Stopped here on our way back from Joshua Tree and so glad we…read moredid. It was as if we had walked into the past! This was a great spot to stretch our legs and walk around looking at all the quaintness! There was a lasso for people to try and hook onto horns. There's also a small petting zoo. Great stop for kids There were restaurants too but we didn't end up eating here. Got some great pictures.

Pioneertown really does feel like stepping onto an old Western movie set. The wooden buildings and…read moredusty streets give it that classic Wild West vibe, but it's also a real place you can walk around and explore at your own pace. We didn't expect to enjoy it as much as we did, but the atmosphere is just so cool and different from anywhere else nearby. It's great for wandering, taking photos, and just soaking in the scenery. It also has a small petting zoo inside ($10 per person), along with some pretty unique (and super expensive lol) shops, and a couple of restaurant bars (I'd strongly recommend making a reservation ahead of time since it gets packed pretty easily.) We had a great time during our visit to Yucca Valley, and Pioneertown ended up being one of the highlights of the trip!

Chillin' at the Ag Fest... a.k.a. The biggest thing in San Jacinto right now, lol! Mayor Bartel's…read moregiving his State of the City Address, Carnival here for the kids, fair food, and most of the regulars from the Hemet Farmer's Market; 3-day event, tons of folks out here, family friendly... Pretty cool... I mean y'know, it is San Jacinto, what else can we expect?!

We visited mansion and the museum on a group tour. The tour was well organized, the docents…read moreenthusiastic and well versed in the history of the home and the city of San Jacinto. Definitely worth a visit.

I had never been here before and didn't even know this place existed, but I was absolutely blown…read moreaway. I attended an event as a chaperone with the kids from Micah House, and from the moment you walk in, the Burrage Mansion is stunning. The steps leading up to the home and the beautifully preserved historic house immediately set the tone. The property owner generously hosts events here, and one of the annual events is a Christmas celebration for elementary school kids. He opens up the entire estate for the children to enjoy crafts, a magic show, bounce houses, and even a visit with Santa Claus. There are also two rooms filled with presents where each child gets to choose a gift, which was incredibly special to see. It was such a thoughtful, joyful, and memorable experience for everyone involved. I'm not sure what other events are hosted here, but based on this experience alone, the Burrage Mansion absolutely deserves five stars.

Beautiful property... they're decorating the grounds for Christmas…read more... They were busy today getting things ready... I didn't go inside just watched from the front of the property....

Hall of Horrors is one of the stops within Joshua Tree National Park. There is a parking area…read moreadjacent to this stop, plus restrooms. As you make your way on the well presented trail, you'll see rock formations that'll leave you in awe. Some rocks have narrow gaps, some are hikeable, and all are worth enjoying. I still cannot believe how some people were able to scale formations that were hundreds of feet tall. You definitely need to be very cautious when climbing any of the formations that you'll encounter and always keep in mind..... there's a reason why this site is aptly named, Hall of Horrors.

I highly recommend if you're coming to Joshua tree to make a visit to the hall of horrors. The area…read moreis pretty large, there is a lot to explore. It's a very popular area for rock climbers. We did see a few there when I visited. There is a lot of boulders and rocks and places to explore. Fun for the kids. Make sure you download the AllTrails app.

Another site to see at Joshua tree. Good for kids…read more You can see skull rock formation from the side of the road. It's a short walk up from the side of the road. It wasn't crowded when I arrived. The area itself is amazing to explored. Plenty of boulders and rocks to climb over and under. Lots of valleys and places to explore. I'm actually surprised that more people didn't explore the area and they just came to visit the face.

+ Marvelous rock formation. Erosion formed the eye and nose sockets of this eponymous skull…read more . You have the option of hiking the Skull Rock Trail, or you can park at the lot very close to the skull and admire it right there. . Despite the moderate crowd, I was able to have a bit of time to myself to admire the Skull Rock. Fascinating creation by mother nature.

Nice little place to sit down and watch the kids play in the water. We were looking for a place to…read moretake pictures for a photo project and this came up on my map. Beautiful little area.

