Why Lancaster, California is a High Desert Treasure – A Visitor’s Guide

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve is a protected California state reserve that is home to the most consistently-blooming population of the state's official flower, the California poppy. The reserve is managed by the state's Parks and Recreation department and is open to the public during the spring wildflower bloom season, which typically lasts between mid-February and mid-May. Significant populations of goldfields, lupine, owl's clover, coreopsis, and cream cups are also visible throughout the blooming area, which is located within the Antelope Valley at an elevation of nearly 3,000 feet. Seven miles of wheelchair-accessible visitor trails are offered, along with a seasonal interpretive center offering wildflower-related museum exhibits and an art gallery.

15101 Lancaster Rd, Lancaster, CA 93536, Phone: 661-724-1180

Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park is a California state museum that showcases the culture and history of Great Basin indigenous cultures. The museum was originally opened to the public in 1932 within a building constructed in 1928 by artist H. Arden Edwards, though the focus of its collections and public attractions changed several times throughout the 20th century. Today, the museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and showcases a collection of more than 3,000 indigenous artifacts preserved from areas throughout the American Southwest and Pacific Coast, with a focus on artifacts and exhibits related to the region's historic indigenous trade routes. A variety of public special events throughout the year highlight regional indigenous cultures, including an American Indian Celebration in October.

15701 East Ave M, Lancaster, CA 93535, Phone: 661-946-3055

Museum of Art and History, commonly referred to as MOAH, is Lancaster's premiere art and history museum, showcasing a large collection of works focusing on post-war American and Californian culture. The museum was originally constructed in 1986 to showcase the art of local Antelope Valley residents, known as the Lancaster Museum and Art Gallery. Since 2012, it has served as an anchor of the city's revitalized downtown area, located within its BLVD district. Large collections of art and artifacts related to the region's culture and history are displayed, from indigenous artifact collections to works by contemporary artists such as Lisa Bartleson, Brad Howe, Gisela Colon, and Ann Marie Rousseau. A second outpost facility at the Cedar Center for the Arts, known as MOAH:CEDAR offers open art studio space for community members and artists in residence.

665 W Lancaster Blvd, Lancaster, CA 93534, Phone: 661-723-6250

Prime Desert Woodland Preserve is a scenic woodland preserve that was originally proposed by the Lancaster City Council in 1985. The 160-acre urban nature reserve offers more than three miles of visitor trails exploring protected areas of natural flora and fauna, including populations of Joshua trees and California junipers. Trails are open to the public during daylight hours seven days a week, with the exception of times of heavy rain or snowfall. The preserve's Elyze Clifford Interpretive Center offers a variety of exhibits designed by the Lancaster Museum of Art and History, exploring the region's geologic and cultural history. Exhibits include a petroglyph wall encouraging visitors to create their own pictographs and an excavation station showcasing replica fossils and geodes from the region. A variety of ranger-led programming is offered throughout the year, including inclusive yoga sessions, children's outreach programming, and guided astronomy walks.

43201 35th St W, Lancaster, CA 93536, Phone: 661-723-5928

Saddleback Butte State Park is an Antelope Valley state park that is centered around its namesake mountain, which reaches elevations of 3,651 feet above sea level. The 2,955-acres park was originally developed in 1960 to protect the region's significant habitats of Joshua trees. The park is also home to a wide variety of native animal species that were once more abundant in the region, including coyotes, jackrabbits, kit foxes, and desert tortoises. Several visitor trails are offered throughout the park, including the 2.5-mile Little Butte Trail and the two-miles Saddleback Butte Peak Trail. Day-use activities within the park include a picnic site with grills and shade ramadas, along with a visitor center that offers a self-guided interpretive trail about the park's history. 37 campsites are offered, along with a 4.5-mile equestrian trail and staging area.

Lancaster, CA 93535, Phone: 661-946-6092

Once upon a time, much of the Antelope Valley was dotted with native Joshuas and Junipers. These days they are much scarcer, having been removed to facilitate farming and housing, but you can still enjoy admiring large stands of these unusual trees in the Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park. Most visitors to the park come to enjoy exploring the two trails on foot – the Ripley Nature Trail is just a ¼ mile long and is suitable for just about all ages. The Red Juniper Trail is about a mile long and is also considered to be easy. The best time of year to visit is spring and summer, when the Joshua trees are covered in white showy blooms and are surrounded by wildflowers.

Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park, 205th Street W, Lancaster, CA 93534, 661-946-6092

Joe Davies Heritage Airpark is named in honor of Palmdale City Councilman and Aviation and Aerospace Commissioner Joe Davies, the former commander of Air Force Plant 42. The airpark is located on the plant's grounds and currently displays 17 retired and restored military aircrafting, along with exhibits such as an AGM-28 Hound Dog Missile and an eighth-scale model of the famed B-2 Spirit aircraft. When the park is completed, it will display more than 40 retired military aircraft from conflicts throughout the 20th century. For visitors looking to make a day of aviation history activities, the park is conveniently located next to the Blackbird Airpark, which also displays historic aircraft and aviation memorabilia.

2001 E Ave P, Palmdale, CA 93550, Phone: 661-267-5300

For 30 years the Lancaster Performing Arts Center (LPAC) has been enriching the lives of everyone in the Antelope Valley by presenting a wide range of live theatre productions. In addition to offering first-class entertainment, the LPAC also strives to involve as many of the community as possible in their Arts for Youth programs. Each year LPAC hosts a scintillating calendar of live entertainment which includes musical artists and revues, ballet, stand-up comedy, dance shows and all-time favorite family shows like Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. You can check their website for details of “what’s on” and to buy your tickets online.

Lancaster Performing Arts Center, 750 W. Lancaster, CA 93534, 661-723-5950

Liquid Bean Coffee House has been voted as Antelope Valley's best coffee house, opened in 2001 as a family-owned venture. The restaurant is open to the public seven days a week and offers fast and convenient service from its double drive-through lane. A wide variety of coffee shop beverages are available, including gourmet espresso drinks, frappes, and coffee-infused ice cream floats. Non-coffee beverages are also served, including chai tea and a variety of smoothies and fruit juice options. Breakfast options include sausage or bacon breakfast sandwiches on bagels or croissants, along with a variety of breakfast pastries baked fresh daily, including muffins and scones.

1711 W Avenue K, Lancaster, CA 93534, Phone: 661-942-7591

Antelope Valley Winery is a family-owned winery and vineyard operated by the Donato family for more than two decades. The winery produces a variety of private-label red, white, and sparkling wines, which are available for sale by the bottle in its tasting room. Personalized wine gifts are also available for sale, including wine gift baskets and personalized private-label wines that may be branded with special occasion messages or corporate logos. Tours of the company's facility are offered Wednesdays through Sundays, with tasting flights and charcuterie boards available for purchase in the tasting room. The company also sells a wide variety of exotic and game meats, including wild boar, pheasant, venison, alligator, and grass-fed buffalo. A seasonal farmer's market produced by the vineyard is presented every Saturday morning between May and November, with a variety of food, produce, and arts and crafts vendors available on site.

42041 20th St West, Lancaster, CA 93534, Phone: 661-722-0145