The rusting remains of the largest assembled WWII fleet on the West Coast.

San Francisco's newly reopened hands-on science museum.

The lighthouse central to the 1980s horror classic "The Fog" is, in fact, located in one of the foggiest areas of the Pacific Coast.

A trash dump made beautiful by nature's power.

Standing in a state of "arrested decay," this ghost town allows for a detailed peek into Gold Rush life in an unusually harsh climate.

Aqueducts have dramatically changed this old lake, now home to tufa towers and its very own species of tiny brine shrimp.

The interior of the Overlook Hotel in "The Shining" was based on this Yosemite original.

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

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

A peculiar mansion built by the troubled heir to the Winchester Rifle Company fortune.

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

A Roman-inspired temple once controlled half of San Francisco's waters.

The old Niles Canyon Aqueduct in the San Francisco Bay Area is a bemusing and secret trail through nature for wayward travelers.

From the sky, a kaleidoscope of color brightens the grey landscape of the San Francisco Bay.

A preserved stretch of ancient fossilized trees with an impressive gem collection to boot.

One of the only Florida forts to remain in the hands of the Union all through the Civil War still stands as a historic stronghold.

This now-deactivated naval base defended the Florida coast for centuries.

This relatively recently abandoned brewery is a tragic reminder of the continuing effects of Hurricane Katrina.

The world-record holder for the longest bridge stretching continuously over water.

Legend says a primate-like cryptid prowls this otherworldy sliver of the Louisiana bayou.

Once defending the city of New Orleans from invasion by sea, this fort faces an uncertain future.

A historic Civil War estate-turned-museum looks back on the Confederate States of America.

Built following the War of 1812, this fort has withstood hurricanes for centuries.

New Orleans' famous cemetery, located on the site of a former race track.