A MUST DO! 4 & 1/2 STARS! IT'S FREE & with Free Parking! The Fountain of Life Fountain is a…read moreBeautiful Flowing Water Sculpture with a colorful playful design in the heart of Cathedral City adjacent to Palm Springs. It is located right on Highway 111 & is the Focal Centerpiece of Town Square Park. Both Adults & Kids will find it a place to have some Fun & Relax. The continuous sound of flowing water & the color palate really calms the Soul. There are benches all around so you can sit down & Chill Out. The fountain's design is a spiral motif, which is a symbol of rejuvenation & continuous birth. This artistic fountain's composition also incorporates a recirculating water system. When the desert temperatures hit the over 100 mark & you are looking for an inexpensive way to Cool Off; this is a perfect place to Beat the Heat! This place is picturesque during the day but it really comes to life at night with the colorful lights placed to highlight its artistic features. The Fountain of Life was designed by artist Jennifer Johnson with architect Reuel Young. It was physically built by The House of Stone and Fountains & Landscape Enhancements. The fountain was carved out of pieces out of adoquin stone from the quarry near Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Johnson spent more than a year adorning the fountain with hand cut glass & mosaic tiles. The Fountain of Life Reflects the history & nature of the desert community. There are 3 central columns made of Stone. The big horn sheep, fishes, lizards, tortoises, birds, shells, wildflowers & others, all surround the Sculpture. These are elements that are native to this area from both the present & the past. The rooster and hen represent the importance of family in multi cultures. A Cahuilla basket pays tribute to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, who gifted the soft surface which helps enhance the safety factor for Kids. The fountain's tri-color soft surface is made of ground recycled tires. Buddy and Beverly Rogers became the fountain's first major donors. There is Free Parking in the area & there are shops, eateries, statues, & The Mary Pickford Movie Theater ( a huge film actress from the 1920s) all in the same location. Every November this area is the host where The Hot Air Balloon Festival takes place. Hot Air Balloons from around the country come to decorate the desert skies with Light, Music, Food & some Paid & Free Festivities too. If you are in the Cathedral City/ Palm Springs Area be sure to check it out! It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really rich to have The Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've Been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like A King On A Limited Budget!

The last time that we've been it was just for a walk around the garden and the museum area. If you…read morehaven't been, it's beautiful. Free to visit and you can enjoy the cactus garden and wander around the gardens. Museum and gift shop as well as cafe is on sites. But this visit, we took the tour of the Annenberg property. Tour is about 90 min and about 60.00 per person. They do recommend you come a little early to view and enjoy the main building where the cactus garden was but we were a little behind and made it right before the tour started. The tour host 7 person per guided tours. We start off at check in and then met with our guide, Hema. At the beginning you start off on the golf carts where your guide gives you an introduction to the family and the property. The gate into the main residence is around the corner from the public property. It's amazing to see how someone turned a barren desert landscape into an oasis. The brief cart ride to main door was quite nice. A massive golf property hidden in the desert. Once you approached the main property, it's welcomed by a massive water feature. A knock on the double doors lead you into the lobby of the house. Just walking into the property, it's a true MCM oasis. To find out the property only has just the primary bedroom was insane as it was massive. Theres no picture allowed inside but outside was fine. Hema, very detailed in everything she explained was very sweet and detail oriented. Walking through the different rooms and seeing all the amazing things collected by both Walter and Leonore Annenberg was quite interesting. The office which house all of Walter's work, pictures of family, friends and political figures. The different room that's in the main house, their amazing artwork which some are the original pieces. Then you have the way they lived, very elegantly. Each room had their own unique style. The designer and architect sure had their hands full with detail designed of everything on site. The furniture, one of a kind design with amazing embroidery. Walter had an amazing collection of artwork and sculptures. Seeing them throughout the house and the way it was displayed in different room of the house was spectacular. Even the kitchen was nice. Still fully functional as it's still used for summits. The outside alone is one in a million. The massive property with many lakes that is fully stocked for fishing. The golf course which is a golfers heaven. And then you have the pool with a million dollar view of the mountains as the backdrop. Not only the main house, there's the guest house which is utilized for guest. And they're know by different color rooms. And by that, it's fully decorated in the color palette. That building also all looks out to the pool and mountain. Leonore, with her favorite color yellow also had a rose garden designed in the property. The tour lets you inside the lives of the Annenberg and the amazing lives they've lived. Housing major political figures, celebrities and the amazing parties had. The massive art collection and endless photos of everyone, it was a sight to see. This is a tour worth checking out and learning about the Annenberg. Plus, Hema our tour guide was excellent.

