As the scorching heat of summer turns Death Valley nights to cool and starry and days to perfection, it’s a perfect time to uncover the Secrets of Death Valley, and, as winter turns to spring, the hope of wildflowers adds to the discoveries at every turn. Design your own fascinating nature exploration filled with history, …
If you didn’t realize you’d been meandering past and around some notable works of art on recent trips to “Sin City,” don’t feel badly. Most visitors, as well as most locals, aren’t aware of these hidden works of art scattered throughout the city, from stunning Picasso paintings and larger-than-life contemporary sculptures to perspective-changing works of …
Every Columbus Day weekend Lone Pine, in the towering shadow of nearby Mt. Whitney, hosts one of the world’s most unique film festivals—the Lone Pine Film Festival, which attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world. The 30th annual celebration of western screenings, stars and memorabilia will be held this October 10-13. The otherwise …
Extraterrestrials, welcome to Nevada. Or should we say, welcome back? Since your last visit to Area 51, the state has missed you! In fact, you could say the entire country has missed you, which is why the Defense Department spent $22 million on a program to find out if aliens do exist. To help curious …
The Hotel Paseo, which just opened its doors this past spring, has brought a splash of style and luxury to the El Paseo area that hasn’t been seen before in terms of lodging accommodations, and is being called the first luxury hotel to open in the city in at least 30 years. It is part …
By Jan Maguire Photos courtesy of Visit Greater Palm Springs 1. Surf’s Up! Family-friendly thrills abound at Wet ‘n’ Wild Palm Springs, a 16-acre water park where you can surf the FlowRider, careen down waterslides, and cool off with a super soak in Kahuna’s Beach House. If you’re feeling flush, rent a private …
You may not know the Alabama Hills by name, but when you see the distinctive rock formations of the heavily mined hills, you may very well recognize them from hundreds of movies, television shows and commercials—old west and more contemporary. Not far from Death Valley on Highway 395 is small town of Lone Pine, tempting …
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, “Coachella,” and its country western counterpart, Stagecoach Country Music Festival, have come to dominate the music scene locally, nationally and internationally since Coachella’s inception nearly 20 years ago. Recently named Billboard’s Top Festival of the Year, with box office revenue exceeding the $100 million mark, Coachella has earned …
Death Valley ‘alive’ Last spring did not produce another “super bloom” of wildflowers in Death Valley National Park, but even so, the hottest and driest place in North America had its share of wildflower brilliance to be discovered. That once in a decade occurrence brought visitors from all over the globe to witness the brilliant …
The Coastal Sand Dunes Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes These dunes on California’s scenic central coast are the second largest in the state, spreading from Santa Barbara County to Pismo Beach in San Luis Obispo County. At Rancho Guadalupe Dunes County Park in the hidden town of Guadalupe near Santa Maria, a paved road leads to the Rancho …
Borrego Springs after Dark The small community of Borrego Springs is aptly designated one of only two International Dark Sky Communities in the world. “USA Today” rated Borrego as one of the top ten stargazing locations in the nation. The quiet of the area combined with the dark, star-filled sky make Borrego Springs a …
The Providence Mountains nestled within the state-run recreation area, in a region otherwise surrounded by National Preserve land, is its own unique desert destination, distinguished by a range of mountains that bring cooler air and a botanic garden of cacti and pinyon. The bright red rhyolite in the higher elevations is home to Bighorn sheep …