Page 183 - 2015 Travel Guide to California

Colorado deserts and protects one of the
most spectacular desert regions in North
America. Popular with rock climbers, its
dramatic landscapes are made surreal by
the “Joshua tree” species of yucca, with
strange, arm-like branches.
From Joshua Tree, historic Route 66
unfurls past Mojave National Preserve,
where the Kelso Dunes tower almost 1,000
feet above the desert floor. They’re known
as the “singing dunes” because they emit a
buzz or rumble when sand slides down the
dune-face. Nearby, 32 ancient volcanic
cones stud Cinder Cones National Natural
Landmark—a gateway to the stand-out
draw of the northern Mojave: Death Valley
National Park. The highest ground temper-
ature ever recorded on earth was here, at
Badwater, a sunken trough that reaches 282
feet below sea level. Yet Death Valley is
rimmed by 11,000-foot mountains. Winter
months are deliciously temperate, when
tourists flock to marvel at chromatic
canyons and sun-bleached salt pans. Well-
paved roads lace the park, while dirt roads
open up a world of extreme adventure for
visitors with suitable vehicles.
Cultural Connections
Culture vultures thrill to find the desert is
far from dry. The Native American Agua
Caliente occupied the Palm Springs region
long before Europeans arrived. Their proud
legacy is on show at the Agua Caliente Cul-
tural Museum in downtown Palm Springs.
History buffs also delight in the Palm
Springs Air Museum, replete with World
War II-era warplanes from a P-51 Mustang
to a B-17 Flying Fortress.
The monied elite that pours into Palm
Springs for the winter is a major patron of
the arts. Hollywood star and long-time
resident Kirk Douglas was a major donor
INSIDER’S
»
TIP
The mid-20th-century Modernist
movement imbues Palm Springs
with much of its unique appeal.
For a fascinating insight into
sophisticated designs, explore the
city with PALM SPRINGS MOD-
ERNIST TOURS. You’ll even get to
see inside the famous steel
houses, and perhaps even a home
or two of the rich and famous.
palmspringsmoderntours.com
2015 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 181