Deserts - The Atlas Heart

A young woman wearing green pants and a black tank top looking over her shoulder in a desert landscape.

7 CLOSEST Airports to Palm Springs & How To Get There [2025]

A guide and tips for traveling to the closest airports to Palm Springs for a sunny desert getaway!

Palm Springs to Joshua Tree national park

Palm Springs to Joshua Tree [How to Get There & Best Stops]

A picture of Highway 190 in Death Valley National Park

Best Time to Visit Death Valley National Park [+Tips for Each Season]

Check out our complete guide on the best time to visit Death Valley National Park.

camping guide joshua tree

Joshua Tree Camping Guide: The Most Beautiful & Best Campgrounds in Joshua Tree National Park

This article is your one-stop shop for all things related to camping in Joshua Tree National Park.

Best Death Valley Camping

Death Valley Camping: Best Campgrounds in Death Valley National Park

Everything you need to know about Death Valley camping, including my favorite campgrounds in the park.

best things to do in joshua tree national park

45 Fun & Best Things to do in Joshua Tree to Get the Most Out of Your Desert Escape

The top things to do in Joshua Tree National Park and beyond so you can make the most of your desert vacation.

top joshua tree glamping sites

21 Top Joshua Tree Glamping Sites [Bubble Domes, Yurts, Airstreams & More]

The best Joshua Tree glamping spots, including bubble domes, yurts, airstreams, and awesome vacation rentals.

17 Best Hikes in Joshua Tree National Park

17 Best Hikes In Joshua Tree National Park (Desert Beauty)

The best hikes in Joshua Tree National Park for every fitness level and adventure schedule.

best things to do in death valley national park in california

22 Things to do in Death Valley National Park | Ultimate Bucket List

The best things to do in Death Valley National Park – from hikes to unique rock formations, Star Wars filming locations, viewpoints, and more.

Best Things to do in Palm Springs, California

22 Things To Do In Palm Springs, California | Desert Escape

Can’t believe we get to meet this little guy in

Can’t believe we get to meet this little guy in just a couple of weeks.❤️🐣

✨ 2024 Wrapped ✨ 2024 brought us the opportun

✨ 2024 Wrapped ✨

2024 brought us the opportunity for nesting as new homeowners, countless celebrations with loved ones (3 weddings, 2 bachelor/bachelorette parties, 3 baby showers, and many holiday celebrations), memorable travels (two new countries—Mauritius and South Africa—and one new city—Kansas City), a bunch of summer concerts with friends (6 in total), many new reads (49 books read this year!), and our biggest adventure yet on the horizon (a baby due in Feb 2025).

Biggest highlights:
-Settling into our first home (our move-in date was Dec 31st, 2023) and finishing our kitchen and bathroom remodels + making our first big purchase the day after we moved in: a hot tub!
-3-week honeymoon adventure in Mauritius & South Africa, celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary on a safari.
-Finding out I was pregnant in June. 💫

Biggest challenges:
-The month of July: Suneel was dealing with health issues (actually for most of this year, but July was especially hard), I was at peak first-trimester nausea, and we had scorching 100+ degree heat for most of the month.
- Still figuring out how to pivot my business after last year’s Google algorithm changes, testing out a bunch of new projects, most of which didn’t do much to increase traffic and revenue. After leaving his job last year to help me with (at the time) a very healthy business that was on track to make half a million dollars in 2023, Suneel had to go back into law this year with our loss in revenue. However, we started seeing some glimmers of hope with a new strategy in December, so I’m hopeful we can turn this around to some kind of highlight for next year!

Here’s to 2025 - the year we get to meet our baby boy and experience all the joys and challenges of new parenthood!🐣

➡️Share this with someone you want to go

➡️Share this with someone you want to go glamping with this summer!

📍Wildhaven Sonoma Glamping, Healdsburg, California

⛺My friend Carrie and I first stayed at Wildhaven Sonoma in late fall last year on a very rainy weekend when we were hiking the Mt St Helena Peak.

