USA Road Trip 2023 - Part 1 (page 5 of 9)

KELSO DUNES TRAIL - MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE - CALIFORNIA

The Kelso Dunes Trail is a sandy 4.7-kilometer round-trip hike that leads to the top of the Kelso Dunes, which rise over 182 meters high.

For thousands of years, the wind has swept sand from the nearby Mojave River and carried it to the mountains, forming the stunning dunes we see today.

We thought we’d make it to the top of the dunes, but walking in the soft sand is especially exhausting. We settled for hiking just a section of the trail and instead explored the many dune shapes the wind has formed along the way.

Check out this site for more info about the park: https://www.nps.gov/moja/index.htm

34.89238, -115.69892 Parking and trailhead 34.89230, -115.69902 Dune summit

https://youtu.be/c-6QBEgyYMI

HOLE-IN-THE-WALL RINGS TRAIL - MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE

The Hole-in-the-Wall Rings Trail is a 1.4-mile loop trail located in Mojave National Preserve in California.

The clockwise start of the trail is easy and lets you observe a great variety of cacti as well as stunning rock formations.

However, the going gets tougher in the canyon, which is very narrow, as you’ll need to climb large boulders and use two sets of rings anchored into the rocks to help you scale steep sections.

35.04177, -115.39635 Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center - Friday to Monday 10 AM to 4 PM 35.04200, -115.39506 Parking lot and trailhead 35.04274, -115.39978 Right turn 35.04409, -115.39802 Right turn - Back to the parking lot

https://youtu.be/W157bqskkM8

VISITING MITCHELL CAVERNS - MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE

Mitchell Caverns are located in the Mojave National Preserve in the state of California.

When we visited, they could only be explored by making a reservation over the phone (760-928-2586). However, the process has changed. Reservations are now made online via the website reservecalifornia.com.

When booking online, simply select "Providence Mountains SRA" under the category and choose a day when the park is open.

As an alternative to the website above, you can also call Reserve California at 1-800-444-7275 or go directly to the site to check if there are any available spots for the tour.

Fees are charged for the guided tour as well as for the daily park entry.

It’s recommended to arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time, which gives us time to explore the small visitor center and the surrounding area.

When the tour time arrived, a guide gathered the group of visitors and told us the story of the Mitchell family, who once ran this site.

They moved to this location in 1934. Mr. Mitchell developed the 35 km road leading to the site from Route 66. He built stone buildings and personally organized the tours of these caverns.

They left in 1954, after 20 years of operation, when they were both 70 years old. The site was then sold to the California State Parks system.

After sharing this story, the guide invited us to follow him on the 700-meter trail leading to the entrance of the caverns.

We stopped several times along the way to learn more about the plant and animal life, as well as the gold mines that were once in this region.

After crossing a pedestrian bridge, we had to climb a hill to reach the entrance of the caverns.

Inside, there are stairs, small tunnels, and large chambers that allow us to admire the stunning formations.

The return to the Visitor Center is via the same trail.

34.94364, -115.51349 Visitor Center 34.93840, -115.51230 Caverns

https://youtu.be/QoQHrD1YgrU

DANTE'S VIEW - DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - CALIFORNIA

Dante's View is a scenic overlook located in Death Valley National Park in California.

It offers stunning panoramic views of the Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, as well as several mountain ranges.

The best time to enjoy the view is in the morning when the sun is still in the east.

Location: 36.22057, -116.72661

Check out this site for more info about the park: https://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm

https://youtu.be/zJVGh0A-K0Q

ZABRISKIE POINT - DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - CALIFORNIA

Zabriskie Point is a viewpoint located in Death Valley National Park in the state of California, USA. It's easily accessible since it's just 250 meters from the parking lot.

This viewpoint offers stunning views of the badlands below. The badlands you see are eroded hills with vibrant colors, created by the force of water. The landscape is breathtaking.

