I did a long weekend trip to Palm Desert with the goal of visiting the Salton Sea. Originally, I…read moreplanned to loop the entire shoreline, but after talking with a ranger at the visitor center, I stuck to the east side and doubled back, which was definitely the right call. Our turnaround point was Salvation Mountain, right next to Slab City. Before going, I had read about Leonard Knight and the story behind the mountain, which honestly made the visit more meaningful. The dedication and message behind it are almost as interesting as the site itself. It is kind of amazing that the structure still stands today and is in such solid condition. The drive out was mostly fine, though hot and dusty, especially on a Saturday afternoon. I would recommend going earlier in the day if possible. The mountain itself looked better maintained than I expected. The colors were bright, and it was clear that ongoing work is being done to preserve it. I left a small donation since it felt like a meaningful effort to support. That said, it did not fully resonate with me. While I can appreciate the effort and story, the style of art and the surrounding environment did not quite click. If you are into outsider art or off grid communities, you will probably get more out of it than I did. The biggest downside is the immediate setting. Being next to Slab City definitely impacts the experience. The vibe felt a bit uncomfortable at times, and we did not stay long or continue on to East Jesus. Overall, I am glad I visited. It is unique, and the story behind it adds depth, but it is more of a one time stop for me than a place I would go out of my way to revisit. 3 stars.

Quirky fun is all I can say. About 90 minutes from Palm Desert. Just a strange experience but fun…read more I didn't reel it was inspired. Just the work of an obsessed man. Glad us was free. Then up the road is Slab City. Nothing worth mentioning there. Just ramshackle campers, burned out campers and various types of encampments. It was interesting once.

I had to reception to check in but thought this place was pretty cool. The rocks along this area…read moreare circular which definitely makes it look like a pumpkin patch. They info posts about how they form which is really cool to read. The ride over is pretty fun too and you gotta make sure your vehicle is equipped to get through. Great photo ops too! This is a must see when visiting Ocotillo Wells!

What a unique natural formation of rocks that look like pumpkins in a pumpkin patch at Halloween!…read more Great place to capture the night skies over the unique landscape. A harrowing experiences for me to get there...the roads are really rough. But such a worthy endeavor.

I'm giving this 5 stars for what it is, which is desert camping. Honestly, I'm not a big desert…read moreperson so in the grand scheme of my personal preferences I'd probably give it more of a 3, but as far as desert camping goes I have no reason to give Corn Springs any less than a perfect score. It's secluded (VERY secluded), clean, has toilets and a water pump (not to be trusted for drinking), and the surrounding area is well-preserved nature. Aside from ancient petroglyphs and an abandoned miner's cabin nearby, there is very little trace of civilization, which is what I look for in camping because otherwise it just feels a bit like run-of-the-mill homelessness. The 8 miles from the highway to get to the oasis may not seem like much, but take it easy on the sharp rocks. We made the trek with a Honda Fit and had no problems, but needed more patience than you might be prepared for when you're so close but still so far from setting up camp after a long drive (I assume it will have been a long drive from wherever you're originating because it's in the middle of literal nowhere). So by all means, camp in Corn Springs, enjoy the gigantic starry sky at night, stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and don't get killed (because come on, it seems like a place where getting killed wouldn't be a huge surprise)!

Corn Springs Campground. Take Corn Springs exit, hang a left on Chuckwalla Valley Road, and then a…read moreright on Corn Springs Road and go 8 miles on unmaintained road to campground. $6 a day. As of conditions now, you don't have to have 4-wheel drive but is a bit rocky. Watch out for sharp rocks.

It's cool tourist art installation by artist John Cerney who does large murals. Perfect for a photo…read moreop! Unfortunately as of early August, the popsicles were taken down and... They moved! I took a picture at night earlier this year, but didn't love how they came out and wanted to get a daytime shot... But the land is now for sale. Formerly on Sunny Dunes Rd across from Gear Leather, ToolShed Bar, Q Trading Gift Store, and other neighboring business in a small desert plot of land just directly next to Kenneth's Automotive. It will now be somewhere in the DTPS area... This video by Lisa Faye was pretty helpfully in letting people know it would be reinstalled (most likely in Downtown Palm Springs). Stay tuned!

Cute display for photo op! We visited since it was across the street from an the Little Shop of…read moreTreasures antique shop. That's too bad they removed the display, but it probably doesn't make sense now seasonally to have it there. I wonder if anyone purchased them haha since there was a sign under the orange one but not when we visited. I always love fun and free art installations around the city. It adds so much charm to the area! Hopefully they will bring this back or replace it with something new in the future.

Republic of Slowjamastan: The Nation You Didn't Know You Needed!…read more Ever wanted to visit a country that's smaller than your average Costco but ten times more entertaining? Look no further than the Republic of Slowjamastan, a hidden gem off Highway 78 in the middle of literally nowhere. You'll know you've arrived when your GPS starts to laugh at you. The drive alone is an adventure, with nothing but open road and desert as far as the eye can see. Then BAM--out of the dust emerges a tiny "nation" with its own quirky flag, customs, and government (I'm pretty sure the sultan is just the most interesting man in the world). It's the kind of place that makes you question everything you know about borders and citizenship. Who knew sovereignty could be so much fun? This is the perfect spot to bring up at parties. You'll blow everyone's minds when you casually mention, "Oh yeah, I've been to Slowjamastan. No big deal. It's not on most maps yet." Instant conversation starter, and who doesn't love a little international travel brag? Is it ridiculous? Absolutely. But that's what makes it unforgettable. Pack a snack, bring a camera, and prepare to say, "Wait, what?" more times than you thought possible. 10/10 would recommend for anyone looking to spice up their road trip playlist and add "citizen of Slowjamastan" to their résumé.

