What with all the hassles of using airports, many people going between Los Angeles and Las Vegas find it easier to drive. In the theoretical panacea of a trafficless Los Angeles, it takes only four hours or so, and almost smack dab in the middle of your journey you will find Calico, a promised land of yore. This silver town transports you back to another time, and is sure to especially tickle those with an interest in United States Western culture.
Climb to the top for a vulture’s eye view
The town’s vitality burned bright but relatively briefly, essentially going from boom to near bust over the some fifteen years from the early 1880s. Walter Knott, famous berry farmer-cum-amusement park builder, restored most of the town to its original dusty glory in the 1950s, later donating it to the state. From the top of the town, you can see that this is no amusement park, but a town that organically scaled up a hillside. It’s a great place for the kids, especially since Mr. Knott did not take his restoration efforts to the point of recreating the brothels.
All aboard for a little train ride in the Mojave Desert!
The kids will also love the little ride this train gives into the desert. While the ride is not particularly long, the tracks do lead to some desolate parts of the desertscape, and (spoiler alert!) there have been known to be some good old fashioned hold ups along those paths! What would a trip to the Old West be without a little gunfight anyway? Rest assured that the good prevails.
Get up close and personal with some of the structures
The buildings scattered about are not mere facades; you are encouraged to explore the inside of most of them, some of which house retail outlets, while others are just fun to poke around. And since you can traverse just about however you please, it shouldn’t be too hard for you to find your own personal Wild West. Just don’t stroll into the fenced off areas, because there are honest to goodness mine shafts around the town, and falling into one could put a real damper on your trip. Or life.
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Have some food, grab a momento
There are plenty of food options in Calico, and live music and beer (refrigerated, no less!) during busy times of the year. Grab a seat in the shade, and let the desert winds blow over you as you whittle away some time. On your way home, why not stop in one of the souvenir shops, like the one pictured above, where you can grab something leather or otherwise to remember your visit by?
Affordable fun for the whole family
For eight bucks a person (and a buck a dog), Calico is well worth getting off the highway. The park is open daily, but summer can be a bit oven-like, so plan accordingly. The Wild West may have been tamed, but this walk down the pathways of history is bound to be both enjoyable and memorable.
History
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