Point Arena Lighthouse

Where can you see a piece of California history, a stark illustration of the erosive power of ocean waves, part of a set from a Mel Gibson movie, and spy cute, chubby harbor seals just hanging out? Only one place, people: The Point Arena Lighthouse. The only working lighthouse you can still ascend in this part of the country, next to the so-called "Devil's Punch Bowl" which is now just a few sort-of island/rocks off-shore, and once the set for Forever Young,starring Mel Gibson and Jamie Lee Curtis, this landmark is very easy to reach and totally worth the small fee to tour the museum and ascend the 145 steps to the top where you might see whales (I didn't) or harbor seals on nearby rocks (I did!).

Some of those 145 stairs to the top.

Looking down from the lighthouse at what used to be a hole in the ground known as "The Devil's Punch Bowl".
Ocean wave erosion has worn through the walls over mere decades, and now it doesn't really resemble a bowl at all.

See the harbor seals on the rocks?

See them now?!? Cute!

The room at the very top of the lighthouse that used to house the enormous lens.
You can see the modern lens/beacon on the left. This telescope was set up for whale watching.
Since the sun was out, this was a very warm room.

The original lens: a 1st Order (aka-BIG) Fresnel Lens.
Pretty impressive piece of engineering. Read more about it here.

And because you asked for it (okay, also because I want to), some more harbor seals. 

These were actually hanging out down the road from the lighthouse, and I saw them when I stopped to take the far away picture of the lighthouse after touring. Once you've figured out what they look like from far away (white oblong lumps), they're much easier to spot.