Superbloom: A mother and daughter trip to Death Valley

Our Nomadic Days are Coming to an End!

After six months of moving between Europe and America, it's with a heavy heart and a clear mind that we made a final decision to leave California, and move to Michigan to be closer to family. Before leaving Oceano however, we had to knock a few things off the to-do list. Chores such as scheduling house viewings, video calls for the viewings, figuring out moving logistics, booking our AirBnB, and planning around hubby's work schedule quickly filled our calendar. We decided to rent a nice Victorian-style home in Grand Rapids--one where both Baby G can have her own bedroom and hubby can have his own office [which will double as a gaming room for myself!].

Furthermore, hubby announced he had to do a solo trip back to Paris for work, and would be gone for a full week while Baby G and I stayed in Santa Maria, CA. So what's a mom and baby to do?

Planning the Trip

I'm the biggest FOMO person I know, and knowing the infamous super bloom is around the corner I just had to see it one last time before our big move. That, and I ABSOLUTELY REFUSED to leave California without seeing Death Valley! With only 3 days left before hubby left for Paris, I hunkered down and planned a last minute, 6-hour trip to Death Valley.

This was going to be the furthest I have ever driven with the baby by myself, as well as the longest drive she's ever done in her short life. Plus with the big move coming up, I wanted to challenge ourselves and practice for the upcoming 36-hour drive to Michigan. The perfect opportunity, non? It took a few late nights of researching hiking trials, establishing safety practices, and figuring out road trip logistics, but I used these guidelines to help me out:

Hotel Rules-

1. The hotel needs to be under $100

2. The hotel must provide a free breakfast

3. The hotel location cannot add more time to the drive

4. It must have a pool available

5. The hotel must be near other attractions and restaurants

Travel Rules-

1. Stop for gas (and ice) no less than half tank

2. Establish a "hiking buddy": someone who knows where I'm hiking and when I start and finish a trail

3. Inform Hiking Buddy hotel arrival and leave times

4. Send pictures to Hiking Buddy for updates, communicating where we are and what we're wearing -- no updates within 12-24 hours is an Emergency

Hiking Rules-

1. Always check weather forecast

2. Always have water on hand (plus children's Pedialyte)

3. Only do kid friendly, easy hikes. No scrambling trails.

4. The hikes can be no further than 1.5 miles, with hiking poles

5. Once Baby G starts to cry from the heat, it's time to turn back

6. Check with Visitor Centers, for maps and trail warnings

With my packing done, snacks and water procured, hotels and trails set up, we were ready for our big road trip.

Away We Go - Day 1

The first day we said our goodbyes to daddy when we dropped him off at the San Luis Obispo Airport. It was a very sweet goodbye, and we took our time. Baby G only cried for a bit when she realized her daddy left, but she calmed down when we stopped for breakfast at Perfetto Cafe in Arroyo Grande. This is a secret spot that locals like to visit, even I didn't know about it during the two months we stayed in the area. It provided great breakfast foods, Italian espresso, and baby toys for children to play with. I absolutely loved how to comprised of a "board walk-like" lounging area with chairs, daybeds, and sofas -- exhibiting a very Californian bohemian vibe. No wonder it's rated among Arroyo Grande's Best with a 4.9/5.0 rating. The perfect start to our journey <3

Breakfast [and coffee] in our bellies we were on our way to our first hotel, but not before taking a quick break at Red Rock Canyon State Park. It's a great park to stop at for a quick hike or day trip, or for longer stays they also provide camping areas! We arrived a little later than I was hoping, but the ranger at the visitor center recommended Hagen Canyon Nature Trail, located near the entrance of the park, for a fantastic quick hike. It was only a 1.2 mile loop, but it's great for hikers and their children to explore the rock formations and flowers along the path. We stayed for about an hour, took our time on the hike, and left before sundown--feeling reenergized and ready to get back on the road!

Fun fact, many movies were filmed in this park: The Mummy (1933), Zorro Rides Again (1937), Westworld (2016), The Outlaw (1943), Stagecoach (1939), Lone Star Raiders (1940), The Lone Ranger Rides Again (1939)... to name a few

We arrived in Ridgecrest an hour later, checked-in, and unpacked the car. It was the longest part of the drive, but we made it in time to relax and eat at a local diner.

