This Lentil Wrap recipe was one of the biggest hits so far. He had to share two of his three wraps with friends. It is easy to make these at home, and they are perfect for a day trip, even away from a cooler.

All of the ingredients I used here were store-bought and ready to go, so it was more assembly than anything. It’s nice to have a few easy options that are quick to create so you can pack up and get out there! Have fun!

Most people, on both coasts, seem to believe that humidity is more intolerable. Personally, I’d like to move to the northwest, or Alaska, where its cold and rainy all the time- at least for a little while. But there is something special and interesting and different about the desert. Especially as the weather heats up to those record levels.

Anza-Borrego State Park is one of my favorite representations of “the desert.” It reminds me of a cartoon, where coyotes chase road runners, sunsets are glorious and colorful, and iconic plants like ocotillo and barrel cacti are everywhere.

I know this isn’t the time of year that many want to be in the desert. Most of us are thinking about high altitudes and alpine lakes. But if you’ve never experienced it, this is the time to do it. Sleep during the day and hike at sunrise and sunset, listening to howling in the distance and watching for eye shines. Its an awesome experience to leave the rain fly of your tent behind (or your tent altogether), and stay up late looking into the depths of the starry night sky. The best part of Anza-Borrego is that you can camp just about anywhere inside the park. As long as your fire is in a container, you can have one. You can get out and away from all the other people enjoying the park, and experience the desert by yourself.

Most of the campgrounds in Joshua Tree are first come, first serve. The park is a climber’s paradise, but climbing season is winding down at this point in the year, so you may have more luck finding a site. If you’re a climber, then Hidden Valley Campground is the place you will likely look for a campsite first. It is the one closest to the entrance, and to much of the climbing in the park. We prefer driving just a bit deeper to our favorite gem, Jumbo Rocks Campground.

Jumbo Rocks is much larger than it appears, and is the location of the park’s amphitheater. Ranger programs are available many weekends for your learning pleasure. They’ll teach you about the stars, creatures of the desert, and other relevant topics. My favorite part of Jumbo Rocks are the many beautiful stacks of boulders in and around all the campsites. They create a lively and spectral show as the light of campfires dances along their faces.

I also appreciate the open desert that the campground backs up against. It offers endless space for exploring, day or moonlit night. Once, we created a sort of mini adventure race for our group to enjoy, choosing a large boulder in the distance to race to. I chose to go straight forward, scrambling over the rocks in the way, while others went around on the ground. I lost, but surely had the most fun.

Many tourists can’t go to Joshua Tree without taking pictures of the infamous “Skull Rock,” which is located on the roadside of Jumbo Rocks Campground. There is a short hiking trail that leads you straight to the landmark from the campground. You’ll know you’re there when you see all the cars parked on the side of the main road, and the people with their cameras out.

What’s your favorite campground? Is there one you especially miss when the season changes?

My dad is Red Rock’s biggest fan. He’s been hiking out there for years, and picked up right where he left off when he moved back to Las Vegas after a ten year hiatus. He’s proof that no matter how many times you’ve been to the same place, there is always something new to explore. The pictures posted here are all from him. Still, though, there are places in the park I’ve been to that he hasn’t, and there are spots neither of us have seen.

If you’re a resident of Las Vegas or not, Red Rock should be on your list of places to go. Hike the many trails in or around the park. Scramble along the red sandstone rock slabs at “the quarry”. Drive the scenic loop at sunset on your way to a night out on the town. Boulder low at Craft Boulders or climb ten pitches high. Run on the Grand Circle through the center of the park, or go in search of the little stream in Icebox Canyon. See pictographs and flowers and wildlife like vibrant-colored western tanagers or burros.

Look very closely in the photo above. There’s more to it than the beauty of the snow on the rocks.