Welcome to our journey through the awe-inspiring landscapes of America's national parks! Today is part one of a two-part series about Southern California's desert playground, where we explore the magical and rugged terrain of Joshua Tree National Park.

Located about 130 miles east of Los Angeles, Joshua Tree National Park is a world of its own. With over three million visitors annually, it's a favorite spring break destination, though the park reveals its unique charm throughout the year.

In this episode, we give an overview of the park's most popular hiking trails and share our experiences hiking some of our favorites. We also provide a "lay of the land," including information about campgrounds, visitor centers, and a little vegetation education thrown in for good measure.

And for those who want to wander outside the park boundaries, we recommend a couple of unique local attractions and places to eat and drink once the sun slips over the park's peaks. All this and a history story or two make this a must-listen episode for anyone planning a trip to the park.

Next week, in part two, we'll move south of the park and talk about the diverse areas throughout the greater Palm Springs region, where you'll find some of the best hiking trails in southern California.

Links to some of the things we discussed in this episode:

·     Joshua Tree NP’s bird list

·     The Copper Room at Yucca Valley Airport

·     Visit Pioneertown

·     Pappy and Harriet’s in Pioneertown

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