Very cool shop with lots of rocks, minerals, jewelry, knives, and souvenirs. My favorite part was…read morethe mineral wall. I don't know if it was a window, or it was back lit somehow, but it was amazing. Had a great time looking, and husband bought a couple of knives for gifts. Sales clerk was very helpful. Check it out, if only to see the mineral wall.

If there's one shopping recommendation I have at the Calico Ghost town it's the Calico Rock & Gift…read morestore. This is a rock, mineral, and Jewelry / Souvenir shop. I was surprised by their selection and pretty impressed by the quality of the rocks too. Not a place for Museum specimens, but it should be more than enough for those Jr. rockhounds in your family. - Great gifts - Fair pricing

The restored train depot at Kelso, California is a gem. Three floors of exhibits including art…read more It is worth a visit when in the Mojave Desert area. NOTE-this is NOT in the city of Barstow!.It is near Baker and Cima California.

Not really in the city of Barstow, more towards Cima. It's a visitors center, gift shop, and museum…read morewith exhibits in Mojave National Preserve. There's a 20 minute introduction movie you can watch about Mojave. They also have actual flush toilets rather than pits in the ground.

Those following my Yelp reviews are reading this following my review for Big Bear Lake where I…read moremention my connection to bears (my name meaning "Little Bear"), to Big Bear city and my obsession with Jackie and Shadow: the bald eagle King and Queen holding court from 165-foot Jeffrey Pine tree overlooking the lake. I also mention the benefits to Angelinos to escape our smog-ridden city and escape to fresh air and a slow pace for hiking, boating, skiing or even relaxing in a cabin. But Big Bear also offers something we are all familiar with: wining, dining and shopping! When you've spent the day experiencing Big Bear's natural wonders; you can cap the day off in Big Bear Village. Big Bear Village is the charming tourist hub quarters of Big Bear where you will find the Big Bear Welcome Center, gift shops ranging from toys, crystals, beef jerky, leather and everything in between; bars and restaurants and even public restrooms. The village features all levels of dining from casual neighborhood eateries to elegant romance perfect for dates and holidays and is the ideal place to purchase Big Bear tourist merch and trinkets. Big Bear Village is perfectly walkable and offers a free public parking lot and street parking but beware that even in 'off-season' - it is busy as a bee hive! For those SoCal residents familiar with Solvang (near Santa Barbara) and Old Temecula; Big Bear Village is a similar esthetic. If you are a fan of bears, then Big Bear Village is your playground as it is filled with bear statues curbside on every corner, each and every shop seems to brand itself with a punny name referring to bears and there is bear imagery everywhere! Even though not in Big Bear Village; my favorite bear in the city is a bear statue dressed as a marshal at the Big Bear Superior Court. I am sure this is very intimating to the bear criminals! Big Bear Village is bear-y adorable and the ideal area for tourists to dine and shop. Note: Big Bear Village is not where you will find stores like Dollar Tree, Marshalls, Starbucks, Verizon, Vons etc; as these are in a different area at the east shore of the lake. I don't know if this is just towards tourists or simply the Big Bear way of life but everyone is so kind in Big Bear with amazing customer service! Employees are endlessly complimentary, friendly and guarantee a pleasant experience. We even met the kindest waitress, Janet, at nearby Benny's diner who told us her life story and is probably our friend forever now. This is certainly NOT Los Angeles! Big Bear Village is the tourist shopping/dining hub that will sure to be(ar) a delight to all tourists and is a must-see when in Big Bear. Be sure to take a photo with one of the bear statues: it is basically mandatory!

Big Bear Village is the charming and bustling center of Big Bear Lake, offering a mix of shops,…read morerestaurants, and entertainment, all within a few blocks. For dog owners, this area is a must-visit, not just for its convenience, but for its welcoming attitude towards four-legged visitors. Many of the local businesses in Big Bear Village offer water bowls, treats, and even special pet merchandise, ensuring that your dog feels just as welcome as you do. Parking in Big Bear Village is plentiful, with free parking lots scattered around the area and street parking available along the main roads. During peak seasons or weekends, parking can fill up quickly, so it's advisable to arrive early if you plan to spend the day exploring. The village is very walkable, so once you've parked, you can easily navigate the area on foot with your dog. Most of the restaurant options in Big Bear are in this area (many with dog friendlypatios), so if you don't plan to cook during your visit keep this area in mind when selecting your lodging. Have fun and enjoy The Village!

