San F to LA via Joshua Tree NP - Joshua Tree, birds of prey and the Tramway

[red cuillen]

Finally the bit of the holiday that was for me! Drove from Burbank to Desert Hot Springs. Originally we planned 3 nights here, but reading trip reports left me uneasy about the accomodation. So it was just an afternoon at the Miracle Springs Spa. Boy it was windy! I guess they knew what they were doing by planting wind farms all through the valley - we had high wind warnings all week.

Think it was raining on the coast as the cloud was piled up against the mountains but dried out on our side, giving very gusty winds and awesome lenticular cloud - right over the sun!

Still hot though and still easy to get sunburnt. Enjoyed the pools, think there are 8 mineral pools, from very warm to very hot!
Loved the convention taking place at the hotel, nice aroma!

Then it was onto the Best western at Yucca Valley, to position ourselves for the NP. Nicest hotel yet, though beds were only doubles. Haven't got any pictures as I hadn't planned to do a trip report! Best (free) breakfast of the trip too, it's often the quality of the ingredients rather than quantity that makes the difference.

8 April. Onto the northern entrance to Joshua Tree, it was sunday so we knew it would be busy, hence the early(ish) start! $25 entrance then a spectacular drive.

Spent longer here than our last trip, saw Skull Rock this time and the hidden valley.

The Cholla Catcus looked kinda weird, it was called a garden so I had imagined some kind of formal man made garden!

Stopped off at the ranger station at the Cottonwood Canyon end. Beautiful drive but unlike 2 years ago, very few wild flowers, there was a carpet of yellow flowers under the Joshua Trees last time.

There were other trails to follow there, but it was hot, and busy and were happy to drive onto Palm Desert to our next hotel.

We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott at Palm Desert, the best by far for space and location!

First stop the next day was at the Coachella Bird of Prey rescue centre. Many young birds get caught out with the strong winds at this time of year.

There are also problems with landscapers cutting away all the dead fronds from the palm trees to make them look nice, - which is where many birds make their nests. I met someone born in bred in Reading but now living locally, and was able spend time looking round the local area whilst the others were with the rescue birds

.American Kestrel
Then it was onto the Palm Springs Tramway. we'd prebooked tickets as last time we had about an hour wait to get on. In the end though it ws quiet so were able to get on an earlier tram.

The Mt San Jacinto NP is basically a mountain desert!

Spent a wonderful few hours doing the discovery trail, which has 5 lookout posts looking out to the valley

That's it, next stop Anaheim, and the highlight for the girls - Disney!

Index here -
San F to LA via Joshua Tree NP

[Mrs Red C]

Forgot to mention that we also found 2 In N Out Burger places outside Desert Springs, great meals at reasonable prices. And we also had to pop into Palm Springs Airport to sort out our Sat Nav, 'Tammy' who'd stopped working, argh!
30 mins with Alamo guy as he sorted her out. Apparently, someone imputted her number by mistake, saying she was on Portland, Oregon! 🙄 Our guy looked very bemused, as he was told this and replied that it was incorrect as the tablet was in his hand... 😂 Anyway, 'Tammy' restarted much to our relief as we were driving back to Anaheim the following day, PHEW.

[flo-tinka]

Thanks for the Joshua Tree and Palm Springs tips.
Looking forward to hearing about Disney for the girls 😂😂

[phoenix_c]

Yes beware you will burn even with the cloud! I had horrifically burnt shoulders and arms for the rest of the holiday
The hotel at palm desert had Netflix! Loved this hotel the most, my sister and I watched the entire second series of a series of unfortunate events in the few days we were there
Excited to see what you say about Disneyland 😉😀

[lov2dibb]

Looks like an interesting place to visit