I had a great visit at Sunbeam lake today, Tuesday Jan 13. I took a walk mainly to take some…read morepictures for Tic Tok. I enjoyed a picnic lunch, some bird watching and just being outside.

What a GEM!! Park by the lake with covered playgrounds. Pretty grounds. Large grassy area. Small…read moreand large play set by the lake! Alot of tables.

Nice park, nice lake and man made water body too…read more A little walk, also playground for the children and a water park. Path goes round the lake.

This park is conveniently located a couple blocks from Fourth Avenue and Highway 8 in El Centro and…read moreone of the most popular parks, especially during the holidays. Luckily, if you get here around 5am or so, you can get a decent area with trees and shade. This particular holiday, some people had set up as early as the day before! We came here for a birthday party and the shade provided by the trees and tents made the warm day easy to manage! Although I love the sun and heat, humidity is a different beast - luckily it was a calm breeze that swept through the day before the heat wave arrives. There is 2 bathrooms, sadly one was closed and the other seemed to have plumbing issues, because as soon as you walk in... you walk in to a pile of water (me hoping it was just water). There is a playground and plenty of parking around the Park. This park is not fenced off, so a lot of the areas are next to the streets. I guess this is the place to go for party's as it is big and holds bigger groups. Don't forget to bring some bread to feed the ducks, pigeons and geese that roam the ponds! No swimming, and honestly you wouldn't want to either.

The Salton Sea is really unbelievable. Haven't really ever heard of it before my mom moved to La…read moreQuinta 14 years ago. But after hearing the stories, I had to go. Recently, it finally came true. When you finally get your sights on it, it's more unreal. The lake is about 15 by 35 miles at its widest and longest. So, it's HUGE, and there's a hell of a lot of water. Sure, it's getting smaller, but still. If you go, you should decide to go on the West or East side...because it's very far to go all around. My mom and I went east, but I think there's more to see on the west side (which has Salton City, Desert Shores, Salton Sea Beach). What we did see was a few "campgrounds", former structures, and the highlight -- Bombay Beach, an little town with some artistic endeavors, but mostly low income and off-grid living. It's just not healthy to live nearby this. It has a little market and an old motel, the Ski Inn, that is now a coffee shop and dive bar. It wasn't very smelly on a 75 degree day, but I'm sure it is in the heat of summer. It's both marvelous and a engineering disaster. I asked Siri a million things while driving, but I'm left with more questions than answers.

It's my second time to visit this desolate place in two years because of its art installations. The…read moreart is amazing and quirky that makes Salton Sea Beach a nice getaway spot and admiration. Unfortunately, the sea is receding fast, nevertheless its environment is breathtaking! As long as interesting and quirky art installation continues, Salton Sea Beach will never be a desolate place.

I took the drive from Palm Springs (where I was staying) to Bombay Beach last week and it was…read moresomething I've wanted to see for a very long time. This desolate and erie town is a skeleton of what it once once and has one of the strongest and strangest smells I've ever experienced pulling into a new place. The marina here is pretty massive and is absolutely full of all kinds of "art" or whatever you would like to call it from mannequins being tortured, recliners with blood, funny signs about cars getting stuck, religious areas, and a million other things that only pictures can really do justice. I was able to get out of my car and walk a little bit around but didn't go too close to the water for various reasons. This place is fascinating for so many different reasons and I truly do hope to come in the future. Overall, this place is completely going to be a different experience for literally everyone. For me? It was kind of eye opening in a strange way, as I still don't actually know what I saw here, but hey, I think I'll have to come back one day and just figure it out again.

This place is totally unexpected. It seems like a city in a movie…read more There are sculptures scattered on the sand by the shore of the Salton Sea. Very unique! The town itself seemed unreal. There are houses and also there are many abandoned houses that were used as art installations. They even have a drive-in (art installation). It was really nice to see something like this in the middle of the desert.

