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Your Southwest Desert Road Trip: 6 Lessons to Rock It

Plants like this Joshua Tree in the Mohave desert, Nevada, is one of the sights you'll see on your Southwest desert road trip; photo by snyfer.

Where did everybody go?

That’s a question that popped into my mind more than once on my recent road trip through the American Southwest. Mile after mile I saw hills, mountains, Joshua trees, shrubs, and zero people.

That’s the special geography of the desert southwest: Large areas of land with low population, long distances between cities, dry-to-the-extreme weather. All of these factors together can make a Southwest desert road trip a unique and unforgettable experience.

This post is all about making your desert road trip unique and unforgettable for the RIGHT reasons.

Below are 6 lessons I learned on my Southwest road trip with takeaways you can use to make your own a blast.

Applying them will help you make the absolute most of your trip . . . super-fun.

Not applying them could leave you on the side of the road, hungry, you thirsting for water and your car thirsting for gas . . . no fun at all.

6 SOUTHWEST DESERT ROAD TRIP LESSONS

1. Road signs lie.

Just because a town’s name appears on a road sign doesn’t mean anyone actually lives there.

Road sign, Mina, NV

Many of these places, like Mina, NV, are little more than ghost towns. That means nowhere to get gas or a meal.

If you do come across a town just large enough to have a restaurant or gas station, it may not be open at the time of day you happen to be passing through.

TAKEAWAY: Fill up on gas, good food, and fresh water whenever you can.

2. Country music can save your life.

Listen to the lyrics of some country tunes and you can’t help but stay awake behind the wheel, the stories are so over the top.

Besides Mexican music, country may be the only genre of music you’ll find in many localities you drive through in the Southwest.

Whether you’re a country music fan or not, titles like, “You Look Like I Need a Drink” tend to catch your attention. At least, it did mine.

And there’s nothing like hearing Carrie Underwood describe how she “took a Louisville slugger to both headlights” of her cheatin’ ex’s truck to keep you entertained and alert with eyes on the road.

Oh, the drama.

TAKEAWAY: Either head out for the trip loaded up with your favorite tunes or prepare to return home well-schooled in …um, alternative methods of dealing with those difficult relationships.

3) Gluten-free fare is rare. (I know, I’m such a poet!)

When it comes to maintaining a gluten-free diet, it’s strictly BYOM ~ Bring Your Own Munchies.

Merchants in low populated towns and cities don’t stock certified gluten-free products; there’s just not enough of us gluten-sensitive or celiacs to warrant it.

Only in large cities will you find eateries and shops, such as Whole Foods and others, serving certified gluten-free food.

TAKEAWAY: Bring along a stash of gluten-free snacks to hold you over during those long stretches between larger cities. And compile a list of places serving gluten-free food near or along your proposed route.

One such place I experienced this trip is Black Bear Diner in Goodyear, Arizona. Restaurants in the Black Bear Diner chain customize meals for the gluten sensitive, substituting or removing menu items upon request. They also offer gluten-free options for foods typically containing the stuff. These include an ice-cream and chocolate syrup topped brownie called “Sugar Bear’s Lava Cake” . . . this I did not have. And a honey Dijon salad dressing and BBQ pork ribs slathered with “gluten-free” barbecue sauce.  This I did have. 

Black Bear Diner salad.

BBQ Pork Ribs, Black Bear Diner.

4) The desert is not always hot.

Whatever the daytime temperature, overnight temperatures in the desert can be up to 40 degrees cooler.

And desert daytime weather is never ONE particular way or the other.

After a little while out there, you come to learn Nevada air can feel extra dry, Southern California mornings can feel extra cool, Southern New Mexico’s afternoon sun can be extra intense, and Arizona winds can blow you into next week.

With gusts strong enough to pick up that desert sand and throw it in your face and hair, force you to pull off the road until it clears.

One Arizona morning, the wind was wailing so loud, I asked a hotel receptionist if this was typical for the season.

The young brunette smiled and nodded, ”This time of year when it’s windy, we’re saying, ‘Stop the wind.’ Then in the summer and you’re burning up, it’s so hot, we’re saying, ‘Where is the wind?’ ”

Then she paused and added, “Welcome to hell!”

Actually, this was my welcome to Kingman, Arizona ~ but you get the point. The weather is changeable, so come prepared.

TAKEAWAY: Pack a hooded jacket no matter what time of year you’re traveling.

5) Good coffee is crucial.

The desert is no place to be a coffee snob.

When you’re traveling a minimum of 250 miles a day, with cities and filling stations far apart, you learn to keep that gas tank full.

In the same way, you’ll want to refuel your own tank with caffeine to drive all those miles.

Coffee sign on a truck.

The 300-mile drive between Las Vegas and Fallon, NV felt like the longest of the trip with not a coffee bar in sight, not even a Starbucks.

Were it not for morning coffee at the Mizpah Hotel . . . well, I just don’t know.

TAKEAWAY: Learn to get happy whenever those golden arches of McDonald’s come into view. Not just for the trip to the loo but for the hot cup of java available to you.

