One of the last remaining free societies, enjoy it! A unique perspective and story to be seen with…read morelots of art, resilience and creativity.

Ughh... sad place. I…read moredidn't stay long. It was hot, dusty, and uncomfortable, and honestly pretty depressing. What I saw felt more bleak than interesting, and there was nothing about it that I found uplifting in any way. There is a bit of history here. The area used to be Camp Dunlap, a World War II-era U.S. Marine Corps training base. After it was decommissioned, most of the structures were removed, leaving behind the concrete slabs and bunker-like remnants that give Slab City its name. Some of those old concrete huts are still around, and a few have been brightly painted, which was probably the only part I found visually interesting. It sits out near Slab Mountain, and by that point I had already seen enough. I didn't even bother trying to find East Jesus. It was time to go. Beyond that, it just felt like a mess. There was a lot of garbage, very little in the way of amenities, and many of the people living there looked really down and out. It had an eerily familiar resemblance to parts of LA's homeless encampments, which made the whole experience feel uncomfortable rather than unique. For me, this is not a tourist destination. There's very little here that I found remotely interesting, and definitely nothing I'd describe as inspiring. Not for me. 1-1.5 stars

This was a quick stop for me before heading to Bombay Beach. It's near Slab City, and as you drive…read morethrough the area and start seeing all the RVs around, you can immediately feel the energy shift a little :) After hearing about this place from the movie ases on a true story, Into the Wild and living in San Diego for so long, I finally decided to check it out. I was honestly impressed by how well maintained everything was. I technically arrived after hours around 6pm, but there was still a volunteer there who gave a short introduction about the history of the place, which I appreciated. As I walked up the mountain, I was surprised by how clean everything was and how bright and vibrant the paint still looked, so huge credit to the volunteers who keep it looking this way. I was even given a free postcard on my way out, which was a nice little touch. I probably wouldn't make a full trip out here just for this alone, but pairing it with a visit to the Salton Sea or Bombay Beach is definitely worth it. I also love that it's completely free so no tickets or entrance fee needed.

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.

I'd been wanting to visit the Salton Sea and check out some of its famous spots. Bombay Beach was…read morehigh on the list. Rolling south from Palm Desert on a Saturday, we arrived around 11 AM. Right at the entrance, there was a shade tent with a guy trying to sell $5 parking for an art festival happening that weekend. I politely passed. My goal was the Ski Inn for a cold one, and honestly, it was blazing hot, not the day to wander the dusty town. The vibe was surreal. It felt like a mini Burning Man. Ironics were roaming around town in their get-ups, hanging out at RVs and Rivians. There was an overall strange mix of art and chaos. Bombay Beach itself is pretty rough around the edges. There was lots of "art" mixed in with junk and debris. I snapped some photos and wandered the playa, or whatever they call it here. Some pieces were interesting. My favorite was the Elon Musk installation. Eventually, I made it to the Ski Inn, a classic tourist dive bar hangout. I grabbed a cold beer, did a bit of people-watching, and soaked in the scene before heading out. BTW, same place Anthony Bourdain visited sometime around 2006/7 filming his show "No Reservations." Bombay Beach is definitely an oddball destination. Not sure if I would recommend roaming around when there is a big festival, but it has its quirky charm. I would like to return when it is a bit calmer, though honestly, it may just be a spot to experience briefly rather than linger. 3.5 stars

We were spending a week in Palm Springs, and as a lover of street art, when I read about Bombay…read moreBeach, I had to come see it! It is a very surreal experience to say the least. We parked in the town and walked around, as many of the properties have artwork on them as well. Then you have to crest a little hill to actually see the beach. There are things to see all over the beach, it just depends how far you like to walk. Definitely bring shoes that can get mucky, as the sand can be wet and sloppy. It was a super unique experience, and we were glad to do it. You are definitely out in an area with little or no retail, gas stations, restaurants, etc. so be prepared for that.

