Discover the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park region
The largest desert State Park in the contiguous United States, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is part of the Colorado desert, and park boasts miles of hiking and biking trails, wilderness areas, and a variety of wildlife species including golden eagles, mule deer, big horn sheep, and coyotes. The desert scenery shifts from eroded badlands at near sea-level to piñion-juniper woodlands; vibrant spring wildflowers to lush oases and palm groves; and craggy mountains that rush to sweeping vistas. Located in San Diego County - Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is within 2 hours east of San Diego, within 3 hours east of Los Angeles. Stay in Borrego Springs.

  Borrego Springs is a quaint desert resort town surrounded by over 650,000 acres of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Rich in history, Native Americans inhabited the area for more than 6000 years, leaving pictographs and artifacts. In 1774 Juan Baptista de Anza led his expedition from Mexico through the Borrego Basin seeking an overland route to California. This area was also the southern route to the California Gold Rush. In the 1900s the area was used for cattle and alfalfa and today, the main crops are citrus--including the famous Borrego pink grapefruit.
  Borrego Springs offers a variety of fun desert activities including golf and tennis, horse-back riding, biking and hiking trails to explore, birding and wildlife watching, brilliant star gazing, and even sun bathing by a sparkling resort swimming pool. Borrego Springs also has an active calendar of events that include of art and cultural activities, nature and heritage programs, and fun special community events such as the Circle-Of-Art annual show, the historic Peg Leg Liar’s Contest; a Cinco de Mayo Festival; and The Borrego Days Desert Festival. 
  From freshly prepared Mexican cuisine to fine resort dining, Borrego Springs offers a variety of delicious dining experiences. Enjoy a little retail therapy in some of the unique Southwestern and desert themed gift shops and art galleries. 
Luxurious resorts, desert-inspired Bed and Breakfasts, budget hotels and comfortable RV Resorts and Campgrounds - Borrego Springs has the right On the cu lodging facility to suit your travel style and budget. With dramatic sunrises and sunsets, starry desert nights and a full array of activities--to relaxing poolside, Borrego Springs is the perfect place to rejuvenate and get a way from it all. Borrego Springs is just three hours from Los Angeles and Orange County, and two hours from San Diego.
To plan your trip to Borrego Springs and find out about the park and local attractions, spring wildflowers, events and activities, lodging, shopping and dining, maps and directions -click here.


Discover the Joshua Tree National Park region
  This 800,000 acre desert park provides a spectacular contrast of scenery from two ecosystems - the Mojave Desert, which is the high desert home to the Joshua Tree and Fan Palm; and the Colorado Desert, a low desert that features an arid terrain with ocotillo and "jumping Cholla" cactus. Visitors are astounded by great granite monoliths and twisted rock formations; the diverse range of mammals, plants, reptiles, and over 240 species of birds. Enjoy hikes, explore remnants of the gold mining eras, rock climb, tour the Desert Queen Ranch (an early 1900 ranch), or camp in one of their nine campgrounds. Just off of Interstate 40 and Interstate 10, Joshua Tree National Park is within a couple hours of Los Angeles and Orange County, and 3 hours from Las Vegas and San Diego. Nearby towns to explore and stay in include Twentynine Palms, Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley and Pioneertown.

  Twentynine Palms is a hi- desert community that sits between the 800,000 acres of Joshua Tree National Park and the largest U.S. Marine Corps base. Founded on a history of gold prospectors and cattlemen of the late 1800s, a pioneer spirit and love of history permeates the town. Wide open spaces, clear starry nights perfect for star-gazing, and lots of sunshine (about 230 days a year) beckon to desert lovers and those looking for a more peaceful existence. Home to Joshua Tree National Park and gateway to the Mojave National Preserve, it is fast becoming a well-known and loved getaway for both national and international visitors. 
  Art lovers appreciate the "Oasis of Murals" commissioned by the Action Council for 29 Palms, Inc. Through their efforts, world class artist have portrayed the history of the community in a series of murals on the exterior walls of commercial buildings. 
Besides hiking and exploring the park, visitors also enjoy golf, a host of art and cultural events and activities, special community events, browsing desert-inspired gift shops and art galleries, a variety of dining experiences and even catching a movie at one of the last Drive-In Theatres left in Southern California. There are plenty of lodging facilities to choose from - including historic and desert themed bed and breakfasts, golf course-side cottages, hotels and motels. RV Resorts and campgrounds.
  To plan your trip to Twentynine Palms and find out about the park and local attractions, spring wildflowers, events and activities, lodging, shopping and dining, maps and directions, and even some virtual tours,  click here

  Joshua Tree is the gateway to the west entrance of Joshua Tree National Park, and is just fifteen miles southwest of Twentynine Palms which is home to the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Combat Center; and thirty-five miles from Palm Springs, CA off the California 1-10 Freeway.
  Joshua Tree features spectacular desert views of fascinating rock formations, Joshua Trees, and brilliant sunrises and sunsets that stretch for miles and miles. It's been said that Mormon Pioneers that traveled through the area named the Joshua Tree after the biblical figure Joshua, because the uplifted limbs of the tree reminded them of him praying. Biologists have estimated the age of the trees range from 500-900 years old. A community made up of free spirited folks including nature lovers and artisans, Joshua Tree offers desert visitors art and cultural activities and special community events, horse-back riding, hiking and biking trails to explore in the park, funky desert gift shops to browse and a variety of dining experiences. From RV Resorts and Campgrounds, to Desert themed Cabins and Bed & Breakfasts, there's plenty of lodging opportunities to suit your budget and travel style. 
To plan your trip to Joshua Tree and find out about the park and local attractions, spring wildflowers, events and activities, lodging, shopping and dining, maps and directions, click here.

