National Parks Offer Natural Exploration in Palm Springs, CA

National Parks are a vacation experience far removed from the traditional family vacation of Disneyland or Six Flags. These parks have a modest ambiance to them.  If traditional vacations embody the spirit of luxury, then state parks take on the quality of naturalistic beauty. These parks are rich in resources, not in cash value.  Yet, many vacationers prefer this type of quiet vacation. These vacations allow tourists to enjoy peace and quiet and commune with nature. Many of these parks have wildlife preservations as well as miles and miles of forests and mountain ranges. A National Park may also include an educational tour, perhaps letting visitors examine dinosaur tracks or ancient Native American writings.  State Parks are very beneficial, especially for children. These beautiful parks can emphasize the beauty of nature over artificial creation; the simplicity and beauty of life over material possessions. 

Palm Springs, a beautiful and scenic city in its own right, has a few state parks worth mentioning and they are very wonderful establishments. These state parks have been called a wonderland of natural beauty and can offer guests either a peaceful and relaxing vacation or an exciting fun filled adventure getaway. The first state park to consider is the Joshua Tree National Forest. This monument was only recently established as a National Park in 1994 and includes 1,234 miles of land and wilderness. Two deserts are included in the park, including the Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert. What can tourists do in the Joshua Tree National Forest for recreation? There is camping activity, a favorite among families, and nine established grounds to choose from. A low fee is charged per night and fires are permitted within the camp fire rings. There is also hiking activity, including short one-mile trails and longer hiking trails that trek through the wilderness. There is also rock climbing activity and bird watching, with over 250 species of wild bird throughout the park. 

The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest park in California and the second largest state park in the United States. The park consists of 500 miles of dirt roads, twelve areas of wilderness and many miles of hiking trails amid the Colorado Desert. The park features amazing plant life including wildflowers, palm groves and cacti, as well as wild animal life such as roadrunner, golden eagles, kit foxes and mule deer, iguanas, and red diamond rattlesnakes.

The Mount San Jacinto State Park contains the mount, which measures over 10,000 feet above sea level, and is the second highest mountain range in Southern California. The park features granite peaks, subalpine forests and fern-bordered mountain meadows. It caters to hikers and backpackers and also offers two drive-in camping facilities.

If you are interested in a truly memorable vacation, one where you can enjoy nature at its most relaxing and adventurous, and take the whole family with you, then Palm Springs has some of the most beautiful state and national parks in the country. Come on a real life adventure and experience the beauty of this scenic city, rich in natural resources.