Exploring the Highways and the Byways.
Tag: California
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What is Diego Henge?
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…
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Seeing the Shipwreck of the SS Monte Carlo in Coronado
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…
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Garnet Peak – A Gem Off the PCT Near Mt. Laguna
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…
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Visiting Queen Califa’s Magical Circle
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.
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Visiting Tom’s Farms in Temescal Valley
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…
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The Mystery of the Hemet Maze Stone
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…
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Visiting the Cucamonga Service Station on Route 66
When driving down Route 66 in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, it’s impossible not to notice the bright yellow Spanish Colonial-style service station on the north side of the road. The building is the Cucamonga Service Station, and it dates back to a time before Route 66 even existed. There were once thousands of similar service stations…
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A Guide to Pioneertown
Near Joshua Tree is a town that is one of the most filmed locations of the Old West. The only thing is, this town wasn’t created until the 1940s. Pioneertown, California, was created as a living, breathing movie set, and a visit there is like stepping into a 1950s TV western (which makes sense as…
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The 7 Best Places to Get a Date Shake
The date shake is a Southern California original, having been said to have been invented in the Coachella Valley in the 1920s. The date shake became such a big deal in the area it has frequently been referred to as the unofficial drink of the Coachella Valley. They are almost everywhere in the region. Russell…
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7 Things to do in Mojave Trails National Monument
What, you’ve never heard of Mojave Trails National Monument? Despite being 1.6 million acres in size, I don’t think a lot of people have yet. In February 2016, President Barack Obama created three new national monuments in California, Sand to Snow National Monument, Castle Mountains National Monument, and the massive Mojave Trails National Monument. The…