Y’ALL.

I’m currently in Sunny, Southern California – San Diego, to be exact.
Ma Dukes had a business trip and once I found out where, I put my PTO time on the calendar and RAN to the airport.

It’s been a lot more dreary and overcast than I even knew was possible in SoCal – but lucky for me, a short road-trip could solve that and drive the rainy day blues away.

Welcome to the Anza-Borrego Desert.
An absolutely DREAMY State Park around 2 hours northeast (.. I think) of San Diego.
It’s honestly what desert dreams are made of, with views that are NEXT. FREAKING. LEVEL.
There’s always a new adventure around every corner:

winding roads.

picturesque cactus (everywhere!).

the most beautiful mountains this side of the Mississippi
(let’s be honest, the Blue Ridge Mountains will always be numero uno).

It was giving me MAJOR vaquero vibes and led me and my ma to having a very in depth discussion about what it must have been like to travel this part of the country as a settler in a covered wagon.. INTENSE!
(don’t judge – we’re a western obsessed bunch and John Wayne is practically family)

 

There was also random palm trees EVERYWHERE.
Maybe not so random – but definitely not something I had planned to see in the desert.

So far – California is pretty dang VIBEY and I’m already suffering from the end of vacay blues (listen to Kacey Musgraves new song Happy and Sad for reference).

I’m going to leave you with one of my top five favorite photos I’ve ever taken and the simple request to? You guessed it –

Wander in Wonder,