Posts Tagged ‘joshua tree national park’
Joshua Tree National Park: Family Friendly And Educational
California has so many outdoor activities to offer families year round. With mild weather and lots of sunshine, Palm Springs is of course a popular winter destination. For families, the lure of some great outdoor activities is all the more reason to visit. With another fee free day coming up on September 25th, 2010 (National Public Lands Day) we thought we’d take another look at Joshua Tree, one of our favorite National Parks.
Sandwiched between I-10 and Highway 62 just east of Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park offers some unique landscape, beautiful scenery and easy hikes. There are three entrances, Joshua Tree (west), Twentynine Palms (north) and Cottonwood (south). If you are coming from Palm Springs, you’ll likely enter through Joshua Tree, just off Highway 62. If you loop around, you can exit at Twentynine Palms back onto Highway 62, about 30 miles east of Joshua Tree. You can also connect to the south entrance at Cottonwood Springs, hooking up with I-10.
There are visitor centers at all three entrances that are open year-round from 8AM-5PM, except Cottonwood, which is open 9AM-3PM. With exhibits, videos, a bookstore and public facilities, this is the place to begin and end your trip through the park. The visitor center at the Joshua Tree entrance also has a cafe, while the Oasis visitor center at Twentynine Palm boasts an accessible nature trail.
Tucked away in the northwest corner of the park is the Black Rock Nature Center, which is open daily 8AM-4PM, October through May (Noon-8PM on Friday). You’ll find exhibits, a small bookstore, public facilities and a picnic area. This is a dead-end road, so unless you intend to hike in the Black Rock Canyon, camp, or hike up to Hi-View to see Mount St. Gorgonio, there is nothing else to see in the area.
The two best features of Joshua Tree National Park are it’s cool campgrounds and picnic areas nestled among rock formations and it’s family friendly nature trails. There are five loop trails that are half a mile or less, four of which are stroller accessible. Bajada, Cap Rock, Oasis of Mara and Keys View are all stroller friendly or easy for kids to maneuver.
Another easily accessible, kid friendly activity is the Keys Ranch tour, which offers a 90 minute guided exploration of the old Keys family homestead. Littered with lots of old cars, trucks and mining equipment, the ranch provides many interesting diversions for kids. Tours are offered on weekends from October to May and on weekdays according to season. There is a fee of $5 for adults and $2.50 for kids 6-11. Kids under 6 are free. Reservations are recommended during peak season.
In spring, wildflower viewing is a very popular activity. March and April bring wildflowers that are in full bloom, adding an interesting color to an otherwise green and brown landscape. Rangers also offer a variety of programs each day to keep both adults and kids entertained.
If you’ve decided to camp, well there are nine campgrounds in the park. The largest and most family friendly are Jumbo Rocks (my favorite), Black Rock and Cottonwood. Both Black Rock and Cottonwood offer fresh water and flush toilets along with dump stations for RVs for $15/night. Jumbo Rocks, which is centrally located on the main park road is $10/night, but has no amenities. All sites offer a picnic table and fire grate. Jumbo Rocks and Cottonwood offers ranger programs on Friday and Saturday evenings, while Black Rock offers a program on Saturday evening only. Reservations may be made for Black Rock and Indian Cove up to six months in advance. All other campgrounds are first-come, first-served.
There are lots of side roads and other interesting areas of the park to see too. The park map will help you plan your route. If you have just one day, start by stopping at either the Joshua Tree visitor center, then drive the main park road, stopping at Cap Rock, Keys View and Skull Rock. Both Hidden Valley and the Jumbo Rocks area have picnic tables for a quiet family picnic. You can exit back onto Highway 62 via the Oasis visitor center (and another nature walk while you’re there).
Joshua Tree National Park is an amazing contrast within itself. The only warning is not to go during the summer…unless you like extreme heat.
