Hottest, driest, lowest: Death Valley is a land of extremes. But this valley is also a land of subtle beauties: morning light creeping across eroded badlands, lengthening shadows on sand dunes, and the colors of myriad wildflowers. Travelers who come during the cool season will find an enormous stretch of land to explore.

Joshua Tree National Park protects two unique desert climates in south central California, as well as palm oases, exotic rock formations, and the rare Joshua Tree.

San Bernardino marks the eastern end of the Inland Empire, the 50 mile corridor of urban area between here and Los Angeles. The city has a diverse and largely working class community. Several annual events, including the Route 66 Rendezvous classic car festival, attract visitors from around the country.

The Sierra Nevada of eastern California are one of the country's most astounding treasures. These mountains are wild: wild geology, with glaciers and volcanoes, wild animal life like the state bear and the golden eagle, and even wild plant life in the immense sequoia forests. Encompassing three national parks, six national forests, and thousands of square miles of other protected areas, the Sierra Nevada is one of the largest islands of scenic wilderness remaining in the United States.