Exploring the Highways and the Byways.
Recently, I was looking through Google Maps, virtually exploring the area near California State Route 94 near Jamul, and a place that I had never heard of before caught my eye. I saw it and thought to myself, what is Diego Henge? Well, there’s really only one way to find out. So, I jumped in…
On the beach, just a few hundred feet south of the Hotel Del Coronado, the remains of the prohibition era in California lay hidden just under the sand and waves. Every few years, when the conditions are just right, the shipwreck of the SS Monte Carlo reemerges to remind all who see it of that…
If you are driving on the Sunrise Highway (California S-1) in eastern San Diego County or even hiking the Pacific Crest Trail just north of Mt. Laguna and are looking for a fun stand-alone hike in the area, Garnet Peak is certainly worth taking the time to summit. It is easily my favorite hike in…
On a recent trip to Utah, I was looking at a map of our route and realized that we should be traveling pretty close to the state’s geographic center. Since we’ve been to a number of centers of states already, I figured this is a great chance to knock another off the list. Getting to…
Being a fan of both history and neon signs, the Neon Museum in Las Vegas (sometimes called the Neon Boneyard) has long been on my list of things to see when visiting the city. Finally, my schedule lined up, and I was able to take a stroll through Las Vegas history in what might be…
Despite its weird hours making it difficult to visit, Queen Califa’s Magical Circle in Escondido, CA, is one of San Diego County’s true hidden gems and worth a visit if it happens to be open if you are nearby.
Anyone who has spent any time driving on a road trip knows that not all roads are created equal. While every road has something to offer, in the grand scheme, only a few are named National Scenic Byways, and even fewer are still given the title of All American Road.
If you ask people what the best guidebook to Route 66 is, the answer you’ll probably get most often is Jerry McClanahan’s EZ66 Guide for Travelers (sometimes called the Route 66 EZ Guide). Currently, on its fourth edition (with a fifth edition in the works), the EZ66 Guide has been the gold standard for guidebooks to Route…
With its high real estate values and urban sprawl, Southern California doesn’t have a lot of roadside attractions anymore, especially right off major interstates. However, one exception is Tom’s Farms, which has been a fixture in Riverside County’s Temescal Valley since 1971. History of Tom’s Farms Tom’s Farms was started by Tom Barnes, who was…
Just outside of the town of Hemet, California, there is a boulder with an ancient petroglyph on it that has baffled historians for more than a century. Known as the Hemet Maze Stone, researchers aren’t sure who created the mysterious symbol on the rock. Theories have included everything from ancient Chinese mariners who got lost…