Joshua Tree National Park is not just bare desert — it is a place of surprising diversity and full of wonder. While I admittedly do have a thing for deserts, Joshua Tree can also convince those of this incredible ecosystem who find deserts generally boring and lifeless! Two days is a good amount of time to discover different features of the park. This post focuses on which hikes and places I’d recommend to pick for just two days in the park.

Joshua Tree National Park is one of my favorite national parks in California. To me, deserts are one of those places where you really feel small and insignificant as a human being - in a very satisfying way. In this blog article, I will share my favorite things to do in the park during fall and winter, give insight into the history and geology, provide accommodation tips, and guidance on park entrances.

Hiking in San Francisco? Absolutely! Thanks to San Francisco’s fantastic location on the Pacific Ocean, there are numerous opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, even within the city limits. The Batteries to Bluffs Trail, Lands End, and China Beach are stunning options for exploring the city’s rugged shoreline, offering incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge along the way.

The Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve is a remarkable place to admire the spring bloom of the stunning California state flower. A place that looks in summer like the sun must have burnt every trace of life to the ground and it is hard to imagine that there is any time during the year where something, besides maybe a cactus, could thrive there. In spring, however, nature proves otherwise.