Wilted Canyon Curios is in the back of your imagination, at the end of a long and dusty road, just an exit away from that busy freeway you call your life. 

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It’s tucked inside a quiet canyon, where the sounds of wild birds echo between the rugged canyon walls. You could almost say it's about a two-hour drive from Hollywood.  On a good day.

 

You'll see a bunch of cacti and clumps of wildflowers there in the canyon. You know, here and there. Some of them may even be blooming. The shop's in an old stone building, that's bigger than it looks from the front. On the worn stone steps that lead up to the faded blue front door, large clay pots overflow with purple lavender and deep blue lobeilia flowers.  A large black cat is casually on guard in one of the sun-filled front windows, sharing a warm spot on a shelf with sparkling glassware.

 

There's wooden benches and chairs out in the font yard, weathered from the sun and wind. They're for anyone to enjoy. Have a seat, rest a while. It’s the kind of place you where just want to sink into one of the sun-warmed chairs with the colorful Native American blanket pillows and just relax. 

 

Put your feet up. Listen to the quiet. Many do. Time almost seems to stand still there  On some days, when the desert wind is blowin' just right, and if you sit real quiet and close your eyes, the rushing freeway traffic in the valley sounds like a cool, refreshing, wet waterfall.

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The best way to get there is to follow the old road out of town - the one lined with wooden telephone poles leaning to one side after years of shouldering the desert winds. It looks like a long road and you'll see the mountains way in the distance. Use your instinct and follow the mountain stretch of road as it twists and turns, up and down into the ragged ravine until it disappears behind the sandy mesas. At the end of the road you’ll see a stone building with timbers and a tile roof.  You won't miss it - there's a big old pine tree out front. 

 

When you get to the stony wash-out where the tumbleweeds blow across the road...you’ll know you’re almost there.

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