This 21+ bar & night club claims to be the High Desert's largest nightclub and dance venue, not that there's much competition.

Route 66 arcana -- including artifacts from the famous Hula Ville in Hesperia -- are displayed with pride.

Dedicated in 2000 in the historic Harvey House in Barstow, the museum displays a collection of historic photographs and artifacts related to Route 66 and the Mojave Desert Communities.

The aptly named Devil's Punchbowl is a spectacular geological formation that looks like a huge, jagged rock bowl. The 1,310-acre park includes the punchbowl, other rugged wilderness rock formations along the San Andreas Fault, a seasonal stream, several hiking and equestrian trails, picnic areas and a small nature center.

The terrain is diverse, ranging from desert plants to pine trees, as the elevation ranges from 4,200 feet to 6,500 feet. Rock climbing is a popular sport here, whether you are interested in merely climbing on boulders or scaling sheer rock walls. There are several hiking trails of different difficulties. A hike down into the punchbowl and back up along a looping trail takes about 30 minutes.

The small nature center contains a few preserved animals and displays about the region. A few owls and hawks live in cages outside the center. -- Susan Peterson

Built in the 1940s, this diner was the inspiration for Allison Anders' 1988 film "Baghdad Cafe," and now, tourists flock to the eatery, which serves traditional American diner food such as burgers, sandwiches and chicken-fried steak.

Yucca Bowl has 24 lanes with automatic scoring, bumper lanes for the kids, a video arcade, a pro shop, snack bar and lounge. Bowling fun for the whole family.

A 6,000 year-old, 250-foot-high crater with a footpath that allows visitors to hike to the top of the cone and view the surrounding area. This is a 2 to 3 hour hike. From late January through March, the wildflowers are in bloom.

One of the best things about living in L.A. is that you can easily escape the concrete madness to whatever type of wilderness you are in the mood for: ocean, mountains, pine forest or desert. Joshua Tree National Monument is the perfect choice when you're seeking a desert and just a three-hour drive southeast of L.A., it's certainly within reach.

Whether an overnight camping trip or a weekend drive (cheap motel rooms are available in the towns of Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley or Twentynine Palms) Joshua Tree possesses a magic unlike any other place on earth.Two deserts come together at Joshua Tree. The Colorado Desert in the eastern section of the park offers low desert formations and plant life (and wildlife). The Joshua tree habitat lies in the higher, cooler and wetter Mojave Desert in the western park area.

You can do a cursory weekend breeze-through, or focus for as many hours (or days) as you'd like on your favorite terrain -- from rock-climbing to checking out the Indian petroglyphs at the old Squaw Tank dam. There are 35 miles of riding and hiking trails. Just be sure to stop at a gas station first and bring lots of water -- there are no facilities of any kind inside the park. Park officials recommend that visitors drink at least one gallon of water per day to avoid dehydration, two if they are active.The park is always open. Visitor centers, open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., are located along main roads.

While the national parks' advance reservation system is not working, the park is accepting written applications for group campsites through May 31. Applications will only be accepted by mail and will be processed according to the postmarked date. Individual/family sites in the park's campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Directions: Joshua Tree National Park is located 140 miles east of Los Angeles. You can reach it from the west using Interstate 10 and Highway 62. The north entrances to the park are located at Joshua Tree Village and the city of Twentynine Palms. The south entrance at Cottonwood Springs is 25 miles east of Indio and can be reached from the east or west, also from Interstate 10.

The Mojave River Valley Museum is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the scientific, historical and cultural heritage of the people of the Mojave River Valley. Displays portray the history of the Mojave River Valley from the arrival of Father Garces in 1776 through to the pathfinders, pioneers and miners, as well as present-day members of the space program.

Actual artifacts from the famous Calico Early Man site are on display. Other displays include 19th century mining, gemstones and minerals, railroads, automotive, local history including the first radio station on the high desert, and the famed "headless horseman" found in the desert in 1965. Outdoor displays include a Santa Fe drover caboose, early 20th century iron strap jail, mining equipment, including ore cars, buckets and hoists, and a tractor-driven ore crusher.

Enjoy holiday decorations and shop for gifts.The annual Christmas Tree Lighting will be held on Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. Other activities will include visits with Santa from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Christmas carols by community choral groups. "The Night Before Christmas" will be read at 4:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.