Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
land State Park (Lancaster Rd, at 210th St W; sunrise-sunset) , 5 miles west, has an un-
trammeled interpretive trail leading through precious stands of Joshua trees.
East of Lancaster, Antelope Valley Indian Museum ( 661-942-0662;
www.avim.parks.ca.gov ; Ave M, btwn 150th & 170th Sts; adult/child under 12yr $3/free; 11am-4pm
Sat & Sun) displays Native-American artifacts from around California and the Southwest.
There is first-come, first-served camping among Joshua trees and desert-tortoise habitat at
nearby Saddleback Butte State Park ( 661-942-0662; www.parks.ca.gov ; 170th St E, south
of Ave J; tent & RV sites $20) , about 17 miles east of Lancaster.
Budget motels line Sierra Hwy, east of downtown Lancaster and Hwy 14. The retro
1950s Town House Motel ( 661-942-1195; www.townhouselancaster.com ; 44125 Sierra Hwy; r
$60-70; ) has clean, simple rooms.
Downtown Lancaster has a quaint, tree-lined main street along Lancaster Ave, lined
with plaques commemorating test pilots. Lemon Leaf Cafe ( 661-942-6500;
www.lemonleaf.com ; 653 W Lancaster Blvd; mains $10-20; 7am-9pm Mon-Thu & Sat, to 10pm Fri)
dishes generous portions of market-fresh Mediterranean salads such as the cranberry tur-
key cobb, grilled panini sandwiches, pastas and pizzas, plus a nicely tangy lemon tart. Bex
( 661-945-2399; www.bexgrill.com ; 706 W Lancaster Bl) is a cavernous, all-purpose bar and
grill with burgers, pizzas, a music hall and bowling alley.
Mojave
Driving north on Hwy 14, Mojave (population 4238) is the first stop on the 'Aerospace
Triangle' that also includes Boron and Ridgecrest. The modest town is home to a huge air-
force base as well as the country's first commercial space port, and has witnessed major
moments in air- and space-flight history.
The storied Edwards Air Force Base ( 661-277-3511; www.edwards.af.mil ) is a flight-
test facility for the US Air Force, NASA and civilian aircraft, and a training school for test
pilots with the 'right stuff'. It was from here that Chuck Yeager piloted the world's first su-
personic flight, and where the first space shuttles glided in after their missions. Free five-
hour tours of the on-base flight museum and NASA flight research center are usually giv-
en on the first and third Fridays of the month. Reservations are essential and must be made
at least 14 days in advance (30 days for non-US citizens).
Search WWH ::




Custom Search