6) Good company is essential.

Sharing the ride with your best friend, as I did, is ideal. But a close friend works, too.

Now if that friend not only cranks up the radio when her favorite song comes on but sings along with it ~ THAT is a bonus.

It’s cool to be traveling with someone, making new memories, while you’re enjoying old memories together with those songs.

And oh, yeah, it’s good not to have to do all the driving yourself.

TAKEAWAY: Way in advance of your Southwest desert road trip, make friends with people who like to drive and ~ if at all possible ~ know how to sing.

On a desert road trip, staying power is the key in so many areas.  

Use these takeaways and, throughout your trip, you will stay:

  • aware of your surroundings, how far you are from the closest city and the services it provides should you need them;
  • well-hydrated;
  • mentally alert and on the road;
  • well-fed and healthy;
  • warm and protected from the elements;
  • in a great mood.

Time to hit the road!

If you’re planning a desert road trip or know someone who is, did I leave anything out you’d like to know?

PHOTO CREDIT

Featured image, Joshua Tree in Mohave, by Snyfer

Filed Under: Destinations, North America, Road trips and scenic drives Tagged With: road tripping, travel tips

5 (+1) Northern California Places & Plates for Your Road Trip

Golden Gate Bridge (viewed from Marin Headlands), one of several Northern California places you'll want to photograph again and again.

QUESTION: Is or isn’t California in the Southwest?

ANSWER: Yes.

Depends on who you talk to. According to the map alone, California is in the southwest.

Yet when you consider the characteristics California shares with states undeniably southwest such as Arizona and New Mexico ~ warm and dry climate, relatively sparse population ~ only the southeastern portion of the state qualifies.

Nevertheless, your Western road-trip could take you through Northern California, so YOU’VE GOT TO KNOW about the terrific food waiting for you there.

Friends I visit with there are champion foodies, so we tend to feast day and night, and I’m able to do a lot of . . . sampling.

But whether or not you know someone who lives in the Bay Area, here’s how you can do the same. With ideas on things to do before or after your fab meal, take a look at my

Top Five Northern California Places & Plates

  • MIMI’S CAFE, Roseville ~ Comfortable, elegant and COLORFUL French bistro-style restaurant, It’s the place to be for Saturday brunch, with conversation buzzing all around. Like seafood? Then order the moules-frites ~ mussels with fries ~ as I did; they will not disappoint. Such beautiful mussels and hand-cut, sea-salted fries. Terrific service ~ our server knew the menu, kept in touch with us just enough, and left us alone with friends to talk and talk some more . . . no one rushes here.

Moules-frites with crostini, Mimi's Cafe in Roseville near Sacramento, one of 5 (+1) Northern California places to visit.

SPECIAL BECAUSE . . . the place is “FRITES-CENTRAL.” The fries taste phenomenal on their own. Yet you can pair them up with a variety of meats besides mussels: beer-battered fish, grilled chicken, grilled salmon, and a New York strip for a classic steak-frites.

TO DO: See restored trains, learn history at the California State Railroad Museum ~ not at all as dry as it sounds.

  • WOODEN CHARCOAL KOREAN BARBECUE HOUSE, San Francisco ~  The banquet begins when you order your favorite combination of meats  . . . we chose pork, rib eye steak, and bacon. Then the server sets before you dish after dish of banchan, those little-of-everything plates of food that “make” a Korean meal. Then once she lights the coals and delivers the GENEROUS portions of meat, you barbecue them yourself. Cook, eat, drink, cook some more ~ so good. Service is quick, though not so attentive. There was that excessive smoke that had our friend, Karen, in tears   before we got our cook-eat routine under control. But in the end, this was the MOST DELICIOUS Korean barbecue I’ve had in a long while. 

Wooden Charcoal Korean Barbecue House in San Francisco, one of 5 (+1) Northern California places to visit.

SPECIAL BECAUSE . . . of the banchan, including fishcakes, kimchi, yum and naturally gluten-free shirataki noodles, radish, hot peppers . . . all full of flavor and, like the meat, in good quantity.

TO DO: Hang out with the Sea Lions at Pier 39 with fellow sea lion watchers from all over.

Watching Sea Lions at San Francisco's Pier 39, one of 5 (+1) Northern California places to go.

  • THAI SMILE, San Rafael ~ small, pretty restaurant in a small, pretty city north of San Francisco. What makes it special is the lady in charge knows how to cook. Don’t be shy when asking about specials. That’s how I got to enjoy a de-lish catfish and jasmine rice dish NOT on the menu. Meanwhile, hubby L. declared his pork chops the BEST he has EVER had. And, believe me, the man knows from pork chops.

Thai catfish (in a banana leaf wrap) with jasmine rice at Thai Smile in San Rafael, one of 5 (+1) Northern California places to visit.

Thai pork chops with jasmine rice at Thai Smile in San Rafael, one of 5 (+1) Northern California places to visit.