36.42078, -116.81009 Start of the trail 36.42010, -116.81230 Viewpoint

https://youtu.be/doPuGwaHaZo

GOLDEN CANYON - DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - CALIFORNIA

Golden Canyon Trail is an easy 4.6-kilometer round-trip hike in a pretty canyon located in Death Valley National Park in California.

The canyon is very colorful, with high vertical walls and spectacular ripples formed long ago by runoff water.

You can continue the hike to the fluted walls of a natural amphitheater called "Red Cathedral." The extra distance to get there is about 125 meters. However, this involves climbing and squeezing through rocky spaces.

36.420713, -116.846627 Parking and trailhead 36.427530, -116.827326 End of the trail

https://youtu.be/9dxQqkg5P3E

ARTISTS DRIVE & ARTISTS PALETTE - DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - CALIFORNIA

Artists Drive is a scenic one-way road about 14 kilometers long located in Death Valley National Park in California. The route winds through canyons and mountains covered in vibrant colors.

Several overlooks have been set up along the road to offer different viewpoints of the landscape, which is absolutely stunning.

After driving about 7 kilometers, you’ll reach Artists Palette. This is where the colors are most vibrant. The rainbow-colored hills were formed by volcanic deposits of different compositions.

A trail of about 300 meters starts near the parking area and lets you get closer to these multicolored hills.

36.32985, -116.82973 Start 36.33234, -116.80629 Overlook 1 36.33264, -116.80291 Overlook 2 (about 300 meters round trip) 36.34206, -116.79360 Overlook 3 36.34910, -116.79360 Overlook 4 36.35510, -116.79540 Overlook 5 36.35720, -116.79679 Overlook 6 36.36351, -116.80274 Overlook 7 - Artists Palette 36.37130, -116.82060 Overlook 8 36.37306, -116.82127 Overlook 9 36.38206, -116.82171 Overlook 10 36.38424, -116.83888 Overlook 11

https://youtu.be/jrHauLI-6hY

DEVILS GOLF COURSE - DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - CALIFORNIA

Devils Golf Course is a massive dried-up lake bed that once covered the valley to a depth of 10 meters.

Several thousand years ago, the lake dried up and left behind dissolved minerals that, over time, created vast crusty salt formations.

You’re allowed to walk around these formations, but since they’re uneven and stand vertically, be careful—you could get hurt if you fall.

36.2982, -116.8120 1.2-mile gravel road 36.2860, -116.8263 Parking

https://youtu.be/QfLYIAPBOvA

NATURAL BRIDGE TRAIL - DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - CALIFORNIA

The Natural Bridge Trail is a roughly 600-meter (one-way) trail that leads to a natural stone bridge in Death Valley National Park, California.

You can reach this trail via a 2.4-kilometer gravel road, which is accessible with a standard vehicle.

The natural bridge is about a 15-minute walk from the trailhead, but it’s a steady climb the whole way. Make sure to take your time and bring plenty of water if you’re hiking it during the summer months.

As you get closer, you’ll see just how impressive this natural bridge really is.

You can continue the hike beyond the natural bridge since the trail extends about 500 meters into the canyon. It ends near a dry waterfall where most hikers turn around.

On the way back, descending toward the parking lot, you’ll enjoy a stunning view of the Badwater Basin.

36.28126, -116.76974 Parking lot and trailhead 36.28484, -116.76576 Natural Bridge

https://youtu.be/MKPJN6cJzt8

BADWATER BASIN - DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - CALIFORNIA

Badwater Basin is a vast salt desert located in Death Valley National Park in California. At 85.5 meters below sea level, it’s the lowest point in North America.

An information sign near the parking area explains that this spot was named Badwater when a traveler found water here for his thirsty mule. However, since the water was full of salt, the animal refused to drink it—hence the name Badwater.

At Badwater, heavy rainstorms periodically flood the valley floor, covering the salt flat with a thin layer of standing water. But each newly formed lake doesn’t last long because the water evaporates very quickly.

If you look at the mountain behind the parking area, you’ll notice a sign marking sea level, which is 86 meters above you. It’s pretty impressive!

