This Unique NorCal Destination Named California’s Best Roadside Attraction

California has no shortage of quirky roadside attractions, from Santa Cruz’s Mystery Spot to the Winchester Mystery House and San Luis Obispo’s Bubblegum Alley.

But HGTV has made a surprising choice for the Golden State’s must-see stop: Glass Beach in Fort Bragg.

The lifestyle channel recently published a list of the best roadside attractions in each state, highlighting everything from Illinois’ “world’s largest” oddities to Nevada’s International Car Forest. For California, they passed over the state’s more famous roadside landmarks in favor of something both unusual and beautiful.

Glass Beach, located off Highway 1 in Mendocino County’s MacKerricher State Park, is the result of decades of trash dumping that nature slowly transformed into treasure. Broken bottles and discarded glassware were tumbled by waves and sand over the years, eventually becoming smooth, colorful sea glass scattered across the shoreline.

Today, the beach is a stunning mix of greens, whites, browns, and rare shades of cobalt, red, and violet. What was once a community dumping ground is now one of Northern California’s most unique coastal attractions.

While visitors are welcome to explore the beach and admire its colors, taking sea glass is prohibited in order to preserve the site for future generations.

HGTV’s full list includes picks from every state, giving travelers inspiration for offbeat stops across the country. For California, Glass Beach stands out as a reminder of how time and nature can turn even human mistakes into something remarkable.

Read HGTV’s full list here: Must-See Roadside Attractions in All 50 States.