Christina and I recently took advantage of California's drought to road trip down Highway 395. Bodie State Park, Travertine Hot Springs, Mono Lake, Convict Lake and camping near Mt. Whitney outside of Lone Pine. This whole region had been off my radar, but now that I've seen it, I can't recommend it enough.
Travertine Hot Springs
Bridgeport, Calif. A bit of a ghost town in the winter.
Bodie, Calif. Always a ghost town.
Mono Lake
Convict Lake
Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, Calif.
Camping near Mt. Whitney.