouse, this museum relays the history of surfing, beginning with the antics of royal Hawaiian teenagers.

A giant desert bird that once swung music fans at Coachella now has a home in a nearby traffic circle.

A New England-style lighthouse along California's beautiful Highway 1 gets a re-do.

A shining, cold, black organ lies in San Francisco's financial district.

This giant temperature attraction created some giant electric bills.

One man's prolific, decade-long quest to turn trash into artistic treasure.