General Information
Lancaster, CA
Antelope Valley
Lancaster is the eighth-largest city in Los Angeles County and the 9th fastest growing city in the United States. Lancaster is located in thewhich provides a natural protection for the region. This results in warm, clear, smog-free weather during the time frame of the FWR. Daytime highs average 92° F and lows 60° F. Population: 446,342 Antelope Valley approximately 70 miles north of Los Angeles. It is separated from the Los Angeles Basin by the San Gabriel Mountain Range to the south and from Bakersfield and the San Joaquin Valley by the Tehachapi Mountain Range to the north
The City of Lancaster is conveniently located within easy driving distance of the most popular and diverse tourist destination in the United States. Visitors worldwide are drawn by the sunny weather, sandy beaches, theme and amusement parks, sightseeing, and recreational opportunities situated a short commute from the Antelope Valley. Families can enjoy many of the dining, shopping, and entertainment options that make Southern California the premier national and international vacation destination.
Local Attractions
- Edwards Air Force Base Flight Test Museum - The new 12,000 sq. ft. museum houses exhibits such as flight testing during WWII, breaking the sound barrier, aviation records set at Edwards, testing the X-15, and the story of Glen Edwards, for whom the base was named. Aircraft on display inside the museum building include the F-16B, an NA-37B, an AQM-34 Firebee drone, the X-25B concept demonstrator, and a full-scale replica of the Bell X-1. Currently, 16 of the museum's aircraft are displayed outdoors in the museum's airpark. They include the B-52D, CH-3E, F-84F, F-101B, F-104A, F-105D, F-111A, H-34, NF-4C, SR-71A, T28B, T-33, T-39, UC 45, YA-7D, and Gloster Meteor.
- Edwards Air Force Base NASA Tours - The NASA tour includes a film about the facility and then a walking tour of historical aircraft such as the Apollo spacecraft and displays, as well as current research aircraft.
- Clear Channel Stadium, Lancaster – Enjoy California League Baseball with the Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Over 35 players have gone from Lancaster to play at the Major League level since the club began play, with notables such as Jose Cruz, Jr., Joe Mays and Brandon Webb leading the list.
- Aerospace Walk of Honor, Lancaster -The City of Lancaster Aerospace Walk of Honor and the sidewalk monument display along Lancaster Boulevard pay tribute to distinguished Edwards Air Force Base test pilots whose history of achievement in the field has been continuously outstanding. Established in 1990 by the Lancaster City Council, the Aerospace Walk of Honor awards recognition for test pilots associated with Edwards Air Force Base whose aviation careers are marked by significant and obvious achievements beyond one specific accomplishment. In a profession where extraordinary achievement is the norm, honorees selected for the Aerospace Walk of Honor have soared above the rest.
- Lancaster Performing Arts Center – Enjoy unique theatrical performances in the heart of Lancaster. Recent performers include Dwight Yoakam. Kenny Loggins, Joan Baez, the Moody Blues, and Amy Grant.
- Dry Town Water Park, Palmdale - Hang on, you're gonna get wet! This all new water park is a great place to cool down and enjoy the slides and lazy river or just relax with the family.
- Golfing – Several golf courses, including the championship Rancho Vista Course, are available for golfers of all skill levels.
- Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodlands State Park, Lancaster - This park protects and preserves an impressive stand of native Joshuas and Junipers which once grew in great abundance throughout the valley.
- Prime Desert Woodlands Preserve, Lancaster – A 100-acre preserve featuring three miles of trails, and interpretive center, and guided tours.
- Exotic Feline Breeding Compound, Rosamond – A breeding, research and education facility with more than 50 rare and endangered exotic cats including leopards, cougars, and tigers.
- Hot Air Ballooning, Lancaster – Enjoy the breathtaking mountain and valley views with an early morning balloon ride.
- Blackbird Air Park, Palmdale - This three-acre airpark is located on the Air Force's Production Flight Test Installation at Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. It is the world's only display of a Lockheed SR-71A together with its Blackbird predecessor, the A-12, and the once ultra-secret D-21 drone. Other aircraft includes the A-12 #60-6924, SR-71A #64-17973, and U-2D #56-6721.
- Antelope Valley Mall – This large indoor mall features 140 stores with seven anchor stores including Robinsons-May, JC Penney, Sears, Harris-Gottschalk's, Dillard's, and a 16 screen Cinemark Movie Theater. Restaurants include Johnny Carino's, El Torito, Famous Dave's Barbeque, Chili's, Red Lobster, and Olive Garden.
