We needed a respite from driving and stopped for food to recharge ourselves. Lutes Casino was the…read morereco on Madison Ave. We visited the Sanganetti house/museum. The Yuma Art center was another place to cool down and enjoy after shopping in a couple of the boutiques. The outdoor sculptures were cute and parking was easy and shaded somewhat in the lot parallel to Ave.

Such history and a great spot to walk around and check out. We recommend the area to explore.read more

This review is for Baranca Road; the roadway that allows vehicles access between the main and…read moreairfield part of the base. It's also 3 1/2 miles (more or less) of a rolling paved trail perfect for either jogging, walking with or without pets (as well as wheelchair accessible), etc. It's near the main road ico visabilty while also enjoying the natural surroundings of the area. I bring a water source, snacks and wear sunscreen and use it before noon, but that's just me. Currently, the base is restricted to essential employees, housing residents and authorized RV'ers. Consider checking it out if you are able.

I enjoyed the historical aspect of this person and his family. His contribution to the community…read moreand Yuma businesses. And it was fun to enjoy a tea cup with ice cream in the parlor dining room. They also use a cute game to keep you interactive as you read about history It's a small place but they have nice stories and I'm sure the gardens are lovely when in bloom

Come while they are giving the guides tour. Learn a lot. Interact more with the money game. Lots to…read moresee. Kids might like it

My family loved this!!! Just letting everyone know it is a bit scary. The museum had lots of detail…read moreand the staff was nice! Super interactive! 5 stars!!!! My kids went to jail..... JK

It was super interesting. The museum portion is very well done. Super informative without too much…read moreinformation to absorb. Loved that they have a quiz you can take to find the answers. Really helped keep my daughter and I engaged in the content. We had a great tour guide who wrote a more in depth book. He was entertaining, kept things moving. The short film is also a good introduction. Even at the end of February, the sun was fierce. Wish we would have brought hats and water. I have forgotten how dry it can be. While it wasn't hot, the sun felt unrelenting. Highly recommend stopping and enjoying the site. A great piece of American history.

This is one of the few historic places to visit in this desert town. The Hi Jolly gravesite is…read moreunique and seems to be a popular stop for the curious who are passing through. I like walking through old cemeteries and reading some of the history of the people that are buried so long ago.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1195383562266838?fs=e&mibextid=wwXIfr&fs=e…read more This is a true pilgrimage site ! And the ghost of Haj Ali will love that he still has some celebrity! A very cool character in history! Stop by and also google his history, there is no way not to love this story of the Leader of the Camel Corps ! A memorial to Quartzite history and American ingenuity!

I have seen this place from the I-8 freeway over the years as I drove across into Arizona. While…read moreworking in the area I made the trek over and visited! They have a big gift shop with random knick-knacks. You pay $10 to explore the grounds which includes a tiny chapel on elevated mound of earth, a replica of a chapel in Brittany, France. They also have a beautiful display of granite blocks carved out like an encyclopedia of just about all kinds of things! Such an interesting place I definitely recommend you check out!

It was really a lot more than I thought it would be. Beautiful engraved granite, a maze, and the…read moreCenter of the Word Certificate. It was fun and had a lot of unique things to see. I highly recommend it for the history alone.

Interesting experience I felt really unsettled by it though. The welcome guy at the visitor center…read morewas very friendly and a nice guy. It was about 116 degrees when we went so we were the only tourists there and all the gift shops were closed. There was one guy you could clearly tell was high on something hard he was emaciated and didn't have a shirt was hanging out by the welcome center. The welcome guy was worried that guy was going to break into his trailer so he left in a hurry to make sure. I hope he and his trailer are ok. The art was cool but idk if I would recommend going there especially with kids or all female group like us.

How do you rate a place like this? I have seen YouTube videos about Slab City and knew when I was…read morein the area, I wanted to see it for myself. It is definitely a depressing place, in my opinion. I could never survive in a place with no water, electricity, sewage, etc. I know most probably live here because there is no other option. Some of the videos I watch people choose to live here because there is basically no laws, it's free, and nobody bothers them. **The docent at Salvation Mountain, right next to it, said the people who live in Slab City are never an issue with them and cause no problems. So there is a positive! 7/29/26

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.

The border of California and Arizona is primarily defined by the Colorado River, which you'll see…read morefrom both sides along the drive. I always feel impressed each time crossing the freeway above the river.

You know you're entering California when the sun's still blazing, your car is full of road trip…read moresnacks, and suddenly you're face-to-face with the California-Arizona Agricultural Inspection Station, the Golden State's produce bouncer since 1937. That's right. This isn't just a roadside pit stop. It's a historic checkpoint with a purpose: keeping California's crops safe, thriving, and pest-free. Back in the day, agricultural quarantine was a big deal (still is, honestly), and this station is part of a frontline defense against invasive species, plant diseases, and any suspicious fruit hitching a ride across state lines. On 98% of my trips, they don't even stop you. Most crossings don't even have attendants in the booths. I do remember the few and rare occasions where you pull up, smile, and get ready to answer the question, "Are you carrying any fruits, vegetables, or plants today?" They're checking for the usual suspects: fruits, veggies, nursery stock, hay, firewood... basically anything that might be harboring a bug with bad intentions. It's serious business, but the staff here usually manage it with a friendly nod and a no-nonsense vibe that says: We love your road trip, just don't ruin our avocados. So while it's not a flashy tourist attraction, it is a quiet hero of California's agriculture game and a reminder that even the humble border station can have legacy, impact, and a whole lot of purpose. They really do be the guardian of the grapes.