![]() This museum is one of the best-maintained gold mines in all of California. I walked through them for a mile or so but wish I would have had time to see more. Located near the top of the Donner Summit Pass, the old abandoned railroad tunnels are a spooky but unique place for a hike. If trees and geysers are not your thing, then be sure to check out the castle winery called Castello di Amorosa, which is a fantastic spot to spend a half day exploring. There is a half-mile loop trail that you can take which allows you to see a whole bunch of them. Only about 10 minutes from the Old Faithful Geyser sits this collection of some of the best-petrified trees in the entire United States. It is a super fun place to visit for the whole family and is known as the Old Faithful of California. ![]() In the city of Calistoga sits this unique old geyser that still erupts every hour for 4 to 8 minutes. It has an impressive walkway that takes you through the trees to explore the area. Due to science that I do not fully understand the trees are not able to fully develop. The pygmy forest near Mendocino is home to tons of minuscule 100-year-old trees. The beach is full of tiny glass pebbles that washed up after the city threw its trash into the ocean decades ago. ![]() Mendocino CountyĪn infamous spot on the California Coast, Glass Beach has been attracting visitors for years. As soon as you see the 60 foot tall Paul Bunyan and his Ox, pull off and explore all of the crazy trees they have in the park and take the sky tram up above the trees for a spectacular view. Redefining what a roadside attraction should be, the massive Trees of Mystery should be a stop on everyone’s list. You will probably wait in line to drive through it, but it is worth it. The most popular of the three drive-thru trees, this tree in Leggett, CA has been attracting visitors for decades. You can walk inside and even sign the guest book. While there is not much to do here, it is still an impressive treehouse made at the bottom of a massive redwood. Humboldt CountyĪt the North end of the Avenue of the Giants sits the Eternal Treehouse. This fantastic spot in Fresno allows you to tour a historical set of underground caves created by one man in the early 1900’s as a way to escape the Fresno heat. They even have tours during the day where you can listen to them talk about why a hatchery is needed and show you how the process works. Located only 15 minutes from the Oregon / California border is a fish hatchery that is open to the public where you can observe the life cycle of fish. This mountain is accessible via a road you can drive all the way up, or you can hike one of the trails if you so desire. On clear days, it seems like you can see forever. ![]() Mt Diablo is known as one of the best places in the United States for views. Calaveras CountyĪ cave the size of the Statue of Liberty that you can repel into, Moaning Cavern is a spot that should be on every adventurer’s list. Be sure to add it to your list, especially if you are a photographer. This covered bridge outside of Chico is one of the most unique bridges in the entire state. Honey Run Covered Bridge (Destroyed in 2018 fire) I have honestly never seen a rock in the ground like this and of this size, definitely worth checking out. This park is exactly as the name implies it is a MASSIVE rock that was used by the Indians that lived in the area to grind their food on. You can only see it by taking one of the tours, but it is so amazing with massive rooms and rock formations that it is worth taking the trip to see it. Amador CountyĪ beautiful cavern that you can go down into and explore. It’s an excellent spot for a drink in downtown Oakland. This small one-room spot was even an inspiration for some of Jack London’s stories as he was known to frequent the place as he was growing up. ![]() Heinold’s is a famous bar in Jack London’s Square with over a century of history. You never really know what you will see when you go there, but it is always different than what you would expect. Alameda CountyĪlbany Bulb sits on the east side of the San Francisco Bay, and this former landfill has now become a city park that many artists have decided to turn into a palette. Be sure to leave a comment in the post below if you have a recommendation for me, and don’t hesitate to dive into all the awesome places below (counties listed in alphabetical order, click the photo to read the post about the location). While I haven’t traveled to Northern California as much as I would like, I do have a lot of recommendations, and this post will continue to grow and expand as I find new places to visit. After writing about my favorite strange spots in Southern California, I realized that there are a lot of people that like exploring unique stuff like I do. ![]()
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