Baker (California)

Baker Boulevard serves as the main road through town, connecting to I-15 at both ends.

• 🌍 The World's Tallest Thermometer. Relax, it's not a giant tube filled with mercury, but a tower displaying a digital readout. The thermometer is 134 feet (40 m) tall, one foot for each degree of the North American record temperature of 134°F (57C). Easily viewed from the highway, a stop into town is not necessary. (updated Jun 2015)

As Baker is somewhat isolated in the middle of the Mojave Desert with little else for quite a distance in any direction, this tiny town is overrun with no less than seven gas stations. Fuel up here if you think there is the least chance you might run out of gas within the next 50 miles.

• 🌍 Country Store, 72129 Baker Blvd, ☏ +1 760 733-4252. Many winning lottery tickets have been purchased at the convenience store; the town is the last major stop before the state line of Nevada on the way to Las Vegas (although there is a California Lottery Store on the California side near Primm, Nevada). They are also known for selling over 400 kinds of soda pop, many in glass bottles, as well as "retro" candy. 
• 🌍 Alien Fresh Jerky, Baker Blvd., toll-free: +1 877-254-3635, contactus@alienfreshjerky.com. M-Th - 8AM-8PM, F-Su - 8AM-9PM. The heavy advertising along the interstate makes this roadside shop hard to miss. Prices are high, but those looking for a quick beef jerky fix before heading off into the desert will find what they want. 

• 🌍 The Mad Greek Café, 72112 Baker Blvd, ☏ +1 760 733-4354. 24 hours a day. Dozens of billboards along the highway make this restaurant impossible to ignore. Billing itself as "America's best gyros" the Mad Greek offers good (although probably not the best) gyros for about $8. The dozens of classic statues, tacky music, and over-decorated interior create an atmosphere that is worth checking out. (updated Jun 2015)
• 🌍 Denny's, 72415 Baker Blvd, ☏ +1 760 733-4316. Just like any other Denny's restaurant, but when you've got limited options and barren desert extending to the horizon in every direction, Moons Over My Hammy suddenly seems a bit more appealing. (updated Jun 2015)
• 🌍 Los Dos Toritos, 72074 Baker Blvd., ☏ +1 760 733-4772. A nondescript Mexican restaurant that is good for those seeking cheap tacos. (updated Jun 2015)

Based on many on-line guest reviews of all of the motels listed here, Baker should not be your first choice when picking a place to sleep.

• Mojave National Preserve - Located just across the highway from town, this preserve protects a massive area of California's desert.
• Death Valley National Park - Located about two hours (by car) north of town, Death Valley national park is the largest national park in America's lower forty-eight states and protects amazing desert scenery.
• Barstow - Located approximately 60 miles to the southwest of Baker on I-15, Barstow is located on the former Route 66 and offers visitors several historic and natural attractions ranging from the 200,000 year old Calico early man site to the Western America Railroad museum.
• Las Vegas - Most visitors to Baker are travelers en route to Sin City, America's playground.
• Primm - A town on the California–Nevada border, with a few casinos.