I think your wife would enjoy a swim in the Furnace Creek pool in Death Valley. Very relaxing and that water is very special. Good Luck with the new one coming.

http://www.summitpost.org/canyon/601607 ... anyon.html

Coyote Canyon is a cool place to check out. Oasis, waterfalls, wild flowers, wildlife and cool geology. There is a 4wd trail that goes way back up in there, but alot of people just hike it a little ways in.

Eureka Dunes

A bit out of the way from everything else, but this helps keep much of the crowds away. You'll have to drive about 20-25 or so miles on a well maintained dirt road (smoother than most So. Cal freeways these days) which is fine for a car. There is a primitive camping area at base of dunes.

Where are you coming from? Anza-Borrego and Death Valley are quite distant from each other (a full-day drive).

Death Valley would be my favorite, due to its more dramatic geology. Lots of interesting things to see there without getting too far off the road. If you've never been there it would be a great place to play 'tourist' and get a feel for the area (Scotty's Castle, Ubehebe Craters, the Dunes near Stovepipe Wells, Badwater, Dante's View, Artists Palet Drive, etc), then come back in a few years for hikes up Telescope Peak and other DV peaks. The campground near the visitor center is pretty decent, but it does get breezy in the springtime. If you've got a few $$$, stay at the Furnace Creek motel for a few nights. The DVNP website is pretty comprehensive and will contain all the info you'll need.

Also, if driving from 'Lost' Angeles to Death Valley, you have the option of stopping at the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve (between I-5 and SR-14). Might be a pretty good spring flowring season with the good rains we've had this winter. Mid-to-late April is typically the best time for flower displays; check their website for daily photo updates.

We just came back from four days in Anza Borrego. The wildflowers are awesome this year. Coyote Canyon is astounding, and easily accessible to 2wd vehicles. Take the walk up Borrego Palm Canyon, but do it early in the morning before the crowds. Paved road to parking, the 3 miles R/T on an easy trail to the oasis. The pictographs are an interesting side trip, though that road might be a bit sketchier. My dad did it in a 2wd SUV a couple years ago, but there are some sandy spots as I recall. Having a shovel in the car would solve the problem. The whole park is blooming right now. You could probably have a great time just driving around and maybe wandering off the road here and there when you saw something interesting. The Elephant tree walk is also worthwhile (~1 mile R/T on mostly level ground). The road into the parking area is rough, but doable in 2wd (most cars in the lot were 2wd sedans the day we were there). If you're willing to drive a bit the Algodones Dunes are about 2 hours away. The volunteers in the visitor center seemed pretty knowledgeable this year. They might be helpful.

apoica wrote:PS- on the drive from the charcol kilns/telescope peak area to visiting bakersfield, we passed through trona. based on a previous thread on this fourm I had low, low expectations, but the reality was SO much worse!

apoica wrote:PS- on the drive from the charcol kilns/telescope peak area to visiting bakersfield, we passed through trona. based on a previous thread on this fourm I had low, low expectations, but the reality was SO much worse!

Yeah, it's hard to underestimate Trona...