As we head to a new state today in our bucket list series, we cross the western border of Arizona into the desert area of California. This is one of a dozen tourist regions located in California, and I’m beginning to think you could live in the area for years and still not see it all!
Amboy
- Amboy Crater: Remains of a volcanic eruption.
Baker
- Mojave National Preserve: Tons to explore: from singing sand dunes to volcanic cinder cones and Joshua trees.
Barstow
- Afton Canyon Natural Area: Known as the “Grand Canyon of the Mojave.”
- Desert Discovery Center: Area to learn more about the Mojave Desert.
- Rainbow Basin Natural Area: Explore the multi-colored rock formations.
- Route 66 “Mother Road” Museum: Travel back in time to the routes heyday.
Borrego Springs
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: California’s largest state park.
California City
- Desert Tortoise Nature Area: Come find some of the areas oldest living residents.
Cantil
- Red Rock Canyon State Park: Explore the El Paso Mountain’s colorful buttes and badlands.
China Lake
- U.S. Naval Museum of Armament and Technology: Learn about the Navy’s weapons.
Death Valley Junction
- Death Valley National Park: Explore the hottest and driest place in America.
Mecca
- Ladder Canyon: Explore this canyon area via a hike filled with ladders and narrow spaces.
Morongo Valley
- Big Morongo Canyon Preserve: Another fun canyon area to hike.
Palm Desert
- Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument: Visit 5 distinct life zones within this park.
- The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens: Unique zoo specializing in desert wildlife.
Palm Springs
- Moorten Botanical Garden: View thousands of cacti and other desert plants.
Ridgecrest
- Fossil Falls: Dry riverbed with obsidian glass.
- Trona Pinnacles: See the otherworldly geological features often seen on Star Trek.
Twentynine Palms
- Joshua Tree National Park: Enjoy the landscape filled with the park’s namesake trees.
All attractions can be found in the 2019 California Travel Guide.
Sites & Bites 