These sacred Mesoamerican ruins feature peculiar petroglyphs hidden in the stones.

An Aztec temple, the largest man-made pyramid in the world, sits buried in earth with a Spanish church set on top.

Not merely a museum – but a whirring powerhouse that offers a subterranean peek into the heart and soul of cable car operations.

A shop full of natural curiosities, carnivorous plants, and costumed taxidermied mice.

These sculptures were created by a 17th-century artist who had never seen an elephant.

Stretching for 22 miles, the world's longest tree-lined avenue dates back to the early 17th-century.

Only the face remains of this giant Buddha statue, which is said to be a source of luck for students.

This 14th-century temple is also known as the "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" for its gorgeous gilded reliquary hall.

The quintessential Japanese rock garden has existed for more than 500 years.

This 700-year-old street food market features baby octopus and soy donuts.

The 10,000 Torii shrine.

This massive wooden building contains a giant Buddha, healing pillars, and tame deer wandering the grounds.

Built in 1906, this unique building was the first Hindu temple in the United States.

Only hotel where you can legally launder money.

A garden oasis filled with flowers mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare.

The key to turning shifting dunes into the green oasis of Golden Gate Park.

Alleyway plaque commemorating the death of a fictional character in The Maltese Falcon, not far from the author's home.

Since 1973, this block has been home to the most concentrated collection of murals in San Francisco.

The oldest burial ground in the city, final resting place of city founders, Ohlone natives and murderers alike.

A nondescript building that's been functioning as a speakeasy for nearly a century and a half.

The last remaining relic of San Francisco's glittering 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition.

An essential stop before plundering, BYO Cutlass.

A collection of 20th-century automata, penny arcade games, and musical contraptions.

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