By Allison Fitts & Lillian Robinson
The Coachella Valley (just 2.5 hours from the Escape LA camper van rental location) is the perfect place for a road trip, especially in the winter months. Areas that reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer are now close to perfection in the 70s. There are several great pit stops to cover on our Coachella Valley road trip guide.
Earlier this month, we took a weekend trip to Palm Springs, CA to make the trek to Joshua Tree National Park. It’s our 11th National Park and has been on our radar to visit for a long time. Little did we know, the surrounding areas turned out to be the most magical parts of the trip.
Here are a couple of stops and things to do that we recommend for a weekend getaway that’s full of nature with a heavy dose of strange!
Salvation Mountain
If you’re road tripping in the Coachella Valley area, it’s a MUST to drive out to Salvation Mountain. This was first on our Coachella Valley road trip guide and it did not disappoint. A colorful oasis in the desert, this spot created by the late Leonard Knight has been around for decades.
Over 16 layers of paint, plaster and other miscellaneous materials comprise a playground of wonder that you can scramble around and take photos on. Stand atop the magnificent structure and soak in the joy of it all! Whether you’re religious or not, this spot is awe-inspiring.
Slab City
Right near Salvation Mountain is Slab City, a collective of people who live in an artistic haven for part of the year. It is a community unlike any other in most ways, but explore the area and you’ll find some of the hallmarks of a “traditional” community – a community bulletin board, people exchanging goods, social gatherings. It’s worth a drive through to see some of the art installations and interesting signs.The Salton Sea and its Communities
On your trek to or from Salvation Mountain, stop in at the tiny town of Bombay Beach to walk the shore of the Salton Sea. The views are great, and the story of the sea’s origin is downright fascinating. The Salton Sea is a manmade body of water, created by accident back in 1905. After a brief period of booming tourism success in the 1950s and 1960s, the area became all but abandoned after it was overtaken by pollution, increase salinity and dead fish carcasses.
As you walk on the shores of Bombay Beach and other seaside communities today, you’ll realize that you are crunching those aforementioned fish bones. It also means that the smell of the air in these parts leaves something to be desired.
You may be thinking to yourself, wow, they’re reaaaaalllly selling this area. I want to go now *eye roll*… But hear us out–it’s worth it. It is like being on another planet. You can see for miles on end, and it’s crazy to think that just a few decades ago, this area was bustling and full of life.
