Featuring everything from the hottest place on earth to the highest concentration of Native American petroglyphs (rock art) in the world, the Mojave Desert region of Southern California has everything you need for an adventurous vacation. See the links below to find attractions in Southern California for Mojave Desert tourism that will awe and amaze you.
At the Carriage Inn, guests are only one mile from a bowling alley, half mile from a movie theater, tennis park and skateboard park, and within walking distance of shopping. Other things to do in Ridgecrest, CA, include touring the acclaimed Maturango Museum, only a half mile away, and U.S. Naval Museum of Armament and Technology, only one mile away. The Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake is home to China Lake Golf Course, which is open to the public on the weekend; simply bring your ID to the gate to get a day pass.
Things to do in Ridgecrest, CA
- Maturango Museum- 0.6 miles
- U.S. Naval Museum of Armament & Technology- 2.7 miles
- China Lake Golf Course- 2.7 miles
Mojave Desert Tourism
- Tour 178- a 95-mile corridor offering world-class points of interest and attractions in Southern California from archaeological, astronomical, historical, geological ecological, biological, and geographical perspectives. (0 miles)
- Inyokern, CA- Sunniest place in the world. (15 minutes)
- Pacific Crest Trail- One of the longest hiking trails in the world: 2,000 miles from Mexico to Canada. (Trailheads are 10 miles from Ridgecrest)
- Red Rock Canyon State Park- Each tributary canyon is unique, featuring dramatic shapes and vivid colors. (45 minutes)
- Kern River Valley- Top outdoor recreation destinations in American Southwest. (1 hour)
- China Lake’s Coco Range- Highest concentration of preserved Native American petroglyphs in the world. (1 hour)
- Kern River Valley’s Audubon Preserve- Most Plant & Animal Diversity north of Yucatan. (1 hour)
- Lake Isabella- Largest freshwater in state of California. Fishing, hiking, camping, windsurfing, and skiing around 38-mile shoreline. (1 hour)
- Owens Lake- See the lake they drained to green Los Angeles. Also, the area is a nationally significant Important Bird Areas. (1.5 hours)
- Mount Whitney- Highest Place in the Continental US: 14,494 feet. (1.5 hours)
- Death Valley National Park- Badwater Basin has the lowest elevation in the world and is the hottest place on the planet. (2 hours)
- The Giant Sequoia National Monument- Featuring some of the biggest trees in the world. (3 hours)