Off the Beaten Path

By Tom Modugno of Goleta Surfing

This winter has been one of the worst for surf in recent memory. So rather than sit around and moan and groan, we switch gears and enjoy some of the other amazing places in our region.

East of San Diego there are some wild desert lands that are always a pleasure to explore in the Spring. So we left the surfboards in the garage and piled into the 4×4 for a different kind of adventure.

Just 5 short hours from Goleta is a whole different world with a whole different climate.

And getting there is half the fun!

Lots of folks have 4-wheel drive, but how many actually use it? Well you should, cuz it’s fun!

We’ve been coming out to the Anza Borrego State Park almost every spring for over 30 years. My brother turned me onto it on this trip in 1984. He got turned on to it by his SBCC botany class back in the 1970’s.

Since then, it’s been an annual event for our family. All three of our adult children have grown up with a springtime desert trip on their calendar almost every year. The great thing is, they still love it!