Southern California

Including Death Valley NP, Channel Islands NP and Joshua Tree NP

Channel Islands National Park.
March 11th - April 15th, 2023

California dreamin'

After Hawaii, we drove from Utah to Los Angeles where we stayed for the next month. Along the way, we visited Death Valley National Park.

Our Airbnb was located in the Westwood, right next to the UCLA campus. We loved the area but hated the LA traffic.

While here, we visited Joshua Tree National Park where we did some rock climbing and hiking. We also took a ferry to Channel Islands National Park, where we camped overnight and went on a sea kayaking tour the next day.

We also did a lot of the LA city things, including the Getty Art Museum, the Griffith Observatory and a Dodgers game.

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley is a super interesting and fun place to explore. It's the lowest point in the U.S. which gives the valley floor those interesting salt beds and formations. There's also really cool canyons to explore and views to see.

Badwater Basin, lowest point in the United States.
Badwater Basin, lowest point in the United States.
Badwater Basin, Death Valley
Badwater Basin, Death Valley
The crazy salt formations at Devil’s Golf course.
The crazy salt formations at Devil’s Golf course.
Devil’s Golf Course, Death Valley
Devil’s Golf Course, Death Valley
Up close view of a salt formation at Devil’s Golf Course
Up close view of a salt formation at Devil’s Golf Course.
The natural bridge along the Natural Bridge Canyon trail.
The natural bridge along the Natural Bridge Canyon trail.
Natural Bridge, Death Valley
Natural Bridge, Death Valley
Interesting shaft along the Natural Bridge trail.
Interesting shaft along the Natural Bridge trail.
Obstacles along the Natural Bridge trail.
Obstacles along the Natural Bridge trail.
Slick rock scramble at the end of the Natural Bridge trail.
Slick rock scramble at the end of the Natural Bridge trail.
Canyon at Death Valley National Park.
Canyon along the Natural Bridge trail.
Mosaic Canyon Trail in Death Valley.
Mosaic Canyon Trail in Death Valley.
Cliffs along the Mosaic Canyon trail.
Cliffs along the Mosaic Canyon trail.
Mosaic Canyon, Death Valley NP.
Mosaic Canyon, Death Valley NP.
Cliffs along the Mosaic Canyon trail.
Cliffs along the Mosaic Canyon trail.
Mosaic Canyon trail, Death Valley
Mosaic Canyon trail, Death Valley
Mosaic Canyon trail, Death Valley
Mosaic Canyon trail, Death Valley
Dante’s View, Death Valley
Dante’s View, Death Valley
Dante’s View, Death Valley
Dante’s View, Death Valley
Natalie soaking in the sunset at Dante’s View.
Natalie soaking in the sunset at Dante’s View.
Dante’s View, overlooking Badwater Basin in Death Valley
Dante’s View, overlooking Badwater Basin in Death Valley.
Natalie’s new friend at Death Valley
Natalie’s new friend at Death Valley

Channel Islands National Park

Channel Islands NP is a unique national park located off the coast of California near Santa Barbara. The only way to get to the island is by boat. Multiple islands make up the park, but the main island to go to is Santa Cruz island. While you can visit the islands as a day trip, we decided to camp a night there, which resembles going on a backpacking trip since you can only bring a limited amount of things on the boat with you. We had a ton of fun exploring the island and we went on an awesome sea kayaking tour around the island.

Views along the Potato Harbor trail, Channel Islands NP.
Views along the Potato Harbor trail, Channel Islands NP.
Views along the Potato Harbor trail, Channel Islands NP.
Views along the Potato Harbor trail, Channel Islands NP.
Views along the Potato Harbor trail, Channel Islands NP.
Views along the Potato Harbor trail, Channel Islands NP.
Views along the Potato Harbor trail, Channel Islands NP.
Views along the Potato Harbor trail, Channel Islands NP.
Views along the Potato Harbor trail, Channel Islands NP.
Views along the Potato Harbor trail, Channel Islands NP.
Santa Cruz island has tons of cute wild foxes everywhere.
Santa Cruz island has tons of cute wild foxes everywhere.
Views along the Potato Harbor trail, Channel Islands NP.
Views along the Potato Harbor trail, Channel Islands NP.
The harbor where the ferry to Santa Cruz Island departs from.
The harbors where the ferry to Santa Cruz Island departs from.
The harbors where the ferry to Santa Cruz Island departs from.
The harbors where the ferry to Santa Cruz Island departs from.
Looking down from the pier at Santa Cruz Island.
Looking down from the pier at Santa Cruz Island.
Cute wild fox in our campsite.
Cute wild fox in our campsite.
Coastal views at Channel Islands NP.
Coastal views at Channel Islands NP.
Coastal views at Channel Islands NP.
Coastal views at Channel Islands NP.
Potato Harbor, Santa Cruz Island.
Potato Harbor, Santa Cruz Island.
The beautiful green hills on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands NP.
The beautiful green hills on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands NP.
Our campsite for the night at Channel Islands.
Our campsite for the night at Channel Islands.
We backpacked into our campsite for our stay at Channel Islands.
We backpacked into our campsite for our stay at Channel Islands.
Ocean kayak tour around Santa Cruz Island.
Ocean kayak tour around Santa Cruz Island.
Ocean kayak tour around Santa Cruz Island.
Ocean kayak tour around Santa Cruz Island.
Kayaking through sea caves, Santa Cruz Island
Kayaking through sea caves, Santa Cruz Island.
Kayaking through sea caves, Santa Cruz Island
Kayaking through sea caves, Santa Cruz Island.
Kayaking through sea caves, Santa Cruz Island
Kayaking through sea caves, Santa Cruz Island.
Ocean kayak tour around Santa Cruz Island.
Ocean kayak tour around Santa Cruz Island.
Beautiful clear waters and colorful shore life on Santa Cruz island.
Beautiful clear waters and colorful shore life on Santa Cruz island.
Ocean kayak tour around Santa Cruz Island.
Ocean kayak tour around Santa Cruz Island.
Peep the star fish!
Peep the star fish!
The shoreline surrounding Santa Cruz island is covered in green kelp.
The shoreline surrounding Santa Cruz island is covered in green kelp.