We were in Palm Desert for 12 days. Upon arrival I tried unsuccessfully to get tickets for the…read moreHistoric House Tour and the Open Air Experience. The tours were either sold out or had one spot available. There were 2 of us. I would recommend purchasing tickets online before you arrive to Palm Springs because of the popularity of the tours. You cannot purchase tickets by phone, email or in person. There are no waitlists either. We walked among the garden area, visited the small but great gift shop, watched the movie about Sunnylands and viewed the current exhibition. The next time we're in the Palm Springs area I will definitely plan ahead and purchase tickets way in advance.

Excellent spot for photos. Looks like they've shut down the access for cars since there's a…read moreconcrete barricade and multiple City of Redlands safety signs. Other than that, come here at golden hour and your photos will always be magnificent. Here's one from today showing the recent snow in the distance.

April 2022 Key things to know for and before tour…read more Reservations are needed in advance purchase online Recreation.gov Tours are typically offered May to October Weather was the perfect day of our tour. 30.00 day entry or $80.00 a year unlimited for a year to National Parks I wore a hat to shield from the sun and wore layers as I was hiking that day besides the tour. Sun screen a bottle of water. After visiting Joshua Tree, I began reading about the history throughout this entire National Park. I felt like a 5 year old in a candy story. Lol ! I began planning trips to experience something different each visit. There are so many hidden treasures within Joshua Tree National Park. My key interest was Bill Keys, and how did he survive in the True Wild West . A ranger-led tour and learn about the cultural history of Keys Ranch. Topics may include Native American history, mining, ranching, homesteading, the Keys family, and the site's transition into a protected historical site. You will see all the 'Precious' junk laid down on the yard and understand how the many settlers live their life. Mr. Keys was very entrepreneurial and saw how tenacious he was. Truly amazing Tour, our tour guide was awesome. we asked so many questions. He was so full of exciting information. Although things have changed throughout the years to maintain what remains. , none the less a tour to try. Out of curiosity, I wonder how long they will maintain it. In the 1960s, several Disney movies for television were filmed here. Keys even played the role of a prospector in "The Wild Burro of the West." A cheesy horror film, "The Hills Have Eyes," was also filmed here.

Get ready for a bouncy ride as you follow the dirt road past shrubs, tall grass and strange rock…read moreformations along the way to Keys Ranch. We did this tour after our rock climbing experience. But in hindsight, we should have done it on another day since it's in such a remote section of the park. The only way to see this spot is by a ranger-guided tour at specific times. We had a 1 PM reservation, which allowed us just 1 hour to get there. The good news is we made it in time with 10 seconds to spare due to my "efficient driving." But why make a trip here? In short, it's all about the wild history of this land. A place of outlaws and wild west living. You can't help but wonder what it was like for anyone to live in such a remote place especially back in the early 1900's. Keys Ranch was built in 1910 and the residence of Bill and Frances Keys along with their children for over 60 years. Having first moved to the desert in search of gold, Bill started this ranch as he built up a life for himself with mining and ranching. Our guide showed us around the place, which hasn't changed much since Bill died. A major highlight of the tour was hearing all of the stories, especially about the clash of worlds for Bill's wife Frances, who came from a well-to-do family in Pasadena. She came here for the adventure and I can't think of a spot further away from high society Pasadena. Most notable though was Bill's wild shoot out that sounds more like a spaghetti western movie. During a dispute over the Wall Street Mill, Bill shot and killed a guy named Worth Bagley. He just happened to be a former sheriff's deputy. Bill was found guilty of murder and sentenced to nine years at San Quentin State Prison. Talk about neighborhood drama. Check out the park's website for additional information on visiting Keys Ranch. Keys Ranch tours cost $10 per person aged 12 and over and $5 for children 6 to 11. Children under six are admitted free. Advance reservations are required for all visitors.