Ghost Towns and other Desert Site seeing? (Sacramento, Mojave: living, shopping mall)

[jc76]

I'm leaving Indiana on July 15 for my trek across America (well, from Indiana to the west coast and back).
I am taking the Northern Route to see Mount Rushmore, then down to Vegas and Hoover Dam, then into California. I have been to Calico Ghost town in Calico California, but I was wondering if anyone one here might have a map or something showing all the things I can see/do once in Southern CA?
I want to make to most out of my trip. I want to visit some of the vineyards as well. Any info on must-see places, especially Ghost Towns once I cross into CA would be appreciated. thanks.

[Charles]

Check out this thread:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/orang...owns-near.html

[humboldtrat]

Are you sure you want to drive around Vegas and the Mojave desert in July ???

[Ghengis]

Seems as though California may have done a better job than most of the other Western States in preserving ghost towns. This may have as much to do with their remoteness and environment than anything else. There are a lot of good sites available and here is one that was pretty easy to use and had a lot of info.

Ghost Towns and History of the American West

Took a short day trip a couple years ago during a visit to Vegas to check out Death Valley and some of the old abandoned towns and sites nearby. There are a dozen or more sites along the way. This is Rhyolite which is in Nevada but sits just off the California border near Death Valley.

[jc76]

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

Are you sure you want to drive around Vegas and the Mojave desert in July ???

Sure, why not? I have a new Civic with road service, GPS, and full warranty, I'm not too worried about breaking down.

[jc76]

Ghengis-
Thanks for the great pics and link! I'm gonna map out the ghost towms now! Thanks!
And Thanks to Charles too, who is always of help!

[Curmudgeon]

If you want to see a northern ghost town check out the K Street Mall in Sacramento after 5:30 on any week night!

[jc76]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

If you want to see a northern ghost town check out the K Street Mall in Sacramento after 5:30 on any week night!

Strange, sounds like every other mall here in the midwest

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by jc76

Strange, sounds like every other mall here in the midwest

It's not a shopping mall, but the area around the state capitol building. All the politicians and their handlers leave town after 5:30pm.

[humboldtrat]

South of Hoover Dam in Arizona, there are 2 "ghost" towns:

Chloride Arizona, Living Ghost Town and Oatman, Arizona

Not a ghost town, but nearby is Laughlin NV on the Colorado River Official Website of the Laughlin Visitor Bureau. And it will be hot as hell in July .