Disclosure
A Few Of Our Reader’s Favorite Things
Over the past few months, we’ve gathered many new readers and embarked on many new adventures. Since we post nearly daily, wading back through all of those posts for a new visitor can be quite overwhelming. So, were putting together a list of our most popular posts according to visitors. If you’ve missed any of these, you’ll want to read and share with your friends! Here are the lucky 7…
- Travel Deals, especially family cruise deals are the most popular amongst readers
- Checked Baggage Fee Roundup By Airline – Updated March 1st!
- Cruise Line Babysitting Options Reviewed
- Live Blogging Onboard Norwegian Jewel
- Joshua Tree National Park – Family Friendly and Educational
- Visiting Yellowstone in Winter – A 3 Part Series
- Choosing a Family Friendly Cabin
If you have a topic that you’d like to see us cover, please leave a comment!
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Palm Springs – The Other Winter Destination
With its mild winter temperatures and year-round sunshine, Palm Springs, California makes a great winter destination for families looking to escape the cold, snowy weather in other parts of the country. Even in the dead of winter, average highs hover around 70°F, but plunge into the 40′s overnight. The best time to visit is March-April or October-November when temperatures are most comfortable.
Palm Springs offers lots of family friendly attractions. Our top three attractions focus on the outdoors, because after all, when you’re here, you’re looking to enjoy the sunshine, right?
- Joshua Tree National Park – Situated in the desert just one hour from Palm Springs, this park offers something for all ages and is a great spot for a picnic or overnight camping. The West entrance at Joshua Tree is located 5 miles south of Highway 62, which can be easily accessed from Palm Springs.
- The Living Desert – A Zoo of sorts, this expansive desert oasis takes you through North America all the way to the villages of Africa while exploring wildlife in a “natural” environment. Perfect for kids of all ages, this park is located in Palm Desert, about 25 minutes from Palm Springs.
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway – A cool oasis in summer and a snow covered playground in winter, the Mount San Jacinto Park and Wilderness offers a quick getaway for hiking, exploring, sledding, snowshoeing and skiing. The tramway is located on the western edge of Palm Springs off of Highway 111.
The closest airport is Palm Springs International, located just miles from downtown. Most major airlines offer seasonal or year-round service from major west coast cities (Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Chicago, Phoenix, Portland, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton), but expect to pay a premium. Ontario (62 miles), San Diego (84 miles) and Los Angeles (106 miles) are usually cheaper alternatives, all within a two-hour drive of Palm Springs.
Unless you intend on hibernating at a downtown resort, you definitely will want to rent a car, even if you are flying into Palm Springs. There is no public transportation to Joshua Tree, so a rental car will be essential if you plan a visit there. Outside of downtown Palm Springs, there is little traffic and getting around the area is pretty straight forward.
TIP: We usually fly into Los Angeles and drive to Palm Springs. Not only is the airfare cheaper, but so isn’t the rental car. Making your way across I-10 during peak travel periods can be a challenge, so avoid rush hour and weekend travel if you can.
One thing that there isn’t a shortage of in Palm Springs is hotels. With everything from the no-frills roadside motel to the 5-star spa resort, Palm Springs offers visitors lots of choices. If you are visiting in the winter months, remember that evenings do get quite chilly and some hotels may not heat their outdoor pool during the winter season. Choosing a hotel within walking distance to downtown will provide for easy access to restaurants and nighttime shopping, especially during the peak season when downtown parking can be a challenge.
Weekday stays will yield the best availability and cheapest rates. Expect weekends to be more crowded and more expensive, especially in the peak winter season. In the past, we’ve stayed at both the Quality Inn and Vagabond Inn, each about a mile from the action. For under $70/night for a January midweek stay, the Quality Inn is a good value. You may find lower rates at other hotels in the immediate area, depending upon your dates.
If it’s convenience you’re after, try the Colony Palms Hotel or Viceroy Palm Springs. Both upscale hotels are located within walking distance of downtown and offer January midweek rates starting around $119/night. With a full service spa and luxurious surroundings, either hotel will make for the perfect getaway.
Over the next two days, we’ll be highlighting some of the areas finest attractions (hint – see our list above). With family friendly attractions, lots of outdoor activities and mild temperatures, this desert oasis will soon become your kid’s favorite.
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