A 40-foot waterfall hidden in a desert oasis.

Fossilized remains tell the story of the region’s past inside this small, unassuming museum.

Once a Catholic mission, this small town tucked between the ocean and the mountains is now a magical spot for art and history lovers.

Tucked away in a secluded canyon, this hidden hot spring’s thermal waters have been soothing soakers for generations.

This bilingual museum explores the more than 300 years of vaquero history.

This historic home has survived wars, drought, and financial woes to become a California landmark.

What started as a tailor shop to help swimmers live their mermaid dreams has grown into a full-scale aquarium, complete with live mermaid shows.

Explore the history of printing in this unique museum owned by a longtime printer.

A hidden paradise in one of Florida’s most unique rivers.

The mounds on this coastal archaeological site reveal the history of the land’s first inhabitants.

This natural spring is the winter home to the largest gathering of manatees in the world.

Traditional, pre-Hispanic food is served alongside classic favorites in this family-owned Mexican restaurant.

This museum honors the farming past of the “Salad Bowl of the World.”

This mission, established in 1771, is the most remote of California’s Franciscan missions.

Named for a self-taught botanist who cataloged hundreds of native plants, this garden continues her work of preserving California plant life.

When California condors were hovering on the brink of extinction, this recovery program was charged with helping the birds thrive again.

This town of 100 people has approximately one bronze sculpture for every two residents.

Haunted dolls, macabre artifacts, and more make up the collection of the “most haunted museum in the world.”

Once a slice of Cold War-era military history, this museum is finding its future in the star.

After sitting abandoned for decades, this historic mine is now the only publicly accessible chalk room and pillar mine in North America.

In addition to fishing and camping, this spot in Nebraska’s Sandhills is one of the world’s darkest places.

This old-school soda shop is the home of the Tin Roof Sundae, a concoction dripping in chocolate, marshmallow, and peanuts.

This gravity-defying rock formation is one of Big Bend’s natural wonders.

Crystal hunters can dig for their own stones at this DIY mine in Arkansas’ quartz belt.