Death Valley received its unfortunate name many years ago when a party of pioneers made a decision to go through the Valley on their way to California. As they traveled through this dangerous region, one of their party members died. All of the other members of the group made it through safely but the legend says that there was a particular member of the group who coined the expression, “Goodbye, Death Valley” as they left.
If you believe in this legend then you will appreciate that even though this area is extremely dangerous, it is also considered one of the most beautiful National Parks in the United States. Today, however, a trip into this unique Valley will not be dangerous at all as long as you are prepared. In fact, there are some awesome unique experiences in Death Valley that you will not find anywhere else.
To complete your Death Valley bucket list experience will require a 4 hour trip by car from Los Angeles, California. If you leave from Las Vegas, your Death Valley bucket list experience will only be a two-hour trip. The best way to get there from California is by using Highway 190. Some of the wonders that you will encounter while visiting Death Valley include a soak in a natural Hot Spring, a visit to a real ghost town, lively desert wildlife, delightful desert blooms, epic landscapes, and towering sand dunes.
For example, at Badwater Basin, you are 86 m below sea level. This makes it definitely the lowest point in North America. Right beside the basin, you will see Telescope Peak which rises over 3000 m above sea level. If you want to do a photo shoot, then this is the perfect spot.
Of course, any trip to Death Valley would be incomplete without visiting the towering sand dunes. There are 5 different sand dunes that you can experience. You may even be able to take a moonlit night tour offered by the Park Rangers. If you are fortunate, you might even encounter some of the wildlife that scurries around during the nighttime.
Most people do not realize that there are more than 1000 plant species throughout Death Valley. The plant life in Death Valley is truly unique. If you have an opportunity to visit between mid-February and early June, you will be in for a spectacular blossom experience that is not found anywhere else. Other interesting side trips should include a visit to a real ghost town and a relaxing soak in a Natural Hot Spring.
Related posts:
Embarking on a road trip is something that everyone should do at some point. It is a great experience that you can learn a lot from. This is especially true if you are going to be heading out on a West Coast road trip. In this article, we will discus...
Yosemite National Park can be visited in summer but the peak season is from October to April and the best time of the year to visit Yosemite is from November to April. Yosemite is a popular destination for those looking for great photography and natu...
If you are someone that enjoys going camping, you are going to want to learn about some Mono Lake camping hacks that you can implement to use on your next trip. Below, we will be going over some of the best camping hacks. Best Mono Lake Camping Ha...
Arizona is a gorgeous state that has a stunning number of truly beautiful places worth a serious visit. In fact, it's not out of line to say that Arizona really is underrated when it comes to the sheer number of outstanding road trips available to tr...
One of the most famous parks in the United States is Yellowstone National Park, located in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, and established in March 1972. The park is approximately 3,500 square miles, and it is located on the top of a volcanic hot spot. T...
There are a number of national parks in the US, which can make it difficult to keep up with the facts on all of them. With that said, many people do not know much about Death Valley National Park. If you are a history buff, or you are just plain curi...