Southern California Desert Day Trips

Burro Schmidt was a determined fellow and spent 32 years of his life burrowing through the rock to create a shortcut to bring gold ore to the smelters near Mojave. Burro never found any gold ore, but he did finish his tunnel. Schmidt was entered into "Ripley's Believe It or Not" as the "human … [Read more...]

Integratron is a hidden gem in the Yucca Valley desert of California. Although unremarkable from the outside, it offers an otherworldly experience that leaves visitors feeling spaced out. Integratron, the only all-wood, acoustically perfect sound chamber in the United States, was constructed by … [Read more...]

There's Mt. Sinai, and then there's Salvation Mountain. On the barren badlands east of San Diego, a 30-foot high, 100-foot vast concrete and adobe mountain is covered in religious slogans and over 150,000 gallons of lavish multi-colored acrylic paint. Located near the salty shores of the Salton … [Read more...]

Trona Pinnacles is situated roughly 20 miles to the east of Ridgecrest in northeastern Kern County. The terrain in this area resembles something you might see in a science fiction movie. The tufa pinnacles found here have been used as filming locations for movies such as Star Trek V: The Final … [Read more...]

Shields Date Garden has been a historic landmark at the exact location since 1924. They opened their doors on Christmas Day of that year and have provided customers with high-quality date, citrus, and organic food products ever since. At the Shields Date Garden store, you can order a delicious … [Read more...]

Twentynine Palms is located at the northern entrance of Joshua National Park. Despite being a sleepy desert oasis, many travelers pass through the town without realizing its potential. Most of the town's revenue comes from the nearby 29 Palms Marine Base and tourists visiting Joshua Park for a … [Read more...]

This orchid farm in California's high desert is an unbelievable location for a flower garden. Few could have imagined that the delicate and exotic orchid plant would thrive in the harsh desert environment. Yes, you can purchase orchids here. The range of varieties and colors available is … [Read more...]

There are two ways to enter Titus Canyon in Death Valley National Park. The easy way is to park at the west entrance and walk in. The fun route is to drive in from Nevada Highway 374. The 27-mile trip starts near the Nevada town of Beatty and climbs to 5,000 feet before winding down to lower Titus … [Read more...]

Cactus Mart in Morongo Valley is a must-visit for anyone headed to Joshua Tree National Park. With a tremendous selection of cacti and helpful staff to guide you to the right plants, it's a great stop on your trip. Along with a vast selection of cacti, Cactus Mart features succulents, cacti, … [Read more...]

National Trails Highway, located just west of Needles, California, was once the main route for travelers from New Mexico to California. Our road trip takes us along the iconic National Trails Highway named after the coast-to-coast highway predating Route 66, but today, only a few ghostly shadows … [Read more...]