Ran into this place upon making a U-turn on hwy 178. If you are passing by Shoshone, just south of…read moreShoshone on hwy 178 is Castle in Clay. If you like caves you will enjoy these mini caves. There is no sign on the road that will tell you it is Rutledge Castle in Clay. I had to look up on Google map to identify this place. The rock formations look like talc or gypsum. It rather hard, similar to hard pan.

Definitely interesting to stop and explore... All the wonders in this area may soon be forgotten or…read morelost due to vandalism. Death Valley is so worth exploring! Castle in a cave is unique and fun to see.

Calico Ghost Town is a historic ghost town and former silver mining community located in the Calico…read moreMountains of California's Mojave Desert. Founded in 1881 during the silver mining boom, the town prospered for over a decade before declining when silver prices collapsed. By 1907, most residents had left, and Calico was eventually restored and transformed into the county-operated attraction known today as Calico Ghost Town.   Situated just off Interstate 15, about 3 miles from both Barstow and Yermo, Calico has become a popular stop for travelers exploring Southern California or driving between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. We visited in February 2026 during our trip to Las Vegas and were impressed by the dramatic desert scenery, unique rock formations, and panoramic views from the surrounding hills.   Today, visitors from around the world come to experience the atmosphere of an authentic Old West mining town. The park offers a variety of amenities, including RV and group camping, cabins and bunkhouses, mountain biking trails, off-road vehicle areas, shops, and restaurants. Throughout the year, Calico hosts several special events such as Civil War reenactments, the Spring Festival with Americana music, Calico Days celebrations featuring burro races and mining-themed activities, and the popular Halloween Ghost Haunt in October.   Only minutes from Interstate 15 and a short drive north of Barstow, Calico Ghost Town makes an enjoyable roadside stop for food, shopping, sightseeing, and a glimpse into California's mining history. However, I would recommend visiting Calico Ghost Town during the spring or winter months rather than in the summer, when desert temperatures can become extremely hot and less comfortable for exploring the outdoor attractions and surrounding hills.

Whats happened to this place ? I am sad to say that Calico…read morehas seen better days. Ive been going here since the 1980s. I miss what it felt like, even 15ish years ago. Yes its an OLD run down ghost town but it truely feels OLD and run down now. Trash everywhere. Spiderwebs and dust everywhere. Its not the Calico look, its literally no one cleaning around here. It looks so unclean everywhere we went. Also...I dont feel many workers are in Character anymore. I miss that. If they are even dressed up they are just sitting around on their phones or talking to each ither. Zero interaction. Zero immersion... just so disappointed. We keep coming back but its just getting worse.

I had a great experience with Death Valley Photo Tours. Michael picked me up at 5:15 am so that we…read morewould be able to photograph the sunrise. He made sure that I was safe as we climbed into position in the dark. I enjoyed learning about Death Valley and discussing photography with him. When I requested a change to our schedule so that we could photograph the wildflowers, he had no problem changing our plans for the day. He knew of great locations away from the crowds which made the day so much more enjoyable. I would definitely do another tour with him when I return to Death Valley.

Michael is such an incredible, patient, and knowledgeable guide. He will chime in and help you if…read moreyou ask for it, but allows you to capture your own expression of a scene too. He was very flexible with what we wanted to get out of the trip, and his knowledge of the landscapes is unbelievable. Death Valley is his home, and he is the best host to guide you there.

A bit of a trek from San Diego but so worth it to go! We camped at the base of the dunes. I do not…read morethink you have to reserve the spots but if you do, you don't reserve any particular camp site. The dunes were a slight hike from campsite to top of the dunes but not too bad! Once at the top, the view is beautiful, especially if there for sunrise or sunset. Make sure to bring something the slide down the dune with! Made the hike up worth every step!

