🌵🚗📍Your Guide to Feeling Like a Local During Strum in the Desert

🌵🚗📍Your Guide to Feeling Like a Local During Strum in the Desert

Are you thinking of coming to Strum in the Desert? Have you booked your tickets and are curious about the local area? Here is a guide to help you feel like a local while you visit the Imperial Valley for Strum in the Desert! 

Here is how I have organized this blog post
  1. Grocery Stores 
  2. Gas Stations
  3. Coffee, Desserts, Boba, and Smoothies
  4. Restaurant recommendations (organized by opening time)
  5. Points of Interest
  6. Hotels to Book
Let me know if there is anything you'd like me to add to this guide! 

1. Grocery Stores 

Vons: great deli options, amazing hours 
750 N Imperial Avenue El Centro, California 92243
Open 6:00am-12:00am

Grocery Outlet: my grocery store of choice because of its options and prices
1537 Main Street El Centro, California 92243
Open 8:00am-10:00pm

ALDI: nice selection & good prices
2260 North Imperial Avenue El Centro, California 92243
Open 9:00am-9:00pm

Walmart Supercenter: perfect for groceries and anything else you may have forgotten to bring with you!
2150 North Waterman Avenue El Centro, California 92243
Open 6:00am-11pm

Target: if you're in the mood to browse, grab a latte at the Starbucks inside while you shop! 
2295 North Imperial Avenue El Centro, California 92243
Open 8:00am-10:00pm

2. Gas Stations

Maverik: this is the newest gas station in town and I love the food, beverages, and cleanliness
Address: 1402 South Dogwood Road El Centro, California 92243
Hours: Open 24 hours
Phone: (442)224-6881
Note: go inside and ask for a Nitro card. It is a free membership and you can get $1 coffee and great discounts on gas. Also, their cheesy bread is so good!

Costco Gas (for Costco members only)
Address 2030 North Imperial Avenue #121C El Centro, California 92243
Hours: Monday-Friday 6:00am-10pm, Saturday 6:00am-8:30pm, Sunday 6:00am-7:30pm
Phone: (760)353-2380

3. Coffee, Local Desserts, and Boba

Brickhouse Coffee: a beautiful locally owned coffee shop with unique coffee flavors and a beautiful space to sit and chat. 
Address: 431 West Aten Road Imperial, California 92251
Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30am-6:00pm
Phone: (760)592-4352
👉 Make sure to follow the address above because there is a Brickhouse Coffee and a separate building nearby named Brickhouse Deli!

La Cachanilla (traditional Mexican ice cream and snacks) my husband loves their mazapan ice cream and I love their strawberries & cream dessert
Address: 1643 Main Street El Centro, California 
Hours: Open daily from 11:00am-10:00pm
Phone: (442)271-4500 

The Boba Tea Shop (boba drinks & desserts) 
Address: 341 North 8th Street Suite 1 El Centro, California 92243
Hours: Monday-Saturday 11:00am-8:00pm, Sunday 1:00pm-7:00pm
Phone: (760)996-9834

Back to Eden (Juice & smoothie counter service)
Address: 616 Main Street Suite 4 Brawley, California 92227
Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 8:30am-6:00pm, Wednesday/Friday 8:30am-3:00pm
This location is a perfect pit stop for your trip to Salvation Mountain

Raspados Cuchis (Mexican style shaved ice) I love their piña colada with lechera smoothie
Address: (Inside the Imperial Valley Mall) 3451 South Dogwood Road El Centro, California 92243
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00am-8:00pm, Sunday 11:00am-7:00pm
Phone: (760)970-4304
Note: there are multiple locations around town, but I recommended this one because it has plenty of seating at the mall food court!

Menchie's (Frozen Yogurt) I added this one to the list because it's my daughter's favorite dessert spot!
Address: 508 East Danenberg Drive #7 El Centro, California 92243
Hours: Open daily from 11:00am-10:00pm
Phone: (760)970-4820

4. Restaurant Recommendations

Brickhouse Deli: Locally owned counter-service deli with amazing sandwiches and bagels. I love adding aioli to my sandwich there.
Address: 447 W Aten Rd Suite 2, El Centro, CA 92243 
Hours: Open Monday-Friday from 7:00am-3:00pm
Phone: (760)592-4352
✋ Make sure to follow the address above because there is a Brickhouse Coffee and a separate building nearby named Brickhouse Deli!

