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Best Places To See Wildflowers In The California Desert

Posted on March 2, 2021 | Filed Under: Field Trips in Riverside, Field Trips in San Bernardino | 3 Comments

Are you planning a vacation to California to see the wildflowers in the spring? Then check out this list of 8 Places To See Wildflowers in the California Desert before you visit.

Some of the most spectacular displays of wildflowers in Southern California can be seen in the desert.  The wildflower season, in such places as Palm Springs and Death Valley, begins in the lowest elevations in February and extends into early summer in the mountains.  Here’s your guide to the best places to see wildflowers in the California desert.

Where To See Wildflowers In The California Desert

Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs

Winter showers brings spring flowers to the Anza Borrego Desert State Park when there are slow-moving storms that hang over the desert for several days, including overcast skies, cool temperatures, and light or little wind.  Plan your visit to observe the wildflowers in Borrego Springs between February and April.  Here you will see various species including Parish’s Poppy, Hairy Desert-Sunflower, Desert Lily, Sand Verbena, Dune Evening Primrose, Indigo Bush and others.

Coachella Valley Wildlife Festival, Palm Desert

Between Febrary and April, the desert comes alive with the vibrancy of spring as the wildflowers bloom and transform the Coachella Valley into a colorful canvas.  The best place to celebrate the wildflower season is at the Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival, which is held in March every year at the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center in Palm Desert.

Are you planning a vacation to California to see the wildflowers in the spring? Then check out this list of 8 Places To See Wildflowers in the California Desert before you visit.

credit: palm-desert.org

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Best Places To See WildFlowers In The Inland Empire

Posted on February 26, 2021 | Filed Under: Field Trips in Riverside, Field Trips in San Bernardino | 20 Comments

In the spring, California’s deserts and inland valleys explode into a rainbow of colors producing red, pink, yellow, purple, blue and white wildflowers. So, check out this list of the best places to see wildflowers in Riverside and San Bernardino, California.

Recent winter rains to hit California has a produced a plethora of spring wildflowers across the state.  From Redding all the way to San Diego, flower seeds are germinating and roots are spreading.

In just a few short days, the California’s deserts and inland valleys will explode into a rainbow of colors producing red, pink, yellow, purple, blue and white bi-colors.  So, here’s a list of the best places to see wildflowers in the Inland Empire, including Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

Grab a pair of binoculars and have fun exploring the wildflowers!

Jilleen

Where To See Wildflowers in San Bernardino County

Alpine Pedal Path @ San Bernardino National Forest

The paved Alpine Pedal Path has three main access points including Juniper Point, Stanfield Cutoff, the Discovery Center and Serrano Campground.  The best wildflower viewing occurs during the months of May through July however, there are a variety of shrubs and perennial herbs that continuously bloom along the trail year-round.

Plant species vary across a rainfall gradient that extends from the east end of the Pedal Path to the west end.  A beautiful montane meadow is located near the Juniper Point entrance where tall Juniperus occidentalis (western juniper) trees can be observed just to the west.  The east end consists of drier plant communities dominated by Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush) and Ericameria nauseosa (rabbitbrush) while the west end towards the Solar Observatory consists of plant communities that require more moisture including Salix lasiolepis Shrubland Alliance. Some showy annual herbs include Abronia nana ssp. covillei (desert sand verbena) Sisyrinchium idahoense (blue-eyed grass), Penstemon labrosus (San Gabriel beard tongue), and Lupinus excubitus (grape soda lupine).

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Red Jeep Tours in Palm Springs

Posted on February 14, 2021 | Filed Under: Family Outings in Riverside, Field Trips in Riverside | Leave a Comment

Are you looking for a fun outdoor activity in the Palm Springs area? I highly recommend taking a tour of the San Andreas Fault with Red Jeep Tours in Palm Desert.

Are you looking for a fun outdoor activity in the Palm Springs area? Then take a tour of the San Andreas Fault with Red Jeep Tours in Palm Desert.

Desert Adventures Tours

I went on a tour a few years back and I still recall many of the interesting and significant facts that our tour guide told us about the area while on a two-hour tour.

Red Jeep Tours in Palm Springs

After our tour guide picked us up from our hotel, the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa, she took us on a 30-minute drive out into the middle of no where! Well, at least it felt that way!

