Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake is lacking a better word the Groom lake of the US Navy…read more It is where the Navy and USMC (also US Allies test here) test weapons systems and do research. The base is massive at just over 19,000 square miles. It is also quite restricted and unless you have official business on the base you cannot roam around at will. In addition because of its size and location there is not really a lot to see and do even from its more remote perimeters. Having been to the northern and southern boundaries unless desert scrub is you thing there are better ways to spend your time. However, it is host to two of the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine and Thirty One. The aircraft of VX-9 "The Vampires" and VX-31 "The Dust Devils" can be spotted out and about in the R-2508 Complex aka 'Sidewinder Low Level" as well as Pt. Mugu.

Taught a Linux+ Certification class there. The training rooms are very nice. There are…read moreprojectors, screens, whiteboards, and markers that work. The staff there is very helpful and accommodating. They prepared my badge ahead of time so I didn't have to wait at the check in office.

A wonderful historic site, and a great spot for weekend fun!…read moreTheir open mic night is full of fun and talented folks in town. I'm not musically talented myself, but I enjoy popping in there to enjoy great music with some quality people. We recently attended a dance event by the Big Band Xpress (I have been dying to check it out for months, but struggled to get the time to go!), and I am head-over-heels in love with it! The band was to-die-for and played a great mix of big band music. We danced the night away and even had a hard time keeping up with some of the dancing pros! It is fantastic that the USO Building hosts family-fun events and date-night-worthy fun too!

Historic Building that has been lovingly restored and worth some time to browse the photos,…read moreartifacts and of course, shop in the gift shop!!

Ballarat Outpost is a cool little stop if you find yourself out in the Ballarat ghost town area. It…read moreis a small store, but it has a few souvenirs and even a couple of sodas if you need one, which honestly can hit pretty well once you are that far out. That said, if you have made it all the way out there and still do not have the provisions you need for camping in that area, you definitely messed up. This is not the place to rely on for supplies. Make sure you hit the stores in town before you get that far, because once you are out there, you are really out there. We had to about 30 miles to get to some food.

So the 5 stars are for the outpost and the owner. The Ghost Town its self is at best 3 stars…read more The Ballarat Store and Outpost are located in the Panamint Valley. Its fairly close to the town of Trona and about 30 miles from Panamint Springs. There is no gas so it is advised that you gas up at either location. You don't mess around int he desert. It is a general store with lots of odds and ins and importantly cold beverages. It also makes an ideal stopping spot if you are taking advantage of the many off highway trails to get a cold one, air down, or up as the case maybe and secure everything because the roads get pretty rough from here. The owner is friendly and personable. The Ghost Town has a few buildings and an interesting story coupled with a old derelict Dodge power wagon that is claimed to have been owned by Charles Manson. Not much else aside from wild donkeys who seem used to humans and some come right to you are so be careful

Robbers Roost (unincorporated Kern County, California, also known as Robber's Roost and Bandit…read moreRock) is a rock formation in the foothills of the Scodie Mountains portion of the Southern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in the North Mojave Desert. The formation overlooks the southern portion of the Indian Wells Valley. The nearest municipality is Ridgecrest, California. The Los Angeles Aqueduct is within several hundred yards of the formation. The area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Robbers Roost lies west of Freeman Junction, which is approximately at the intersection of California highways 178 and 14. In the 19th century, outlaws were known to use Robbers Roost to spot stagecoaches moving south towards Los Angeles through the Antelope Valley from the Owens Valley or west through Walker Pass towards the San Joaquin Valley. Modern day Walker Pass is State Route 178. Stagecoaches in this area often carried gold and other valuable gems from the local mines. The jagged rocks were a hideout for Kern County's most notorious bandit gang, led by Tiburcio Vásquez. If your in the area, check it out.

Fun displays for all ages and many interests! We went with…read moreour young kids and had a great time. The petroglyph exhibit is really detailed, and there are a lot of natural history exhibits, also. There's a small but lovely desert garden outside, and a lot even saw a rabbit enjoying the shade from the hot afternoon sun!

Packed full of interesting exhibits and extensive info on nearby petroglyphs, this small museum…read morerecently enlarged its gift shop. Other new additions include a garden area as well as a sculpture garden. During the Petroglyph festival this November, an arrowhead maker was on hand. The museum also sponsors docent led hikes on China Lake Naval base to see an extensive collection of ancient petroglyphs spread along Little petroglyph trail, 1.5 miles of non stop native American rock art down a dry creek bed. You need to be in pretty good shape to manage the rocky trail and go through a fairly extensive security check to gain access and early sign up is required, but we all agreed the hike was worth it. The docents at the museum are very helpful and run a movie on the petroglyphs on request.

This place was so amazing great place to get close to ostrich. The own himself gave my family a…read moreprivate tour it was so informative and all the details he gave us have me so amazed. The location it self it's beautiful near mountains. They also have restrooms and playground for kids. They also have little shop they sell ostrich eggs which are huge and they even have home made honey. Amazing place would definitely be going back!!

Such a great little place! We did a tour in the morning with five kids under 7, and the gentleman…read moregiving the tour was so accommodating to antsy little bodies needing to move around. I'm so sorry I didn't catch his name, but he was very knowledgeable and so kind. I'll absolutely be recommending Quail Run Ranch to every one!

Beautiful new facility with helpful staff. Doug was able to find a place to fill our RV water…read moretanks. ( At the fairgrounds) They have lots of great maps for free and cool postcards for sale.

Very friendly. We were able to get free maps and brochures for the area. If you have interest in…read morefinding out what there is to do in the area, go take a visit! The ladies there are well involved in the community. The last time I went we chatted about a local photographer and some of the more famous spots in town for restaurants.

What crap! Grayhound does not run from Ridgecrest!!!! Tried to get information from their web site…read more"its garbage" call Jackass on the phone was rude and usless and acted like I was interrupting his dinner break ( sounded like he was eating while he wasn't helping me)