Quirky Tourist Attractions in or near California

While in California, you might enjoy a visit to:

Over-photographed dinosaurs in the desert. Built by Claude Bell, who ran the Wheel Inn on I-10; currently owned by folks who don't buy the Theory of Evolution.

Lawrence Welk Resort -- a museum and a happy land of polkas, waltzes and champagne music.

Giant statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox guard the entrance of Trees of Mystery, where corkscrew trees and other arboreal mutants stand for your viewing pleasure.
~184 miles from Alturas.

In the desert near the Salton Sea, outsider artist Leonard Knight paints divinely inspired visions on a dirt ridge he calls Salvation Mountain.

Headquarters of the Unarians, firm believers that 33 city-ships of the galactic Federation would arrive on Earth in 2001 (they didn't).

A healthy-sized tribute -- 20-ft. tall -- to a local crop and specialty at the Giant Artichoke Restaurant.

Another sad big tree attraction. Would be the tallest living thing on earth if local businessmen hadn't cut it down.

Giant lemon in a town that claims to have the "Best Climate on Earth."

© roadsideamerica.com, Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins. Information provided as an unofficial resource on attractions as a convenience to our visitors. Information and status -- location, hours open, admission prices, current exhibits, and other aspects -- are subject to change without our knowledge.