Top 10 Unusual Road Trip Stops in California

Taking a road trip in California is more than just traveling the highways or gritting teeth during rush hour. There are oddities and out of the way locales that make other unusual American road trip stops pale in comparison. What's out there in the Golden State?

1. Blythe Geoglyphs

They are figures scratched into the ground. The largest measures about 171 feet in length. Find them outside of Blythe, California, close to the Colorado River. During the summer evenings, it is not uncommon to find some UFO faithful waiting for a mother ship to return.

2. Pasadena Bunny Museum

Behind the walls of the private 1928 Spanish stucco home, there are in excess of 23,000 bunny-themed collectibles. If you own a bunny curiosity you want to get rid of, the owners will gladly take it off your hands. Admission is free, but some greenery for the resident real bunnies is always appreciated.

3. Little Petroglyph Canyon

Eastern California does not usually feature into a traveler's who's who, but a road trip to the Maturango Museum is well worth it. Although official known as Lower Renegade Canyon, the museum regularly schedules tours to take tourists to these amazing sights. Due to Navy regulations, only United States citizens with proof of citizenship are granted access. A brief hike over relatively easy terrain is required. The cost for the petroglyph tour is $40.

4. In the Box Tour at Fort Irwin

Ever wonder what American soldiers encounter in Iraq? Fort Irwin lets you experience first hand what this kind of experience might look like. Guided tours through a "fake Iraq" let visitors experience daily life, insurgent attacks, casualties, foul language, blood and guts. This training facility is well worth the $48 for a visit, but it is not for the faint of heart or for kids. (Since it is a military facility, U.S. citizenship is required.)

5. Museum of Neon Art

Called Mona, for short, this oasis of everything neon is as artistic as it is bizarre. For $7, you just cannot go wrong. It is a bit of an educational trip back in time to the heyday of neon signage and current artistic applications of the genre.

6. Folsom Prison Museum

Johnny Cash lovers know all about Folsom Prison -- or so they think. Spend the $2 admission and visit the real prison. Take a look at William J. B. Burkey's 250,000-toothpick Ferris wheel. Thirty years sure is a lot of time.

7. Barber Jon's World Famous Barber Shop

Get a haircut. No, really. Paying for a haircut entitles you to free admission at the barber shop's Museum of Curiosities and Oddities. Observe shrunken heads, the remains of a mermaid, pickled stuff and a host of other weird things. As the barber applies the straight razor to your throat, it kind of makes you wonder what kind of person collects these items.

8. Dinny the Dinosaur

I adore Dinny. It is a huge monstrosity made of debris covered with spray concrete. Inside, there is a store and creationism museum. In stock are excellent cactus seeds for the gardening hobbyist.

9. Route 66 Museum

Car guys know all about Route 66. The museum is a natural stop for anyone who values Americana, the history of the automobile and the almost fabled Route 66. Admission is free, but you are bound to spend a bit of money in the gift shop.

10. Bosco's Bones & Brew Restaurant

Visit the bar where a stuffed dog pees beer. From there, set out and behold the statue that commemorates Bosco, the officially elected dog mayor of Sunol. Okay, so the election was a bit of a joke, but it was quite successful in creating a beloved town mascot. Although the dog has long since made it into dog heaven, there are statues commemorating him. A great little destination in the collection of unusual American road trip stops.

Establishment Resources

1. Blythe Geoglyphs

19 miles out of town just off Hwy 95

Accessible year-round

2. Pasadena Bunny Museum

1933 Jefferson Drive in Pasadena, CA 91104

Anytime with an appointment

(626) 798-8848

3. Maturango Museum

100 East Las Flores Avenue in Ridgecrest, CA 93555

Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(760) 375-6900

4. Fort Irwin

Camp Irwin Road in Fort Irwin, CA 92310

By appointment only

(760) 881-9132

5. Museum of Neon Art

136 West 4^th Street in Los Angeles, CA 90013

Thursday to Sunday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

(213) 489-9918

6. Folsom Prison Museum

312 3rd Street in Represa, CA 95671

Open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(916) 985-2561

7. Barber Jon's

381 Green Valley Road in El Dorado Hills, CA 95762

Open daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends

(916) 939-0512

8. Dinny the Dinosaur

50770 Seminole Drive in Cabazon, CA 92230

Open daily

(951) 922-8700

9. Route 66 Museum

16825 South D Street in Victorville, CA 92395

Open Thursday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closes an hour early on Sunday)

(760) 951-0436

10. Bosco's Bones & Brew Restaurant

11922 Main Street in Sunol, CA 94586

Open Tuesday through Sunday from 11: 30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (midnight on the weekends)

(925) 862-0821