Some tourist traps in Napa Valley are totally worth seeing -- especially when that trap includes a torture chamber with a Pit of Doom and an authentic Iron Maiden. The wine is pretty good too (we like their Rosé, aka "Gioia.") Read more about Napa - Castello di Amorosa

Our timing during Spring Break 2010 was ideal for our visit to Death Valley National Park. It had just rained a lot before we got there... cooling everything off and giving rise to peak wildflowers for our pleasure. And just after we left, the windstorms hit.

We stayed at the Furnace Creek Campground where there were roadrunners running around the campsite. It's a good campsite and we'd stay there again. Read more about Death Valley 2010 - Part II