This weekend, Ryan and I went to a wedding in Santa Cruz. The best part, other than celebrating the union of two people and reconnecting with old friends, was the close proximity to the Mystery Spot. Laugh at the kitchiness if you must, but the Mystery Spot is actually kind of awesome. Ryan, rightly so, went in with incredibly low expectations. I could be wrong, but I think he was pleasantly surprised by the mysteriousness of it all. I, for one, am a Mystery Spot believer, and quite possibly their most enthusiastic advocate. Although the wonkiness of the structure, which legend says slid down the hill, is to blame for the dizzying effect, it is still impressively bizarre. Patrons stumble about like drunk sailors leaning at an unusual 45 degree angle. Water runs uphill, people shrink by two inches, tree branches grow at odd angles, these are just some of the optical illusions (eh, hem mysteries) of the Mystery Spot. And the most incredible part? The Mystery Spot is located on the corner of Mystery Spot Road and Branciforte Drive! These Brancifortes, were pretty stoked. Cost: $6 per person $5 to park Know before you go: This is an incredibly popular destination. If you are planning on visiting, make sure to make an online reservation before hand. Wear shoes with good traction. I was wearing boots and this was an unfortunate mistake. Weird gravitational pulls and slippery shoes are not a good combination.