- Mulligan's Family Fun Center, Palmdale – This large recreation park features Lazer Tag, Blaster Boats, Go-Karts, a full arcade, food, party rooms, and more.
- The Lancaster Marketplace – Dozens of shops and restaurants located minutes from downtown Lancaster.
- Devil's Punchbowl - The Devil's Punchbowl County Park consists of 1,310 acres in the nearby San Gabriel Mountains. Miles of hiking trails highlight the unique and peculiar natural geography of the region.
- Red Rock Canyon State Park - Red Rock Canyon State Park features scenic desert cliffs, buttes and spectacular rock formations. The park is located where the southernmost tip of the Sierra Nevada converge with the El Paso Range. The park includes significant paleontology sites and the remains of 1890s-era mining operations, and has been the site for a number of movies.
- Saddleback Buttes State Park - Saddleback Butte is a granite mountaintop some thousand feet above the broad alluvial bottom land of the Antelope Valley on the western edge of the Mojave Desert. The state park surrounding Saddleback Butte was created in 1960 to protect the butte and examples of native Joshua Tree woodlands and other plants and animals that were once common throughout this high desert area.
- Concerts in the Park, Palmdale – Summer concert series at the Palmdale Amphitheater has featured such artist as America, Josh Kelley, and Pablo Cruise.
- Over 60 Movie Screens – The Antelope Valley has several movie houses including Lancaster Cinemark 22 and sixteen screens at the Antelope Valley Mall.
Southern California
Popular Theme Parks
- Disneyland – The original family vacation destination is home to more than 60 major attractions, 50 shops and 30 restaurants divided into eight themed lands including Advantureland, Tomorrowland, and Frontierland.
- Disney's California Adventure – This theme park is based on the fun, adventures, and dreams California has to offer including Paradise Pier Amusement Zone, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, and Disney Animation.
- Universal Studios Hollywood – The Studio Tour takes visitors behind the scenes of a major movie studio, provides live shows, and includes theme rides.
- Six Flags Magic Mountain – Features 16 roller coasters and more than 100 other rides, games, and attractions.
- Knott's Berry Farm Theme Park - A re-creation of the Old West encompassing six theme areas includes some of the most thrilling coaster rides in Southern California.
- SeaWorld, San Diego – A marine adventure park featuring shows, marine-life attractions, and thrill rides. A highlight of this park is the Shamu Adventure show.
- Six Flags Hurricane Harbor – A 20-acre tropical water park set among pirate treasures, sea creatures, and ancient ruins. Includes 23 slides and attractions.
- Legoland California– Fifty rides and activities made with multicolored plastic legos.
- San Diego Zoo – One of the largest zoos in the world, exhibiting over 4,000 animals in enclosures simulating their native environment.
- Knott's Soak City – Water adventure park themed to the surf and beach towns of 1950s Southern California.
- Wild Rivers Water Park, Irvine – Over 40 water rides and attractions includes inner tube rides, waterslides, wave pools, and children's play areas.
Attractions/Sightseeing
- NBC Studios Tour, Burbank – A walking tour features special-effects demonstrations, wardrobe and make-up departments, sound effects room, and Studio 3, home of the Tonight Show.
- Paramount Studio Tour, Hollywood – The only major classic studio still in Hollywood, the tour is a guided 2 hour historical and informative behind the scenes look at a motion picture and television facility.
- Warner Brothers Studio Tour, Burbank – Includes recording stages, prop shops, and live filming.
- Hollywood – Home of several major motion picture studios and 60 independent television production companies. Highlights include Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood Boulevard, and an open air retail/entertainment complex.
- Los Angeles Zoo, Los Angeles – Home to more than 1,200 mammals, birds, and reptiles from around the world, including rare and endangered species.
- Catalina Island – Beaches, hiking, camping, deep-sea fishing, golf, tennis, and shopping on beautiful Catalina Island.
- Grauman's Chinese Theater, Hollywood – More than 200 stars have left their footprints outside this 80 year-old Hollywood landmark.
- La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles – The world's richest source of ice-age fossils. Visitors can view paleontologists excavating fossils from the walking trails.
