7 Totally Weird Things to See Near Palm Springs, California

There are moments when southern California’s desert landscape can feel a little surreal. Maybe it’s all that flatness, or the spiny trees that look like they sprung up on another planet. But if you can tear yourself away from the cocktails and poolside parties in Palm Springs, there’s a string of eerily beautiful, almost otherworldly sights southeast of the city that make for a rewarding road trip. Make sure you have a full tank of gas, pack snacks and plenty of water, turn up some tunes by The Eagles, and head southeast on Route 111 to find the following totally strange -- and totally fascinating -- sights.

The Salton Sea: Crowned with blue-white mountains and surveyed from above by a diverse population of birds, this saltwater lake is the second largest in the United States after Utah’s Great Salt Lake. More water flows out of the lake each year than in, so water levels are dropping and the lake’s salt content is rising -- a phenomenon that’s seriously discouraging tourism. Years of pollution from nearby farm runoff is also helping to kill the lake's fish. You’ll see, and occasionally smell, the unpleasant fallout of this, all along the shores of the Salton Sea. But this carnage is more fascinating than stomach-turning, and we recommend stopping into the Salton Sea Recreation Area, where you’ll find a camping site and boat launch, as well as guides who are passionate advocates for the health of the sea and its wildlife. Remember that when you visit, you’re seeing a symbol of one of California’s most critical political and environmental issues -- water, or lack thereof.

The Bombay Beach Ruins: Before the Salton Sea started shrinking, it was a fashionable vacation spot. That’s definitely not the case today, but you can still see the decaying remains of what was. The town of Bombay Beach, along the lake’s Eastern shore, used to be situated directly on the water line. Now that the lake has periodically flooded and the waters have receded, the town has moved back hundreds of feet, and all you’ll find by the shore is salt-caked sand, the blackened frames of boats and buildings, and lots of dead fish. Take a moment to look around and try to imagine what once was.