Borrego Springs is called California's Secret Desert, and the magic is everywhere. Ricardo…read moreBreceda's sculptures are perfectly at home in the beautiful desert

This place is cool with its unique sculptures. Respect the art and do not ruin it. The drive coming…read morefrom the west has many twistie roads but nothing that is difficult to manage going the correct speeds around each turn. Also check out Julian if you are in the area and grab yourself a tasty pie from Gulian Pie Company

We visited the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge toward the end of March and…read moreunfortunately the timing did not work in our favor. It was already around 100 degrees, which made it too hot to venture out toward the lake. My son loves bird photography and uses a telephoto lens, so we were hoping to see more wildlife. Instead, we mostly stayed near the visitor center area. We did spot quite a few adorable cottontail bunnies resting in the shade. They dig little shallow pockets in the cool dirt, which was fun to watch. There were also a few birds chirping and some doves, but overall not much activity. The visitor center itself is small but nice and worth a quick stop. From what I have heard, this area can be amazing for migratory birds, but we did not see many during our visit. I am guessing earlier in the year or during the winter would be a much better time to go. It is also pretty out of the way, so not somewhere you will just casually swing by. Overall, it was an okay visit, but I would definitely plan for a cooler season next time. 3 stars

I just went for the first time from 9:30-12pm on Saturday 10/19/24. My main goal was to see…read moreburrowing owls and I was successful!!!! Unfortunately the visitor center was closed even though it was supposed to be open according to the posted hours. Luckily a couple walking their dog were very well informed and helpful! They told me volunteers man the visitor center in winter when the winter bird migration is happening. They said to return in 3 weeks (11/9/24) and there would be thousands of birds and the center should be open. I recommend waiting and coming then. The couple also told me how to find the burrowing owls, they live on the drainage ditches and their nests are labeled with a stick with a pink ribbon tied to it. You have to drive very slow or stop and wait to see them. Luckily there was a sign posted on the visitor center window with a map and "X's" drawn where the burrowing owl nests are. So I used that to drive around the dirt roads that are in grids in the farmland. I went to 4 near areas and two were occupied, one with a pair of burrowing owls and one with a single owl. I also saw a roadrunner, American kestrel, lots of egrets, quail, blackbirds, what looked like a prairie dog, and other birds. The visitor center area is considered "Unit 2." There is a 2 mile trail round trip called Rock Hill Trail that leads to the shore of the Salton Sea. I will do that next time. There is a huge two story observation deck, a shaded picnic area, a very nice restroom, and water dispenser. Unit 1 is 30 minutes away on the southwest edge of the lake. It has another huge two story observation deck, a toilet, a 0.7 mile hiking trail around a large pond with two photography blinds. I'll do that next time. This area will be great for waterfowl viewing when the winter migration occurs. I recommend stopping and taking pictures on the east side of the Salton Sea while driving to the southeast corner where the visitor center is. Once you're at the refuge there is pretty much no view of the lake, same with Unit 1. Next time I also want to explore Salton City. I got a hotel in Palm Springs for the night but it is 1 hour 45 minutes away! So next time I will stay in the a hotel in Brawley. It takes a lot of time to explore this whole area and bird watch.

The Tumco Historic Site is an abandoned gold mining town and is historic for being one of the…read moreearliest gold mining areas in California. It'd history spanned some 300 years, with periods of boom and bust. Over 200,000 ounces of gold was taken from the mines in the area, unfortunately, none in my pockets when we were there. We went out to see the area just to get out of the house during the quarantine. It's the perfect area to be pretty much alone to hike, talk short walks, look at spring flowers and see the remnants of an old gold mine. The good news is that it's a not a long drive off Hwy. 8. If you have some time, it could be a fun place for you to explore. Keep an eye out for rattlesnakes and scorpions that roam the desert.

What a great place to camp (we stayed for a week). It can be quite windy so be prepared for that,…read morebut the historical hike is so nice. Don't get me wrong most things have disappeared through the 300 or so years but you can still make out where things would have been. It's a very beautiful area with great hiking. And, plenty of space for our RV so we're well away from others if we wanted to be.

Visited 4/29/2019 Wow…read moreThis is a great little roadside attraction at the Salton Sea. Run by the owner they don't open till 12:30 AM. The owner drives a bright yellow banana color Camaro that will be parked out front. Everything about this place spells bananas with lots of souvenirs to be had and other little knickknacks that the owner has collected over the years. He also serves several different ice cream's including, you guessed it, Banana Ice Cream, I have heard that the banana chocolate shakes are amazing but have as of yet not tried one myself. Next visit. He charges a $1.00 a head to come in and take pictures. Spend as much time as you're like there is plenty of little things to look at. All in all this isn't a bad little attraction to spend a little hour of your time. Enjoy.

