Scenic 395 - The Official Guide 2019/2020

2019-2020 Scenic 395 13 Ridgecrest gy ( www.chinalakemuseum.org) , but access to the highly secure base can take up to two hours. Appli- cations for a day pass are taken at the Visitors Cen- ter just south of the main gate. The museum is cur- rently building an off-base location next door to the Maturango Museum to remove this barrier to visi- tors. Speaking of the Maturango Museum (www.matu- rango.org) , it is easy to find at 100 E. Las Flores Ave., across the street from The Home Depot, and is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It houses exhibits of nat- ural and cultural history, including ceremonial art by the Coso People, who were known for their petro- glyphs of bighorn sheep, antelope, deer, and ab- stracts. Tours can be arranged at the museum to visit Little Petroglyph Canyon, part of the National His- toric Landmark. Modern replicas of petroglyphs from around the world are artistically displayed throughout town, and particularly at Petroglyph Park south of the museum. A Petroglyph Festival is celebrated each November ( www.rpfestival.com) . Mountain biking is extremely popular along the numerous trails (1,470 according to mapmyride.com ) in the foothills surrounding the city. Golf is an option for those with access to the base, and bowling and going to the movies are also choices for entertainment in Ridgecrest. Another point of interest for animal lovers is the Bureau of Land Management corrals east of town on Randsburg Wash Road off Highway 178. The facility sits on 57 acres and workers care for wild horses and burros that have been captured until they can be adopted. Visitors can drive the perimeter on a dirt road and look at the different corrals where horses are separated by gender and age. Inside the facility, one can get information about adopting these sur- vivors of the wild west, or at least pick up a poster. Continued from Page 11 JESSICA WESTON/REPRINTED BY PERMISSION OF THE DAILY INDEPENDENT The Parade of 1,000 Flags, held each year on the Saturday closest to September 11, is a unique institution in Ridgecrest where members of the community march 1,000 United States Flags through town and to Freedom Park, where they are then dis- played. Ridgecrest’s Finest Hotels Great weekend and holiday rates available 104 E. Sydnor Ave. Ridgecrest, CA 93555 (760) 446-1968 Complimentary hot buffet breakfast and internet, also heated pools and spas at both locations! 113 E. Sydnor Ave. Ridgecrest, CA 93555 (760) 446-1630