{"id":176755,"date":"2026-02-13T17:15:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T17:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/176755\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T17:15:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T17:15:11","slug":"8-quirky-places-to-stop-between-san-diego-and-phoenix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/176755\/","title":{"rendered":"8 quirky places to stop between San Diego and Phoenix"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s time for San Diegans to make the annual pilgrimage to Peoria, Ariz., home of the Padres for spring training<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sure, you can just drive the five-and-a-half-hour trip straight through. But where is the adventure in that?<\/p>\n

The southern route, via Interstate 8 and AZ-85, is not only a chill drive, it\u2019s also dotted with quirky desert landmarks that you may have wondered aloud about but never taken the time to explore.<\/p>\n

So stretch your legs a little, skip the usual fast food and check out some history \u2014 before it gets too hot.<\/p>\n

Desert View Tower
\n\"TheThe Desert View Tower near Jacumba Hot Springs is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Meg McLaughlin \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

The Desert View Tower, perched in the San Diego County mountains with a birds-eye view of the desert floor, used to be a popular roadside attraction for travelers on Old Highway 80, long before I-8 was built.<\/p>\n

According to a state historical plaque at the site, Bert Vaughn of Jacumba built the tower around 1922 to \u201ccommemorate the pioneers and road and railroad builders who opened the area.\u201d However, the tower was likely built less as a monument and instead as a way to draw attention to Vaughn\u2019s neighboring bar.<\/p>\n

The bar is long gone, but the four-story tower still draws travelers. On the ground floor is a gift shop serving cold drinks, crystals, T-shirts and the like, as well as a hodgepodge display of dusty Americana memorabilia. For a fee, visitors can climb to the top of the tower and take in the view of the Anza-Borrego Desert 3,000 feet below.<\/p>\n

\"RockAnimals and faces are carved into the rocks in Boulder Park next to the Desert View Tower. (Meg McLaughlin \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

The fee also covers access to the adjacent Boulder Park caves, where in the 1930s artist W.T. Ratcliffe carved large animals and faces into a boulder field. The short, charming hike is full of photo ops and perfect for antsy, car-bound kids needing to release some wiggles. Bathrooms are on-site.<\/p>\n

01 In-Ko-Pah Park Road, Jacumba Hot Springs. 619-971-2845. Open daily during daylight hours. Adults $9.50; Children (8-17) $3.50; Free for children under 8. Dog-friendly. desertviewtower.website<\/a><\/p>\n

Old Fogey Hot Springs
\n\"PeoplePeople soak in the Old Fogey Hot Springs near Holtville. (Meg McLaughlin \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

Just a stone\u2019s throw from I-8, amid farmland outside Holtville, is a hidden desert oasis. Most travelers will likely pass the cluster of palm trees and never know a natural hot spring is bubbling to the surface there.<\/p>\n

Travelers who stop for a soothing soak can change in one of two well-maintained bathrooms. The rustic, minimal facility is run by the Bureau of Land Management. Mineral water is piped into two small concrete pools \u2014 one is standing depth, the other for sitting \u2014 as well as a trough-style tub. Bathers can rinse off in a spray of warm spring water. The pools are especially popular with campers staying in the neighboring Hot Springs Long Term Visitor Area,<\/a>\u00a0also on BLM land.<\/p>\n

3700 Evan Hewes Highway, Holtville. 760-337-4400. Open daily 5 a.m. to midnight. Free. No food, drinks or pets.<\/p>\n

Felicity
\n\"AA Renaissance-era painting is recreated in granite in Felicity. The History of Humanity in Granite includes more than 700 panels. (Kristina Davis \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

This very small town near the Arizona state line heralds itself as the \u201ccenter of the world,\u201d with a pyramid marking the spot. The Imperial County Board of Supervisors even dubbed it so in 1985 at the request of Felicity\u2019s mayor, skydiver Jacques-Andr\u00e9 Istel. Strange, yes, but the attraction is worth a stop \u2014 not only for the certificate that you get commemorating your trip to the \u201ccenter of the world,\u201d but more importantly for the sprawling granite displays that tell the history of, well, everything.<\/p>\n

Artfully etched onto more than 700 massive granite panels, the museum covers just about any topic imaginable \u2014 from early folk music to world wars to marine mammals to French aviation history to space exploration to Renaissance masters to time-keeping to languages to Mickey Mouse. The panels meld engraved text and art to tell The History of Humanity in Granite, \u201cpartly so that distant descendants, perhaps far from planet Earth, may view our history with understanding and, hopefully, with affection,\u201d according to the town\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

\"AA granite-and-glass pyramid marks the \u201ccenter of the world\u201d in Felicity. Visitors can go inside and stand on the exact point. (Abby Hamblin \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

The feat is imaginative, impressive and a bit overwhelming.<\/p>\n

Visitors can also watch a seven-minute film about the town, climb a hill to a quaint church and wander through the Maze of Honor. The town, which operates on Mountain Standard Time, includes a gift shop and bathrooms.<\/p>\n

1 Center of the World Drive, Felicity. 760-572-0100. Open daily 10 a.m. MST to 5 p.m. MST. Adults $10; Children (5-10) $5; Children under 5 free. historyingranite.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park
\n\"PeoplePeople explore the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park. (Meg McLaughlin \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

