California

If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping into a glamorous 1920s detective novel—with a glass of cabernet in hand—you’ll want to book a ticket on Napa Valley’s Murder Mystery Wine Train. This is no ordinary sightseeing excursion. It's an immersive, wine-soaked whodunit where you’re part of the plot and the vineyard views are just a bonus.

Ready for an experience that will have you questioning your senses and laughing out loud? Just outside Santa Cruz, California, tucked among towering redwoods, you’ll find Mystery Spot—a strange and playful roadside attraction where gravity seems to have gone completely haywire. This curious little hillside spot isn’t just a relic of roadside Americana—it’s a place where you can tilt at impossible angles, watch balls roll uphill, and genuinely wonder what’s going on.

If you've ever found yourself oddly fascinated by the darker corners of history—true crime tales, Victorian mourning rituals, mummified oddities—then buckle up. Hidden among the star-studded chaos of Hollywood lies a place that leans full-tilt into the macabre: the Museum of Death. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it is a surprisingly illuminating stop for curious minds who can stomach a little darkness with their sightseeing.

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if an art gallery, a comic book store, and a vintage novelty shop had a baby—it would probably look a lot like Soap Plant Wacko. Tucked along Hollywood Boulevard in L.A.'s Los Feliz neighborhood, this offbeat institution is a glorious jumble of pop culture, lowbrow art, and delightfully weird collectibles. It’s been keeping Angelenos delightfully off-kilter since the 1970s, and stepping inside feels a little like falling down the rabbit hole—with a punk rock soundtrack.

Some adventures come with glitter—and this one lets you take it home. Nestled in the hills of northern San Diego County, Oceanview Mine in Pala, California, is one part treasure hunt, one part history lesson, and one part California sunshine. Whether you’re a rockhound, a day-tripper, or just someone who never grew out of digging in the dirt, this is the kind of hands-on outing that delivers big on fun and fascination.

Imagine stepping into a glass-walled rotating tram, rising thousands of feet into the sky, and watching the desert below transform into a snowy mountain forest—all before you’ve even finished your coffee. That’s exactly the kind of magic waiting for you at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, a California bucket-list adventure that quite literally takes sightseeing to new heights.

Step into the glow and let your inner kid come out to play. At Monster Mini Golf in Rancho Cordova, just a short hop from Sacramento, this is not your average putting green. Think: blacklight mayhem, spooky-fun vibes, and cackling animatronic monsters lurking behind every neon turn. Whether you're teeing up for a first date or wrangling an energetic pack of kids, this place is part carnival, part arcade, part haunted house—and totally unforgettable.

If watching a movie under the stars with the Hollywood sign glowing in the distance sounds like a dream, you’re in luck. At the Rooftop Film Club at the Montelban Theatre, that dream comes to life—complete with cozy deck chairs, city lights, craft cocktails, and a big-screen lineup of crowd-pleasing classics.

There’s something magical about standing eye-to-eye with a giant Pacific octopus or watching sea otters playfully tumble through kelp beds like aquatic acrobats. At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, it’s not just about exhibits—it’s about feeling like you’ve slipped into another world, one pulse and tide away from the surface.

If you’re cruising down Pearblossom Highway and spot a life-sized dinosaur, a pirate ship, and a vintage train car all in the same yard—don’t worry, you haven’t gone off the rails. You’ve just stumbled upon Charlie Brown Farms, a wild and wonderful roadside attraction that’s been delighting visitors in Littlerock, California for decades.