Palms Motel, Muscoy California

One of the first places to stop at the end of the tiring Cajon Pass drive. Motels like the Palms were the beating heart of budget travel. It feels like it’s been plucked straight from a 1960s postcard. Its unassuming facade, complete with a flickering vintage sign that probably hasn’t been serviced since Nixon was in office, beckons weary travelers with promises of a bed, a roof, and maybe a vending machine that still takes quarters. The motel’s exterior is a salute to simplicity with a single-story stretch of rooms. There’s no infinity pool or artisanal coffee bar here, just a parking lot that’s seen more oil leaks than a classic car rally and a vibe that says, “We’re not fancy, and we’re fine with that.” You'll find it on Cajon Boulevard in Muscoy, CA