The farther you walk from the observation platform (on a roughly 3 km round-trip trail), the higher the salt concentration becomes, allowing you to see geometric patterns that formed on the ground when groundwater rose through the deposits and evaporated.

The snow-white salt desert stretches for several kilometers. You can venture beyond the trail, but it’s not recommended when temperatures are high.

36.22977, -116.76729 Parking and trailhead 36.22975, -116.76745 End of the trail

https://youtu.be/LUSrvenutg8

HARMONY BORAX WORKS - DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - CALIFORNIA

Harmony Borax Works, located in Death Valley National Park in California, is home to a large part of the region's mining history.

A 600-meter loop trail has been set up around the site. You’ll find several informational panels that tell you about the mine’s operations.

You’ll learn that borax deposits were discovered in this area in 1881, and its mining became famous thanks to the use, from 1883 to 1888 (the year the company went bankrupt), of double wagons pulled by twenty mules that transported the borax over a long overland route to the nearest railroad in Mojave, California.

The trail lets you see the twenty-mule team wagon that was used to transport the borax, as well as the remains of a refinery.

Location: 36.48003, -116.87328

https://youtu.be/MNEnWlYi3UQ

DEVIL'S CORNFIELD - DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - CALIFORNIA

Devil's Cornfield is located in Death Valley National Park in the state of California. Contrary to what its name suggests, it’s not a vast cornfield but rather huge clumps of grass (Pluchea sericea) that stand well above the desert floor.

These grass clumps attracted many pioneers during the early westward expansion, who believed they were cereal crops (oats, wheat, or barley) that were called "corn" at the time.

Imagine their disappointment when they arrived and realized it wasn’t a cornfield. Thinking this illusion was the work of the devil himself, they named it Devil's Cornfield.

These plants were once used by Native Americans as medicine and in the making of arrows.

There are a few parking areas along the road that offer different views of this area. It’s important not to hike around these formations because the vegetation is fragile.

The best time to visit this spot is during the winter, as the heat isn’t excessive then.

Location: 36.6163, -117.0717

https://youtu.be/teeujAGnwMY

MESQUITE FLAT SAND DUNES - DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - CALIFORNIA

These dunes are located in Death Valley National Park in California. They aren’t the tallest dunes in the park, but they’re the most accessible and really pretty.

There’s no marked trail since the dunes are constantly shifting, so you just improvise. The hike to the top of the main dune is about 3 kilometers round-trip, but walking in the sand isn’t easy.

This spot is super popular, but given how vast the dunes are, the farther you go, the more you’ll have the place to yourself.

Sand sledding is allowed on the dunes.

Location: 36.60616, -117.11542

https://youtu.be/5qZyBMl_nzA

MOSAIC CANYON TRAIL - DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - CALIFORNIA

Mosaic Canyon Trail is a moderate 5.6-kilometer round-trip hike located in Death Valley National Park in California.

From the parking lot, the trail immediately leads into the canyon, which is quite wide at its mouth. However, after covering the first 400 meters, the canyon narrows to a first very tight passage ("narrows") that’s truly spectacular.

Flash floods carrying gravel have carved the narrow canyon and polished the smooth marble walls to a beautiful finish.

After passing through this first very photogenic section, the canyon opens up and then narrows again until you reach a huge boulder blocking the way.

Several hikers decide to turn back at this point, while the more adventurous climb the boulder to access the continuation of the trail, which leads to another uniquely sculpted narrow passage.

Progressing through this tight section is a bit more challenging, and we sometimes had to climb dry waterfalls several dozen centimeters high with very slippery smooth walls.

Even though we were close to the end of the route, we decided to turn back. However, I know the end of the trail is really spectacular because you reach a stunning amphitheater with a vertical dry fall 7.6 meters high.