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree is a fun national park to explore. It of course has many Joshua Trees but the main draw of the park is it's sea of fun boulders to climb on and explore. We went on a lot of fun short hikes here and also did some rock climbing.

Walking through a slot canyon in Joshua Tree NP.
Walking through a slot canyon in Joshua Tree NP.
Skull Rock in Joshua Tree NP.
Skull Rock in Joshua Tree NP.
Climbing around the rocks at Joshua Tree NP.
Climbing around the rocks at Joshua Tree NP.
Climbing around the rocks at Joshua Tree NP.
Climbing around the rocks at Joshua Tree NP.
Climbing through the Hall of Horrors tree at Joshua Tree NP.
Climbing through the Hall of Horrors tree at Joshua Tree NP.
Heart Rock at Joshua Tree NP.
Heart Rock at Joshua Tree NP.
Heart Rock at Joshua Tree NP.
Heart Rock at Joshua Tree NP.
Petroglyphs along the Barker Dam Trail in Joshua Tree NP.
Petroglyphs along the Barker Dam Trail in Joshua Tree NP.
Rock climbing at Joshua Tree NP.
Rock climbing at Joshua Tree NP.

Thousand Palms

On our way back from Joshua Tree, we stopped at an interesting area near Palm Springs called Thousand Palms, which has an interesting palm tree oasis that you can hike through and explore.

We went to Thousand Palms in Coachella Valley and did a really cool hike through a forest of palm trees.
We went to Thousand Palms in Coachella Valley and did a really cool hike through a forest of palm trees.
Thousand Palms, Coachella Valley Preserve.
Thousand Palms, Coachella Valley Preserve.
Thousand Palms, Coachella Valley Preserve.
Thousand Palms, Coachella Valley Preserve.
Thousand Palms, Coachella Valley Preserve.
Thousand Palms, Coachella Valley Preserve.
Natalie and Trevor at a restaurant in Palm Springs.
We went to an awesome restaurant in Palm Springs after hiking in Thousand Palms.

Malibu

We ventured up to Malibu one weekend and went on some fun hikes there.

We went hiking in Escondido Canyon Park while we were in Malibu.
We went hiking in Escondido Canyon Park while we were in Malibu.
Escondido Falls in Escondido Canyon Park.
Escondido Falls in Escondido Canyon Park.
Escondido Canyon Park.
Escondido Canyon Park.
Exploring sea caves in El Matador State Beach.
Exploring sea caves in El Matador State Beach.
Exploring the beaches at El Matador State Beach.
Exploring the beaches at El Matador State Beach.
Exploring the beaches at El Matador State Beach.
Exploring the beaches at El Matador State Beach.

Los Angeles

We of course did a lot of LA city things while we were here, such as art museums, the Griffith Observatory, Venice Beach, and a Dodger's game.

The Getty Museum in LA.
The Getty Museum in LA.
The Getty Museum in LA.
The Getty Museum in LA.
The Getty Villa Museum.
The Getty Villa Museum.
The Hammer Museum in LA.
The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles.
The Hammer Museum in LA.
The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. Or is it a Stranger Things portal?
The Broad contemporary art museum in Los Angeles.
The Broad contemporary art museum in Los Angeles.
The Broad contemporary art museum in Los Angeles.
The Broad contemporary art museum in Los Angeles.
The Broad contemporary art museum in Los Angeles.
The Broad contemporary art museum in Los Angeles.
The Broad contemporary art museum in Los Angeles.
The Broad contemporary art museum in Los Angeles.
The Broad contemporary art museum in Los Angeles.
The Broad contemporary art museum in Los Angeles.
The Broad contemporary art museum in Los Angeles.
The Broad contemporary art museum in Los Angeles.
Telescope at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
Telescope at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Fireworks at Dodger Stadium.
Fireworks at Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles is home to the Cecil Hotel, which has a sinister history of strange deaths.
Los Angeles is home to the Cecil Hotel, which has a sinister history of strange deaths.
The sidewalk outside of the Cecil Hotel.
The sidewalk outside of the Cecil Hotel.
Walking around LA with the Cecil Hotel in the background.
Walking around LA with the Cecil Hotel in the background.
Natalie at a restaurant near Venice Beach.
Eating at an awesome restaurant near Venice Beach.
Trevor smiling with a plate of Oaxacan food in front of him.
We went to a fantastic Oaxacan restaurant in LA, Trevor's favorite kind of food.

Palos Verdes

We drove over to Palos Verdes one weekend and explored the beautiful coastal sides there. The wildflowers and coastal views were incredible.

The cliffside of Palos Verdes.
We went on a coastal walk along the cliffside at Palos Verdes and were blown away by the beauty.
Palos Verdes Bluff Trail
Palos Verdes Bluff Trail
Palos Verdes Bluff Trail
Palos Verdes Bluff Trail
Palos Verdes Bluff Trail
Palos Verdes Bluff Trail
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Maui, HI

A waterfall surrounded by lush green vegetation.