I've been here a few times already, but this visit was for my sister-in-law. She's always wanted to…read morevisit the sculptures. I mentioned that the weather will be very warm not quite as hot as it can be during the summer. It was a steady at 94° and reached up to 97°. We went during the month of May. So if you don't do well in the heat I suggest visiting in early spring or during the fall. This would be a great place to take someone who is visiting from out of town or from another country. The sculptures are pretty spectacular. We didn't get to visit all of the sculptures, but enjoy taking photos of the ones we were able to get to. With the sculptures being far apart from each other it's great for photos because you won't see the other ones in the background. I think it's a great place to visit and to get some fun pictures afterwards you can visit the town which has a few restaurants in shopping stops. There's also a museum in town that would be cool to check out. I will be out here in November camping. I went camping here last November and the weather was very windy and we had a beautiful storm for one day with rainbows shining everywhere last year. It was beautiful. I look forward to coming back to this area.

We went to BORREGO SPRINGS, with the sole intention of seeing the Galleta Meadows Sculptures…read more BOY, were we IMPRESSED!!! We had done a lot of planning ahead of to make sure that we saw as many as we could. It's a little difficult to find some of them, BUT WE ACCOMPLISHED QUITE A LOT!!! If we were to point out any in particular it would have to be the SCORPION and the SERPENT!!! We were surprised by the SOLDIERS AND WINE PICKERS.

I was driving down Highway 62 when I noticed what looked like a large art installation on the left…read moreside of the road. At first, I didn't plan to stop, but about 300 feet farther down on the same side, I spotted an abandoned gas station covered in thousands of hanging shoes. Curious, I decided to make a U-turn to check it out. As you can see from the picture, you can park right next to the abandoned gas station. There was another group of people taking photos about 300 feet away on the other side, but parking options are limited--you'll need to park along the roadside unless you have a vehicle with all-wheel drive. According to the sign, it seems that someone named Dominic passed away at a very young age. However, I couldn't find any information online about how this shoe display started. Highway 62 connects Lake Havasu City to Joshua Tree National Park, and it's not a route many people would typically travel. But if you do happen to drive this road, make sure to stop and check it out--it's definitely an interesting sight.

Meh. It's a roadside trash heap. Not much of a "sculpture". Simply an oddity along a long desert…read moreroad. It made a good distraction tho.

Border towns are all different. Whether you're entering Canada or Mexico. There are a number of…read moreentry points. No two alike. I'm originally from Chula Vista so when we would cross into Mexico usually it was one of couple ways or entries (San Ysidro, Otay, etc). You would enter Tijuana and enter the hustle , bustle and yet modern everyday of TJ living, for food, to get to other locations like Rosarito, or venture into the exciting yet mysterious TJ nightlife to see what was good w/out getting into too much trouble. That's it. That's all. For most anyway. My boyfriend's family is originally from El Centro. Last time I was in El Centro there was nothing here. So after a handful of times visiting the city of El Centro, he decided to show me a city where his other relatives were from. Ah, the city of Mexicali, opposite of Calexico. Crossing I would say is still easier than crossing from the main border in San Ysidro. You can still find a lot of places to shop and eat here. Mexicali is definitely rural. The streets and sidewalks with are all uneven and filled with holes. Vendors & night workers. For some the view might be sad. For others humbling. For them, this is life and this is there day to day. It's said Mexicali was built by the many Chinese immigrants that were brought over for labor or fled the anti-Chinese policy from the US. This is historically home to the largest Chinese community in Mexico. Also known as Chinesca. "I don't see a lot of Chinese walking about" I tell my boyfriend. "The only Chinese I see are in the Chinese restaurants." Side note: the Chinese food definitely has a different yet still delicious flavor here. Mind you Chinese food differs everywhere you go. My advice when eating in this city is have no expectations. Just immerse yourself. Apparently, the Chinese built underground for themselves. To escape many things including the heat. There is said to have been opium dens and even illegal gambling. I'm not saying there still down there, just don't see a lot of Asians. There is a lot of mystery, history and a long established way of living here. However with the recent efforts of the younger generation with both Chinese and Mexican bloodlines to re-establish the Chinese culture here I'm sure we'll see an increase in tourism one day. So why the 4/5 stars? Not comparing this city to anywhere else I've been in Mexico. I grew up by Tijuana, raised off of Mexican culture. Been as far as Yucatán, Jalisco, The city of Tequila so on and so forth. I wasn't raised to disrespect anyone in their own home. If you're treated hospitably, you be respectful. Mexicali is beautiful in its own way and right.

The town of Quartzsite is a small replica of the Tucson rock and gem show. If you can't make it to…read moreTucson, this place is probably the next best choice for gems, rocks and miscellaneous goods. You'll feel transported into a rock hound area. Lots of free parking and shopping to be had. Wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, hat, take water and be prepared to do lots of walking. January is a perfect month to visit when it is nice weather and not too hot.

I have heard what a neat place it was. I arrived and was immediately harassed by a filthy lady in…read moreneed of a bath, complaining about my motorhome. Then was harassed by the local police who immediately copped an attitude and played the asshole game on me, making me move my motorhome over 10 feet. I had planned on spend some money here and staying a couple of days, but I'm out at first light and will eat breakfast down the road. All the tourists are gone and just the local druggies are left.