Our latest adventure with Howie (our home on wheels) was fairly close to home. We drove to the Palm Springs area to visit family and stayed in an RV Park located in Indio. The weather was perfect for the desert (78 degrees) which makes it peak season for visitors and snow birds.

In addition to visiting family, we took a day trip to Anza-Borrego. This was my first visit even though it’s only two hours away. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised.  The park offers beautiful sights, hiking trails, sand caves, funky shops, and wildflowers. I’ve never been much of a desert person but this is changing as I visit these beautiful places.

Our first stop along the way was to Ocotillo Wells. This is a popular location for those who like to camp and ride off-road vehicles through the desert (over 85,000 acres). The land is managed by the state park system and people can tent camp or park their RVs for free. Standing on one of the cliffs, I could see a maze of sand trails that wove throughout the mountains and canyons. And considering this is the place for recreation vehicles, it was still surprisingly peaceful.

We then drove to the Anza-Borrego Visitors Center for some information about a yearly park pass. Because we enjoy visiting parks, both local and national, purchasing a pass is a great way to save money and support public parks. The center was well staffed with volunteers who were eager to educate and provide helpful information. Exhibits highlighted the cultural history, wildlife, and geography of the area.

Next, we ventured off to see the sculptures. Yep, sculptures in the desert, at least 130 of them. If you have never seen these, it’s definitely worth a visit. According to the local guide book, a man named Dennis Avery (heir to the Avery label company) commissioned these pieces from artist Ricardo Breceda.  They are located on several lots in the Galleta Meadows Estate (which Avery purchased for conservation).

The sculptures are quite large, crafted from metal and feature an assortment of animals (including imaginary and prehistoric), people, and even a few vehicles. It’s an eclectic assortment which makes the collection fun and unexpected.  At one stop, we admired a gigantic scorpion and the next, a very popular serpent which begins on one side of the street and ends on the other. The detail of each piece is impressive. One wooly mammoth is covered in fur which has been crafted from metal. Each piece weighs between 800-1,000 pounds and can tower up to 350 feet.  It’s quite an adventure to drive through the desert and encounter these fascinating pieces.

As the sun started to set, we headed towards Font’s Peak. The trail is a four-mile drive to the top which we took slowly due to the soft sand. My husband loves photography and wanted to capture the perfect sunset photo. The views were incredible and slightly varied depending on the direction. One side was illuminated by the golden glow of the sun and other side had a cooler cast due to an assortment of clouds. Just as the sun set, the wind picked up and before long, it started to sprinkle. So, we packed up and made our way down the trail.

Anza-Borrego has much to offer and obviously one day isn’t enough to enjoy it all. We definitely look forward to returning. One of the many gifts of retirement is the freedom to explore new places and return to those you enjoy.