Hello Death Valley - Day 2

Thanks to the hotel's free breakfast, we started the day bright and early with full tummies! Not wanting to rush too fast into the car, we decided to try a few quick visits to local attractions. I wanted to visit the Maturango Museum in town, but it was Sunday and the museum wouldn't open until noon, which would have put us on the road way too late. Instead, we settled for Petroglyph Park right next to the museum. Although not the real deal, the park exhibits artist renditions of real petroglyphs found throughout California (such as in Big and Little Petroglyph Canyon near Ridgecrest, and Sheep Canyon near Anza Borrego). Some may call it tacky or poorly done, but I get what they were trying to achieve: introducing historic art pieces of first peoples to children on the playground, and informing visitors of their existence.

It was a bit wet, since it rained the night prior, so we didn't stay long and needed to hit the road. Still not ready for her nap, we decided to stop at the local attraction Fish Rocks located 15 minutes from Ridgecrest. After a 30 minute walk and 10 minutes playing in the wash, it was time to leave. We still had 2 hours until Death Valley!

Baby G rested for most of the trip and, aside from refueling at gas stations, a break wasn't really needed. I counted the mountain passages we had to drive over and through to get this point, and it's three... we had to drive over three big valleys and mountains to reach Death Valley, and the viewpoint from the last mountain range was breathtaking. The opening reached 4000ft elevation (above sea level), and I could see across the valley far and wide where the lowest point dropped to 282ft below sea level. As we got closer to the park's entrance, we were greeted with a sea of yellow flowers all around us. Drivers kept veering on and off the roads, parking their cars and RVs to take pictures. With the mountain ranges exhibiting white-snowed tips in the background, it was pretty enough to be a postcard.

Our next hotel was in Beatty, NV, only a 20 minute drive from the park. As we didn't need to be there at any specific time, we jumped right into the hiking upon arrival. First stop was the Furnace Creek Visitor's Center, where we paid the park entry fee and procured a map [and let's be honest, I did some souvenir shopping]. We also took this time to see the museum inside the Visitor Center, change Baby G into suitable hiking clothes, and eat lunch.

Refreshed from our break, we made our way to the first hike of the day: Artist Pallet followed by Artist Drive. Artist Pallet is a quick 0.4 mile hike, up and down an elevated hill. The deal I made with Baby G was this, momma carries her up the hill and takes some pictures, and she gets to enjoy her time walking down the hill. Baby G enjoyed the hike and had ample time to explore, sit and think, pick up all the pebbles she wanted, and fall on her face (which is why I carry her up the hill, otherwise we'd never finish the trail)! But like the tough little girl she is, she got right back up and finished her walk back to the truck.

Artist Drive is just that, a one-way 9 mile scenic drive (running south to north) through the colorful desert hills, where we saw splashes of color from the different minerals embedded in the mountain sides. There were a few places to stop and take photos, but Baby G wasn't a big fan of this and was becoming fussy. Noting the time of day and the time needed to reach our next hike, we came, we saw, we weaved and bobbed around, and we moved on.

I wanted to end the day at a trail hubby highly recommended, Badwater Basin. This is a 1 mile, out and back trail. It's also the lowest point in North America, and is a giant salt flat. Though it's normally dry, this was a rare chance to see this part of the valley completely flooded! A local informed me the valley had received a lot of rain, remnants of Hurricane Hilary. Being so low in elevation all the runoff from the rain collects at the Basin and sits there until it evaporates, leaving behind white salt on the ground floor. He went on to say that the Valley hasn't been this flooded for thousands of years, and the last time there was any flooding in Badwater Basin was 18 years ago.

Regardless, people still walked the flooded trail as the water level was generally ankle deep, and only 1ft at its deepest depths; rangers claimed a kayak could float on it! The further people walked out on the trail, it looked as though they were walking on water. This was not only a rare occurrence, but by far Baby G's favorite hike. I was hoping to stay dry, but knowing her insistence on splashing in puddles, I took off our socks and shoes and we walked the glassy flooded trail.

