8 Quirky Places to Stop on Your Road Trip to Padres Spring Training
San Diegans, it's time for your annual pilgrimage to Peoria, Arizona, the home of the Padres for spring training. While you could just drive the five-and-a-half-hour trip straight through, where's the adventure in that? The southern route, via Interstate 8 and AZ-85, is not only a chill drive but also dotted with quirky desert landmarks that you may have wondered about but never explored. So, stretch your legs, skip the usual fast food, and check out some history before it gets too hot.
Desert View Tower
Perched in the San Diego County mountains with a bird's-eye view of the desert floor, the Desert View Tower used to be a popular roadside attraction for travelers on Old Highway 80, long before I-8 was built. Built around 1922 by Bert Vaughn of Jacumba, the tower was initially a bar's marketing ploy. The bar is gone, but the tower still draws travelers. It offers a gift shop, a hodgepodge display of dusty Americana, and a view of the Anza-Borrego Desert from the top. Visitors can climb to the top for a fee, which also includes access to Boulder Park caves, where artist W.T. Ratcliffe carved large animals and faces. The park is dog-friendly, and the tower is open daily during daylight hours.
Old Fogey Hot Springs
Just a stone's throw from I-8, amid farmland outside Holtville, is a hidden desert oasis. Most travelers will pass by the cluster of palm trees without knowing a natural hot spring bubbles beneath. This oasis offers a soothing soak in well-maintained bathrooms. The facility, run by the Bureau of Land Management, features two small concrete pools and a trough-style tub. Bathers can rinse off in a spray of warm spring water. The pools are popular with campers in the neighboring Hot Springs Long Term Visitor Area. The springs are open daily from 5 a.m. to midnight and are free to use.
Felicity
This tiny town near the Arizona state line proclaims itself as the 'center of the world' with a pyramid marking the spot. In 1985, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, at the mayor's request, dubbed it so. The attraction is worth a stop, not only for the certificate commemorating your trip but for the sprawling granite displays that tell the history of everything. Artfully etched onto 700 panels, the museum covers topics from folk music to world wars to marine mammals. Visitors can watch a seven-minute film, climb a hill to a church, and wander through the Maze of Honor. The town operates on Mountain Standard Time and includes a gift shop and bathrooms.
Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park
Perched above the Colorado River, the Yuma Territorial Prison held the region's outlaws. The first prisoners built their cells in 1876, and legendary stagecoach robber Pearl Hart entertained visitors from a special cell. The prison closed due to overcrowding after 33 years. Today, visitors can walk through the remains, including original cells, a guard tower, a dark cell, a library, a sally port, and a cemetery. An indoor museum showcases prison artifacts, inmate stories, and a video presentation. The park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with tours at noon.
Downtown Yuma
Skip the fast food in Yuma and head downtown for lunch. The historic district offers casual sit-down restaurants, a brewery, a barbecue joint, and grab-and-go shops. Stroll down Main Street and explore small shops like Schenck and Kuffe Mercantile, Desert Olive Farms, and Good Habit, a downtown deli. For a picnic by the Colorado River, visit Yuma Beach at Gateway Park, a popular swimming hole with shaded tables, a sandy beach, and well-maintained bathrooms. The park is connected to the territorial prison by a bike path.
Dateland Travel Center
The Dateland Travel Center, a convenience store and gas station off I-8, is famous for its date shakes. Dateland was initially a water stop along the railroad lines in the 1920s and later a World War II Army training camp. The travel center offers a large selection of unique snacks, including an aisle dedicated to hot sauces, clean restrooms, a grassy area for dog breaks, and shaded, misted dog kennels.
Space Age Restaurant and Bar
Stop for lunch at the retro Space Age Restaurant and Bar in Gila Bend, known for its giant UFO on the roof of the adjoining motel. Built in the early 1960s by businessman Al Stovall, the restaurant features space murals, spacesuit-silver vinyl booths, and an alien greeter. The menu offers classic diner fare, and you can take home a mug with the iconic '60s-era logo. The restaurant is open daily from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
M&J Artesanias
M&J Artesanias, previously a gas station near Gila Bend, now sells Mexican ceramics, planters, souvenirs, and home decor. The shop also includes a taco stand, El Taco Tri, and Thrifty ice cream. The metal yard sculptures range from life-sized horses to cacti.
