Weird California

Eureka! That's the state motto of California and means "I have found it." Do many people actually know this? We're not sure, but we are certain that virtually all of our state's citizens know that California is a land of sun, surfing, and serious weirdness. Yes, the Golden State has a huge number of strange people, haunted houses, and bizarre sites, and fitting them all in one book is impossible, but we've done our best. Of course, a state with this much weirdness requires at least three authors to compile the creme de la creme of odd stuff, and we found the three best writers in the state to tackle the job. With oranges for sustenance and notepads and cameras in hand, our authors set out to travel the highways (clogged, of course), byways, and back roads in search of the odd and the offbeat. Whether it's singing dunes, an airplane graveyard, or the winged demon of Elizabeth Lake, our authors have researched and chronicled the stories and present them here for you, fellow admirers of the weird. So turn the pages and visit Bubblegum Alley, bounce the world's largest rubber band ball, meet the Muffler Family, share the love at Salvation Mountain, shop for souvenirs at the L.A. Coroner's Office, throw a shoe up the shoe tree, visit Houdini Cohen at the pet cemetery, whisper "n'yuk n'yuk" at Curly's grave, stay in the haunted guest room at the Hotel Del Coronado, and be batty enough to travel across the Batty Bridge. Weird California is packed with all that fascinating stuff your history teacher wouldn't teach you. So join our authors on their great adventure. As sure as Eureka is our motto, we promise you won't regret it.