Things to do in Palmdale CA
California Poppy Reserve
15101 Lancaster Rd. • www.parks.ca.gov
Each spring, the grasslands come alive with brilliant orange California poppies and other wildflowers. Bloom intensity and duration varies year to year, but generally lasts from mid-February to mid-May. The Jane S. Pinheiro Interpretive Center is open for the duration of the bloom with wildlife and wildflower exhibits, an orientation video, a gallery of watercolor paintings and a gift shop. Year-round, enjoy eight miles of hiking trails through the rolling hills and a picnic area with a beautiful view to the mountains.
Devil’s Punchbowl
28000 Devil’s Punchbowl Rd., Pearblossom
www.devils-punchbowl.com
Devil’s Punchbowl County Park is a tilted sandstone formation, created by layers of sedimentary rocks, spanning across 1,310 acres of land at an elevation of 4,750 feet. The Punchbowl is a deep canyon known as a plunging syncline. Short trails within the park showcase the geologic features along the Punchbowl and San Andreas Faults.
Exotic Feline Breeding Compound – Cathouse
3718 60th St. W, Rosamond
(661) 256-3332 • www.cathouse-fcc.org
Located approximately 20 minutes north of Palmdale in Rosamond, it is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of threatened and endangered wild cat species. The EFBC houses more than 70 cats, representing 18 different species; from the large and familiar leopard, tiger and jaguar, to the smaller and lesser-known margay, fishing cat, serval and many more. Felines are housed in natural exhibits which provide visitors unique, close-up viewing, and a friendly, experienced staff is available to answer questions about the animals and the EFBC.
Mountain High Ski Resort
24510 Highway 2, Wrightwood
(888) 754-7878 • www.mthigh.com
Whether you’re a beginner, a family or a professional snowboarder, Mountain High is the place to be with various trails including over 70 acres of beginning terrain. In the off season, Mountain High opens up its three disk golf courses with holes throughout the Angeles National Forest.
Saddleback Butte State Park
170th St. East, between East Ave. J and East Ave. K
www.parks.ca.gov
Key park attractions are the short self-guided Dic Dowen Nature Trail, the Peak Trail climbing 1,000 feet to a dramatic view across the Western Mojave Desert, a Visitor Center featuring natural and cultural history displays, and the unique Joshua Tree/Creosote habitat found only in the Mojave Desert. Springtime brings a show of wildflowers that varies yearly, and fall has clear skies and pleasant temperatures. Summer days are hot, but nights are warm with excellent stargazing.
St. Andrews Abbey
31001 N. Valyermo Rd., Valyermo
(661) 944-2178 • www.saintandrewsabbey.com
Located in the hills of Valyermo resides Saint Andrew’s Abbey, a Benedictine monastery that is home to around 20 monks. St. Andrew’s is also available as a retreat center for those who would like to practice prayer and silence. Whether as a field trip or as a retreat, visitors are welcome to witness and learn about the lives of the monks of Valyermo.
Tippi Hedren’s Shambala Preserve
6867 Soledad Canyon, Acton
(661) 268-0380 • www.shambala.org
Home to over 40 rescued big cats such as lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, servals and bobcats, the preserve resides in the hills of Acton and offers several fun and educational attractions including safari tours, overnight African tent stays and school tours. All visitors must be 18 years and older.
Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park
10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce • (661) 268-0840
parks.lacounty.gov/vasquez-rocks-natural-area-and-nature-center
Each year, people travel to see the prehistoric Vasquez Rocks that were once home to the Shoshone and Tataviam peoples. These famous rocks can be seen on TV shows such as Star Trek, The Big Bang Theory, New Girl and The Flintstones movie. They are also a popular site for hiking, picnicking and horseback riding.
Palmdale Museums
AV Indian Museum
15701 E. Ave. M, Lancaster
(661) 946-3055 • www.avim.parks.ca.gov
A unique and eclectic folk art structure, the museum houses objects created by the American Indian cultures of the western Great Basin, California and the Southwest.
Borax Visitor’s Center
26962 Twenty Mule Team Rd., Boron
(760) 762-7588 • www.borax.com
Buried deep in the Mojave Desert is one of the biggest and richest deposits of borax on the planet. You will also find the Borax Visitor Center, one of the best kept secrets of the Southern California desert.
Edwards Air Force Base
(661) 277-3517 • www.edwards.af.mil
Edwards AFB is the fabled real home of “The Right Stuff.” Here, history is made every day. In fact, roughly 370 world records have been set in the skies over Edwards. Hundreds of significant aviation “firsts” have been accomplished here including Capt. Chuck Yeager’s breaking of the sound barrier. While Edwards is not open to the public, it offers bi-weekly base and museum tours and can accommodate special group tours of up to 40 people.
Off the Beaten Path
There are a lot of interesting sights and scenes in and around Palmdale. You’ve probably seen a lot of them on TV or in movies, because we’re a popular spot for Hollywood to film. You can see several iconic locations nearby, including:
Club Ed
42848 150th St. East, Lake Los Angeles
This iconic Route 66 motel was created for the movie, Eye of the Storm with Dennis Hopper.
Four Aces
14499 E. Ave. Q, Palmdale
This popular location has been featured in movies starring John Travolta, Brad Pitt, Jim Carrey, and many others.
“Kill Bill” Church
19806 St. E. Ave. G, Lancaster
Made famous in the movie Kill Bill by Quentin Tarantino, it is actually the Sanctuary Adventist Church.
Palmdale Airport Terminal / Hangars
41000 20th St. East and Ave. P, Palmdale
Although currently not in operation as a terminal, Palmdale Airport’s facility was used in the Tom Hanks movie aptly called The Terminal.
One of the large hangars on Air Force Plant 42 property was used in two sequels of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean series.
And Now for Something Totally Different
Charlie Brown Farms
8317 Pearblossom Hwy., Littlerock
(661) 944-2606 • www.charliebrownfarms.com
There is nothing like it anywhere! Charlie Brown Farms is your one-day getaway for real Texas style Bar-B-Que. Home of the World’s Largest Jerky Slab, Charlie Brown also sells local fruit, vegetables and honey, as well as nostalgic candy and toys, soda pop and their famous date shakes. It’s the area’s largest gift shop with three buildings, two patios and thousands of gift items and collectibles.