BARSTOW, CA

Aaaah, at last. Barstow, CA, looms before you, like a mirage in the desert, ending the 2554-mile trek that is I-40. 

A great place to start is at the Tanger Outlet Center, where you will find the official California State Welcome.

Barstow is located at the junction of 4 major freeways and highways in the middle of the Mojave Desert; Interstates 15 & 40, State Highways 58 & 247, and Historic Route 66, so access is easy!

What could be more fun than spending the day with family and friends bargain hunting? Bargain hunting at Tanger Outlets and finding even more than you expected! Tanger Outlets Barstow features more than 35 popular, brand-name outlet stores that provide the offers you'll love! Log-on to:   www.tangeroutlet.com/Barstow for more details and discounts!


The unique California Welcome Center is located inside the Tanger Outlet Center off of Interstate 15, halfway between Las Vegas & Los Angeles, at Lenwood Rd.

The staff at the California Welcome Center can provide you with great trip planning information as you visit the local area. You can shop, museum hop, hike, explore the Mojave Desert and visit the Old West at Calico Ghost Town!  They can also provide you with details and ideas for the rest of your stay in the "Golden State". Visit:

http://www.visitcalifornia.com/California-Welcome-Centers/Barstow/

Shop, get oriented, and definitely grab a bite at the In-n-Out Burger located across the street from Tanger Outlet Center. It is one of the busiest In-n-Outs I've ever seen, so place your order and sit back and watch the magic! Servers prep over 100 fresh burgers an hour, and they do it with style! In-n-Out has a cult-like following, and you'll soon find out why!

http://www.tangeroutlet.com/barstow/area-information

Entering the area, a few nostalgic sites set the mood, allowing you to reminisce of Old West mining towns and the 1950s Route 66 heyday. 

 

First, stop for a refreshing bite at Peggy Sue’s Diner in Yermo (Exit 7, then north on A Street/Daggett Yermo Road. Right onto Yermo Rd).

 

Built in 1954, the diner sits in the shadow of the Calico Mountains and was built from railroad ties and mortar from the nearby Union Pacific Rail yard. 

While listening to great 50’s music and enjoying a juicy all-American cheeseburger washed down with a cherry coke or chocolate malt, diners will feel like they’ve been transported back to the golden era of feel-good tunes and happy days! Children will love the “Dinersaur Park” with its monstrous turtle pond and walking trails. 

www.peggysuesdiner.com

Cross under I-15 and follow Ghost Town Road north to the quaint, well-maintained Calico, CA, named for the “calico-colored” mountain range in the background. 

Founded in 1881, it is well-celebrated today as California’s official Silver Rush Ghost Town.

Visitors can enjoy mine tours, gunfight stunt shows, gold panning, and shopping at a variety of trinket stores. Cabins and camping are available if you plan to stay the night in the area and don’t want to stay at a traditional hotel.

http://cms.sbcounty.gov/parks/Parks/CalicoGhostTown.aspx

Touted as the #1 visitor favorite site in Barstow:  Skyline Drive-In! For a nominal admission price, movie-goers can catch two movies from the comfort of their own vehicle (as if roadtrippers needed more time in their car J). It is a very cool, retro experience.  (#760-256-3333)

Or, hit Barstow’s Route 66 “Mother Road” Museum for one final trip down memory lane (free admission).

www.route66museum.org

Well, folks, the fun ends here. 

Just kidding! As a child, I loved books with alternate endings, and the great thing about I-40 is that it provides just that. Ending in the middle-of-nowhere (that is, Barstow), I-40 gives you the opportunity to create your own ending.

The end of the line is just the setting for the final chapter of your trip. 

Whether it be an adventure in the desolate desert of Death Valley to the north, a brief interlude in the refreshing oasis of Palm Springs, or riding into the sunset in your faithful car following the shadows of Route 66 all the way to the Santa Monica Pier, the options are endless. 

However, three alternate endings are provided for your traveling pleasure. 

Choose any or all that you desire!