Seniors Enjoy Desert Town In California
Senior visitors will find Victorville at the southern edge of the Mojave Desert in the Victor Valley of western San Bernardino County, California. The city is situated 82 miles northeast of Los Angeles, and is surrounded by the nearby communities of Adelanto, Apple Valley, and Hesperia. Its estimated population is around 122,000.
Back in 1885, the community was known simply as Victor. It was named after Jacob Nash Victor, a construction superintendent for the California Southern Railroad (Santa Fe Railroad). Kind of like my hometown back in Iowa that was named after a railroad engineer.
U.S Route 66 connected to the town in 1926, and the army established an air base in 1941. Seniors, have you ever traveled on Route 66?
Seniors Visit A Route 66 Museum
Senior visitors to the city can take advantage of a wide variety of activities, including mountain skiing, water sports, and access to the vast array of attractions in Southern California and the city of Los Angeles.
Victorville boasts the California Route 66 Museum, a repository of artifacts and photographs chronicling the history of the storied national highway and the communities it served. I visited a Route 66 Museum in Kingman, Arizona that was full of history and souvenirs. A fun visit.
The Fire Museum in Victorville houses a collection of fire fighting equipment and memorabilia including exhibits dating from the 1930s, depicting the history of the Victorville Fire Department.
A celebrated spring event in Victorville is the San Bernardino County Fair, a festival replete with carnival rides, celebrity concerts, livestock competitions, and every other county fair activity.
Arts and entertainment can be found in the city’s Performing Arts Center. Sports fans can root for the High Desert Mavericks, a Class Triple-A minor league baseball team affiliated with Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners.
Seniors Find An Aircraft Graveyard
Where do old jumbo jets go when they die? To the aircraft graveyard in Victorville. Facebook makes suggestions for dining, landmarks and activities you might enjoy.
Victorville offers beautiful views of snow-capped mountains, from its location in the High Desert. The shopping mall is a big draw not only for the locals but for senior visitors as well.
Toss in the clubs and play a round or two at the Green Tree Golf Course. The High Desert Center for the Arts on 8th Street features a theater for performances and drama workshops, plus an art gallery.
TripAdvisor lists 19 things not to be missed. So seniors, when you are in the area, make a stop at Victorville and explore. -jeb