Phoenix to Los Angeles road trip: 19 stops worth the detour

San Gabriel Valley noodle shop specializing in handmade noodles and its cult-favorite crisp, savory beef roll. Order: Beef roll.

Giant roadside dinosaurs off I-10

The bolder of Verrado's two courses, with big elevation swings against the White Tank Mountains. A Tom Lehman design the West Valley quietly considers its best public play.

Acclaimed San Gabriel Valley restaurant specializing in the rustic home-style cooking of Sichuan province with bold, tongue-numbing flavors. Order: Mount Emei cold noodles.

Cult-favorite farm-to-table brunch with a legendary bacon flight. (Old Las Palmas)

Pete Dye built this one straight into the Santa Rosa Mountains, with fairways tucked beneath sheer rock faces. Dramatic desert scenery at a storied old resort.

Elevated seasonal American fare in Cary Grant's former estate garden. (Uptown)

A wedding-cake "castle" on a cactus hill in Phoenix, ringed by one of the oldest saguaro gardens in the country.

An Arnold Palmer municipal course at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains that once hosted the Bob Hope Classic. Big mountain backdrops at a public price.

Refined regional Mexican cuisine since 1985, a longtime local staple prized for mole, carnitas and a big shaded outdoor patio. Order: Mole poblano.

Greg Norman's natural-desert layout at PGA West, routed through arroyos and native landscape with minimal housing. The quietest of the resort's courses.

Pete Dye at his most diabolical, headlined by the island-green 17th nicknamed Alcatraz and a bunker called the San Andreas Fault. Punishing, theatrical, and unforgettable in the desert sun.

A destination Italian restaurant that draws diners to Old Pasadena, making bread, butter, and pasta from scratch with local produce. Order: Squid ink lumache.

Simon Rodia’s 99-ft mosaic spires

A fresh Nicklaus design at the base of the White Tanks, Troon-managed and currently open for daily-fee play. Catch it while you can, as it is slated to go private as the community fills in.

Afro-centric eatery near SoFi blending West African and California flavors. (Inglewood)

Twisted trees, granite piles & dark skies

Beloved high-desert cafe on 29 Palms Highway with cult-status locally roasted organic coffee, in-house pastries and creative breakfast fare. Order: Avocado toast.