Road Trip | Indie Campers

Las Vegas

Worth a visit:

Caesars Palace: Caesars is the crown jewel of the so-called “sin city” and is one of the last old-school Las Vegas properties still remaining.
Park Theatre: Showcasing the hottest resident performers on the strip, this showroom has hosted Lady Gaga, Cher, and Aerosmith.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area: Camping Red Rock Canyon - A natural camping in the desert mountains

Where to eat:

Other Mama ($$): Bold, Japanese-influenced fish and seafood. This is a little out of the way but well worth the trek
Ferraro’s Restaurant and Wine Bar ($$): A local favourite, this restaurant specialises in southern Italian classics.
Gordon Ramsay Steak ($$$):

Party like there’s no tomorrow

Situated in a basin on the floor of the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas is framed on all sides by mountain ranges. Most of its landscape is rocky and arid with desert vegetation and wildlife, however, the city itself is a lot greener than its surroundings.

Las Vegas is an internationally renowned resort city, known primarily for its entertainment, gambling, shopping, fine dining, and nightlife. It’s massively popular with tourists who call it the entertainment capital of the world, flocking to the city in the millions every year.

A global heavyweight in the hospitality industry, the city is renowned for its mega casino-hotels and is one of the top destinations in the country for business conventions.

Death Valley

Worth a visit:

Dante’s View: One of the best viewpoints in the valley, Dante’s View isn’t to be missed for those who like to watch the sunrise or sunset.
Zabrickie Point: Another must-see view point. This one is just a short walk from the road and is the start point of many easy hikes.
Badwater Basin: Sitting at 282 feet below sea level, this basin is the lowest point in the United States.

Where to eat:

Panamint Springs ($$): This tiny desert outpost offers awesome views and a surprisingly large craft beer selection as well as food.
Badwater Saloon ($$): Located in the heart of the park, this saloon harkens back to the gold rush era.

Experience the extremes

Established in 1994, Death Valley is the biggest national park south of Alaska and is known for its extremes. It’s the hottest and driest place in North America and has the lowest elevation on the continent. As inhospitable as this sounds, the park still sees nearly a million visitors per year.

Located in both Nevada and California, it has nearly 1,000 miles of roads crisscrossing it, providing visitors access to both remote and popular park locations.

Despite the name, Death Valley is host to a range of fauna and flora. During Spring, the valley comes to life with wildflowers, making for an exceedingly pretty landscape for visitors to enjoy.

Mojave National Preserve

Worth a visit:

Kelso Dunes: One of the most famous attractions in the park, these dunes will literally sing.
Cinder Cone Field and Lava Flows: The park sports a number of very well preserved volcanic scorias that make for an interesting visit.
Teutonia Peak trail: A moderate hike that takes you through the biggest forest of Joshua trees in the world.

Where to eat:

Pioneer Saloon ($$): This 100-year-old saloon is reminiscent of the wild west in the best possible way.
GP's Steakhouse at Primm Valley Resort ($$): An all-American steak house with a charming atmosphere.

Get back to nature

One of the largest National Preserves in the United States, Mojave National Preserve features mountains, canyons, former military outposts, and plenty of opportunities to explore year-round.

The park stretches across 1.6 million acres and sports volcanic cinder cones, Rose-colored sand dunes, Joshua tree forests, and epic carpets of wildflowers. Visitors can also explore long-abandoned mines, rock-walled military outposts, and homesteads within its bounds.

For those wanting a break from city life, this national preserve is just the ticket. There’s no entrance fee to the park, either.

Los Angeles

Worth a visit:

Hollywood Sign: The Hollywood sign is one of the most recognisable tourist attractions in the world and isn’t to be missed if you’re in LA.
The Getty Center: The main branch of the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Getty Center is host to a staggering variety of art.
Venice: An eccentric neighborhood, the world-famous Venice is both cosmopolitan and independent.

Where to eat:

République ($$): An all-day cafe that serves sumptuous menu items and old-world charm.
Bestia ($$$): A refined, multiregional tour through Italy under the supervision of one of LA’s best chefs.

Lap up the luxury

Los Angeles is one of the most visited cities in the world. Home to the glitz and glam of Hollywood, it has a reputation far and wide for housing the rich and famous. But that’s not all it is. It’s also the second-largest city in the United States and one of the most culturally diverse.

There is so much to see and experience in LA, from world-class museums to epic restaurants and nightlife. Whether you’re a history buff, a celebrity aficionado, or a foodie, you’ll find something to keep you occupied in Los Angeles.

Las Vegas

Party like there’s no tomorrow

Death Valley

Experience the extremes

Mojave National Preserve

Get back to nature

Los Angeles

Lap up the luxury

Las Vegas to Los Angeles