Lancaster, CA: Ripley Desert Woodland State Park

Known for it's Joshua and Juniper Trees, Arthur B. Ripley Woodland State Park is located about an hour away from Santa Monica in Lancaster. We drove out here to see the Poppy Reserve which is located right down the road, but unfortunately, we did not receive enough rain this past winter and there  are no poppies to be seen. We decided to go to Arthur B. Ripley Woodland State Park which was right down the road. It's tough to find the entrance, so it's best to keep an eye on your odometer or GPS as you approach the entrance, which is literally a metal gate. There is no parking lot, you can pull over and park your car along the side of the road. This park was nice and it was wonderful to see the Joshua Trees and Juniper Trees, but there isn't much more than that to see, and the walking trail was very short. The coolest part of this trip for us was taking advantage of the empty stretch of dessert road to take some pictures in the middle of the road. I would definitely make the stop if you are going to the Poppy Reserve, but otherwise it's not worth the long drive.

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden

When my parents came to visit in April we went to visit the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, it was such a nice way to spend the day. Upon entry to the 127 acres of beautiful botanical Gardens, you are greeted by peacocks, dozens of them! 

hey there buddy

inspiration for a painting? reminds me of the work of my dear friend Erik Otto

fresh air and bright, open blue skies 

The botanical gardens are divided by continent: The Americas, Asia, Africa and Australia, and then by area of interest. Plants from all around the world can be found here, including some that are endangered. You can see a map of the Arboretum and Botanical Gardens here.

look at this stylish crew

so peaceful and serene

so incredibly beautiful that it almost looks fake

the Meyberg Waterfall

i had to get in on the action, too

reminds me of Japan

We also stopped and had lunch at their cafe which has a 

beautiful view of the gardens. We had intended to only stay for 2 hours, but ended up staying here for about 4 hours just walking around, exploring and enjoying. 

Point Dume State Beach and Natural Preserve, Malibu

Driving up the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica to Malibu.

Drive 18 miles north up the Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica 

and you will arrive at Point Dume Natural Preserve and State Beach.

A short trail through the headlands leads to a coastal bluff which overlooks the entire Santa Monica Bay. The fresh ocean air, crystal clear water below, and the spectacular panoramic view of the entire coastline remind you of how expansive and beautiful this Earth is.

The view south towards Santa Monica and Playa del Rey.

We went at the end of January and these beautiful yellow flowers covered 

the entire headland leading up the the cliffs.

The view north towards Malibu.

Take the walk down the two flights of stairs to get to Point Dume State Beach.

We saw a ton of sea anemone and crabs in the tide pools to the right of the stairs. 

A great place to catch the sunset is at The Sunset Restaurant which is at the bottom of the hill coming down from Point Dume onto Zuma Beach. 

Experience and Explore: Will Rogers State Park, Santa Monica

Will Rogers State Historic Park is located in the Santa Monica Mountains and is about a 15-20 minute drive up from the city of Santa Monica (traffic willing). The hike to Inspiration Point is 2 miles up and back and is a very easy hike.

The most interesting thing to me about Will Rogers State Park is Mr. Will Rogers himself...he's kind of like that guy Duke, that started Duke's Restaurants...have you ever read Duke's bio?!? Well, Will Rogers, from Oklahoma, started out as a "cowboy entertainer," and went on to be a movie star, newspaper columnist and radio commenter. You can read more about him here. Mr. Rogers bought this plot of land where he built a 31-room cottage and ranch as a weekend home for he and his family. Will Rogers himself designed the riding trails that wind through the mountains to the back to the ranch. I didn't know about Will Roger's story until I started to write this blog post, now I definitely want to go back and take he tour of his house which still stands and contains some of his prized possessions.

Will Rogers