11) Death Valley
Death Valley, as the name suggests, should for the most part be avoided. Located in the Mojave Desert, Death Valley makes up the majority of the Death Valley National Park and is the driest, hottest, most desert-like place in North America. But there are some parts of Death Valley that offer a wide variety of outdoor activities and can be, at dawn and dusk especially, very beautiful. The surreal, alien sand dunes that make up most of Death Valley are unique in California and despite its frightening name a great variety of life can be found here. A land of extremes, Death Valley is located below sea level and yet its towering mountains are snowy-peaked and rainstorms, although infrequent, bless the valley with wild vegetation. Places to visit include the Wildrose Charcoal Kilns, numerous creepy ghost towns and Scotty’s Castle.
