HotelTonight – Tehachapi Hotels at the Ready
I've found that most people who have never spent much time in California think that the entire state is basically a gigantic coastline with beaches everywhere. While that certainly describes a large portion of the Golden State, there is so much more to see and do in California that it would take weeks to explain all of it and years to do all of it. I drive all over California for work, so I've driven along the coast. I've driven through the desert. I've seen the desolate badlands and experienced their beauty. I've been through the mountains, which is where I found myself one day when suddenly I encountered some car trouble. I was near a community called Tehachapi, and fortunately there was help available to tow my car into town. I'd be staying there for 24 hours, while they got my vehicle back on the road, so I grabbed my bag and made the most of it. I opened the HotelTonight app on my phone, booked a Tehachapi hotel room in a matter of seconds and made my way to my room. I dropped my things and set out to explore.
The Ostrich Ranch
It had already been a random day, so I decided to make it even more random when I saw a sign for an ostrich ranch nearby. I took my loaner over there to feed the birds. They gave me the tools needed, I walked into an enclosure and fed them. It was really an amazing experience. These are smart birds with a lot of personality, and by the time I was done I did not want to leave the area. I had never done anything like that before, so I'm glad I took advantage of the opportunity.
The Loop
No, I wasn't in Chicago, but the Tehachapi Loop is very well known to locals and many travelers. It's basically a railway setting, as Tehachapi was a stop for railroads back when this mode of transportation dominated the country. The railway passes through – that's right, a loop – and trains seem to travel almost on top of each other. I'm not a train aficionado, but I found myself quite fascinated with this engineering achievement on more than one level. It took skill to drive the trains and skill to build the tracks. It was another unique experience.
The Dining
For whatever reason, I felt like barbecue that night after hearing about such a place from a local while taking in the loop. The decor was like that of some sort of cabin, and the entire place smelled fantastic. I had the brisket and macaroni and cheese, and it was amazing. The meat fell off the fork it was so tender, and the mac and cheese was the perfect compliment both in terms of texture and flavor. I had a nice local beer to go with it and was a happy traveler when I was done.
HotelTonight – Tehachapi Hotels
I was quite full and was ready to get some sleep. I found out just then that my car would be ready in the morning, so I walked into my Tehachapi hotel room and crashed out almost immediately. I couldn't wait to embark on another adventure like this one sometime soon.
