Highs may be in the 80s, but nights are dropping into the low 50s, plus a breeze, so take something warmish to wear.

For the travel and the destination, carry drinking water by the GALLON, not those prissy little bottles.

Cheap chairs feel better if you're sitting on some Reflectix insulation (bottom and back), esp if you're sitting outdoors in the evening. (If you haven't used it, you may be really surprised at the difference.) Stop in Indio, do a bit of selective shopping.

I don't know your route or how much you know about that part of the country, but you'll be driving through a LOT of some of the most desolate country in California, no matter which way you go. Lots of open area with practically nothing in it.

Get a paper map, don't depend on the GPS. Have a really good idea where you're going. It would be seriously embarrassing to have to come back here and explain about how you and your friends got into trouble that made the front page of the NY and LA Times. And it would be even worse if you couldn't come back to explain...

I grew up in that part of the country. You don't have to tell her, but your wife is wrong.

Sue