A weekend of glamping and hiking in the rain was not our favorite (and the hiking part was not our smartest move since we were drenched the whole hike and our body temperatures plummeted to a dangerous level).

After that weekend, we promised ourselves we would do a proper girls glamping weekend in the summer to experience Wildhaven at its best.

And I’m so glad we did!

Wildhaven Sonoma in the summer is pure bliss. It’s right next to the Russian River, some good hiking trails, and plenty of wine tasting. And we could actually have a fire this time and s’mores!

If you go to the camp store, you can also get tasting coupons for discounts at local wineries.

Wildhaven is also one of the most affordable glamping options I’ve found in California, and they have some nice touches throughout the property to make it feel cozy.

Some of my favorites include:

🛌Heated mattresses - I’d never experienced this before staying here, but man it’s hard to go back to normal mattresses afterward

☕Free coffee, tea, and hot chocolate station in the morning

🔥🍫S’mores kits at the store

🚿Heated and clean showers

They just opened up a location in Yosemite that I’m staying at this summer as well, so I’ll let you know how that one is soon!

✌Follow @theatlasheart for more California travel guides!

@wildhavenglamping #wildhaven #wildhavensonoma #glamping #glampinglife #glampingnotcamping #glampingweekened #girlsweekendgetaway #sonoma #healdsburg #sonomawinecountry #healdsburgca

➡️Save this scenic hike for the next tim

➡️Save this scenic hike for the next time you’re in Richmond, CA!

☀️If you’re looking for panoramic views in the East Bay, this hike is a must-do in Richmond.

Located in Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline, you’ll get a bird’s-eye view looking over the bay in a short mile-long climb.

The first viewpoint, called False Gun Vista Point, is where they used to have a fake anti-aircraft gun pretending to protect the Kaiser Shipyards during WWII.

From the nearby benches, you’ll be able to see the Richmond Bridge, a slice of the Golden Gate Bridge, and the San Francisco and Oakland skylines on a clear day.

Walk a little further to the East Vista Point, which gives you more sweeping views of the East Bay, all the way to Mt Diablo.

🥾Trail: False Gun Vista Point (Scenic Loop to East Vista Point on AllTrails) – 2.1 miles, 367 elevation gain, loop, moderate

⭐Features: Views of the the Richmond Bridge, the San Francisco and Oakland skylines in the distance, and the glistening bay below

🚗Parking: Free, at the Miller-Knox Regional Shoreline Parking area

🚽Toilets: Yes, at the parking area

🐶Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome

👪 Family-friendly: Yes

♿️Accessibility: No

💡What to Know Before You Hike:
-The trail has some shade but lots of exposed portions as well, so it’s best to avoid the hottest part of the day.
-Wear sturdy shoes as some parts of the trail can be steep.
-Look out for the turkeys that like to hang out around the boardwalk at the start of the trail. We saw a whole family with babies while we were there. You might also spot some red tail hawks or kestrels along the trail.
-If you time it right, you can visit the Golden State Model Railroad Museum right next to the trailhead after your hike.

➕Make it a day: Head to Keller Beach or Point Molate Beach Park, and end with dinner in Point Richmond and/or a beer at East Brother Beer Company.

✌Follow @theatlasheart for more California travel guides!

@ebrpd #millerknox #millerknoxregionalshoreline #richmondca #richmondcalifornia #eastbayregionalparks #eastbayregionalparkdistrict #pointrichmond #pointrichmondca

➡️Save this guide for the perfect summer road

➡️Save this guide for the perfect summer road trip from the Bay to Sacramento along Highway 160! 🚗☀️

We accidentally discovered this road trip last summer when we met up with my cousin who lives in Sacramento at the Old Sugar Mill.

Now that we know about this gorgeous route, we never want to take I-80 when we visit Sac. This route is so much prettier.