SPECIAL BECAUSE . . . the atmosphere feels cozy, unpretentious, and  . . . relaxed. Thai Smile’s location is further north from San Francisco than say, Sausalito, so you’ll be dining in the company of locals rather than tourists. Good food, no crowds.

TO DO:  Visit the Marin County Civic Center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Controversial for its blue roof and pink stucco walls, the Civic Center has been a National Historic Landmark since 1991 and may soon be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  • BARREL HOUSE, Sausalito ~ Cool, contemporary yet cozy is the vibe at this waterfront eatery serving American food with a touch of French to make things interesting. I chose roast chicken atop mashed potatoes seasoned with bacon and dijon mustard. Oh yeah. The chicken, with the tasty appetizers that came before, would have been enough. But then the people in charge did something that put Barrel House on my list of “absolute fave restaurants” when they offered us complimentary desserts because they had been late with one dish, so not all of us received our plates at the exact same time. What, among other goodies, did we choose? Why, strawberry cheesecake, of course!

Roast chicken dish, Barrel House, in Sausalito ~ one of 5 (+1) Northern California places for great meal.

Cheesecake, The Barrel House, Sausalito ~ sweet surprise from one of 5 (+1)Northern California places to eat GOOD food.

SPECIAL BECAUSE . . .  the waterfront location makes Barrel House THE place to enjoy great food and San Francisco Bay views at the same time.  You can see from the city of Oakland across the bay to San Francisco, connected by the Bay Bridge ~one of the longest suspension bridges in the U.S. In between the two cities you also see Angel Island ~ “the Ellis Island of the West” ~ Treasure Island, Alcatraz Island, and San Francisco’s northeast shore. Then it’s time for shopping in Sausalito.

San Francisco Bay, with Alcatraz Island at center, as viewed from in front of Barrel House, Sausalito, one of 5 (+1) Northern California places to fine dine.

The waterfront in Sausalito, one of 5 (+1) Northern California places where you'll find great food.

TO DO: See Alcatraz Island up close. You may already know the island is the site of a (now-closed) maximum security prison that once housed the likes of Depression Era bad guys Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. (The prison tour, is hands on and great fun, by the way.) But did you know Alcatraz is also a seabird sanctuary? Alcatraz Island is super popular so to reserve your place, buy your cruise ticket at least a day IN ADVANCE. And take care to dress for the day with layers of warm clothing AND a jacket because it is C-O-L-D out there. (Hard to have fun when you can’t stop shivering.)

  • THE COUNTER, Corte Madera ~ One in a chain of upbeat and stylish burger joints where you create your own customized gourmet burger. They use the term “gourmet” because the ingredients are quality ~ the beef is grass-fed, for instance. Also because many of those ingredients are unusual additions to a burger, like the smoked gouda I chose to top my burger. What a delicious surprise!  To build your meal, you choose from a generous list of burgers ~ which includes “lamburger” ~ sauces, cheeses, toppings, sides, and buns. Actually, if you choose to have your burger on a bed of salad greens as I did, your choice of “bun” need not be a bun at all. One visit here and you may not ever go back to simple cheddar ~ or just ketchup ~again.

Gourmet burger, The Counter in Corte Madera, one of 5 (+1) Northern California places for good eats.

SPECIAL BECAUSE . . . it has a gluten-free menu offering hundreds of delicious burger combinations.

And if you’re after a super-special experience in Corte Madera and time is NOT of the essence, head to this bonus plate location. . .

  • BURMATOWN, Corte Madera ~ The numbers of people outside this restaurant at dinnertime, all waiting for a table, might give you the idea they’re serving something inside worth waiting for. And you’d be right. Once inside, you’ll be enjoying some of the tastiest Burmese food in the Bay Area with fresher than fresh ingredients. Plate after plate. And almost as intriguing as the flavors in these Asian fusion dishes is the way the servers prepare it for you at tableside. Before ever lifting a bite to your mouth, you’ve tasted it with your eyes. Order Burmatown’s tea leaf salad, one of the house specialties, and you’ll see what I mean. For a “taste” right now, see the video below.
burmatown-tea-leaf-salad

SPECIAL BECAUSE . . . . the atmosphere is lively, abuzz with people talking excitedly about the food as much as anything else. And at least half of the menu options, including the tea leaf salad, are available gluten-free.

TO DO: Head for Marin Headlands on the Pacific coast. Birdwatch, picnic, and take your fill of photographs of the Golden Gate Bridge from one of the best vantage points on the Bay. (Just as I did for this article’s featured image.)

So there you have five sets of Northern California places and plates for an all-around sweet travel experience.

Both Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area offer all kinds of activities to help you work up an appetite. And whatever kind of food you have an appetite for, whether French-inspired, Korean, Thai, American, or anything-but-basic burgers ~ they’ve got that, too.

What delicious combination of attractions and eateries would you choose to start ~ or end ~ your road trip?

Filed Under: Attractions and Events, Destinations, Dishes, North America, Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: California restaurants, gluten-free, Northern California, road tripping, travel tips

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