Weird Day Trips from Los Angeles: Haunted Ships, Desert Aliens, Giant Dinosaurs, Ghost Towns, Oddball Beach Stops, and Strange Southern California ... ... (SparkTrail Weird America Series Book 58)

Discover the strange side of Southern California, where a simple drive from Los Angeles can lead to haunted ships, giant dinosaurs, Danish windmills, desert prophets, alien architecture, ghost towns, and an island filled with bison. Weird Day Trips from Los Angeles is a funny, story-packed travel guide to the region’s most unusual destinations. Explore Catalina Island, Solvang, Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, Pasadena, Long Beach, Laguna Beach, the Salton Sea, Calico Ghost Town, Route 66, and many more wonderfully odd places. Along the way, you’ll uncover bizarre history, local legends, movie locations, roadside attractions, strange art, haunted landmarks, unusual food stories, and real places that sound completely invented. You’ll also find practical advice for dealing with traffic, parking, desert heat, ferry schedules, coastal weather, and the emotional challenge of returning to Los Angeles on a Sunday evening. Inside you’ll discover: • Catalina Island’s unexpected herd of bison • The haunted history of the Queen Mary • Solvang’s full commitment to pretending it is Denmark • Joshua Tree’s UFO legends and mysterious Integratron • Salvation Mountain and the strange art of Bombay Beach • Cabazon’s enormous roadside dinosaurs • Pasadena’s connection to rockets and occult history • Calico’s transformation from mining town to Old West attraction • Quick trips for travelers with limited time and patience • The best weird photo stops throughout Southern California Whether you live in Los Angeles, are visiting California, or simply enjoy strange stories and unconventional adventures, this book will help you escape the ordinary without completely escaping traffic. Pack water, charge your phone, and bring snacks. Southern California is about to get wonderfully weird.