My favorite water in Yuma area. Spring fed water so clean you can see to the bottom. Great boat or…read morekayak launch that is much less crowded than fishers landing, in and out quickly. Recent upgrade to area so nice hot showers for a few bucks and improved picnic sports rv parking and did I mention....hot showers!

My friend group and I camped at TK jones campground @ sqaw lake. It's the perfect location! There…read moreare bathroom facilities and paid showers, If you're that kind of camper. Also, cell signal (again, if you're that kind of camper). We paid the $15 per night to park. Wheel barreled our stuff to a quiet spot (provided by camp ground). Paddled all around squaw lake and through some of the river. RVs park in the parking lot area. No hook ups, like another yelper said. No view is a bad view. Beautiful destination!!! Dog friendly. There is even a dog bag station. There are wild donkeys that run through camp. I didn't see them but my friends heard them. Definitely saw their poop everywhere.

My husband loves co.ing here to fish. I am glad I never came. We are doing a Drive by. These…read morebathrooms definitely invoke the squat and hold your nose and breath rule! Right by the California border. Nice park and BBQ grill area. The birds singing made my heart sing! I would "stop by" but never be here at night! Bring your own toilet and paper if you can.

This is a random stop on the way from California to Arizona. It cost $5 to park, but it was on the…read morehonor system. It was really fun and a nice break from driving for my kids (1, 5, & 7) to play in the waterfall. There's a little lake type area too but the water looked gross so I was happy to find the shaded waterfall on a hot day. The mud was slippery but overall, a much better stop than a rest stop. The bathrooms were awful, but get the job done.

Agua Caliente Campground offers a relaxing oasis in the desert for day trips or overnight camping…read more Campers can choose from tent sites, various RV hookups, or small cabins depending on their setup. There are three mineral pools: two outdoor pools (including one kid-sized) and an indoor heated pool. There's also a shared locker room for men and women with individual changing rooms, restrooms, and showers for guests. Larger restroom facilities are available on site, along with horseshoe pits, shuffleboard, and a playground (which was under construction when we visited). There's little to no cell service in the area, but some Wi-Fi is available near the pool. When you arrive, you'll stop at the ranger station near the entrance to pay the day-use or camping fee and receive your pass. The posted signage clearly lists the different rates for using the grounds. Overall a nice, simple getaway if you're looking to soak in the mineral pools and enjoy some quiet desert scenery.

Love coming here every year! Group camp is awesome, private…read moregazebo with electric plugs. Walking distance to clean restrooms. Cabin was clean, two queen size bed frames, bathroom and sink, table with 4 wobbly chairs, AC/heat was a perk! Bench on the deck and space for a fire pit. Usually require reservations a year in advance.

It's a great river swim with the family…read more However be very careful.. I feel in a whole in Sept 5th,2022 and twisted both ankles. Which I'm still suffering pain from Two month in my injury. My family had lots of fun( I didn't since I was in pain but since it was 2hr drive I suck it up for them). My toddler love it.. we went when LA hit over 100* heat... it very nice in the water!! Many ppl with floating I do suggest to make sure everyone know how to swim as its now drag ppl down the stream..

I could see this being a 3 or 4 star hike depending on the season and weather conditions you do the…read morehike in. I hiked it on 2/24/19 and found the conditions to be ideal for my enjoyment! Location- it was only about a 30 minute drive for me since I spent the night after attending a party at a family member's house in El Cajon (suburb of San Diego); I jumped on the 8 East and as the elevation reached 3,000 ft I could begin seeing snow on the hills near the fwy and I got even more excited for this hike- took Exit 47 for Sunrise Hwy and the trailhead parking was about 2 miles away from the fwy and there was a large lot on the side of the hwy to park Trail- you access the trail by walking across the road and going to the right of the metal barrier...the snow was the deepest on this portion of the hike for about half a mile and the first part of the hike is where the trail is the narrowest with portions where you have to bend over and get low to continue past low branches; at about 3/4 of a mile you will get down to creek level and make a left to get to the waterfalls...I carefully climbed up to reach about 4 parts of the waterfall and it was flowing really well with all of the recent precipitation of this winter and it was a pleasant surprise to find this so close to the city of San Diego; it is about 2 miles RT and not anything too extreme in the way of incline and I loved having the trail/falls all to myself for the nearly 2 hrs I was there *I used microspikes just to be safe but I could see it being fine with just hiking shoes