Definitely a great place to hike in the fall and spring time, also winter too. Warning, do not hike…read morein the summer. Extreme heat and can be dangerous for some. We did our hike in December. It was a perfect day to hike this dune. We started around 2pm and came down at the right time to catch some beautiful winter sunsets. Definitely a great place to hike at night. Do not miss out on this hike if you are heading out to Vegas. It's technically open 24/7 so you can do it any time. Take precaution during night time and bring flash lights for emergency situation. There are multiple peaks at this dunes to climb. Based on how the sand has shifted due to winds, some peaks might be higher than others at different times. And yes, you will see people sliding down the dunes. W

Had a wonderful small group tour yesterday to the Hoover dam. Our tour guide was very nice & gave…read morelots of information. Van was very clean & great a/c. Breakfast stop included in price was great because we didn't have to worry about grabbing breakfast beforehand somehow. :)

I did the Grand Canyon West Rim Skywalk Tour with Grand Adventure Tours on a Sunday in January…read more2019. Our guide was Luis, and he was incredibly knowledgeable and hospitable - he really attributed to a wonderful experience. We were accompanied by 8 other people that we didn't know, all of whom were very nice. After an early morning pickup at our hotel in Luis' van, we went to three other hotels to pick up the other people for the tour. First stop was the Fabulous Las Vegas sign for photos, and then a group breakfast at McDonalds. We then went on a very picturesque drive out to the Hoover Dam, and we spent over an hour there, enjoying the sights and learning about the structure and its construction. Lastly, we drove out to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon. We enjoyed the glass bottomed Skywalk, and then took more photos around Eagle Point. There was plenty of time to check out the gift shops. We saw some replica Native American structures, and enjoyed watching some dancing. We then drove to Guano Point for a picnic lunch, a hike, and plenty more photos. Before the drive back to Vegas, our guide stopped by the Joshua Tree forest, and we snapped a few photos. It was such a wonderful day! FIVE STARS.

I've been on a LOT of tours in a LOT of places around the world, and Willy is in my top 10! The…read morecaverns are pretty cool, but Willy's knowledge, humor, pacing, and care made this a five-star experience. Our group ranged in age from tween to 60s and everyone was engaged for two hours. I'm a California Naturalist with high standards and Willy knows his stuff! As a native Californian I especially loved knowing he's local, young, and a former CCC "graduate". His contributions and energy are why these government programs are so important. Must see if you're visiting the area, but be warned -- you need reservations and these fill up weeks ahead of time. The paved road, nature center, views, and well-organized everything made this a real treat!

Tours are offered on Friday-Sunday and Holiday Mondays at 11am and 2pm from October to May. In June…read moreand September, tours are on the same days but only at 10am. Reservations are highly recommended, as tour size is limited to approximately 12 people; and reservations are only taken via phone on Mondays between 8am-5pm. Cost is $10 per adult 17+ and parking is $10, payable at the visitors center upon arrival for the tour. The tour itself takes approximately 2 hours, and is about 1.5 mile round trip. It may feel strenuous for some people walking back up to the parking area from the caverns. Our guide was very knowledgeable and informative. I recommend bringing food and drinks to eat before or after the tour, as none is available. Also, leave your bags/belongings in the car. You will be asked to put these items at the entrance of the caverns, including water bottles.

We visited for a long weekend in January and such a cool experience! Known as the hottest part of…read morethe US. We loved the different scenery in different areas of the park. Going in January was not very hot and some water was in the basin which was cool to see! We were there from 10AM to sunset and was able to hit all the major spots and get a longer hike in. The park is pretty spread out too so be mindful of driving time. Most hikes are easy, out of the parking lot to a short walk but we did one longer hike that was fine with a January cooler temp, but I'm not sure I would visit during summer time.

