12 Mar Vegas Day Trip: Death Valley

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]The news around the West was abuzz with Death Valley’s “Super Bloom” which is a pretty rare sight. For the first time in 11 years, the national park will be home to millions of colorful flowers that will dramatically change the look of the otherwise arid desert.

Think about it. Death Valley is the hottest spot in North America with temperatures regularly reaching 120 degrees. The valley floor is below sea level. Rain seldom falls. The wind can be fierce.

It’s definitely not an environment you think about when you think wildflowers.

But every so often, a Super Bloom comes around, and you have to appreciate how hard these little flowers work to show off in such an extreme environment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″]

When conditions are right, including well-spaced rainfall and low winds, the desert becomes carpeted with wildflowers. This year, rains were gentle and penetrated deeply into the soil. The ground warmed slowly, and a moist, El Niño weather pattern kept the flowers watered as they grew.

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Maybe Pack a Lunch

Drew and I stopped off for lunch at Timbisha Village Frybread Tacos and Shave Ice. We were really looking forward to an Indian taco. But, while the line wasn’t long, the wait sure was. And to top it off (quite literally) the ground meat was bland and tasteless. The best thing we got in our order was our child’s size bag of Doritos. Once I was done trying to make the meat and toppings work, I took the remaining frybread that hadn’t been compromised with the bland meat juices and slathered it with honey and cinnamon. And that, my friends, was delish.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”16504″ img_size=”600×400″ add_caption=”yes” onclick=”link_image” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1542779510319{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-right: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”16506″ img_size=”600×400″ add_caption=”yes” onclick=”link_image” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1542779518364{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-right: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”16505″ img_size=”600×400″ add_caption=”yes” onclick=”link_image” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1542779527583{margin-top: 30px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”25px”][vc_column_text]

Rhyolite Ghost Town

One hour from the famous Badwater Basin (which is the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level), you’ll find the Rhyolite Ghost Town. Some 2,000 mining claims covered the area prompting the town’s boom into existence.

Rhyolite was the largest town in the Death Valley area with a population of 5,000-10,000 people, and buildings sprung up everywhere. During its heyday (1905-1911), it contained 2 churches, 50 saloons, 18 stores, 2 undertakers, 19 lodging houses, 8 doctors, 2 dentists, a stock exchange and an opera. These are just some of the buildings developed in those six years. The ever-popular red light district drew women from as far away as San Francisco.

By 1910, mines shuttered, banks failed, newspapers went out of business, and only 611 residents remained.

Today you can see the walls of that three-story bank building, part of the old jail, the train depot (privately owned), and the Bottle House (built by a miner in 1906 out of 50,000 beer and liquor bottles). Don’t miss the visitor’s center where a local sculpture artist has built some interesting pieces like the Lego woman featured below and a ghost interpretation of da Vinci’s Last Supper.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”16512″ img_size=”600×400″ add_caption=”yes” onclick=”link_image” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1542779536277{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-right: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”16513″ img_size=”600×400″ add_caption=”yes” onclick=”link_image” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1542779544516{margin-top: 30px !important;margin-right: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”16522″ img_size=”600×400″ add_caption=”yes” onclick=”link_image” qode_css_animation=”” css=”.vc_custom_1542779552678{margin-top: 30px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”25px”][vc_column_text]

Tips:

• Bring a camera.
• Don’t forget some sunscreen and a wide-brimmed, breathable hat. Here are some good options: Outdoor With UPF 50+, Hello Sunshine, Sun Hat Safari Hat.
• Plan your trip from October through March if you can. Death Valley is the hottest place in North America.
• Bring extra water in any season and some snacks.
• Wear comfortable shoes if you plan to hike.

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