Temp 134 Gift Shop includes the World's Tallest Thermometer visible from the I-15 whIch states,…read more"Baker, CA Gateway to Death Valley": "Willis Herron was a Baker businessman who spent $700,000 to build the thermometer in 1991 next to his Bun Boy restaurant. Its height--134 feet--was in honor of the 134-degree record temperature set in nearby Death Valley on July 10, 1913 Mrs. Herron & the family of Willis Herron, who died in 2007, recovered ownership of the property in 2014 and stated their intention to make it operational again. The official re-lighting took place on July 10, 2014." Everytime I went to Las Vegas the tall  thermometer faithfully greeted, informed me of the temperature & being on the last leg of my trip to Sin City.  However, I kept blowing it by until this trip after I chowing down massive tasting menus and wine pairings at Guy Savoy and Jöel Robuchon, I needed to actually stop in Baker for a fast food break at the Mad Greek to balance out the ying with the yang.  Took massive amounts of photos of this iconic landmark and felt obliged to purchase a souvenir to help light the Thermometer for even one minute worth of electricity. Friendly, young man was a great raconteur full of informative stories about the Herrons and the Thermometer. He was a great docent in a gift shop that actually was more like a museum for the town of Baker.  Apparently, the owner of Alien Jerky tried to buy this property and then tear down the Thermometer!!!  Wow!  The Bun Boy restaurant was succeeded by a Korean BBQ concern that gave the Mad Greek a run for its money, but went out of business w/ the Corona Virus Covid Pandemic of 2020 and still remains empty.  There is a portrait of Mr. & Mrs. Herron w/ a table of tribute offerings to honor the creator of Baker's landmark. I got a refrigerator magnet that has a real workIng alcohol thermometer which does not depend on electricity for pollution free operation.  The shop is immaculately clean & bright.  There are souvenir t-shirts, baseball caps, books, drinks to keep hydrated on sale. Also, Baltimore Shaved Ice for those unbearable, hot drives thru the desert.  Totally cool gift shop.   Don't forget to see the cast iron frying pan outside to see if an egg can be fried under the scorching desert summer sun.....And it turns out to be fake plastic eggs.   5 stars for honoring a big landmark in a very small town.

Always a pleasure to stop in to Temp 134 and chat with Billy! I purchased one of the white light…read morebulbs and I'm waiting to purchase a red one. They have the best souvenirs! I love how the family has continued to cherish the big ole thermometer. It really makes Baker something special! I like supporting a local, family business vs a giant chain. Thanks for always making my stop worthwhile.

This place truly exceeded my expectations. It is seemingly in the middle of nowhere. The Mojave has…read morelots of places that fit that description. So when I made the drive to the visitor center I was blown away by the nice, friendly, informative setup. There is a large parking area right next to the 24/7 operating borax strip mine. It has a really nice visitor center with museum style exhibits, photos, historical information, and a theater which shows an educational film. There are friendly, knowledgeable volunteers and a nice little gift shop with lots of free pamphlets too. The top of the visitor center is a large observation deck from which you can view the huge operation. Nice photo ops here. Not a short drive but really glad I came.

This was a fun little place to stop. Our kids really enjoyed it too. Worth a visit if you're in the…read morearea.

Pricy jerky Fun place to be!…read moreHonestly with inflation and how much steaks shrink to make jerky..... I guess it's not too outrageous. They have deals like $22 for 8oz bag Or select 2; 3.5 oz bags for $22 Their AC is blasting, even the restroom felt great, selection of other snacks and drinks etc... pretty cool place to visit! Even my 9 year old was the one that told me to stop by on the way home

Still racist.... Dont think he learned... prices remain high , fatty jerky…read more https://nextshark.com/alien-fresh-jerky-luis-ramallo-racist-email