- Griffith Park, Los Angeles - The country's largest urban municipal park includes educational and cultural institutions, wilderness areas and hiking trails. The Griffith Observatory and Planetarium provides stunning views of the Los Angeles basin and the night sky.
- Queen Mary, Long Beach – One of the largest passenger liners ever built is permanently moored in Long Beach Harbor.
Entertainment and Sports
- Universal City Hollywood, Universal City – Entertainment, dining, and shopping promenade includes architecturally diverse streets, live street performances, nightclubs, and an IMAX theater.
- Home Depot Center, Carson – Multi-use sports complex is the home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, CD Chivas USA, and the USA National team.
- Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles – Home of the Los Angeles Dodgers offers spectacular views of downtown Los Angeles.
- Hollywood Bowl - The outdoor amphitheater is best known for its band shell, a distinctive set of concentric arches that has graced the site since 1929. Adding to the atmosphere of the Bowl, the famous Hollywood sign, several miles away, is visible from the spectators' viewpoint.
- Staples Center, Los Angeles – Multi-purpose stadium in downtown Los Angeles is home of the Lakers, Clippers, Kings, and the WNBA Sparks.
- Angels Stadium, Anaheim – Newly renovated home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
- The Pond in Anaheim – Home to the NHL Mighty Ducks and host of concerts and other special events.
- California Speedway, Fontana – NASCAR and NEXTEL series events at the 2-mile oval seating 92,000 racing fans.
- Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa – Symphony concerts, jazz artists, and Broadway shows in an intimate 3,000 seat venue.
- Los Angeles Philharmonic – Los Angeles based orchestra plays outdoor concerts in the summer at the Hollywood Bowl.
- The Greek Theater, Los Angeles – The 5,700 seat theater in Griffith Park is modeled after a Greek temple. It is the host for numerous concerts and stage performances.
Shopping and Dining
- Beverly Center –A monolithic eight-story structure located at the edge of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, the Center features over 160 stores, restaurants, and movie theaters.
- The Grove, Los Angeles – This large outdoor marketplace and entertainment complex features a fountain show reminiscent of the Bellagio.
- Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills – One of the most famous stretch of boutiques and shops in the world.
- Valencia Town Center – A large retail center consisting of a distinctive main street and a diverse shopping mall.
- Downtown Disney, Anaheim – An outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment promenade themed after a garden walk, located at the Disneyland Resort.
- Fashion Square, Sherman Oaks – Over 120 stores, dining, and activities anchored by Bloomingdale's.
- Glendale Galleria, Glendale – Over 260 stores and restaurants in one of the largest malls in California
- Westfield Promenade, Woodland Hills - A large shopping mall located on Topanga Canyon Boulevard in the Woodland Hills district of Los Angeles. The mall is two stories tall and features a two-part Macy's department store, a 16-screen theater and a Barnes & Noble as its main anchors.
- Medieval Times, Buena Park – A dinner theater which stage tournaments in the style of the chivalric contests of the High Middle Ages.
Museums
- Getty Center Museum, Los Angeles – The 110-arce complex includes the museum and its collections of pre-20th-century European paintings, drawings, sculptures, and other art forms.
- Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, Simi Valley – Photographs and memorabilia of President Reagan's life, a replica of the Oval Office, and Air Force One.
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles – Features paintings, sculpture, costumes, textiles, and decorative art from around the world.
- Museum of Natural History, Exhibition Park, Los Angeles – Exhibits include birds, dinosaurs, insects, and exotic mammals.
- California Science Center, Exhibition Park, Los Angeles – Hundreds of hands-on and interactive exhibits about physics, biology, space, technology, and the environment. Includes a seven-story IMAX theater.
- Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles – Contains colorful, frenetic, and imaginative art, signs, and information in modern neon.
- Museum of Television and Radio, Beverly Hills – A collection of more than 120,000 historical and contemporary television and radio programs and advertisements.
- Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles – Includes paintings, sculptures and environmental pieces from the 1940s to the present.
- Museum of the American West, Los Angeles - The Museum explores the myths and realities of the American West and its diverse populations with a collection of interpreting objects and art, making connections between people today and those who have shaped the past.
- Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles – Interactive exhibits about racism and prejudice in America, and the history of the Holocaust.
- Museum of California Art, Pasadena – Exhibitions of California art, architecture and design.
- Peterson Automotive Museum, Los Angeles – Five galleries house exhibits of vintage vehicles and automobile memorabilia.
- Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles – Offers a range of exhibitions of literary, performing arts and family programs.
- Hammer Museum, Los Angeles – Offers a variety of contemporary art exhibitions including works by Rembrandt, van Gogh, Monet, and Chagall.
Recreation
- Whitewater Rafting, Kernville – Several outfitters offer exciting half day to weeklong excursions on the Kern River.
- Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area - This park features hiking trails, swimming beaches and designated areas for boating, water-skiing and fishing. There is a marina with a launching ramp, boat and equipment rentals, and a store. The park has picnic areas, including three that can only be reached by boat.
- Hollywood Hills Horseback Riding – Enjoy a 90 minute ride through Griffith Park over to Burbank and dinner at the Viva Fresh Mexican Restaurant.
- Leo Carrillo State Park, Pacific Coast Highway - The park has 1.5 miles of beach for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, surf fishing and beachcombing. The beach also features tide pools, coastal caves and reefs for exploring. Giant sycamores shade the main campgrounds. The park also features back-country hiking.
- Malibu Creek State Park, Malibu –This beautiful park features hiking, fishing, bird watching and horseback riding opportunities along 15 miles of streamside trail through oak and sycamore woodlands an chaparral-covered slopes.
National and State Parks
- Yosemite National Park – Waterfalls, glaciers, canyons, Giant Sequoias, hiking, lakes, and much more at one of the most spectacular parks in the country.
- Sequoia and King's Canyon National Park - These parks are home to giants: immense mountains, deep canyons, and huge trees, with an elevation range of 1,500' to 14,491'. Although Congress created these two parks at different times, Sequoia and Kings Canyon share miles of boundary and are managed as one park. Sequoia was the second national park designated in this country. General Grant National Park, the forerunner of Kings Canyon, was third.
- Death Valley National Park - Death Valley National Park comprises more than 3.3 million acres of spectacular desert scenery, rare desert wildlife, complex geology, undisturbed wilderness and sites of historical interest. Death Valley is unique because it contains the lowest, hottest, driest location in North America. Nearly 550 square miles of its area lie below sea level.
- Channel Islands National Park – Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara) and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archeological resources and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was.
- Joshua Tree National Park – Joshua Tree National Park encompasses one of the most interesting and diverse patches of desert in the United States. Its namesake species, the spiky, dramatically crooked Joshua tree, is also considered by many to be the defining characteristic of the Mojave Desert. Enjoy rock climbing, hiking, camping, or just enjoy the views from 5,000 foot vista points.
- Point Dume State Beach - Point Dume State Preserve features headlands, cliffs, rocky coves and vast beach access. The area is noted for swimming, surfing, scuba diving and fishing. Point Dume is a perfect place to watch for California gray whales during its migration period.
- Point Mugu State Park, Malibu - Point Mugu State Park features five miles of ocean shoreline, with rocky bluffs, sandy beaches, sand dunes, two major river canyons and wide grassy valleys. There are more than 70 miles of hiking trails. The beach also features swimming, body surfing and surf fishing.
- Will Rogers State Historic Park, Pacific Palisades – The humorist's home, hiking trails, and picnic facilities are located on 186 acres of parkland.
Area Airports
Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena - BUR
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(800) 426-0333
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(800) 433-7300
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(800) 428-4322
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(800) 221-1212
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(800) 435-9792
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(800) 241-6522
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(800) 241-6522
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Los Angeles - LAX
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(800) 426-0333
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(800) 433-7300
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(800) 433-7300
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ATA
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(800) 247-8726
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(800) 525-0280
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(800) 221-1212
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(800) 432-1359
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(800) 367-5320
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(800) 547-9308
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(800) 225-2525
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(800) 435-9792
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(800) 241-6522
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(800) 241-6522
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(800) 241-6522
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(800) 428-4322
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Other Transportation
Bus Station – Greyhound (5 miles E)
Car Rentals
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Enterprise Rent A Car
1840 E Avenue J Lancaster CA US 93535-4475 Enterprise Rent A Car
811 West Avenue K Lancaster CA US 93534-2129 |
Hertz Corporation
701 West Avenue K Lancaster CA US 93534 Hertz Corporation
1155 Auto Mall Drive
Lancaster CA US 93534 |
Budget Rent A Car
43365 10th St West Lancaster CA US 93534 |
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Avis Rent A Car System
221 W Avenue J Lancaster CA US 93534 |