Exploring Zzyzx - A Quirky Stop on Your Road Trip from LA to Vegas

What is Zzyzx Road? If you've ever taken a road trip from LA to Vegas along I-15, you've probably seen this strange Zzyzx road sign near Baker, CA. Located in Mojave National Preserve, this roadside stop was once a "health resort" in the mid 1900s, and now the abandoned structures are home the Desert Studies Center. Visitors are welcome to explore parts of the grounds, so let's take a look!

California, Desert, HikingDawn MarieDecember 2, 2024zzyzx, zzyzx history, what is zzyzx, zzyzx road, la to las vegas, las vegas road trip, vegas road trip, i15, i-15, desert, desert oasis, desert health spa, california, california history, mojave, mojave desert, mojave national preserve, national preserve, national park, cal state university, desert studies, desert studies center, zzyzx california, baker, baker ca, calico, palm trees, palm oasis, california desert, roadside, roadside attraction, la to vegas, los angeles to las vegas, vegas, las vegas, day trip, desert day trip, road trip, road trip ideas, quirky, quirky roadside attraction, roadside stop, roadside spot, quirky roadside stop, zzyzx health spa, zzyzx resort, what is zzyzx road, birding, bird watching, birders, birds, where to see birds, california birds, birding spot, birding spot in california, california birding, best birding spots, ghost towns, ghost town, ca ghost townComment

Painted Rock Self-Guided Tour in Carrizo Plain National Monument

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the easy trail to Painted Rock, located near Soda Lake in Carrizo Plain National Monument. This activity near Bakersfield, California makes a great day trip from Los Angeles, providing visitors a chance to see ancient prehistoric Native American rock art that is still culturally significant today for the Chumash & Yokut indigenous peoples.

Arts & Culture, California, HikingDawn MarieJuly 22, 2024painted rock, painted rock carrizo plain, carrizo plain, carrizo plain national monument, national monument, carrizo, carrizo hiking, carrizo trails, california, central california, carrizo reservations, painted rock reservations, hiking to painted rock, painted rock trail, pictographs, petroglyphs, painted rock petroglyphs, painted rock pictographs, native american, native american art, native american rock art, rock art, indigenous art, indigenous, chumash, yokut, things to do in carrizo, places to go in carrizo, what to do in carrizo, bakersfield, what to do in bakersfield, things to do in bakersfield, where to go in bakersfield, things to do around bakersfield, places to go around bakersfield, los angeles road trip, la road trip, day trip, day trip from los angeles, los angeles, los angeles day trip, bakersfield things to do, bakersfield day trip, bakersfield activities, central valley, soda lake, wildflowers, where to see wildflowers, superbloom, carrizo flowers, native american culture, indigenous culture, chumash cultureComment

Yosemite Day Trip from Los Angeles to See Firefall

This week we're taking a long day trip from Los Angeles to Yosemite National Park to see Firefall, the natural phenomenon also known as the Horsetail Fall Event. This travel guide covers a one day itinerary with recommendations on driving directions, points of interest, where to park, and how to access one of my top spots to view Firefall from across the Yosemite Valley along Four Mile Trail.

California, Hiking, Mountains, National Parks, YosemiteDawn MarieFebruary 19, 2024firefall, firefall 2024, horsetail fall, waterfall, waterfall on fire, yosemite firefall, yosemite, yosemite national park, yosemite valley, winter in yosemite, national park, national parks, waterfalls, yosemite waterfall, yosemite waterfalls, natural phenomenon, nature, nature photography, photography, travel guide, road trip, day trip, los angeles day trip, la day trip, sunset, yosemite sunset, four mile trail, firefall from four mile trail, 4 mile trail, firefall from 4 mile trail, hiking, trail, yosemite hiking, yosemite trails, yosemite photography, yosemite photo, yosemite reservations, winter, what to do in yosemite during winter, what to do in yosemite, what to do, things to do, things to do in yosemite, best things to do in yosemite, things to do in yosemite during winter, what to see in yosemite, california, california winter, winter road trip, road trip ideas, ca road trip, california road trip, sierra nevadas, mountains, el capitan, el cap, la to yosemite, los angeles to yosemiteComment

Monarch Butterfly Grove - Thousands of Butterflies in Pismo Beach, CA

Currently there are 16,000 western monarch butterflies at the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove along CA Highway 1. If you're wondering where to see monarchs in California, this butterfly colony is one of the largest in the state and can be enjoyed every November thru February during the monarch winter migration. This is one of my top things to do in Pismo Beach & along the central coast.

Beach, California, State ParksDawn MarieDecember 11, 2023monarch butterfly, monarch butterflies, butterflies, butterfly grove, monarch grove, monarch butterfly grove, pismo beach, pismo state beach, state park, ca state park, state parks, california, california state park, pismo, shell beach, highway 1, us 101, pacific ocean, pismo state beach monarch butterfly grove, butterfly migration, monarch migration, where to see butterflies, where to see monarchs, what to do in pismo beach, things to do in pismo beach, central california, central coast, california coast, road trip, ca road trip, day trip, los angeles day trip, weekend road trip, road trip ideas, school trip, school trip ideas, field trip, field trip ideas, san luis obispo, what to do in san luis obispo, winter in pismo, what to do in winter, travel guide, travel blog, visitor guide, visitors guideComment

Spring Wildflowers at Carrizo Plain National Monument

Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to seeing the Spring wildflowers at Carrizo Plain National Monument just a couple hours north of Los Angeles, California. This is top spot to see a flower superbloom, look for wildlife, and bird watch, and is one of the best things to do in Bakersfield. Soda Lake is currently filled with water and the San Andreas Fault can be seen running through the park.