A few hours east of San Diego and alongside Anza-Borrego State Park you will find privately owned land called Galleta Meadows. Galleta Meadows was bought for conservation by Dennis Avery of the Avery Label Fortune. Mr. Avery then commissioned Southern Californian Artist Ricardo Breceda to make 130 metal sculptures.
So now besides the wonderful hiking and wild desert flowers in February and May, you can also go and see a 350 foot dragon that seems to be undulating its body in and out of the sand. There is definitely a few themes throughout the sculptures from prehistoric dinosaurs to larger than life desert dwellers like scorpions and grasshoppers.
Even though the sculptures are on privately owned land it is completely free to the public and open all year round and all day. I am sure night time photography of these sculptures must be something special and there are photo classes and tours that you can check out.
Daytime is just as magical and worth the drive and you can hike to all the sculptures and enjoy the landscape and don't forget to top in to the nearest town's Julian, California, famous for the all american treat apple pie.
More information on Anza-Borrego State Park and Galleta Meadows Estates.