Death Valley is less than a five-hour drive from Los Angeles, but it is as desolate as a planet in a galaxy far, far away. That’s why in 1977, for the first “Star Wars” movie, George Lucas shot some scenes here. Today, “Star Wars” fanboys take selfies at the film locations even in summer when the temperature tops 110 degrees. On a cool fall day, my husband, Paul, and I set out for the largest, hottest and driest national park in the contiguous U.S. for another reason: to visit the rebirth of its beloved historic hotel, the newly refurbished Inn at Death Valley. (The park and its private concessions are open despite the partial government shutdown.) The tab for two: $424 per night for the room, $200 per day for food, plus taxes, resort fees and gas.
Source: latimes.com – Los Angeles Times