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Nature, Food, Landscape, Travel\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Tucked between Fresno and Las Vegas, there is an unexpected community full of life in Death Valley. With its\u00a0extreme temperatures,\u00a0the area is known for its barren nature, so visitors might not expect the oasis town of Furnace Creek, California.\u00a0It’s one of a handful of communities in the United States\u00a0that are located\u00a0inside national parks<\/a>. The small Inyo County town has just 126 residents but\u00a0has become the hub for Death Valley National Park.\u00a0<\/p>\n The town actually sits below sea level, making the towering mountain ranges surrounding the little community stand out even more. To the west is the Panamint Range, which is home to Telescope Peak, the tallest point in Death Valley at more than 11,000 feet.\u00a0To the east is the\u00a0Amargosa\u00a0Range, which has viewpoints such as Zabriskie Point. While you can see several mountains right from town, the popular stop is\u00a0about a 15-minute drive from town and provides breathtaking views of the Badlands.\u00a0<\/p>\n The hottest temperature ever recorded in the world was in Furnace Creek at Furnace Creek Ranch in 1913. This shows just how hot it gets in this area. Thanks to its reputation for high temperatures, one popular stop for visitors is a digital thermometer\u00a0that lets them see how hot it is while they’re visiting. However, the town\u00a0of Furnace Creek is an oasis with\u00a0campgrounds, a resort, and even a golf course in the middle of the desert.\u00a0<\/p>\n The town has many of the amenities residents and visitors need, including a gas station, post office, airport, and general store. This area is full of history, which you can learn more about at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and the Borax Museum, a late 19th-century building with exhibits about borax mining. And\u00a0less than five minutes away\u00a0is Harmony Borax Works.\u00a0The\u00a0abandoned frontier location<\/a>\u00a0now serves as an\u00a0outdoor museum for visitors to learn about the impact that borax production had on the area.\u00a0When it’s not too hot, you can stroll past some old borax wagons on a short paved\u00a0loop\u00a0that features information panels \u2014 as well as\u00a0spectacular views of the desert and nearby mountains.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Camp at Furnace Creek or stay at the Oasis<\/p>\n
HannaTor\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Even in the small town of Furnace Creek, there are a few campgrounds to choose from. Since the whole town is within the national park, so are these three campgrounds. They are all run by the National\u00a0Park Service, but only Furnace Creek Campground is reservable on\u00a0recreation.gov<\/a>. It accepts reservations from October 15 to April 15, and the NPS recommends\u00a0reserving a campsite during this window in advance of your trip. The campground website also advises tent campers arriving without reservations to bring camp chairs and a propane stove with them in case their campsite at another park campground doesn’t have a picnic table and fire ring. The other two options, Sunset Campground and Texas Springs Campground, are first-come, first-served.\u00a0<\/p>\n Due to the extreme heat, demand is much lower in warmer months, so the campground season in Death Valley is the opposite of many campgrounds in other parts of the country. Instead of closing for the winter months,\u00a0the campgrounds open for the season and typically remain open until mid-to-late April. If you aren’t able to get a campsite or would rather enjoy the amenities of a hotel, The Oasis at Death Valley has several accommodation options to choose from, including a luxury resort,\u00a0a casual, family-friendly hotel, and cozy cottages. So, whether you want to camp or be pampered, you can find the ideal lodging for the experience you want.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Golfing in Death Valley<\/p>\n
Elizabeth Iris Maher\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Imagine golfing on a green fairway in the middle of the desert in Death Valley, enjoying mountain views while you play. The Furnace Creek Golf Course is not only known for being an oasis of green in the extremely harsh environment, but it is also the lowest elevation\u00a0course in the world. Visitors like to come check out the course, mainly for its\u00a0location.\u00a0If you do want to try and book a tee time while in the area, make sure to pack appropriate golf attire for a nicer golf course, because the course enforces a strict dress code. Green fees vary by season, so check the course’s website for current rates before booking a tee time.<\/p>\n
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