Growing up in Silicon Valley, I was always proud of the fact that a relatively short drive yielded so much natural beauty.
From our home in Mountain View, my parents would pack up the car and we’d be off on any given weekend to Santa Cruz, Monterey or up North to redwood trees or wine country.
Skeptical that my move to San Diego would provide anything different, I was surprised and delighted to come into contact with the desert, a true Southern California attraction. About a two-hour drive from San Diego is Anza-Borrego Desert. This is actually the largest state park in California, spanning mountains and valleys of sandy terrain dotted only by cacti and the occasional burst of green trees surrounding a water source.
With temperatures reaching well over 100 degrees in mid-summer, this would not be the centerpiece of a Southern California trip, but is certainly worthy of a day trip, should you venture South this summer. From the visitor’s center, several moderate hiking trails lead to great views and plenty of opportunity to soak up the desert atmosphere. Just be sure to be armed with plenty of water, sunscreen and hats for all.
For more ideas on what to do in this region of San Diego, visit my travel site, TripLark, to see different travel plans for the region: TripLark San Diego area travel plans.
