Trips or destinations that include historical interest or includes topics on history.
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 […]
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 […]
This Virtual Tour takes you on the only hiking trail that goes down into Arizona’s Canyon de Chelly and ends at the White House Ruins located on the canyon floor. Canyon de Chelly is located inside the national monument of the same name – Canyon de Chelly National Monument – and is the spiritual center […]
The Mojave National Preserve only has a handful of paved roads into its interior and Cima Road is one of them. There are lots of things to see and do along this road and, for those who travel the I-15 between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, it can provide a nice break from what is […]
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 […]
You’ve probably heard about the Extraterrestrial Hwy or Nevada’s state route 375 because it’s the closest road to the mysterious Area 51. A lot of people, mainly conspiracy theorists, talk about the things that go on around this road but they don’t give you any facts about it. They also rarely mention how scenic and […]
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 […]
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 […]
Gold Butte: How to visit – What to see Ready to go on an overland adventure that is seemingly far, far away, yet close to civilization? Nevada’s newest National Monument, Gold Butte, offers a lot of wide-open desert scenery, colorful and uniquely shaped rock formations, dozens of archeological sites, and miles of back roads to […]
Goldfield, named for the ore mined around it, was once Nevada’s largest city and the state’s biggest economic and political power. With the discovery of gold in 1902, Goldfield would become a rare, post-1900 major gold strike. It also experienced one of the largest gold rushes (and subsequent crashes) in western history. There are plenty […]
In the middle of the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument sits the remains of the Grand Gulch Mine. This copper/silver/lead mine is a great destination for anyone who wants to explore and enjoy the remote landscapes of the Arizona Strip just south of St. George, Utah. Along the way, you’ll see some of the high country […]
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 […]
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, […]
On the eve of the American Civil War, the largest gold rush in Southern California was taking place in Holcomb Valley of the San Bernardino Mountains. Holcomb Valley is a mountain-top valley just north of Bear Valley where the popular resort of Big Bear Lake is located today. A trip into Holcomb Valley offers a […]
This hike is a great alternative to visiting Hoover Dam and to see the views from its bypass bridge. Hoover Dam is one of the biggest tourist attractions for visitors to the Las Vegas area. For most people, this engineering masterpiece is accessed in a vehicle via two other masterpieces of engineering – a roadway […]
Located north of Ballarat in the Panamint Mountains, Jail Canyon is a colorful, scenic drive with a well-preserved mining camp and mill to explore at the end. Jail Canyon itself is multicolored and very pretty but the scenery getting up to the canyon is quite spectacular, too. With panoramic views of the multi-layered, west-facing Panamint […]
There’s a sleepy little town named Lone Pine that offers such a myriad of recreational opportunities for the everyday person to enjoy, it’s amazing that it remains a quaint little town. Even more amazing is that it’s only a 2 to 4 hour drive away from a population of 22 million people – the draw […]
Now we’re going to go on a different kind of “road” trip. This trip is going to be on a railroad. Everyone that has been keeping up with our travels on our blog is familiar with the road trips and hikes we usually take you on. This time, we’re going on a nostalgic journey along […]