What) Along border-straddling Interstate 8, between San Diego and El Centro, Desert View Tower has been an enduring attraction. Vaughn, who owned the town of Jacumba, built the stone lookout between 1922-28. Its 70-foot tower was dedicated in memory of the area's rough pre-highway days, when the journey between Yuma and the Pacific Ocean took a month across blasted moon like terrain. Over the decades, the Tower has enjoyed periods of prosperity and complete neglect while being managed by a succession of owners. The gift shop was added around the base during one of the boom times. Tourists who carry their own binoculars might spot the US Border Patrol apprehending illegal immigrants streaming across a nearby crossing in the mountains.

    The real attraction at the Desert View Tower is Boulder Park, a jumble of rocks weathered by wind into caves and craggy walkways. Kids adore this area, and scramble with sugared-beverage abandon up the switchback path over friendly-looking precipices and outcroppings. The Depression Era carvings strung along the path are a bonus, hand-carved animals, faces and folk creatures inspired by the natural shapes in the boulders. Folk artist and out-of-work engineer W.T. Ratcliffe sculpted the quartz granite boulders without any particular theme in mind; but he likely knew kids would love the rocky maze. (1)

    Where) In-Ko-Pah Road      Daily 9am - 5pm.

    Why) Well, it was halfway between Yuma and San Diego and it sounded like I would enjoy either the tower or the carvings.