Posted on by James Kampas

Young the Giant at Pappy & Harriet’s

September 10, 2025 – Young the Giant performs “Cough Syrup.”

Last night, my daughter and I had a great time at the legendary Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, where we saw the alternative rock band Young the Giant. This was my second time seeing them, and both times were amazing. Being outdoors under the desert stars made the evening truly magical.

Pappy & Harriet’s is a classic roadhouse-style venue—part bar, part restaurant, and part live music venue. Tucked away in the remote Mojave Desert town of Pioneertown (just outside Joshua Tree), its rustic stage has hosted a remarkable list of legends, including Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, Arctic Monkeys, Queens of the Stone Age, and Patti Smith. British new wave band The Fixx was performing on the inside stage later in the evening.

Posted on by James Kampas

My Kicks on Route 66

May 11, 2025 - Roy’s Motel and Café on historic Route 66.
May 11, 2025 – Roy’s on historic Route 66.

Any time we drive between Palm Springs and Las Vegas, we pass Roy’s Motel and Café on historic Route 66 in Amboy, California—a haunting icon of mid-century Americana. Set against the stark beauty of the Mojave Desert, Roy’s stands like a time capsule from the golden age of road travel, its bold neon sign and weathered buildings evoking the heyday of the Mother Road. Roy’s is a living monument to America’s romance with the open road.

Posted on by James Kampas

Mitchell Caverns

May 11, 2025 - Entrance to Mitchell Caverns.
May 11, 2025 - Inside Mitchell Caverns.
May 11, 2025 - Pathway through Mitchell Caverns.

Mitchell Caverns, tucked away in the isolated Providence Mountains within the Mojave Desert, is the only limestone cave system in the California State Parks. Situated at an elevation of 4,300 feet, it features two primary caves—El Pakiva (“The Devil’s House”) and Tecopa, named for a Shoshonean chief—connected by a man-made tunnel. Access is limited to guided tours led by California State Park rangers. Though pretty remote, it was conveniently located along our route home from Laughlin. We had advance reservations for the two-hour tour, and the $20 fee was well justified.