Oddities Atlas Obscura cofounder Dylan Thuras shares a few of his favorite quirky attractions Laguna Beach This 1926 stone turret-known as the 'Pirate Tower'-fits right into California's fantastical landscape. It's 60 feet tall with a private staircase that leads to the house above. It's locked now, but the story goes that a retired naval captain who once lived in the house would dress up like a pirate and hide coins and candy in the tower's nooks for local kids to hunt for buried treasure. 72 Patty Reed's Doll Sacramento In 1846, 8-year-old Reed smuggled this doll to California with her family and the rest of the Donner party. She wasn't supposed to bring toys in order to lighten the load. The harsh winter trapped them in the Sierras for months, some of them resorting to cannibalism, so it's hard not to look at this doll-on display at Sutter's Fort Historic State Park-and not feel like there's some bad juju. Note: This historic doll rotates on and off display. OUR EXPERT Dylan Thuras is co-founder of Atlas Obscura, co-author of the Atlas Obscura book series, and the host of the AO YouTube series 100 Wonders. FROM TOP: THOMAS DE WEVER/GETTY IMAGES, © 2021, CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS. SUTTER'S FORT SHP. ILLUSTRATION BY JOEL KIMMEL 71 Victoria Beach's Pirate Towerhttp://tqr.bz/kgw