  Yucca Valley is named for the prolific yucca in its natural landscape, and is a country-like city with an ideal location in Southern California's high desert about 30 miles northeast of Palm Springs and about 15 minutes from Joshua Tree National Park, Pipes Canyon Preserve, Morongo Valley Preserve. Other attractions include the Desert Christ Park, a collection of giant biblical statuary and tableaux;  the Hi-Desert Nature Museum; and The Pottery where you can tour a working pottery studio. Yucca valley is also close to Landers, which is home to the mysterious Integratron, and Gubler Orchids - one of the country's largest orchid growers.
  Enjoy a healthy climate with sunshine and clear skies more than 320 days a year, terrific open spaces, starry nights and many outdoor recreation opportunities, and fun community special events. Yucca Valley offers a variety of shopping adventures featuring new age gifts, southwest and desert inspired shops, and plenty of antiquing. An artistic and cultural community, there are also galleries to browse and plenty of cultural events and activities to enjoy. There are plenty of lodging facilities to stay at, and a good selection of dining choices. 
  To plan your trip to Yucca Valley and find out about the parks and local attractions, spring wildflowers, events and activities, lodging, shopping and dining, maps and directions, and even a virtual tour, click here.

  Pioneertown is a fun desert destination loaded with movie nostalgia, boasts fabulous desert landscapes, and is home to a variety of horse, hiking and biking trails to explore. Though it was built as a real town in 1946, it was also built as a movie set by a group of investors who envisioned a 1870’s frontier town that functioned as a living movie set. Western stars including Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Gail Davis (Annie Oakley), Duncan Renaldo (The Cisco Kid), Leo Carrillo (Pancho), Gene Autry, The Sons of the Pioneers (for whom the town was named), Jock Mahoney (The Range Rider) and Russell Hayden, (Hopalong Cassidy movie series) all walked these streets packin’ six guns.
  The atmosphere of the ‘olde west’ lives on in the town that has kept most of the original buildings and has it’s own Pioneertown Posse. It is a treat, for young and old alike, to roam the streets; take photos; visit the Post Office Museum; bowl in the bowling alley where the first strike was bowled by Roy Rogers; ride the Rattlesnake Gulch Railroad Line, a one of a kind miniature steam engine replica that takes passengers around the bowling alley and shooting gallery, and relive an exciting part of Hollywood and Western Film history.  The Pipes Canyon Preserve, a 20,000 acre wildlife corridor that connects the Joshua Tree National Park with the San Bernardino National Forest, offer a superb wildlife and natural habitat viewing, hiking and biking trails.
  To plan your trip to Pioneertown and find out about the parks and local attractions, spring wildflowers, events and activities, lodging, dining, maps and directions and even a virtual tour, click here.

  The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert is a major highlight to any Southern California desert traveler's visit. Fun for all ages, then Living Desert gives the opportunity to see and learn about desert dwelling plants and animals, natural history and desert cultures, and conservation. From Wildflower Walks to their Butterflies Alive! Exhibit, Jazz Concerts to Starry Safari Overnight Camping Adventures; The Living Desert has a variety of fun and educational events, exhibits, activities and programs to participate in and enjoy.
  Showing an impressive collection of local, regional and international plants that dwell in the harsh desert environment; their various botanical gardens are absolutely incredible and provide an educational and enriching experience for their many visitors. Attracted to the desert plants, you may find some local critters like hummingbirds and bunnies while you wander through their various gardens.
  Dedicated to preserving plant and animal life of deserts from around the world and educating the public about them, The Living Desert is also one of the most successful zoological parks in the country and is home to a number of desert dwelling animals including mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. Some exhibits feature Bobcat, Mountain Lion, Bighorn Sheep, Mexican Wolf, Cheetah, Arabian Oryx, Grevy's Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Striped Hyena, Meerkat, Peregrine Falcon, Golden Eagle, East African Crowned Crane, Great Horned Owl, Kori Bustard's, Desert Pup Fish,  Desert Iguana, Rosy Boa, Red-Diamond Rattlesnake, Star Tortoise, Gila Monster, Giant Hairy Desert Scorpion and many more. 
  While you are there, enjoy gift shopping at the Plaze Gift Shop or Kumba Kumba Market; or have lunch at The Thorn Tree Grill or Meerkat Cafe.
The Living Desert is truly worthwhile a visit - plan to spend the day, and plan to return!
The Living Desert is located at 47-900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert. Info (760) 346-5694, www.livingdesert.org