San Diego to Las Vegas and then to Anaheim - What should I see?

[Ana Claudia]

I've been in california last year (all the way from Brazil) and visited LA, Vegas, Death Valley (meaning Badwater Basin, Furnace Creek etc all the way to Bishop and then Mammoth Lakes), Mono Lake, Yosemite, San Francisco, Big Sur and LA. I have to say that most of our tours were inspired by threads at the Roadtrip American. They were really good tips. I loved it so much that this year we will be back. I will spend 4 days in LA, 3 days in San Diego, then we plan to travel by car to Las Vegas, spend 3 days there and then go to Anaheim (two children means Disney...). On my day trips from San Diego to Vegas and from Vegas to Anaheim, what do you recommend us to visit? We have all day long to travel (we have hotel reservations already in Vegas and Anaheim - so we do not have a problem to arrive late). Thanks a lot for the tips. Ana Claudia

[AZBuck]

Bem-Vinda! Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

Truth be told, there aren't a lot of 'attractions' on the order of Disneyland or Sea World between San Diego and Las Vegas, but there are a few localities which my young grandsons and I have enjoyed. The first would be Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. From San Diego take I-5 north to the Scripps Poway Parkway east to CA-67 north and CA-78 east. Note that the descent into the park on CA-78 can be 'interesting', so make sure your brakes are in good working order. Depending on what time of year you visit it may be too hot to hike into the slot canyons for which the park is justly famed. Check with the park staff at their headquarters in Borrego Springs, and if they recommend against being outdoors in the heat, there is still a very nice museum/display there. Leave the park on county road S22 east to the Salton Sea and CA-86 north. Here again you'll be below sea level, although not as low as in Death Valley, and the Salton Sea is a land locked salt lake. In Mecca and the north end of the Sea, take 66th Street east to Box Canyon Road and maybe drive into the Cottonwood Visitor Center of Joshua Tree National Park. Return to I-10 and head east to Desert Center and take CA-177 north to CA-62 east crossing the Colorado River into Arizona. Take AZ-95 north through the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge to Lake Havasu City and London Bridge. continue north on AZ-95 to I-40, head west back into California and take US-95 north to Las Vegas. That will be a full day and you probably wont have time for everything, but it should be an enjoyable drive.

AZBuck

[glc]

From San Diego take I-5 north to the Scripps Poway Parkway

You want I-15, not I-5.

On CA-78, stop in Julian for some apple pie.

You can also get to CA-62 by going all the way through Joshua Tree to 29 Palms.

[Ana Claudia]

Thanks a lot for the tips. I'll check right now the Google maps with your proposed routes. Because I have seen so much at the Death Valley I was under the impression that there would be much more at the Mojave - it seems it is not the case.... I've heard about a ghost town (Galico) and Palm Springs too. Are they worth the detour?

[Southwest Dave]

You can find all the info on the Mojave NP, here, and Calico ghost town here. The kids will most likely enjoy it as it is more of a tourist attraction then a deserted ghost town, that I myself would prefer.

You have to balance whats available against the time you have and decide which look to be "worth the detour" to you, but all are of interest. If you took parts of Bucks route out, and then ventured into the Mojave and/or Calico on the way back on the way back, you should have a good time.