Mystery Spot, Santa Cruz. Rated ★★★★☆
When I told people I was coming to Santa Cruz, this was the recommended stop. We had a hard time making reservations on the web site — apparently the best way is to call them. Leave time to avoid the other guests on the road in, for whom driving appears to be a mystery. Our tour guide was fun — he knew the schtick and the jokes but didn’t go TOO far with the puns, though he did mumble some of it automatically. The hike up was difficult, I had twisted my ankle the day before, and my old legs aren’t in top shape. Also was a bit dizzy inside the building. Experienced the mystery, ooh’d and aah’d, stood on the wall, took pictures, got our bumper stickers, exited through the gift shop. I knew I also wanted to visit the Winchester Mystery House and WeirdStuff Warehouse so this made it a trifecta of weird and mysterious.