Location: 36.57187, -117.14432

https://youtu.be/-zsi-VJJ5SY

ON THE ROAD - DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK - CALIFORNIA

Death Valley National Park is located in the state of California. It has many tourist attractions that I invite you to discover in the videos I posted earlier:

- Dantes View - Zabriskie Point - Golden Canyon Trail - Artists Drive & Artists Palette - Devils Golf Course - Natural Bridge - Badwater Basin - Harmony Borax Works - Devil's Cornfield - Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes - Mosaic Canyon

But the roads that cross this park also offer magnificent views of the stunning and varied landscape that we get to enjoy from the comfort of our car.

You’ll get a glimpse of it in this video.

https://youtu.be/5wa5nrr0nPc

CLEVELAND CLINIC LOU RUVO CENTER FOR BRAIN HEALTH - LAS VEGAS - NEVADA

The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health is a strange building located in downtown Las Vegas. It looks like a twisted strip of film!

This building, located at the corner of South Grand Central Parkway and West Bonneville Avenue, is a research center and clinic specializing in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

It was designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, who is also the creator of Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture and Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Its construction took three years, and the center officially opened its doors in 2010.

The Lou Ruvo Center is one of the leading sites for Alzheimer’s clinical trials, and in 2023, it administered its first dose of lecanemab, a treatment for early-stage Alzheimer’s.

The Lou Ruvo Center is named after a spirits and wine company executive who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1992 and passed away in 1994.

Lou Ruvo’s family had to travel outside Nevada for his treatment since no precise diagnosis could be obtained in Las Vegas. This experience led his son, Larry Ruvo, to create this center to support patients and caregivers dealing with brain diseases.

Larry Ruvo also founded the nonprofit Keep Memory Alive, which supports this center.

The building also houses the Keep Memory Alive Event Center, which hosts banquets, conferences, and weddings.

Location: 36.167186, -115.154663

Across the street is the Clark County Government Center, known for its innovative architecture.

We didn’t visit this complex, which includes not only county administration but also performing arts spaces, a law enforcement facility, a single-story auditorium, a pyramid-shaped cafeteria, and a six-story cylindrical reception hall.

However, you can see the pyramid-shaped building at the end of this video.

Location: 36.166173, -115.154699

https://youtu.be/uRAhXazbZ0E

EXPLORING DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS - NEVADA

It's in the historic district (Downtown) where you'll find the oldest casinos and hotels in Las Vegas.

The main attraction in Downtown is the Fremont Street Experience, a lively pedestrian street you can get a glimpse of in this video, but we'll cover it in more detail in the upcoming videos.

https://youtu.be/QIXepHQBA8Q

SLOTZILLA ZIPLINE - FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE - DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS - NEVADA

The main attraction in Downtown Las Vegas is the Fremont Street Experience, a lively pedestrian street located between Main Street and Las Vegas Boulevard.

If you're looking for an activity that'll give you an adrenaline rush, the SlotZilla zipline will blow you away.

This zipline is located at the corner of N Main Street and N 4th Street, and you can easily spot it since its starting point is above a giant slot machine. It's as tall as an 11-story building.

Two courses are available:

- the Zip-Zilla, in a seated position at a height of 23.5 meters, which stops halfway down Fremont Street

- the Superhero-Zoom, in a prone position at a height of 34.75 meters, flying over the entire street

You can get a preview in this video.

I suggest checking out this site if you'd like more information on this: https://vegasexperience.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=GMB

https://youtu.be/IBKhp7yJssA

VIVA VISION LIGHT SHOW 1 - FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE - DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS - NEVADA

This street is covered by the Viva Vision screen, which is the world's largest LED canopy.

The screen is suspended 27 meters above this street lined with iconic hotels and casinos.

A Sound & Light show (Viva Vision Light Show), lasting 5 to 10 minutes, is presented every hour starting at 6 PM until 2 AM, every day. The visual effects are breathtaking.

https://youtu.be/exppne-rS4k

VIVA VISION LIGHT SHOW 2 - FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE - DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS - NEVADA

Different performance in part 2.

https://youtu.be/VboXwGB3Q-k