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SPECIAL EVENTS 2013 HUMANA CHALLENGE US PGA TOUR (FORMERLY THE BOB HOPE CLASSIC) Jan. 14-20, La Quinta bhcc.com TOUR DE PALM SPRINGS CHARITY BICYCLE RIDE Feb. 9, Palm Springs tourdepalmsprings.graphtek.com DESERT ARTS FESTIVAL March 2-3, Frances Stevens Park, Palm Springs westcoastartists.com 30TH LA QUINTA ARTS FESTIVAL March 7-10, La Quinta Civic Center campus, La Quinta lqaf.com/cultural-events/la-quinta-arts-festival/ FASHION WEEK EL PASEO March 16-23, Palm Desert fashionweekelpaseo.com SCOTTY'S CASTLE ORGAN CONCERTS Scotty's Castle, Death Valley Check website for dates. nps.gov/deva/historyculture/special-events.htm PERSEIDS METEOR SHOWER Aug. 12-13, all desert locations; best viewed well after midnight BORREGO DAYS DESERT FESTIVAL Oct. 25-27, Borrego Springs borregospringschamber.com SCOTTY'S Castle, above. While many desert visitors head for the well-worn trails at Death Valley or Joshua Tree, consider the less-visited MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE. This magnificent desolation of lava flows, dunes and canyons boasts over 300 species of animals, from turtles to bighorn sheep. Located between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, the 1.6-million-acre park is best explored at dawn and dusk, when birds and small animals emerge to forage. Abandoned mines and petroglyphs reward back-county explorers, and the spring rains bring abundant wildflowers. nps.gov/moja/index.htm 184 2013 travel guid e to c al i fo r n ia Desert Wildflowers Winters in the desert can be numbingly cold, while summers are blazing hot. But between late February and mid May—if the rains have been good—the desert becomes a mecca for people who love color, fragrance and landscapes of almost surreal beauty. Few wildflower displays on earth compare with the California desert bloom, which transforms the dry, unwelcoming scrubland into a kaleidoscopic paradise that seems lifted right out of The Wizard of Oz. Death Valley, Anza-Borrego and Joshua Tree are three of the most popular destinations for flower and cactus lovers, with dozens of rare and fantastic plant species—from hearty wolf cholla to delicate ghost flowers— in bloom. Meanwhile, on the Mojave's edge north of Los Angeles, the Antelope Valley Poppy State Reserve provides miles of trails (some wheelchairaccessible) through rolling fields of lush and unbroken gold. Family Fun There's no limit to the adventure and exploration possible in California's desert regions. Just stay well-stocked with water (one gallon per person per day) and vigilant of the dangers presented by any desert environment— hazards that can include flash floods! For families, exploring ghost towns is always a thrill. When the warm wind blows and those ancient doors and shutters creak, it's easy to imagine the spirits of long-departed gold miners haunting the landscape. Rock hounding delights kids of all ages, with excellent volcanic specimens to be found around Amboy Crater Natural Landmark and red quartz in the Turtle Mountain Wilderness. Horseback riding, camping and hiking are also popular desert activities, and some federally-managed desert areas allow ATV expeditions as well. CA NATALIA BRATSLAVSKY merit a 4-5 day visit. America's biggest state park, Anza-Borrego, is a major pilgrimage site during the wildflower season. The region's signature towns— Indian Wells, Needles, Salton Sea and Mojave—provide a taste of local character. For more cosmopolitan diversions, Palm Springs, Palm Desert and La Quinta offer golf, visual art and even fashion shows and film festivals.