California - Desert Area Attractions

Brawley (pop. 18,923) is located in the Imperial Valley. It is a cattle-raising center.

About 20 miles east of Brawley are the Algodones Dunes. The dunes are a great place for recreation including off road activities.

The Desert Tortoise Natural Area is a 25,000 acre wildlife preserve. It was created to protect the habitat of the desert tortoise.

Death Valley Junction is located just outside Death Valley National Park near the Nevada border.

Marta Becket's Amargosa Opera House hosts dance-mime performances created by Marta Becket. Marta began work on the old theater in 1968 and opened in 1972.

Desert Hot Springs (pop. 11,668) is a health resort north of Palm Springs. It is internationally famous for natural hot mineral water and underground aquifers of pure cold water.

Cabot's Old Indian Pueblo Museum is a Hopi style building with a museum, trading post and rock shop.

El Centro (pop. 31,384) is located 86mi/138km east of San Diego in the Imperial Valley. The Navy's Blue Angels flying team does its winter training at nearby Naval Air Facility.

Rancho Mirage was discovered during the Gold Rush of the 1800s. The town is now home to three world-class resorts and three hotels as well as fine restaurants, and home furnishing and design centers.

The Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert in Rancho Mirage features hands-on exhibits with a bakery, science lab and radio station for the kids.

The Heartland Museum focuses on the heart and its health.

Red Rock Canyon State Park features spectacular desert cliffs, buttes and rock formations. The park is located at the southernmost tip of the Sierra Nevada. Wildlife within Red Rock includes roadrunners, hawks, lizards, mice and squirrels.

Last Chance Canyon is located in the El Paso Mountains near Ridgecrest. It features archaeological sites with rock art and villages. The canyon runs through Red Rock State Park.

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Thousand Palms is a small town with the Coachella Valley Preserve as the main attraction.

Covered Wagon Tours provide an authentic pioneer experience in covered wagons drawn by mule as a guide describes the area history and flora. After the tour, travelers enjoy a BBQ cookout and live Western entertainment.

The Fort Yuma Quechan Museum has displays about North American culture, the early military era and Spanish expeditions. Nearby are the old St. Thomas Mission and old Methodist Indian Mission.