Seven California places with a haunted reputation and a public door
Seven places you can tour on an ordinary week, with the ghost stories labeled as what the venue or a news report says.
STATE GUIDE
Unique Places in California
Explore distinctive landscapes, unusual landmarks, historic communities and worthwhile detours across California. Start with our five-stop destinations guide.
Featured California Stories
California Ghost Towns You Can Actually Visit
Seven ghost towns open to the public, with road, hours and fee notes.
Pacific Coast Highway Oddities: Strange Stops on California's Highway 1
A tunnel to a lighthouse, a Cold War listening post, purple sand, Hearst's zebras and a movie set buried in the dunes, with fall 2026 road notes.
California Route 66 Oddities: A Road Trip From Amboy to the Pier
Roy's neon, a hikeable cinder cone, a bottle-tree forest, teepee motel rooms and the end-of-trail sign, with 2026 road closures.
Yosemite Firefall: How to See Horsetail Fall Light Up
When the thin winter waterfall on El Capitan catches sunset, how to watch it, and why weather still decides.
The Most Unique Places to Visit in California
Desert art, a gold-rush ghost town, sea glass, lava tubes, and a Mojave sound dome — with practical planning notes.
An Unforgettable Scenic Road Trip Through California
A flexible route linking memorable landscapes, towns and cultural stops.
TRIP IDEAS
Five Places to Put on Your Map
From our rewritten destinations guide — tap a stop to jump into the full notes.