Like OMG, O... M....Goodness, I am so happy we stopped here, passed by and I see the huge man…read morestatue and asked the hubby to drive back so we could check it out, he was about to ignore me because he didn't want to turn back around. Thank you wonderful hubby, I am so glad he did. I LOVE, Loved this shop, it sure brought back nostalgic memories of my childhood days, growing up in the late 80s, everything brought back memories. I had the greatest time shopping here, I was so excited , emotional at the same time, I shared with my big kids about each items, product, my memories-and hubby & kids thought I was crazy.. hehe. The Station Joshua Tree is a funky store in Palm Springs, after 29 Palms, with quirky merchandise and nostalgic collectibles. The one thing that I wanted to get and miss are those colorful charms with the necklace, $125.00 for the entire set, those were one of my favorites to collect during the 80s. That is so vintage! The friendship bracelet was another memories, I remember making those. All in all, what a surprise, such a fun store to take it all in and we had so much fun taking photos, great photo opt in front of the statue, use the selfie stand, we did so many different selfie photos. Don't miss out on this shop, a must stop with the coolest stuff and vintage vibe- I would visit again and again!!

If you are looking for something to do in Joshua Tree, check this place out. So many interesting…read moremerchandise being sold on the shelves. It's a very fun store to explore taking your time to see what they offer. They had toys for decent prices, tshirts, hats, and so much more. Good selections of snacks and drinks as well. My son had some organic lemonade which was refreshing especially on a hot day. There were small rides for little ones to enjoy. Make sure to bring quarters for them. The owner was completely nice and gave my son a little toy for free. I thought it was so kind of him to do so. Don't forget to take a picture with the tall statue of the tall cowboy holding up the Joshua Tree sign. Excellent spot for great pictures for memory. Put this on your bucket list when making a trip to Joshua Tree.

I absolutely love Cabin Fever! I make it a point to come to this shoppe as it has a lot of cabin,…read moreforest, woods, bear, moose, country and rustic themed decor. Every time I visit, I find something to take home with me. I have gotten signs, figurines, coasters, drawer knobs, statues and a host of other cute and adorable items. There is literally something for every room of the house whether it be the kitchen, living room, bedroom, bath room, dining room, den or outdoor space. Feel free to leisurely browse around this kitschy corner store. This little mom and pop specializes in great accents and table top decor, and you will not find too many large furniture like items. The owner knows all of their merchandise, where it's located and if you are looking for something in particular, she is a happy to help.

Very friendly and helpful service! So many cute decor options to choose from. Definitely the place…read moreto go if you are looking for bear or mountain themed goodies.

Had some time before the movie started so I walked in & it has some cute essential items! Quality…read moresweatshirts, hats, slippers that are very plush, cool handbags, fun trinkets and kids animal hats. You get the feeling that they're eyeballing you & all I was doing was browsing and snapping pictures for my review. I didn't buy anything, although the prices were reasonable considering the location. Reading other reviews a lot of other customers were uncomfortable as well. It seems like there are too many stores in Big Bear that obviously have that as an ongoing situation. It's too bad there's so much theft going on or so much distrust. Not sure which but I hope they resolve it. Although I was greeted with a hello, how are you?

TLDR: Store tried to charge higher price than what their price tag stated and when asked, they…read moredeclined to honor their own pricing. The item (gloves) was tagged with one price. When I went to pay, they attempted to charge more than the displayed price. When I inquired, the initial employee was going to honor the price tag. A reasonable thing to do. After seeking the manager for approval, she declined to honor the tagged price. She said the other gloves were marked with the higher price, essentially acknowledging the error in their tagging of their merchandise. Considering I don't work there and didn't price tag their merchandise, it was really confusing why that was relevant. Also, this all begs the question of how many times they do this to their patrons? Is it company policy to price an item one thing and overcharge by 33% and hope no one notices? Just honor the price tag. Not difficult. You did it, not me. I'm a paying customer, who is in town regularly enough. I hope the $5 was worth it. You clearly needed it more than me. Bums.

The deserts best kept secret…read more Really cute cactus nursery along highway 58. If you're stopping in town for gas or to stretch your legs, this spot is for you.

Cactus Shop has a unique collection of gifts and knick-knacks. The store is really clean, smells…read moregreat, and has good prices. There's another gift store right next door. My family always stops here for break when driving between Las Vegas and Bakersfield.