Perched above the Colorado River, the Yuma Territorial Prison held the region\u2019s outlaws, the first of whom were made to build their own cells in 1876. Yuma, by that time, was the site of a military post and a Gold Rush boom. Legendary stagecoach robber Pearl Hart entertained reporters and other visitors from a special cell, enjoying her notoriety as the only female prisoner. The prison closed down after 33 years due to overcrowding.<\/p>\n

Today, visitors can walk through the remains, including the original cells, guard tower, dark cell, library, sally port and cemetery. An indoor museum includes prison artifacts, stories about individual inmates and a video presentation.<\/p>\n

220 N. Prison Hill Road, Yuma, Ariz. 928-783-4771. Open daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tours daily at noon. Adults $10; Children (7-13) $7; Children under 7 free. azstateparks.com\/yuma-territorial<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Downtown Yuma<\/p>\n

Skip the many fast food options Yuma offers and head downtown for lunch. The charming historic district<\/a> has several casual sit-down restaurants, including a brewery<\/a> and a barbecue joint<\/a>, as well as grab-and-go sandwich and coffee<\/a> shops. Stretch your legs with a stroll down Main Street and pop into its many small shops, including Schenck and Kuffe Mercantile, a gift shop and men\u2019s outfitter, and Desert Olive Farms, which sells artisan olives, olive oil and vinegar. Street parking is easily accessible.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe historic Ocean to Ocean Highway Bridge spans over the Colorado River at Yuma Beach in Gateway Park in Yuma. (Kristina Davis \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

For another lunch option, grab a sandwich or salad from Good Habit<\/a>, a downtown deli, and head to nearby Yuma Beach at Gateway Park<\/a> for a picnic on the banks of the Colorado River, a popular swimming hole during the summer. The park has shaded picnic tables, a sandy beach and well-maintained bathrooms. A bike path connects the park to the territorial prison.<\/p>\n

Gateway Park, 250 Prison Hill Road, Yuma, Ariz. Free. historicyuma.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dateland Travel Center<\/p>\n

The date shakes alone are reason to stop at the Dateland Travel Center<\/a>, a convenience store and gas station off I-8.<\/p>\n

Dateland was first known as a water stop along the railroad lines in the 1920s. It was later the site of World War II Army training camps. Now, it\u2019s best known for its groves of palms and those World Famous Date Shakes made from Medjool dates.<\/p>\n

\"GilaA date shake outside the Dateland Travel Center in Dateland, Ariz. (Meg McLaughlin \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

The convenience store is large, with a huge selection of unique snacks, including an aisle dedicated to hot sauces. The travel center also offers clean restrooms, a large grassy area for doggie breaks and shaded, misted dog kennels.<\/p>\n

1737 Ave 64 E, Dateland, Ariz. 928-454-2772. Dining and store open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. dateland.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Space Age Restaurant and Bar
\n\"SpaceSpace-themed murals seen inside the Space Age Restaurant and Bar on in Gila Bend, Ariz. (Meg McLaughlin \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

Stop for lunch at the retro Space Age Restaurant and Bar in Gila Bend. You\u2019ll know it by the giant UFO on the roof of the adjoining motel<\/a>. The roadside stop was built in the early 1960s by businessman Al Stovall, who owned a plastics factory, which came in handy for fabricating the kitchy Space Age embellishments that give the place its charm.<\/p>\n

The restaurant was destroyed by a fire in 1998 (depending on who you ask, it was either caused by an alien attack or a faulty neon light). It was rebuilt with the same thematic flourishes, including space murals, spacesuit-silver vinyl booths and an alien to greet diners at the door.<\/p>\n

\"MugsMugs for sale inside the Space Age Restaurant and Bar. (Meg McLaughlin \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

The menu is classic diner fare \u2014 the Jupiter burger and Spacey Melt, with fries or onion rings, are crowd favorites \u2014 served on cute spaceship plates. You can take home a mug with the iconic \u201960s-era logo for $21.99.<\/p>\n

401 E. Pima St., Gila Bend, Ariz. 928-683-2761. Open daily 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

M&J Artesanias
\n\"AnAn assortment of decor to purchase at M&J Artesanias in Gila Bend, Ariz. (Meg McLaughlin \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

Travelers years ago may remember the vibrant Mexican pottery and quaint metal animal sculptures sold at a gas station off I-8 near Gila Bend. When that gas station closed, much of the inventory moved into town to M&J Artesanias<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The gift shop sells Mexican ceramics, planters and souvenirs, as well as home and garden decor. The metal yard sculptures range from life-sized horses to various types of cacti.<\/p>\n

\"AA large horse seen at M&J Artesanias. (Meg McLaughlin \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n

Inside, there\u2019s also a taco stand, El Taco Tri, and Thrifty ice cream.<\/p>\n

404 W. Pima St., Gila Bend, Ariz. 928-683-0082. Open daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. mjartesaniasandmore.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s time for San Diegans to make the annual pilgrimage to Peoria, Ariz., home of the Padres for…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":176756,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[7,23,1334,74,84,76,75,2611,127,420,1696,2422],"class_list":{"0":"post-176755","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-diego","8":"tag-california","9":"tag-local-news","10":"tag-mlb","11":"tag-san-diego","12":"tag-san-diego-county","13":"tag-san-diego-headlines","14":"tag-san-diego-news","15":"tag-san-diego-padres","16":"tag-sports","17":"tag-things-to-do","18":"tag-top-stories-sdut","19":"tag-travel"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176755"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176755\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/176756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}