Magical Places
Celebrating places of beauty & magic
Framing much of the United States' west coast, this glorious state is home to mountain ranges, beaches, dry desert, daunting palm trees and endless sunshine - the perfect place to decompress...
California has been my home since 2008, so I have many photos - more will be added so be sure to check back!
Palm Springs
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Driving along Dinah Shore Drive toward the magnificent San Jacinto Mountain Range (looming over 8000 ft high!)
Late afternoon sun over San Jacinto mountain range
Riding the aerial tramway to the mountain's summit, awed by the scenery below...
From this vantage point Palm Springs is nothing more than flat dry desert. Makes you wonder why this posh town was formed...(not that I'm complaining :-)
Desert oasis...
What a pleasure it was to take a morning stroll in this peaceful spot
Strolling by a lake at mid-morning, purple mountains in full view
Looming palm trees seem to quietly welcome you wherever you go
What Palm Springs is best known for - golf! Of course I was the only one walking around with a camera instead of a golf club...
Joshua Tree National Park
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The ancient and mysterious Joshua Tree National Park.... It seemed straight out of a Casteneda book
Sun setting across the dramatic terrain... Joshua trees appear as bent and contorted, as if having stood for centuries (which they probably have)
It almost seems like these strange trees possess an ancient consciousness and a cold awareness of everything happening around them
Palms to Pines Highway
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Highway 74 takes you from flat dry desert to snow-capped mountains, hence the name "Palms to Pines". The scenery is indeed spectacular...
In this panorama photo, the twisted highway below resembles a giant python...
Midway between the Palms and the Pines there is this beautiful park area (forgot the name). Desert plants like aloe, yucca and jojoba wildly grow amidst looming mountains
A walkway guides you along...
High (almost) in the mountains and surrounded by plants of all kinds, this is a wonderful place to meditate...
Lookout onto the mountains
It's very hard to feel anything other than peace and well-being in a place like this...
Heading into the Pines area - Quite a difference from the Palms!
Yes, that is snow on the road --
Ending up in the quaint mountain town of Idyllwild, with pine trees everywhere
Looks more like Colorado than Southern California!
Anza Borrego Desert
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Magical Anza Borrego Desert Park...
The energy here is so wonderfully invigorating, almost like an earth chakra
The small peaceful desert town of Borrego Springs - quite literally a desert oasis! Great place to fill up the tank and grab a sandwich before more desert exploration
Desert view along the Yaqui Way. The setting sun paints purples and magentas across the expansive terrain...
Once again, I felt like I was in a Casteneda book...
