A Scenic Route for Photographers: Hwy 94 San Diego County, California
Like any tourist destination, particularly one mingled with salt air, warm climate, and Spanish influences—San Diego is just a photographer’s delight.If you are willing to go 90 minutes southeast of San Diego, there is an area less travelled that really is a secret and a change of pace. Not with standing Homeland Security and the border patrol road blocks—Campo, California and the surrounding environs is a surprise.
Campo is 2,600 feet above sea level—this makes for some interesting vistas. There are orchards, vineyards, old structures, and open grasslands that are photogenic.We passed on old mill type structure with rusting hulks of interesting shapes. We stopped to take some nostalgic landscape shots but just had to get closer.While trying to photograph through the fence at a wonderful assortment of texture, color, and shapes—a truck and car pulled up. The older gentlemen in the vehicles asked us to move aside and they would let us in.
After two hours of friendly conversation, stories, and clicking away—we discovered this was the Motor Transport Museum. It is normally open only on Saturday, but for specific hours, call (619) 478-2492. These men were a wealth of knowledge, very articulate, mechanical geniuses, and well acquainted with some pretty exotic cameras. After we exchanged email address, I figured out they must be professors from University of California, San Diego.
There is also a quaint grocery store in an old building in adjacent Cameron Corners. The store is immaculate with white washed walls and carefully aligned cans and boxes. I did not notice any restaurants so if you want to support the locals and not a Circle-K, stop by the store for a beverage and a snack!
All images are copywrite of Adrienne R. Campbell.
For more information about the museums of Campo check out these websites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campo,_California
CNN has a reprint of a Sunset Magazine article about Highway 94 and other communities and sights that may also ignite your imagination:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/06/29/highway.94/index.html
By the way, we stayed at an exceptional hotel at a wonderful rate while in San Diego. Please check out Pacific Terrace at http://www.pacificterrace.com/index.cfm and their online packages for special rates.
