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California Oddities

Unusual destinations, curious landmarks, and worthwhile detours across California.

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8 documented oddities Highest curiosity first

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Giant Objects

Cabazon Dinosaurs

Cabazon, California

Towering above Interstate 10 in Southern California, the Cabazon Dinosaurs are among America’s most recognizable roadside giants. These enormous concrete creatures transformed a simple highway stop…

Roadside Attractions

Mystery Spot

Santa Cruz, California

Hidden among the redwoods near Santa Cruz, California, the Mystery Spot is a legendary roadside attraction where visitors experience strange optical illusions that seem to challenge…

Roadside Attractions

Confusion Hill

Piercy, California

Hidden among the redwoods of Northern California, Confusion Hill is a roadside attraction where gravity seems to behave strangely. Famous for its tilted buildings, optical illusions,…

Giant Objects

Chandelier Tree

Leggett, California

Standing along a quiet stretch of California’s Redwood Highway, the Chandelier Tree is a living roadside landmark where visitors can drive beneath the massive branches of…

Historic Oddities

Forestiere Underground Gardens

Fresno, California

Beneath the dry landscape of Fresno, California, lies a hidden world carved entirely by hand. The Forestiere Underground Gardens are a remarkable network of tunnels, courtyards,…

Giant Objects

Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox

Klamath, California

Towering over California’s redwood country, Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox have greeted travelers along Highway 101 since the 1950s. These giant folk-hero statues blend…

Giant Objects

World’s Tallest Thermometer

Baker, California

Rising 134 feet above the Mojave Desert, the World's Tallest Thermometer is a giant roadside landmark built to celebrate one of the hottest temperatures ever recorded…

Giant Objects

World’s Largest Paper Cup

Riverside, California

Standing more than 68 feet tall in Riverside, California, the World's Largest Paper Cup is an oversized tribute to one of America's best-known disposable cup manufacturers.…