Red Jeep Tours Palm Springs

While on our way out to the desert, she told us all about the world famous landmarks in the Greater Palm Springs area including the Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway and Lucille Ball statue.

Then we arrived at the company’s exclusive and pristine 800 acre preserve that features a private Palm Oasis. Our tour guide was very knowledgable about the area and told us about the different shrubbery and plants on the oasis, including the age old palm tree.

Jeep Tours near Palm Springs
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Take a Tour of The Alpaca Hacienda in Temecula

Posted on February 4, 2021 | Filed Under: Family Outings in Riverside, Field Trips in Riverside | 2 Comments

Last January, I took my daughter to discover the wonder of the friendly and inquisitive alpacas at The Alpaca Hacienda in Temecula, California! This alpaca farm is what I would consider one of the top 5 hidden gems in the Inland Empire.

Take a tour and meet the inquisitive and friendly alpacas at The Alpaca Hacienda in Temecula, California. Tours are available for groups, schools and homeschools.

The Alpaca Hacienda in Temecula

On our tour of The Alpaca Hacienda, we experienced these captivating animals up close and personal and laughed at their delightful personalities.

After we arrived, we sat down for an entertaining slideshow to learn about alpacas and some of the quirky, interesting things they do.

The Alpaca Hacienda Temecula

The History of Alpacas

The presenter told us that alpacas are a domesticated member of the camel (camelid) family.  The camelid family also includes llamas, guanacos, and vicunas from South America, and the Bactrian and Dromedary camels from Asia and Africa.

It is believed that about 6,000 years ago alpacas were created through selective breeding which was heavily influenced by the vicuna.  There are similarities in size, fiber, and dentition (teeth) between the alpaca and the wild vicuna.

Alpaca Farm in Temecula

Fading into the background for two or three centuries, the alpacas once again gained prominence during the 19th century and Industrial Revolution. Fabric and finished goods like hats, scarves and other clothing were held in high esteem across Europe during this time.

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8+ Places To Play In The Snow Near Los Angeles (Updated for 2021)

Posted on January 4, 2021 | Filed Under: Field Trips in Riverside, Field Trips in San Bernardino, Field Trips in San Diego | 25 Comments

Southern California’s winters range from sunny beaches to snowy mountain tops.  In under 2 hours, you can drive from anywhere in SoCal to the mountains to play in the snow.   So whether you’re headed to the San Gabriel Mountains or San Bernardino Mountains for the day, here is a list of the best places to play in the snow near Los Angeles.

Are you planning a vacation to California in the winter to go snow skiing, snowboarding or simply to play in the snow? Then check out this list of The Best Places To Enjoy The Snow in Southern California!

Best Places To Play In The Snow in Southern California

Idyllwild

Idyllwild is a cozy little mountain top community located above the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County.  The village itself is quaint and beautiful, especially during the winter time.  It does snow in Idyllwild, but there is no snow skiing allowed.  Therefore, it’s typically not as crowded as other mountain communities such as Wrightwood or Big Bear.

Best Places To Enjoy The Snow in Southern California

photo credit: Mark Buckawicki

Mt. Baldy

You can easily get to Mt. Baldy in 1 hour and 30 minutes from anywhere in Orange County.  My favorite part about Mt. Baldy is that you don’t have to go very far up the mountain to find the snow.  My children and I like to go half way up and then stop on the side of the road to play.  We also prefer to bring our own snow sleds.

Girl playing in the snow at Mnt. Baldy

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is a wonderful way to go up the mountain, enjoy the view of the valley and play in the snow at the top.  The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway starts at Valley Station and travels more than 5,800 feet up to Mountain Station in the Mt. San Jacinto State Park.  There’s plenty to do once you reach the top including snow shoeing and cross country skiing.

A view from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Big Bear

Big Bear is a unique mountain resort surrounded by the beautiful San Bernardino National Forest.  Activities include skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and cross-country skiing.  The drive to get to Big Bear is fairly quick too.  It’s about a 1-3 hour drive from any major city in Southern California.  Other fun activities in the area include visiting the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, the Big Bear Discovery Center and inner tubing at Big Bear Snow Play.

A lodge in Big Bear California

photo credit: John Murphy

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