20 Most Fun and Unusual Activities in California

Fort Bragg, CA, is home to the unique and beautiful Glass Beach. This spot was once a dumping ground for local residents to throw various discarded objects. The space was later closed to the public for cleanup in 1967, and over time the waves smoothed out the discarded objects until they became the tiny, colorful knick knacks that they are today.

Located in San Jose, the Winchester Mystery House is a massive Victorian mansion that was inherited by Sarah Winchester, heir to the Winchester rifle fortune. A fortune teller told her that she should build onto the house continuously to alleviate her guilt over the many people killed by the Winchester Repeating Rifle. Sarah took the advice to heart, and, for years, she directed nonsensical building projects that have left the house filled with mysteries like windows that open onto walls, stairways and doors that lead to nowhere, and much more.

Salvation Mountain stands 150 feet wide and 50 feet tall, created by Leonard Knight with the intent to spread God’s love. The mound is built of a selection of oddities and decorated quite colorfully, with an estimated 100,000 gallons of paint contributing to its maintenance over the years.

The Madonna Inn is a museum located in San Luis Obispo. It is lively and colorful, filled with more kitschy decorations than you can imagine. The Madonna Inn is also a hotel and restaurant, so you can stay the night surrounded by tacky knick-knacks, or just enjoy a meal surrounded by hot pink decor. There are 109 rooms on site, all with individual names and themes.

The Devils Postpile National Monument is a surprising creation of nature, consisting of more than 400 basalt columns that reach up to 600 feet high. This natural monument is located on the east of the sierras near Mammoth, and has been created due to the slow cooling of molten lava coming into contact with a moving glacier.

In Glendale, you will find the bright Museum of Neon Art. This museum was founded in 1981 by a pair of artists who curated a group of bright neon signs to display. Since then, the collection has grown, displaying a rotating selection of the signs. In addition to visiting the museum, you can also take a museum-sponsored bus tour at night of the significant neon signs in the surround areas.

Forestiere Underground Gardens is an underground dwelling place built by Baldassare Forestiere over 40 years. The space is the size of a mansion, modeled after catacombs and filled with passageways and tunnels. What truly makes this place exceptional, though, are the gardens Forestiere planted underground, filled with oranges, lemons, grapefruits, kumquats, strawberries, dates and more. You can visit on days when it isn’t raining and take a tour for $15.

The Albany Bulb showcases that the idea of “trash” is simply just a mindset. This former landfill, set just east of the San Francisco Bay, has now become a space for artists to come and do what they do: make art. The Albany Bulb is now a city park that’s ever-changing and always fascinating. Recommended by Deanna Morgado

When you’re in the Pygmy Forest near Mendocino, you leave our world behind and enter the world of magic; figuratively speaking, of course. Pygmy Forest is a complete wonder where there are tons of tiny 100-year-old trees. Seriously, due to a natural yet rare coastal phenomenon, the trees aren’t more than a couple of feet tall. Recommended by Deanna Morgado

A very well-known and interesting attraction of Northern California is the Old Faithful Geyser. This geyser, located in Calistoga, is a natural wonder that steadily erupts every handful of minutes or so with tall streams of mist. It’s become one of the most popular attractions on the west coast. Recommended by Deanna Morgado

If you like garlic, you’ll think you’ve had died and gone to a very pungent afterlife when you visit here. Known as the garlic capital of the world, the town if Gilroy even holds an annual garlic festival, complete with garlic ice cream. But if you’ve missed the festival this year, don’t fret, Garlic World is open all year-round. You can still get that garlic ice cream, as well as garlic chocolate chip cookies and the world’s largest garlic bread. Recommended by Deanna Morgado

As a result of erosion, sandstone formations migrated and came together down Mount Diablo, creating a park. Rock City consists of abnormally large rocks and small caves, perfect for climbing and exploring. A short hike along the Summit Trail from the south entrance of Diablo, it’s an interesting place to bring your kids for some unusual outdoor, geographical fun.

The forest is actually not too far from Old Faithful Geyser, so visiting the two makes for an awesomely unusual trip. California’s Petrified Forest has some of the most preserved petrified trees in the country. It’s a pleasant half-mile trail that loops around the forest, where you can get an amazing look at these preserved ancient trees.

Outsiders may laugh but in Northern California, there’s a pretty massive Bigfoot following. It’s so massive, there’s even a museum for people to learn more about this hairy legend. The Bigfoot Discovery Museum is comprised of two rooms with a ton of information on Bigfoot, souvenirs, plus maps of where he’s been spotted.

You’ve read that right, there’s a real vending machine that dispenses very real eggs. Just outside Santa Cruz, Aptos is home to Glaum Egg Ranch, who have set up there very own adorable egg vending machine. Buy yourself some delicious eggs that are probably the freshest you’ve ever had. Even better, when you put your money into the machine, a little curtain rises and you’re given an adorable musical show.

Board game champions will definitely want to try their hand at this humongous Monopoly game in San Jose. You’ll have to reserve your spot weeks in advance but it’s incredible to play this classic life-sized version. But people are totally welcome to check out the site anytime they want without playing. You may get lucky and see a game happening right then and there.

The Trees of Mystery can be found all along a trail, just under a mile long, and is absolutely mind boggling. In the coastal town of Klamath, these trees have somehow grown into odd and downright strange shapes and formations. The site also includes a gift shop, museum, restaurant, motel, and of course the giant Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue to greet you outside the site.

You’ll have to be lucky to catch this attraction in action but it’s such a crazy site. The Lake Berryessa Glory Hole was built as a drain system to keep the lake’s water from flooding over the dam. It looks like the planet is getting sucked into itself – 100% mesmerizing!

The town of Kingsburg once had a huge Swedish population and still carries that cultural theme today. This included rebuilding the 1911 water tower into the shape of an actual coffee pot. It’s 122 feet tall and will make your heart burst from all the cuteness.

In San Francisco, the Wave Organ was artistically installed right along the bay. When the waves crash and pour over the artwork all the cleverly placed crevices whistle and hum like a real organ. It’s an unusual spot with sounds that are hauntingly beautiful.