Make sure to follow the address above because there is a Brickhouse Deli and a separate building nearby named Brickhouse Coffee!

The Broken Yolk Café: a sit down restaurant with hearty breakfasts, coffee, and classic comfort food.
Address: 3049 N Imperial Ave Suite 101, El Centro, CA 92243 
Hours: Open daily from: 7:00am-2:00pm
Phone: (760)352-9655

Antojitos Como En Casa: Mexican classic restaurant with a cozy, authentic feel. My husband often orders the chilaquiles, and I love their enchiladas and café de olla (traditional Mexican sweet coffee). 
Address: 841 Main Street El Centro, California 92243
Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 8:00am-6:00pm, Saturday-Monday 8:00am-2:00pm
Phone: (442)271-4016

D'Poly Taco: A gorgeous and vibrant Mexican restaurant. I like ordering the "chile güeritos" appetizer, an horchata (sweet rice drink), and individual tacos for the meal. This is the prettiest restaurant in the valley. 
Address: 1573 Main Street, El Centro, CA 92243 
Hours: Open daily from 9:00am-10:00pm
Phone: (760)9704243

In & Out Burger: A counter-service hamburger shop with iconic favorites like animal style fries. Highly recommended for anyone visiting from out of state! If you have a sweet tooth, order the milkshake! 
Address: 2390 South 4th Street, El Centro, CA 92243 
Hours: Open daily from 10:30am-1:00am
Website: in-n-out.com
Phone: (800)786-1000

Tacos Marlyn: Fresh made mouth-watering seafood tacos and tostadas! This place is my current favorite and I want to eat there every day.
Address: 1614 South 4th Street El Centro, California 92243
Hours: Open daily from 11:00am-7:00pm
Phone: (760)353-1686

K Sushi Grill: Fresh and delicious sushi, noodles, and appetizers. We try to sit close to the sushi bar because we love seeing the chef work, plus, he is so hospitable! (I looked through my photos to see if I had a better photo, but this is the best I could find 😂)
Address: 416 South J Street Imperial, California 92251
Hours: Open daily from 11:00am-9:00pm
Phone: (760)352-4635

Grasso's Italian Restaurant: This is a locally owned culinary landmark in the Imperial Valley that has two sections: a family room for larger groups and a more intimate space for smaller parties. In the picture above I was eating the Eggplant Parmigiana. We go here to celebrate my birthday 
Address: 1902 Main Street El Centro, California 92243
Hours: Thursday-Sunday from 5:00pm-8:30pm
Phone: (760)352-4635

5. Points of Interest
Glamis Sand Dunes (if you’d like an iconic photo of you in the desert, this place can’t be missed!)
Address: Osborne Park Road, Brawley California 92227
Hours: technically open 24 hours, but I recommend going before sunset

Sunbeam Lake (perfect place for a picnic because it’s on your way to Strum in the Desert events)
Address: 1750 Drew Road Seeley, California 92273
Hours: Open daily, closes at sunset

Imperial Valley Desert Museum: a small museum in a beautiful location that houses artifacts from the Imperial Valley and beyond. The photo above was taken outside the museum when the iconic Ocotillo trees were green. If you come at the right time of year, you might see them blooming flowers! 
Address: 11 Frontage Road Ocotillo, California 92259
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10:00am-4:00pm
Admission: $5
Phone: (760)358-7016

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens (if you’re willing to go on a little road trip, this is my favorite place to go for a day)
Address: 47900 Portola Avenue Palm Desert, California 92260
Admission: $39.95 for adults, $29.95 for children/youth
Hours: Open daily from 8:00am-5:00pm
Phone: (760)346-5694

6. Hotels to Book

Strum in the Desert is held in a remote and rustic location, so these are the closest hotels. The last one is my favorite because the restaurant has a great chef and is beautiful!

Hampton Inn El Centro
17 minutes drive from venue

Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites El Centro
20 minutes drive from venue

TownePlace Suites by Marriott El Centro
20 minutes drive from venue

Cambria Hotel El Centro - my favorite option!
23 minutes drive from venue, no highway needed 
 
BONUS: Travel + Leisure Magazine published an article about the local area. It has some good suggestions for exploring. 

Let me know if this list is a useful resource for you!
Bernadette

Please note: the main form of communication for attendees will be through email, but I will also use Telegram and our private Facebook group to post & communicate with you during the event. 

Telegram group link: click here
Facebook group link: click here
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