Itinerary: Day 1 -…read moreVisitor Center, Zabriskie Point, 20 Mule Team Canyon, Ubehebe Crater Day 2 - Badwater Basin, Devil's Golf Course, Artists Drive, The Ranch, Dantes View Day 3 - Mesquite Sand Dunes, Mosaic Canyon Day 4 - Salt Creek We found out real quick that we need to pay attention to elevation levels in the park. Lower elevations in the early morning and late evening and higher elevations in the afternoon to handle to heat. I also recommend hats and sunbrellas. After running our plan by a ranger, then headed to Zabriskie Point. Short hike up to an amazing viewpoint. The variety in the landscape is stunning. After, we drove through the unpaved 20 Mule Team Canyon and saw a lot of rock formations there too. I have a hatchback and made it through nicely. Ubehebe Crater was a bit of a drive, but the crater was also over 10F cooler and super windy. Also huge and awesome to see. We hiked a bit to the Little Hebe Crater, and hiked into the crater itself. So cool! There were some wildflowers around the area that were really pretty. We went to Badwater Basin early in the morning and saw the salt up close - looks very different than seeing it from the higher viewpoints. Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America at 282ft below sea level. The white salt was vast and stretched as far as some adjacent mountain ranges. There's a small natural pool that had snails! Artists Drive was really colorful - so many hues of red, blue, gray, brown, white... it was really beautiful. Definitely one of the most picturesque views I saw in the park. There are restaurants, stores, and gas stations in the park. We had lunch at Wild Rose Tavern at The Ranch, then enjoyed some ice cream at the parlor. We enjoyed the cooler temperatures at Dantes View, which was stunning. There's such a great panoramic view from up there, and seeing Badwater Basin both up close and from so high up in the same day was surreal. There were a lot of bugs though, but also a lot of wildflowers! Not as many as a few weeks prior, but still very pretty to see in the desert. The Mesquite Sand Dunes I would definitely recommend visiting in the early morning. There's barely any shade, and it can get hot. What a unique part of the park! Same with Salt Creek, though it's much shorter and more manageable. We so many pupfish! At times, it looked like they were jumping out of the water. I want to come back to do some stargazing and astrophotography another time!

Best day ever at the Camel Safari! Guided by Adam and Allie-two of the most knowledgeable,…read morefriendly, and genuinely caring people you'll ever meet . This experience was unforgettable from start to finish in their 165 acre property. We kicked off the day with a short ride on Jafar, a stunning, gentle giant weighing nearly 3,000 pounds. ( love at first sight) After taking some amazing photos with him, he happily stayed nearby and spent the rest of the day with us. From there, we met several other camels and hopped on the tram, where more adventures were to be had . Along the way, we encountered so many incredible animals, more camels, a zedonk, llamas, alpacas, and miniature horses. One of the highlights was feeding Thorn, their adorable pet porcupine,grapes she was just the sweetest little girl. We also got to see New Guinea singing dogs (so cute!) and Ambien, their 20-year-old sloth, who was just as amazing to see in person as you'd imagine. Feeding the alpacas and llamas carrots was such a fun, hands-on experience. As if that wasn't enough, four friendly Ridgeback dogs casually joined us on the tram, roaming freely and adding even more charm to the day. Every animal we encountered was gentle, well cared for and clearly loved . I truly can't say enough wonderful things about this experience it was pure joy from beginning to end. If you've never met a camel, Ilama, or alpaca, you're missing out. These gentle creatures will absolutely fill your heart. I'm already looking forward to going back again soon. I didn't want the day to end . This is one adventure you don't want to miss it's truly an overload of joy! "LIVE LIFE WITH LOVE & LAUGHTER" ~PEACE JODY~

