Crumbling pink walls and murder memorials preserve the pioneer history of Joshua Tree.

These millipedes glow not out of attraction, but as a not-too-subtle warning.

This large pile of traveler-curated rocks by the dry lakebed is a longstanding tradition on the Old Mojave Road.

This outdoor observatory offers stellar views and a scale model of our solar system.

This general store offers visitors a glimpse back into the 1930s.

A giant knight, sex education, date shakes, and Jesus coexist happily in this Coachella Valley desert oasis.

This historic tower in the California desert promises visitors a "vortex of good vibes".

World's largest collection devoted to one fruit.

The largest and most well-preserved petroglyph site in the Verde Valley.

This dark, quiet forest on the outskirts of San Diego is dense with rumor and lore.

A motel dedicated to Southwestern nostalgia.

Ninety feet off the valley floor is an ancient dwelling put under protection of the U.S. government by Teddy Roosevelt.

Rippling sand dunes frozen in the Arizona rock.

The location of the last stand of Charles Manson's doomsday cult.

L. Frank Baum wrote part of the "Wizard of Oz" series in this wooden Victorian beach resort.

A small medical museum with a recreated doctor's office.

The remnants of an early automobile route across shifting sand dunes can still be found in the deserts of Southern California.

Abandoned Air Force base that has fallen into disrepair.

Like a kitschy mirage in the Mojave, this eatery serves up classic 50s-style diner meals and a dinosaur sculpture garden.

A volcanic tunnel illuminated by natural skylights offers a shaded respite from the desert sun.

Famous and forgotten figures lie beneath the faded headstones and decaying planks of wood.

The abandoned train depot now doubles as a well-placed rest stop for those who take the road less traveled.

This strangely vacant Western amusement seems to be an empty tribute to residents of Lucerne Valley.

Nestled in Coachella Valley, this museum transports guests from the Mesozoic Era, to the land of Egyptian kings.