13. Death Valley State Park, California, USA
Death Valley is one of the most coveted areas in the state, partly because of its wild beauty and partly because of its ample quirkiness. Starting in the Furnace Creek area on California Highway 190, take the Badwater Road (California Highway 178) south for about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and go right onto the signed West Side Road. When it comes to iconic roads around the world, not only will you be privy to some of the straightest and hypnotizing roads on earth, but you’ll also have plenty to explore. Frank “Shorty” Harris, one of the most famous gold prospectors in the region, is buried here.
The grave is about nine miles down the road, to your left, and is marked by a sign. Other highlights along the West Side Road are the ruins of the Eagle Borax Works, the first borax refinery in Death Valley, which operated 1882-1884, and the area where the Bennett Long Camp was located.
