10 Things to do between Los Angeles
and Las Vegas...
Many of you make the logical choice to visit Las Vegas after Los Angeles, or Los Angeles after Las Vegas. And if you're making this roughly 5-hour drive, you probably want to see everything between these two cities. Hence, this question you might be asking yourself: What are the things to do between Los Angeles and Las Vegas? In this article, we present some points of interest that might interest you.
Visit the site of the first McDonald’s in history
Located in San Bernardino, about 15 minutes from I-15, this museum will immerse you in the history of the very first McDonald's restaurant, opened in 1940 by Dick and Mac McDonald. The museum contains the largest collection of pre-Ray Kroc McDonald's memorabilia, including newspaper articles, photos, and memorabilia such as menus, straws, cups, a prototype ketchup gun, a copy of the McDonald's menu, and more. Admission is free.
Address: 1398 N E St, San Bernardino, CA 92405
Visit a Ranch like no other
Located in Victorville, about 15 minutes from I-15, discover Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch. This ranch was established in 2000 by Elmer Long and features over 200 bottle trees, made from metal pipes from which glass bottles (mostly soda and beer) are suspended. Most of the trees are adorned with unique decorations, such as a handmade rake, an electric guitar, a surfboard, a wagon, and a gumball machine. Admission is free and open from sunrise to sunset.
Address: 24266 National Trails Hwy, Oro Grande, CA 92368
Stop at one of the legendary cafes on Route 66
Located near Barstow, about 25 minutes from I-15, discover the Bagdad Café. This legendary Route 66 café was built around 1950 as the Sidewinder Cafe, then in 1992, it became the Bagdad Cafe following the filming of the movie of the same name. Here, you'll learn about Andrea Pruett, the creation of the Bagdad Café, and some interesting anecdotes. A small bulletin board on the wall features photos of the film's cast and crew, which influenced its current name.
Address: 46548 National Trails Hwy, Newberry Springs, CA 92365
Take a lunch break at Peggy Sue's 50's Diner
Located near Yermo, about 5 minutes from I-15, discover Peggy Sue's 50's Diner. Peggy Sue's is a unique roadside diner, built in 1954 with nine counter stools and three booths. Nestled in the shadow of the Calico Mountains, it was built with railroad ties and mortar from the nearby Union Pacific Railroad depot. The current owners arrived from Southern California in 1981 and reopened the diner in 1987, striving to preserve it in its original condition. You can see an extensive collection of film and television memorabilia.
Address: 35654 Yermo Rd, Yermo, CA 92398
Calico Ghost Town
Calico is a ghost town located in the Mojave Desert of Southern California. In 1881, four prospectors left Grapevine Station, now Barstow Station, California, to head northeast to a mountain range they named Calico and the village overlooking it. The four prospectors discovered silver there and opened the Silver King Mine, which became California's largest silver producer by the mid-1880s. At its peak, the town had over 500 silver mines, producing several million dollars' worth of silver ore annually, and had a population of 3,500. Today, it has been converted into a regional park called Calico Ghost Town. It is located near Yermo, 10 minutes from I-15.
Did you say Zzyzx ?
Located near Baker, about 10 minutes off I15, discover Zzyzx, a town in San Bernardino County, California. The name Zzyzx was given in 1944 by Curtis Howe Springer so that it would be the last in the English language. He built the Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa in 1944 on federal land after the mining concessions were closed. He used the spring to bottle water for travelers seeking relief from the desert heat. He also brought in animals from all over the country to attract tourists to his ranch. Today it is a university desert research center. You will find a few tables and restrooms there, as well as signs explaining the unusual history of this site. Please note that the road is unpaved for about 500 feet.
Take a picture next to the world's largest thermometer
Located in Baker, along I-15, discover the world's largest thermometer. It measures 41 meters (134 feet), weighs some 35 tons, and actually measures the ambient temperature. It also commemorates a record temperature recorded in Death Valley: 134 degrees Fahrenheit (57 degrees Celsius). That was on July 10, 1913. A great way to immortalize the temperature while you cross the desert. You'll also probably want to stop by the Alien Fresh Jerky store, which specializes in little green men housed in a large ship-like building. You won't regret your stop.
Discovering a legendary car
In early 1934, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow stole a Ford V8 and drove it across the Midwest, robbing and killing people. The spree ended when police officers shot through the car (and Bonnie and Clyde) with more than 100 bullets. Since then, the location of the "Bonnie and Clyde Death Car" has often been as difficult to find as it was when its drivers were alive. Today, you can see the car and some of the couple's belongings at Buffalo Bill's Resort and Casino in Primm, off I-15, Nevada.
Experience the atmosphere of a real Saloon
Ten minutes off I-15 is a relic of the past worth a visit: The Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings and its neighboring General Store. This 100+ year old saloon, now a restaurant, will take you back to the early gold prospectors who scoured the plains of what would become Nevada in the early 1900s. It will also relive a famous Pioneer story about a deadly card game in 1915. An unemployed miner named Paul Coski was shot and killed by Joe Armstrong, the poker dealer who caught Paul cheating. The local newspaper headline and coroner's report are displayed in the saloon on the original tin wall with three full-penetration holes, which many believe to be the original bullet holes from the shooting.
Take an art break in the desert.
Seven Magic Mountains is a work by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, located off Interstate 15, approximately 10 miles south of Las Vegas, Nevada. Comprised of seven towers of colorful stacked rocks, each over 30 feet tall, Seven Magic Mountains is a creative expression of the human presence in the Mojave Desert, punctuating it with a poetic burst of form and color. The exhibition opened on May 11, 2016, and was originally intended to be on display for two years. Due to the incredible success of Seven Magic Mountains since its opening, artist Ugo Rondinone expressed a strong desire to explore ways to preserve the artwork at its current location.
