10 Reasons You Should Trade the Ocean for a Desert Road Trip This Spring

Unless they ’re heading to Coachella , or a weekend getaway in Palm Springs , most San Diegans would n’t dream of deal a beach day for a hoyden in the desert . surely , one of the best things about living in Mount Rushmore State is its law of proximity to the deep blue ocean . But there are also 600,000 landed estate of open desert in Anza - Borrego Desert State Park , just a short drive to the other side of the county . Here are 10 reason ( including " It ’s close as snake pit " ) to pry yourself aside from the coastline and swap sandy beaches for sand sand dune .

It’s not even that far

For those homebody San Diegans who ca n’t be bother to drink at a taproom outside of their own neighborhood , the desert is much closer than you think . Even if you could only get away from the city for a day , taking in the scenery on thetwo - hour drivealone is totally worth the trip . You ’ll repulse through twist , tree - lined mountain roads . You ’ll slip by throughJulian , where you’re able to stop for a gash of notable apple Proto-Indo European . Or you could come to a few wineries on the fashion . Keep your earpiece handy – as you descend into the desert , the lot view will have you need to stop at every turnout to break down some photo .

You can live in an Airstream

Staying at thePalm Canyon Hotel & RV Resortis like vacation on the movie set of a Western , except with Airstreams and two swim pools . Go old school day and stay in one of the revamped vintage Airstreams or Canned Ham drone with themes like “ Hound Dog ” and “ Baby Blues . ” Traditional room are uncommitted in the Wild West - themed hotel , or hold a outer space to purloin up your own RV . Either mode , finish off a day of hiking and offroading through the desert with a cold beer in the saloon and a pulled porc sandwich from the on - site Bighorn Restaurant .

There are massive art installations you’d never see anywhere else

The only space you ’d ever expect to see a 350ft - long serpent track the road is in your speculative nightmare . But thanks to artist Ricardo Breceda and philanthropist Dennis Avery , such a vista exist in real life . Borrego Springs is habitation to 130 detailed metal animal sculptures . From dinosaurs and elephants , to wild horses being consume down by a cavalry sword - toothed tiger , Ricardo ’s creations can be find dot throughout the local landscape painting . Get yourself a map of all the sculpture locations so you do n’t drop out on any of them .

Nighttime will give ‘star power’ an entirely different meaning

Do n’t worry , it ’s not a blackout . There ’s a good reason why it seems like the intact metropolis of Borrego Springs is on a dimmer . As an officialInternational Dark City , they keep the street and business lights low so low-cal befoulment does n’t drown out the maven at night . This is a premier position to lay out on a cover and do some stargazing , or watch a meteor exhibitioner . On clear nights , you have a prime view of the Milky Way . If you do n’t know Orion from Perseus , you may rent an expert to aid you locate the constellations , or go to a localstargazing eventand get some direction on what ’s what . You finally have a reason to break out that telescope that ’s been gathering dust in your water closet since eighth ground level .

You can sleep wherever the hell you want

While there are 12 specify encampment throughout Anza - Borrego Desert State Park , this is one of the few places in California where you have the exemption to set up up encampment wherever your heart desire . As long as you set up camp at least 100 ft away from water and keep your campfire in a metal container , you ’re welcome to pitch your tent and do some primitive camping just about anywhere in the 600,000 estate of undecided desert .

It’s insanely beautiful

If you intend the desert is nothing but a bunch of drab dirt and stone , then you do n’t even know what you do n’t know . One of the desert ’s biggest surprisal is that , for a unretentive fourth dimension in the leap , it comes alive with wildflowers . With the El Niño storm we ’ve had this winter , there ’s a prospect for an unbelievable wildflower bloom this year . Die - hard flower fans can call thewildflower hotline(no , we ’re not chaff ) , or check the site to get the latest on what ’s blossom and where .

OFFROADING ON SAND DUNES

There are more than 85,000 acre of open desert and 500 miles of 4x4 trail in California state parks . TheOcotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Areahas at least seven offroading spots with a mess of terrain . Plus , there ’s undefendable bivouacking throughout the area after you ’re done for the twenty-four hours .

You’d never see the Salton Sea otherwise

If you hazard just a minuscule further east , you ’ll find the Salton Sea . It ’s the prominent lake in California , but one in which you ’d never require to drown . Once a mid - century paradise that attracted stars like Frank Sinatra and the Beach Boys , it ’s now a mostly abandoned barren with shoreline littered with thousands of dead Pisces . As if the putrid olfaction of rotting aquatic life permeating the air was n’t enough , when you take a closer look , you realize the white beaches are white because they ’re made of pulverized fish bones … not sandpaper . You ’re take yourself why the hell you ’d ever desire to go there , but the arena ’s overpowering creepiness is all part of the solicitation , and particularly attractive to lensman and documentarians . However , thereisa beacon light of light amongst all the downfall . The Instagram - worthySalvation Mountainin Niland , CA , on the eastern side of the Salton Sea , is Leonard Knight ’s 50 ft high , 150 ft wide tribute to his faith . It is certainly a rainbow - colored mountain to behold in a forgotten place lousy with radioactive decay .

You’ll spot elusive wild animals like it’s the goddamn jungle

You would n’t think anything could survive in this rough landscape . But the desert is full of wildlife if you ’re stabbing enough to spot it . Their camouflage is on peak , so keep an heart out when you ’re boost – everything from mountain lion to bighorn sheep roam the mountainsides . The democratic Palm Canyon lead is only a three land mile salary increase , but it leads to a palm - laden oasis with little outflow - fed waterfalls . Bighorn sheep love the shady speckle , and if you ’re favorable , you ’ll catch them coming down for a drink .

You can play some of the prettiest golf courses of your life

There ’s a surprising amount of grass in the desert , thanks to thede Anza Country Club , The Springs at Borrego , Rams Hill Golf Club , andRoadRunner Golf and Country Club . Some of the club have swank accommodation , so you may stay and play with all the luxuries of a country club in a property that ’s a slight rasping around the edges .

Sara Norris is a desert - enjoy freelance author and lensman base in San Diego .

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