Here’s the perfect summer road trip along this highway filled with history, charming small towns, and refreshing stops.👇

🌿First Stop: Rio Vista – A quaint town on the Sacramento River. Grab breakfast and coffee at Rio Vista Bakery & Cafe and walk around the small downtown.

🚤 Next up is Isleton, a historic town with another cute Main Street and the opportunity to cool off by the river.

🚗 Continue your drive along the river, enjoying the scenic views and charming drawbridges. Stop in Walnut Grove for a quick bite or explore the historic town of Locke, known for its Chinese heritage and unique architecture.

🥂 Next, head to Clarksburg and visit the Old Sugar Mill. This renovated sugar mill houses multiple wineries, offering wine tasting in a cool, air-conditioned setting – perfect for a hot summer day.

🌳 Once you’re in Sacramento, make a stop at the Sacramento River Parkway for a relaxing stroll along the water and views of the Tower Bridge.

🚶‍♂️Next, head to Old Sacramento. This historic district is filled with museums, shops, and restaurants. Enjoy the air-conditioned California State Railroad Museum, a great escape from the heat.

🍦Before you leave town, cool down with some delicious ice cream at Gunther’s Ice Cream Shop, a local favorite since 1940.

✌Follow @theatlasheart for more California travel guides!

@oldsugarmill @oldsac @visitsacramento #Highway160 #summerroadtrip #visitsacramento #oldsugarmill #oldsacramento #sacramentoriver #sacramentoriverdelta #sacramentosummer #sanfranciscosummer #californiaroadtrip

➡️Save this for everything you need to know ab

➡️Save this for everything you need to know about visiting the Winchester Mystery House!

👻Who said spooky season is just for October?

🔮🏰 Known for its architectural oddities and mysterious history, the Winchester Mystery House is an intriguing and eerie attraction in California.

Located in San Jose, the house was continuously built for 36 years, resulting in a labyrinth of 160 rooms, staircases leading to nowhere, and doors that open into walls.

Here’s what to expect👇

🏠Start with a Guided Mansion Tour, which takes you through the most famous rooms and corridors.

Learn about Sarah’s life, her eccentricities, and the legends that surround the house.

For a more in-depth experience, consider the Explore More Tour, which includes areas previously off-limits to the public, like the attic and basements.

💡Interesting tidbits:
-The house originally stood at seven stories but was reduced to four by the 1906 earthquake.

-Sarah Winchester had a fascination with the number 13, reflected in many features like 13-pane windows and 13-step staircases.

🍃After your tour, check out the beautiful Victorian Gardens on the property.

💲Tickets: $40/adult, $18/child (5-12)

⭐Features: Unique architectural designs, ghost stories, beautiful gardens, and historical artifacts.

🚗Parking: Free on-site parking is available but can fill up quickly on busy days.

🚽Toilets: Yes

🐶Dog-friendly: No

👪 Family-friendly: Yes, though younger children might find the stories and house a bit spooky.

♿️Accessibility: No

🔮What to Know Before You Go:
-Tours last about an hour, so wear comfortable shoes.
-Photography is allowed, but no flash inside the house. No video is allowed.
-Check for special events like nighttime flashlight tours for an even spookier experience.

➕Make it a day: After your tour, explore nearby San Jose attractions like the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum or the Tech Interactive.

✌Follow @theatlasheart for more California travel guides!

@winchestermysteryhouse #winchestermysteryhouse #sarahwinchester #sanjose #hauntedhouse #sanjosecalifornia #sanjoseca #southbay #bayarea #sanfranciscobayarea

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

The Atlas Heart is a California travel website dedicated to
showing you the best of the Golden State from a local perspective.

The Atlas Heart
166 Geary Str STE 1500 #2083
San Francisco, CA 94108
USA

Phone: +1 (415) 800-3765

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

©2024 The Atlas Heart

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

©2024 The Atlas Heart