Joshua Tree National Park

Twentynine Palms isn't exactly a duty station many people want to come to.  In fact, when we were still in Virginia and would tell friends where we were going, their first response would usually be something along the lines of, "Oh no!  The stumps.  I'm so sorry."  After warning us of things to watch for, and telling us all the bad, we were usually told the good.  The first "good" people would tell us about is Joshua Tree National Park.  Just a quick google search will show you exactly why this is one of the best things about this area.  There really isn't much else to see or do within a 30 minute drive, but this park almost makes up for that.  

When D Step's brother came in on thursday, we decided to finally make the trek there and do a bit of exploring.  Unfortunately it was around 1pm in the desert, but luckily we got a "cool" day- 101 degrees is actually pretty cool for an afternoon in this area!  

Our first stop was the visitors center.  The boys were both fast asleep already.  The guys got out and asked about a suggested place to visit with two toddlers, who were both sleeping.  They gave a few different ideas, and we were on our way.  This park is absolutely huge, so 15 minutes of a drive later, we were at our first stop.  

Our first stop was to "skull rock."  I really don't think I have to explain this further.  As you can see in the photos, it really does look just like a skull!  

We walked a bit on some of the trail to explore a bit.  It was absolutely stunning, everywhere you looked.  

Our next stop was to see an old mine shaft.  It was a quick walk and lots to see.  We learned that this area held more gold than the San Francisco Gold Rush, and has hundreds of mines.  These particular ones closed in the 80's.  

On the walk- Cactus Flowers

I could not imagine living in this.  

You can see the mines in the bottom photo

Our last stop was to a dam, where after quick walk, there was actually water!

More Joshuas

My boys

Daddy Step and E Step

Daddy, Z Step, and E Step

Old watering hole for cattle

4 Steps.  

Love this one!

This photo cracks me up.  If you know the story, and look close, you will laugh too!

This park makes you really appreciate the desert's beauty.  I cannot wait for the weather to cool off, so we can return again.  

Santa Monica

This weekend, we decided to leave "the hill" and travel west.  This place gets a bit boring after too much sitting around.  We needed a mini getaway.  

We decided on heading into Santa Monica.  It is 2 1/2 hours from Twentynine Palms, and was a great place to sight see.  

Santa Monica is not actually a place I ever really had a huge desire to see.  However, since we are semi close, it was a must see on our bucket list out here.  It is a famous place, and I have seen snapshots on television quite often.  

The drive out to Santa Monica was a bit of a culture shock.  California drivers are awful.  They are probably the worst drivers I have ever seen.  And that is staying something, considering I have lived near New York, D.C., and in Japan.  They are self centered, and in a constant rush.  There was one point where we had to merge from 5 lanes to 3 because of an accident.  Nobody wanted to let anyone in.  We are definitely in California.  

Eventually we made it, and were refreshed with the cool air.  It has been over 100 degrees every day since we have arrived in Twentynine Palms, so the 80 degrees felt wonderful.  

The beach was beautiful, but we never ventured into it.  It is far too cold.  There were lots of crazy children playing in the waves, and both boys loved watching.  Z Step made it a point to say "they playing in the Pacific Ocean!"  We had told him that this was a different ocean from before.  He really remembered everything we said.  

We walked around the pier for awhile, just sightseeing.  There were "street" performers, artists, and lots of odds and ends.  I was amazed at how rude and stupid most of the people were.  Even the street performers were rude.  We overheard a teenage girl asking what 197+5 was.  She honestly was stumped.  I suppose we have really been spoiled with our education.  I am sad for the future generations.  

One of the rude performers.  He was yelling at the crowd, and singling people out.  

Z Step showing me the Pacific Ocean

We made our way to the rides, and got on the landmark ferris wheel.  It was a nice ride, where we got to see the view from up high.  The boys had a great time looking at the beach.  

My favorite photo of Z Step

Look at that hair!  

Z Step and Mama Step

E Step playing with Daddy.  He was actually really cranky

We had lunch after this at Bubba Gump Shrimp. We had been to the one in NYC before, but it was nice going to a different one.  It was pretty much the same.  We even had a friendly waitress.  The nicest I have seen so far.  She even reminded us of the military discount they offer, after I told her about our cross country move.  

We walked around a bit more, Z Step and I went on the scrambler ride, (which he loved) and we picked up a christmas ornament for our tree.  We could probably decorate an entire tree with all the ornaments we picked up along the way in our marriage so far.  We are so lucky to get to travel like this!  

Santa Monica was also the end of Route 66, which we traveled along for most of our trip out west.  Though most of the road is closed today, we were still able to say we traveled along part of it.  We really are on the west coast now, aren't we?  I look forward to more traveling in Twentynine Palms!