Death Valley, California by Matthew Barker

Made a bona fide National Monument a few years back, this is quite a lively place, despite the name. Easy access means tourists flock here in their droves in air-con buses. Must-visits include Scotty’s Castle, not actually a castle but a 1920s house built in the ‘Spanish style’ .

They say: “It's so quiet out here you can almost hear the shadows tugging violet twilight over the desert dunes” (Seattle Times)

We say: Only two hours from Vegas, so ideal if you need a break from all those shell-suits and Bette Midler. Not very sandy. The rock ‘n’ roll desert.