Everyone was doing it, kids and families were enjoying themselves. If you can't beat them, join them. Easily the most memorable part if our entire journey. Baby G slept well that night.

Goodbye Death Valley - Day 3

Our stay in Death Valley was a short one, but well worth it. I planned the day to include a few more easy hikes, but then we had to leave to make it to our next hotel before dark. This day was far warmer than the previous, around 86F, so we kept the hikes short. Our first stop was Zabriskie Point, a 0.3 mile hike to a vista point. They say its a perfect spot to view the badlands of death valley, and amazing during sunset and sun rise. Had I not vowed to stay on "easy, kid-friendly" paths I'd have walk the Badlands Loop, a 1-mile long trail located at the entrance of Zabriskie Point that would take you between desert hills to the top, but would require more climbing effort and was notably warmer. Instead, after running down the hill with Baby G, we enjoyed exploring the mini 3ft hills and Baby G amused herself climbing mini 1ft stones. It was a reminder that this was more for her than for myself, and safety was top priority. She liked it, and that's what matters.

Last hike was through the Devil's Cornfield, which is really an intimidating name to give a field of Arrow Weeds; plants the native peoples would use to make their straight arrows. Not the most exciting trail, it was certainly the hottest and Baby G was not having it. She gave me a "I think you're crazy" sort of look before we even started the walk, and after 0.4 miles on the trail she started saying, "hot" and "I don't want" and "ice". I noticed the sun was on her back and she took off her hat, so she was clearly uncomfortable, thus our hiking ended and we turned around.

It was our last hike at Death Valley, but not the last activity! Before leaving I filled up one last time at the local "Stovewell" gas station, stopped for lunch and noticed a swimming pool across the street. Baby G was the first one to spot the pool area and kept repeating, "play! play!", so I asked people through the gate if there was a way to go swimming. Luckily there was, and all I had to do was purchase a $10 day pass from registration (I didn't even know there was a hotel there!) and we'd be allowed in. It was the best way to end a hot day. Baby G got to show off her new swimsuit, and by the time she was done splashing around she was shaking like a rattlesnake tail... the pool was clearly not heated [and why would it be!?].

We stayed for an hour, loaded ourselves up, and she was asleep just 10-minutes into driving. The perfect way to end a great mother-daughter desert trip!

Carrizo and Returning to Santa Maria - Day 4

The last part of the trip was a quick break we took at the Carrizo Plains. Although I was here once before with hubby, it was during summer when everything was yellow and dead. This time Baby G and I were greeted with green rolling hills, covered in orange fiddlenecks and yellow hillside daisies.

When we started our cross-country journey, it was understood we were actually 1-2 weeks early from the "super bloom peak", but flowers were still present and the views were still scenic. As always, Baby G appreciated time outside the car and roaming the paths. Sitting on the ground and playing with nearby flowers and wispy leaves or oats are among her favorite activities, such that she'd spend all day wandering around the same spots and we wouldn't get anywhere! So I first let her roam around for 20 minutes, then I packed her and we began our 1.4 mile hike at Soda Pop Lake.

There are a few similarities between Soda Pop Lake and Badwater Basin. They're both salt flat basins, and they occasionally flood (Soda Pop Lake more often, as the surrounding area receives 4x more rainfall annually) from the mountain runoffs. However the difference is Soda Pop Lake is an alkali wetland, water rises and falls seasonally, and it's the only enclosed basin within the coastal mountains. Last time I saw the "lake" it was a muddy bed, covered in thick white salt, this time around it was a full blue lake with salt crusting along the edges. Complete with a lovely boardwalk, it was a peaceful hike with tons of birds and caterpillars hiding in the grasses. It was so peaceful, that Baby G fell asleep moments after putting her on my back. She slept the rest of the hike, until it was time to leave.

Another scenic site checked off my list. Not as colorful as it could be, but still spectacular.

This concluded our mother and daughter trip to Death Valley. I tried taking as many pictures as I could to document our time together, especially since she won't remember any of it, but it was a trip worth having and a challenge worth taking. Baby G travels so well for a toddler, and loves being outside in nature. She's an outdoorsy baby through and through, and I'm happy we able to make memories together with our remaining days in California.