We visited the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge toward the end of March and…read moreunfortunately the timing did not work in our favor. It was already around 100 degrees, which made it too hot to venture out toward the lake. My son loves bird photography and uses a telephoto lens, so we were hoping to see more wildlife. Instead, we mostly stayed near the visitor center area. We did spot quite a few adorable cottontail bunnies resting in the shade. They dig little shallow pockets in the cool dirt, which was fun to watch. There were also a few birds chirping and some doves, but overall not much activity. The visitor center itself is small but nice and worth a quick stop. From what I have heard, this area can be amazing for migratory birds, but we did not see many during our visit. I am guessing earlier in the year or during the winter would be a much better time to go. It is also pretty out of the way, so not somewhere you will just casually swing by. Overall, it was an okay visit, but I would definitely plan for a cooler season next time. 3 stars

I just went for the first time from 9:30-12pm on Saturday 10/19/24. My main goal was to see…read moreburrowing owls and I was successful!!!! Unfortunately the visitor center was closed even though it was supposed to be open according to the posted hours. Luckily a couple walking their dog were very well informed and helpful! They told me volunteers man the visitor center in winter when the winter bird migration is happening. They said to return in 3 weeks (11/9/24) and there would be thousands of birds and the center should be open. I recommend waiting and coming then. The couple also told me how to find the burrowing owls, they live on the drainage ditches and their nests are labeled with a stick with a pink ribbon tied to it. You have to drive very slow or stop and wait to see them. Luckily there was a sign posted on the visitor center window with a map and "X's" drawn where the burrowing owl nests are. So I used that to drive around the dirt roads that are in grids in the farmland. I went to 4 near areas and two were occupied, one with a pair of burrowing owls and one with a single owl. I also saw a roadrunner, American kestrel, lots of egrets, quail, blackbirds, what looked like a prairie dog, and other birds. The visitor center area is considered "Unit 2." There is a 2 mile trail round trip called Rock Hill Trail that leads to the shore of the Salton Sea. I will do that next time. There is a huge two story observation deck, a shaded picnic area, a very nice restroom, and water dispenser. Unit 1 is 30 minutes away on the southwest edge of the lake. It has another huge two story observation deck, a toilet, a 0.7 mile hiking trail around a large pond with two photography blinds. I'll do that next time. This area will be great for waterfowl viewing when the winter migration occurs. I recommend stopping and taking pictures on the east side of the Salton Sea while driving to the southeast corner where the visitor center is. Once you're at the refuge there is pretty much no view of the lake, same with Unit 1. Next time I also want to explore Salton City. I got a hotel in Palm Springs for the night but it is 1 hour 45 minutes away! So next time I will stay in the a hotel in Brawley. It takes a lot of time to explore this whole area and bird watch.

The campground is beautiful and immaculately kept. It is in the shadow of the Lagunas and the…read moreviews are spectacular. The bathrooms were perfect, they even had personal hygiene products! The showers were delightfully warm and clean. The campground hosts were so amazing! I cannot wait to go back in March

I was camping at Agua Caliente County Park and that place has 0 cell phone reception…read more Unfortunately, I had to attend a meeting via Teams. So I drove 5 miles to Vallecito County Park and they have a free "lot" where you can park and get cell phone reception. With T-Mobile I had full bars and 5 UC. Didn't have to pay to actually go inside the park. Got my meeting done and was able to go back to my campsite. Just a tip if you need cell service.