I'm driving from Vegas to LA this weekend - any suggestions on places to see or stay along the way would be really appreciated. I'm a sun starved European here for a couple of days so somewhere with a pool would be good. I also like deserts and wilderness which is why I'm doing this!! Thanks

Frankly I'd head from one to the other as quickly as you can. Although we did detour and make an overnight stop at 29Palms once and visited Joshua Tree National Park. It was fun and different. By all means spend a night at the funky and fun 29Palms Inn:
http://www.29palmsinn.com/
If you like deserts and wilderness, you'll be in heaven.

About an hour and a half from Las Vegas there is Calico Ghost Town. It will be on your side of the highway and there will be a sign. Some of the buildings are original some are recrations. I think they have a mine tour, museum, restaurant, cowboy shoot-out, things of that sort. They charge a small admission.

No triip from Vegas to LA is complete witjhout a strawberry milkshakes from the Mad Greek's Dinner at Baker. Just follow the signs.

We just drove from Vegas to LA this past Tuesday. It only took 4-5 hours--not very long at all and you'll still have time to stop at Baker for that milkshake!

We loved the Mojave Desert Drive through Kelso - an old railway transit stop with great atmosphere, and the sand dunes and volcanic areas along the way. We met a group of twenty or so cowboys, proper cowboys with horses and lassoos and big hats, waiting for their HEICOPTER to find a burro in the dunes, which are a National Park. The boss told us each burro cost the Government a million dollars to catch and remove safely!

Thanks everybody - the drive through the desert was great after the madness of Vegas and it was really impressive as the sun went down. The Inn at 29 Palms was great (but a pretty long detour!) and I wished I had more time there. Next time.

Glad you liked the Inn at 29 Palms, I said it was a detour, I thought I'd let you find out how much of one. LOL.
I haven't been there in a number of years, is it still as quaint and funky as I remember it?