Things to do / Travel Guide
The California Desert region covers a very wide swathe of land running from the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the north, to the border with Mexico in the south. East-to-west, the region covers an area from the outskirts of the greater Los Angeles area until around the Nevada state line.
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
High up in the White Mountains east of the Sierra Nevada range sits the amazing Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, located within the Inyo National Forest. Its spindly, twisted trees are the most ancient living trees on earth, the most notable of which is Methuselah, the park's oldest tree. A vibrant and healthy 4,700+ years old, he doesn't look a ring over 4,500. The trees in these forests exhibit amazingly complex twists and patterns, formed in their gnarled bark over thousands of years in the desert. The scenery in this area is picturesque, with these ancient trees dotting the lunar-like landscape over 10,000 feet above sea level.
Independence
The laid-back highway town of Independence houses just 1,000 people or so, but has a history dating back nearly 150 years. It's famous partly for being home to the nearby and infamous Manzanar Internment Camp, a former World War II interment camp for Japanese Americans. Something of an overgrown rest stop, this town nonetheless hosts an impressive museum and is close by to a number of attractive campsites in the countryside of the Owens Valley.
Lone Pine
A fisherman's paradise and a hiker's dream, Lone Pine is a small town in the northern reaches of the region with a population of just under 3,000, blessed with close proximity to several impressive outdoor attractions. The natural beauty of this town has made it the setting of many a Hollywood film (including 1962's “How the West was Won,” 1994's “Maverick,” and 2000's “Gone in 60 Seconds” among many others) and a destination for countless tourists over the years. The soaring rock formations and outcroppings of the Alabama Hills make up the striking foothills of nearby Mt. Whitney (the highest mountain in the lower 48 states at 14,505 feet). Lone Pine is also a great launching point for excursions into Death Valley and other places in the scenic nearby countryside.
Death Valley
When you think of the harsh deserts of the American Southwest, chances are this arid landscape comes to mind. While most people's picture of the area may be just burning cauldrons of desert no-mans land, the valley actually has a vibrant ecosystem all its own. The valley, about 100 miles from north to south and between 5-15 miles wide, is surrounded by the Panamint Mountain Range on its western side and the Amargosa Range on its eastern side. The valley is part of Death Valley National Park, which itself covers more than 5,000 square miles of striking desert scenery. In the summertime this area is not for the fainthearted (as temperatures often rise higher than 100º F), but in the cooler times of the year this uniquely wild and desolate area makes for a great outdoor destination. Death Valley is also the home of Badwater, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at 282 feet below sea level.
Big Bear Lake
A year-round resort community nearly 7,000 feet above sea level in the San Bernardino Mountains, Big Bear Lake is popular with families and single travelers alike. The lake itself is about seven miles long and averages about a half a mile across, providing great opportunities for fishing, pleasure boating, and canoeing. In the wintertime, skiers, snowboarders, and people who just love to frolic in the snow flock to the city to enjoy the deep powder of Bear Mountain and Snow Summit.
Barstow
Known to many as the perfect rest stop between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Barstow is a small city of just over 20,000 residents located in San Bernardino County. Heavily-dependant on tourism revenue, the city is located right off I-15, sporting a very large outlet mall with over 100 stores at which travelers passing through or spending some time in town can find some great shopping deals.
San Bernardino
San Bernardino, or “Berdoo” as it's also known, is the largest city in the California Desert region, located on the far eastern outskirts of the greater Los Angeles area. The town has many attractions, including lively nightlife and a great food scene at Court Street Square and the California Theatre of the Performing Arts. San Bernardino also serves as a gateway city to the half-dozen mountain peaks over 10,000 feet high in the San Bernardino National Forest, and to some fantastic skiing Big Bear Lake.
Coachella Valley
East of Los Angeles, the Coachella Valley is a heavily irrigated, residential and recreational desert area that covers over 45 miles from the San Bernardino Mountains to the Salton Sea. The valley is home to more than nine cities, including Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and Indio, with a total population exceeding 300,000. The valley is famous today for being home to over 200 superb golf courses and has long been a popular weekend haunt for Hollywood celebrities. Indio is best known for hosting a major music festival, the Coachella Valley Music Festival, in late-April each year. Featuring top entertainment acts as well as all types of food and art exhibits, this three-day weekend event is always a top draw.
Palm Springs (within Coachella Valley)
The pulsating heart of the Coachella Valley, this desert oasis located about 100 miles east of Los Angeles is a legendary resort firmly implanted in the American tourist's consciousness. There is something uniquely intriguing and enchanting about a town with beautifully manicured front lawns and golf courses that are emerald green in the middle of the desert. It's also a great place to use as a base for exploring the nearby mountains and desert landscape. A golfer's paradise, this oasis boasts some of the most famous courses in the country, all surrounded by majestic desert mountains. The town originally gained notoriety as a vacation spot for Hollywood stars from Charlie Chaplin to Greta Garbo to Robert Mitchum, and of course Bob Hope and members of the Rat Pack. In fact, Frank Sinatra once slugged a reporter here!
Nowadays the area is still a very popular tourist destination for visitors looking to take in the beautiful desert scenery while fitting in a few rounds of golf and some pampering at one of the towns many world-class spas or resorts. Palm Springs is best known to the younger crowd for its popularity during Spring Break, when thousands of college coeds flood the area to attend some of the hottest parties in the nation.
The city is also home to the famous Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Completed in 1963, the engineering marvel is one of Palm Springs' top attractions, transporting thousands upon thousands of people each year from the desert floor to the mountains overlooking the Coachella Valley and back.
Places to Visit in Palm Springs, Death Valley and the California Desert
Places-to-Visit
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