Even though there are many famous places to visit in California, there are even more hidden gems to enjoy in this big State.
Aiken Mine Road snakes through the Mojave National Preserve’s famous cinder cone field as well as providing access to some of the most unique and wonderful sights this area has to offer. On the way to see those sites, the road passes through other-worldly landscapes of basalt (dried lava) flows which are topped with Joshua […]
Combine this hike into the center of a volcanic cinder cone, along with a road trip over a desolate stretch of old Route 66 and you’ll enjoy a full day of desert exploring. If you like being far away from populated areas (like us), then this remote region of the Mojave Desert is for you. […]
Have you ever heard of Anza-Borrego? Many people we know have not. With so many amazing natural places in California like Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Big Sir, Death Valley, etc., who would guess that there’s yet another scenic place to go visit and experience? The Anza-Borrego region is located in eastern San Diego County, south of […]
Back Road from Apple Valley to Big Bear using 3N14: Are you looking for a classic back road adventure in Southern California? There are several in the San Bernardino Mountains near Big Bear Lake but one road trip in particular stands out because of its Joshua-to-Pine tree scenery. This dirt road will take you from […]
The Black Mountains cover a very remote portion of the Mojave Desert northwest of Barstow and make a great one-day exploring trip. Our road trip starts on Harper Dry Lake (where Howard Hughes once tested aircraft), takes you into Black Canyon to look for petroglyphs, past an old stagecoach stop, through an area known for […]
Often overlooked by tourists visiting Joshua Tree National Park, the Black Rock area doesn’t see the same volume of people as other parts of the Park. This makes it a nice place to enjoy some of the famous Joshua Tree landscape without all the crowds. A variety of hiking trails through desert vegetation and with […]
This is a great summertime trip because it takes you into the cooler regions of the San Gabriel Mountains of the Los Angeles area. This entire trip can be done in a single day and is broken into two sections. The first section explores a dirt road that runs along Blue Ridge above Mountain High and Wrightwood. […]
Cactus Flats is an area in the San Bernardino Mountains just east of Big Bear Lake that lives up to its name – it’s a flat area full of cactus. The cactus they refer to, however, is not really a cactus at all. It is the iconic Joshua tree which is, technically, a member of […]
Calico Mountains 4WD Road Trip: The Calico Mountains near Barstow offer a treasure trove of hiking and opportunities for exploring back roads, along with unusual geologic formations and classic California mining history. Best known for the Calico Ghost Town, not many people are aware of what lies behind the famous ghost town. Several days can […]
When it’s hot during the summertime, we all look to the mountains nearby for relief and if you head up to Big Bear in Southern California, one great hiking option is to Castle Rock. It is one of the most popular hikes in the Big Bear Lake region and for good reason: it passes through […]
How to Visit Death Valley: This is an introductory tour to the places to see and experience in and around Death Valley National Park. We’ve all heard of Death Valley. Maybe, some of us have been attracted to the name Death Valley because there might be a hint of danger and adventure. Others may have […]
We’ve all heard how remote and desolate Death Valley is with its stark and lifeless landscapes but often it is difficult to really experience it in that way because of all of the tourists. Desolation Canyon is a place where you can get that remote feeling and it’s only a few miles from the Death […]
There is a forgotten road that passes through California’s Cajon Pass that was originally a wagon toll road built in 1861 and, later, was used by many people that also traveled early Route 66. Today, there are no signs pointing out this historic road or its connection to the Mother Road, but you’ll see evidence […]
If you need a cool escape from the summer heat and want to enjoy some classic California coastline, Garrapata State Park near Big Sur, Carmel and Monterey is a great place to cool off. Located along Highway 1, Garrapata State Park is not very well known but offers several great hiking trails and the choice […]
In the Owen’s Valley, about a two hour drive north of Los Angeles near the town of Lone Pine, is a string of “almost” ghost towns that are fun to visit and explore. You’ll also get to experience the views and vastness of Owens (Dry) Lake, the Sierra Nevada and Inyo Mountains – each can […]
This is one of our favorite hikes in Death Valley because of all of the colors and endless shapes and contours of the eroded badlands. The hike up Golden Canyon is a popular one because of many reasons. For one, it showcases what Death Valley is all about: stark barren beauty. Two, it is close […]
A Tour of the Historic Harvey House in Barstow: A stone’s throw away from that popular historic road known as Route 66 and a little north of downtown Barstow lies one of the more historic gems that the Mojave Desert region has to offer – the Harvey House. Originally named Casa Del Desierto (meaning “House […]
This fantastic desert hike up Hellhole Canyon to Maidenhair Falls is located not too far from Borrego Springs. Hiking this trail will take you through classic desert landscapes, pass through a wild grove of California fan palms and, after a little bit of boulder scrambling, to a pure desert miracle: a waterfall in the middle […]
On this trip, we are trading in our usual dirt-road travel for something on two iron rails. Join us as we take this unique train trip on a seldom-traveled route through remote Northern California and Oregon aboard a collection of historic railcars. Our three-day excursion starts in Sacramento and goes through the Feather River Canyon, […]