First, you NEED to make a reservation before going…read more I never knew we had a ranch with 30 Camels, Alpacas, a Llama, New Guinea Singing Dogs, a Two Toed Sloth, an African Crested Porcupine, a Donkey and a few other animals about an hour outside of Las Vegas. Guy the owner, an amazing bank of knowledge, he knows so much about each animal and more. He is a little rough around the edges and some may think him rude; you try to manage a 176 acre ranch with well over 60 animals who have to be fed daily, not so easy... The Camels have a diet of lettuce, carrots, sweet potatoes, apples; the sloth has a special diet which includes egg whites, the ranch dogs get the yolk as a daily treat and they know when that's coming. So in addition to taking care of all the animals, the ranch which is 176 acres, there are also tours to manage. So show him a little appreciation for what he does every day, seven days a week, etc... You can do camel rides, an ATV experience, a zoo tour on a tram, it's not easy and I feel for him so if you go out there, understand his personality has to be rough to deal with all this. Also understand, each animal has its own personality and feelings. Yesterday, Norm a camel used for rides was having a bad day. He was not in the mood for riders. I first tried to ride Norm, he was calm getting his saddle on but once I got on him, he was nope. When Allie got me off of Norm, Norm had an attitude with both Allie and Guy, Norm had to be put in a kennel which Norm was not happy about but needed a time out. So remember, dealing with 30 camels, mini horses, a Llama, Alpacas, a sloth, etc; they are dealing with a lot of different personalities and feelings in addition to people coming to visit. Safety is taken as a HIGH priority. These animals can inflict pain & even death, so I have a LOT of respect for Guy & Allie. They not only have to be concerned with adults but children as well. We arrived at 8:45 which is when the gate is opened, we met Allie and Guy along with another couple. We rode first and as I said Norm was not happy so I got off and they took my friend around the track. Upon coming back with my friend, a whole group showed up for the zoo tour so we were asked if we minded doing the zoo tour and then we will get back to the camel ride. No biggie... The zoo tour was amazing. We got on the tram and were taken to see every animal on the property stopping in each area, learning all about the animals in that area with the opportunity to ask questions, got to go in the kennel to feed the Llama and Alpacas, cool animals, petted the zebra, fed and petted the porcupine, got up close and personal with the sloth and just had an amazing experience. The knowledge gained yesterday was so cool. Once the zoo tour was over I got to ride Lodi. The camel ride was really cool, long and a really neat experience I would do again. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you go out and visit this Camel Safari. They need the support as they have a lot of mouths to feed daily and you will have an amazing experience in the Nevada desert.

Best Food Tour! (Especially if you have dietary restrictions or allergies)…read more If you have dietary restrictions or allergies, this is the tour for you!! My husband booked us a food tour and when he told me my expectations were not high. I've been to food tasting in the past but due to being a pescatarian, I usually left hungry and had to stop somewhere after to get food. That was not the case with Lip Smacking Foodie Tours. The took us to Carson Kitchen, La Mona Rosa, Oak & Ivy, Le Thai. We had food and drinks at Carson Kitchen, La Mona Rosa, and Le Thai and each place brought out multiple dishes to try. Oak & Ivy was a drink only and it was one of the best Mules we ever had. My husband loved every dish at each restaurant and I was brought out separate pescatarian/vegetarian version of the same dishes. When I tell you we weren't hungry the rest of the day, I'm not exaggerating. Throughout the tour, we also learned interesting fact about the area and the community. I am so happy we went on the tour and got to explore an area we probably wouldn't have went to and tried multiple restaurants. When we come back to Vegas, we will be coming back and we will be recommending this food tour to everyone!

Hi All I wish I had…read morean Lip Smacking Foodie Tour (LSFT) experience to share... instead, I had to cancel my reservation because I ate something that day (i wont mention where) and I had an upset stomach, so I could not attend the LSFT. I called to cancel the morning of my reservation. The male who answered the phone was not helpful at all. Basically he said no there would be no refunds if I cancel period. I called back to ask if I could have someone else attend in my place? Same guy, said no! I needed to be at LSFT at 5pm. I receive a text from LSFT at 4:38pm, saying what is the name of the person coming in your place? This is what the website says, "ARRIVE EARLY: Mandatory check-in 15 minutes prior to the posted start time of the tour. In fairness to those who arrive on time, we will depart promptly. Latecomers will not be admitted." Im on a vacation in Las Vegas, I am 45 minutes to 1hour away from the strip depending on traffic. How is anyone suppose to make it there in a 22 minute notice? LSFT needs to have better customer service. Apparently, I could have sent someone in my place, he should of said that on my first call as an option instead of cancelling? This is what their website says, "REFUND & RESCHEDULING POLICY: Tours are non-refundable and cannot be rescheduled. Once purchased, tickets cannot be refunded, rescheduled, or exchanged for any other date or time. Tickets, however, are transferable." Why was I not told about tickets being transferable? Instead I was told "No", someone cannot come in my place? This LSFT is $285. Would you be just little angry? Again, have options, people in Vegas are on vacation, situations happen. Offering me another date to come back, issue a certificate or gift card good for a year? Bad customer service, poor training, no follow up call from a supervisor or manager to say, I understand you could not attend, however here is what I can do....? For the record I am not a Karen! I really wanted to check out LSFT! I should be refunded 100% or issued a certificate for a later date!