Cabazon Dinosaurs
Many recognize the dino duo Mr. Rex and Dinny from Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. But this roadside attraction boasts more than 50 lifelike dinosaurs. Climb inside Dinny’s belly to browse the gift shop and pick up a prehistoric souvenir.
Photo courtesy visit greater palm springs
Salvation Mountain
Built over three decades by evangelist Leonard Knight, this 50-foot-tall technicolor mound near the Salton Sea is a folk art landmark made of adobe, straw, and tens of thousands of gallons of paint. Tunnels inside the mound open to small gallery spaces.
Sky Art Sculpture Garden
More than 130 larger-than-life metal sculptures by Ricardo Breceda rise from the sand in Borrego Springs. Snap a photo of the 350-foot sea serpent or the massive bighorn sheep frozen mid-battle.
Photo courtesy noah purifoy outdoor desert art museum
Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum
This open-air menagerie in Joshua Tree showcases over 100 works by late assemblage artist Noah Purifoy, who turned discarded materials into sculptures. Free from dawn to dusk.
Photo ken howard via alamy
Giant Rock
Towering seven stories high in the Landers desert, Giant Rock has long drawn curious minds. Indigenous communities considered it sacred. Ufologists claimed it was a beacon for alien contact. Today, it’s a geological mystery and frequent stop for stargazers.