The International Banana Museum is definitely a unique experience and a must visit, if you're…read morepassing along the infamous Salton Sea area. The couple that owns the establishment are very friendly! The price for admission is $1, but will be waived with a purchase. The place was once a bar that belonged to the owner's family, until he turned it into the Banana Museum it is now. They have some Banana flavored ice cream/shakes and other treats or other various assortments of souvenirs and knick-knacks. I wouldn't recommend traveling 30+ miles just to go to this place alone, but if that's what you are into, go for it! We visited while traveling back from Salvation Mountain & East Jesus. Please do call ahead! We got there at around 1:30pm and the place was still closed, but the owners happened to arrive as we were about to leave. So we got lucky!

Amazing apocalyptic art in such a unique desert environment. Had a great time walking around and…read moreseeing so much artistic talent. One of a kind place. Other art and events to check out nearby as well. Definitely a must see and well worth the trip.

East Jesus is an extraordinary art installation and off-grid community located in the remote desert…read moreof California's Slab City. Born out of the spirit of creativity and self-expression, it has evolved into a unique testament to human imagination and resourcefulness. The origins of East Jesus can be traced back to the late 1990s when Charlie Russell, an artist and visionary, first settled in Slab City. Slab City, a former military base, became a haven for individuals seeking an alternative lifestyle away from the constraints of mainstream society. Inspired by the countercultural movement and the concept of repurposing discarded materials, Russell envisioned a place where art and sustainability could coexist. Over time, East Jesus grew organically, attracting like-minded artists, activists, and individuals seeking a communal space for creativity. The community's name is a playful nod to the phrase "middle of nowhere," reflecting its remote location and eccentric nature. The artists of East Jesus repurpose salvaged materials to create whimsical and thought-provoking sculptures that dot the landscape. These installations often address social, political, and environmental themes, challenging visitors to question the world around them. The people of East Jesus embrace a DIY ethos, relying on solar power, rainwater harvesting, and composting systems for their basic needs. The community values self-reliance, sustainability, and artistic freedom, fostering an environment that encourages experimentation and collaboration. The only last thing I want to mention is that I don't believe that East Jesus is the right place for a woman to travel to ... alone. (just a word to the wise) I will be back .. to experience more ... with a friend of course.

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.

The Desert View Tower, built in the 1920's, offers a stunning view of the Anza Borrego Desert. It's…read morealso currently available on a short-term rental website listed as "Lighthouse in Jacumba, CA"! If you're driving by, it's worth a stop. Free to look around the grounds and giftshop; but there is a fee to climb to the top for the best and most expansive view ($9.50 as of this writing). The tower is next to "Boulder Park" featuring some truly hideous sculptures created by an unemployed engineer during the depression. The boulders are much more notable for what may be cupules created by Native Americans, cups that are carved out of rock as part of ceremonies and rituals. A smattering of animals live on the grounds including chickens and peacocks. Free parking.

I've been trying to figure out what to write about this fun little stop an hour east of San Diego…read more It's a wonderful piece of history and definitely worth exploring. My husband and I enjoyed our visit quite a bit. We paid the fee to climb to the top of the tower and go exploring the boulders on the property as well. The tower interior is home to a magical shop full of antiques and second-hand treasures. The boulders next to the tower are fun to explore and have lots of animals painted onto the boulders in the shapes of various animals. As you can tell we really enjoyed our visit BUT... The one road in and out of the Desert View Tower property is absolutely littered on both sides with (maybe) abandoned motor homes, shanties, and whole collections of god-only-knows-what! And the road itself is like driving on the surface of the moon. I felt like I was driving into a scene of "The Hills Have Eyes" (kids ask your Gen X parents about that one). Seriously... I thought we might be murdered and eaten! But if you're feeling brave, come well-armed, and are willing to pop a tire and ruin your suspension, it's a GREAT place to visit!