Living in California, I Am No Stranger To The Desert

The desert terrain runs deep

The desert runs deep in my bones. Dry barren landscapes that some may find boring, always bring back memories of peace and love.

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Mojave Desert

My dad’s favorite pastime is riding motorcycles, specifically dirt bikes out in the desert. Living in California, we have some great desert spaces, many not far from where we live.

Growing up, we took many camping trips out to the desert, specifically the Mojave Desert. I loved riding dirt bikes as a kid and ripping through the desert terrain on the front of my dad’s motorcycle.

My earliest memories of vacation are camping out in the Mojave Desert. We had a motorhome, and all of the toys and supplies, which made it easy to vacation here. We could do long weekend trips and it felt good to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

My dad’s father passed away when I was just a year old, so sadly I don’t remember him, but his ashes were scattered on a little hill by the spot where he loved to camp. He was also a lover of motorcycles, so I can see why the skill was passed down to my father.

Funny enough, back in 1979 when they cremated my grandfather, it was nothing like how they cremate today. His bones weren’t ground up into fine sand, yet still, some of the bones were kept intact, be it very small.

Because of this, the bones are still there today, on what we named “Grandpa’s Hill”, 44 years later. It is pretty incredible, if you ask me, especially with the winds that scour through the desert at any given moment.

At the top of “Grandpa’s Hill”, there are other large rocks surrounding the ashes, which helps to keep them there.

The desert brings such a still peace every time I go back. In 2021, we went to revisit “Grandpa’s Hill” to add my grandma’s ashes so that she could rest easy with her late husband.

When we were there, it reminded me how much I love the desert landscape. Many people would call it boring and lifeless, but it has a certain appeal to me. It brings comfort. It fills my heart with loving, happy memories of my childhood.

The peace and quiet, even with the rip-roaring motorcycles and wind in the background, makes me forget about all of the to-dos at home.

I think because I was raised with these desert vacations, it has led me to wander off into other desert terrains and I feel the same way when I am in these spaces.

Palm Spring and Palm Desert

When I think of Palm Desert, I think of hot desert heat, palm trees, and fun in the sun. After a two-hour drive from our house, we can be in this desert oasis. Another escape from city life, I have been frequenting either Palm Springs or Palm Desert since I was a teenager. The two cities are right next to each other but to me, they look and feel the same.

Sometimes the heat scorches your skin and you have to be covered in water, while other times the breeze and dry weather are a welcome retreat from the cool beach weather.

When in high school, my friends and I would drive out to Palm Desert for the weekend, and once I had kids, we would bring them often.

We have laid by the palm tree-lined pools and have taken the most amazing hikes to different waterfalls. These waterfalls are hidden and a secret gem out in the scorching desert.

Joshua Tree

This iconic spot isn’t too far from Palm Springs but oddly enough, I haven’t been to Joshua Tree and Palm Desert during the same trip.

We went to Joshua Tree and Joshua Tree National Park back in 2018 to do some yurt camping. It was the coolest spot and a trip to remember. We surprised our daughters with the location.

It was spring and the best time to visit because of the beautiful weather. It was 70 degrees, which is perfect for hiking and exploring.

Joshua Tree is covered by different sand dunes, dry lakes, flat valleys, rugged mountains, and oases. Each of these creates the tapestry of the southwest.

These funky trees, known as Yucca brevifolia, are twisted and spikey so don’t touch them because their spines are like daggers. They are so odd looking that you can’t help but stare at their marvel.

They flower and their silhouette is like no other.

Obviously, Joshua Tree is full of them. Joshua Tree National Park is home to thousands of trees along with amazing rock formations and hiking trails.

Arizona

My parents recently moved to Arizona and we have been out to visit a few times. Driving through the California desert and into Arizona, the scenery doesn’t change much.

Some of our favorite places in Arizona include Sedona, Prescott Valley, and Lake Mead.

Check me out here on top of Devil’s Bridge in Sedona. The picture makes it look a lot scarier than it actually is.

During 2020, we visited many lakes because they were the perfect place to social distance. There is something to be said about the beauty of a desert lake. While I love places like Lake Tahoe where the lake is lined by amazing trees and greenery, it is quite cold there.

Lake Mead provides the perfect temperature for late spring/early summer for boating, swimming, and lounging. Lined with rock formations, it’s a sight to be seen.

Half of Lake Mead is in Arizona and the other half is in Nevada, both provide sweeping desert landscapes.

Prescott Valley has the best of both worlds. The higher elevation supplies clean mountain air yet the open desert spaces bring back that feeling of home. I believe that is why my parents migrated to this area. They were also able to escape city life for a slower pace, which is the perfect place to retire.

I love visiting this area in Arizona. It doesn’t get too hot or too cold like other parts of the Arizona desert.

You can even spot some beautiful animals just around the corner from their home, so that is always a win for me.

I could go on and on about the deserts in and around my home state and I have over 2,000 pictures to prove my love of the desert.

For some coastal terrain, please check out Michael Rhodes story about the west coast, which is my home as well.

And, a story from one of our editors Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages. She has experienced terrains all over the world.

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Thanks for reading!

Much love, Michele