|
|||
|
|
||
| | California | Death Valley National Park | |||
| Scotty's Castle Area | |||
 |
 |
Scotty's Castle – Scotty's Castle was built as a vacation retreat for the Johnson family in the 1920's. Today the mansion and sand-filled swimming pool seems incongruous amidst the natural grandeur of Death Valley, but it's worth a stop if your kids like stuff about construction or house décor. You can take a 50 minute house tour, but your best bet is the technology tour. On the technology tour, you go into the basement tunnels to see how the house was heated and cooled and to the powerhouse where electricity was generated from a Pelton waterwheel. | |
| Forget the tours if you have little kids along – at the ticket kiosk it says, "Disruptive individuals (including children) may be asked to leave the tour." Little ones can climb up the crenelated castle ramparts above the powerhouse or play in the grassy area around the picnic tables (there's a little stream along the grass too). | |||
 |
|
Ubehebe Crater – Ubehebe Crater was the result of a volcanic eruption about 6,000 years ago, a bunch of steam explosions that blew open the crater and deposited debris for miles around. Ubehebe is a Native American word that means " basket in the rock," and the crater is like a big rock basket, nearly half a mile wide. Climb down into the crater. Starting at the top are thin layers of debris, the result of the explosions. As you go down, you'll see dramatic layers of white limestone and red mudstone. The bottom of the crater is lined with smooth silt and clay. The trail going down (500 feet) is easy, but loose cinders on the trail make it more of an effort going back up. |
 |