Atlas Obscura and Land Rover present Rediscover Adventure with Leonardo Nam Atlas Obscura presents Land Rover Discovery with Leonardo Nam

Leonardo Nam’s Adventure

California Drift Through Time

Presented by

EXPLORE MORE

A Drift Through Time

Leonardo Nam

“This is the perfect time to rediscover adventure.”

Buckle up and join Leonardo and his family as they set out from Los Angeles to explore the California desert.

An Adventure Through California’s Past

For Leonardo Nam, adventure and discovery are at the core of who he is. It was ingrained in him from an early age. “My parents are Korean, I was born in Argentina, and I grew up in Australia,” the Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift actor says. “So I’ve always enjoyed exploring new places and new things. That’s part of my DNA, that sense of discovery, that sense of wonder.” Traveling and seeking out new experiences helps Leonardo reconnect with the world between projects. “As an actor, you’re always looking for inspiration, for the thing that connects you,” he says. “Traveling makes you curious about the world, about your place in it.” Leonardo and his husband, Michael, bring that same curiosity to family excursions, including this road trip from their home in Los Angeles to Palm Springs with their twin sons, Alex and Cooper. “Their sense of wonder, their sense of discovery makes me feel so much more alive, so much more connected,” he says. The foursome brims with excitement in their Land Rover Discovery as they pull up to the famous Cabazon Dinosaurs just outside Palm Springs. The 150-foot-long Dinny the apatosaurus and his 65-foot-tall counterpart, Mr. Rex the T-Rex, captivate the boys who scamper ahead of Leonardo and Michael. The twins scream with delight as their eyes grow wide, taking in the colorful creatures that loom above.

Under the Southern California sunshine, the boys climb everywhere, peppering their fathers with questions about these prehistoric monsters. “Our kids love dinosaurs because there’s this sense of discovery that this once roamed the world,” Leonardo says, gesturing at the towering dinos. “I think that my favorite thing about traveling with the family is that it gives you this opportunity to have these shared experiences,” adds Michael. “Traveling gives us that opportunity to do things together, discover new things together. And those are the memories we're building for the future.” Next, the family winds their way through curvy roads to Indian Canyons, cruising past craggy outcrops and dusty trails, until they reach a lush desert oasis. The sight of the verdant landscape in the middle triggers a new round of amazement from the family. “You see this barren desert, Earth as it is,” Leonardo says. “And then you see this pop of life, this oasis. It’s magical.” The boys stare in awe as the family wanders down a trail along a babbling brook, Leonardo and Michael guiding them. Reaching out to touch the trunks of the trees and the sides of canyon pathways, the twins listen to the water gurgle, amazed at how something so bursting with life can exist in such a harsh place.

Leonardo and his family stay connected with Pivi Pro Infotainment Land Rover Discovery’s custom portal to access all the information you need on the go. Featuring built-in Wi-Fi, voice recognition, navigation, streaming music and entertainment channels, Pivi Pro is the perfect assistant to get your adventure on.

Land Rover Discovery

Entertainment for All

Want more?

Explore the 'Rediscover Adventure' Series

coming soon

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed.

Coming soon...

Jessica Mendoza

coming soon

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed.

Coming soon...

Tim Howard

Leonardo Nam

And then you see this pop of life, this oasis. It’s magical.”

“

While travel has always been an essential part of Leonardo’s life, experiencing the world with his family has added a new, meaningful layer to travel. “When my husband and I take our kids out on a road trip, I always feel like we become closer as a family. You leave in this one state of mind and you come home in this other, refreshed state of mind.” After so much time at home this past year and a half, Nam’s wasting no time getting back to the open road with his loved ones. “This is the perfect time to rediscover adventure,” he says.

150-foot-tall Dinny the Dinosaur and his 65-foot-tall counterpart Mr. Rex are creations of artist and sand sculptor Claude Belle. These massive steel and concrete dinos were initially created as a marketing tool to attract hungry highway commuters to Belle’s diner, The Wheel Inn Cafe, and are now an iconic desert destination visitors are welcome to climb and photograph.

Cabazon Dinosaurs

Learn more

Two of the quirkiest museums in the state, if not the country, are right next to each other in Joshua Tree. First is the Beauty Bubble Salon and Museum, which is both a fully-functioning salon and a museum that boasts thousands of pieces of “hair-aphernalia.” Right next door is the World Famous Crochet Museum, an old photo-processing booth that was converted into a shrine to all things crochet.

Learn more

Beauty Bubble Salon and Museum / World Famous Crochet Museum

This architectural achievement was built from concrete, river rocks, and repurposed materials. The upcycled building materials include items like motorcycle parts, wine bottles, and a toaster you can still see protruding from in the castle’s wall. If this eccentric salvaged wonderland isn’t enough to scratch your itch for quirk, be sure to visit the fake cemetery with marble tombstones (but no actual graves) also on the property.

Learn more

Rubel Castle

This non-profit observatory sits on 15 acres in the Morongo Basin and is the perfect set-up for dark sky gazing. The center has a nature trail, a walkable model of the solar system, a solar calendar, an observation dome with its own powerful telescope, and even a meditation garden. It’s everything you need to marvel at the beauty of the universe.

Learn more

Sky's the Limit Observatory and Nature Center

The Indian Canyons, comprising Palm Canyon, Andreas Canyon, and Murray Canyon, offer hikes and views galore. Whether you’re looking for a demanding day of trekking or a more breezy stroll to gaze at rock formations and California fan palm trees, these canyons have you covered.

Learn more

Indian Canyons

In the Desert of Southern California

Leonardo and his family hit the road for a journey through time. Leaving Los Angeles the foursome traverse eras, from a Jurassic tribute in the desert to a retro hair salon, ending with a meditative mosey through nature that connects the ancient past with the present.

Hover on a DESTINATION

Back to hub

Los Angeles, CA

The flexible seven-seat layout of the Discovery is perfect for traveling with a large group or extended family. Intelligent Seat Fold allows you to adjust the cargo space based on your needs. The rear second and third row seats can be folded by the touch of a button via the PIVI Pro screen, making the optimal seating configuration in the Discovery simple and easy.

Land Rover Discovery

Uncompromising Space and Practicality

Relax and drive, and let us handle the road! Land Rover Discovery’s patented Terrain Response system automatically selects the optimum driving mode, taking the strain out of difficult slopes, adjusting the vehicle and maintaining a steady speed in challenging off-road conditions.

Land Rover Discovery

Explore in Confidence

Sky high viewing

Royal Recycling

Colossal Dinos

Sky high viewing

Delightful Double Dip

Explore the model

1 / 3

2 / 3

3 / 3

Hub

Leonardo Nam

Tim Howard

Jessica Mendoza

TRIPS

EXPERIENCES

COURSES

PLACES

FOODS

STORIES

In the Desert of Southern California

Click on a DESTINATION

A Drift Through Time

Los Angeles, CA

Recently Added

PLACES