George Van Tassel

If you set off one morning and drive into the desert, past swirling dust devils and Wile E. Coyote rock formations, and then you drive some more, all the way until the paved road ends, you might find yourself at the Karl sisters' place, where time travel might, or might not, be possible. Here's Joanne Karl now, at 53, the oldest of the trio, striding across the compound. Today, she's all desert flower -- billowing dresses and sun-bleached tresses. Like the others, she's strayed from her roots.

If you set off one morning and drive into the desert, past swirling dust devils and Wile E. Coyote rock formations, and then you drive some more, all the way until the paved road ends, you might find yourself at the Karl sisters' place, where time travel might, or might not, be possible. Here's Joanne Karl now, at 53, the oldest of the trio, striding across the compound. Today, she's all desert flower -- billowing dresses and sun-bleached tresses. Like the others, she's strayed from her roots.

It's a dry heat - a boulder-studded, wind-raked Mojave heat, in which rock stars lie low, artists think big, marines train, weird plants jut toward the sun like beseeching biblical figures, and climbers cling to granite walls like insects stuck to flypaper, except the climbers are way happier. That's a notable thing about Joshua Tree National Park and the towns around it. While legions of Californians keep their faces to the beach, no matter the season, a certain stripe of traveler is powerless to resist the desert, especially in cooler months.

Reading Susannah Rosenblatt's "E.T., There's No Place Like Dome" [April 20] recalls an interview I had with George Van Tassel, "Le Grand Papa" of flying saucers, in the spring of 1970. Van Tassel each year since 1954 had staged a flying saucer convention at his Giant Rock headquarters, but interest had dwindled in them. "People see so many flying saucers, they're not a novelty anymore," said Van Tassel, who was then 60, adding: "Why, I just saw a monstrous saucer myself recently. It was 500 feet in diameter."

THE desert is a place where it is said that time bends, aging slows and the laws of gravity don't necessarily apply. And not just poolside in Palm Springs. Past scrubby fields of Joshua trees down a dusty road in Landers, a gleaming white dome rises abruptly from the jagged, putty-colored horizon, a curious testament to one man's intergalactic vision: the Integratron.

In the 1920s, '30s and '40s, the United States government commissioned many young photographers to travel the nation's back roads and country lanes, documenting life as it was lived far from city centers. Scores of powerful pictures were produced and the careers of numerous photojournalists were launched. A moving, if patchwork portrait of America's diverse population took shape as books were published, exhibitions were presented and archives were formed.

Desert Hot Springs "I had Splendor," purred my buddy Steve, looking pleasantly woozy after his seaweed-wrap spa treatment. "Sure looks it," I said. "No," he corrected. "Splendor was the masseuse's name." Those who know the Coachella Valley might be surprised to see "Desert Hot Springs" and "splendor" on the same page. Residents of Palm Springs and its tony neighbors have long viewed this city 20 minutes to the north as an embarrassing cousin.

Ah, Paris in spring, where Sundays in the park are pointillistic and the train stations impressionistic . . . But that's if you have lots of time and money. Otherwise, springtime in surrealistic Yucca Valley's the place I want to be! Where the nearby rock formations could have been conceived by painter Rene Magritte and Salvador Dali's melting watches wouldn't look out of place. My wife and I are climbers, and hence frequent visitors to Joshua Tree National Monument, a climbing mecca.

Looking for something to do this summer? Whether you're looking for relaxation, a good meal, respite from the heat or adventure, there are a wide range o f activities to help make the most of your summer. Here are 100 from which to choose: May Silver Lake Jubilee Set for Memorial Day weekend, the two-day Silver Lake Jubilee promises a bevy of local bands, as well as a free block party, comedy shows and literary talks. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2012/03/silver-lake-jubilee-2012-unveils-lineup.html Cost: $20 for one-day general admission; block party free Dates: May 26-27 Contact info: 4000 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles; http://jubilee.is Categories: Entertainment - S.O. Golden Gate Bridge 75th anniversary Head to San Francisco to celebrate the iconic bridge's milestone with fireworks, live music, exhibitions and a parade of classic boats.