Seeing as though the temperatures in Milwaukee this week could not be more frigid (with the estimated low temperature tonight to be -56 degrees below zero with wind chill), my trip to Cali to see my brother Nick in Santa Barbara could not have come at a better time.

In case you just started following our blog, Nick and his family moved to Santa Barbara about a year ago so that he could pursue his passion for animals. He is currently working with an organization that does seal rescues, and he absolutely loves it.
Obviously, a big part of this trip is going to be about seeing him and the family and learning more about what he’s doing. I hope to be able to share some of that with you as it really is amazing work that they are doing.
However, I also plan on getting out and exploring some areas that I have long wanted to explore. The Channel Islands National Park is one of those areas. This beautiful chain of islands, located North of Los Angeles, is renowned for its marine wildlife. I hope to photograph whales, seals, and other wildlife in the waters surrounding the islands.

I also plan on taking a day excursion to Joshua Tree National Park. It’s about a 3.5-hour drive from Santa Barbara, which isn’t too bad. Seeing as though I have visited roughly half of the US national parks, but not the one park that shares my name, I think it is time to cross Joshua Tree off my list. It’s a stunning park that is popular with rock climbers from around the world.
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Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Guide |
Of course I will be providing daily journal updates throughout this trip and you can expect to see a number of guides and itineraries after I return. In case you haven’t noticed, I have yet to post my final Epic National Parks Road trips itinerary. That is because the final itinerary focuses on California and I want to include a lot of the great info, pictures, and experiences I get from this trip.
So, look out for a lot of great info in the next week. Until then, safe and happy travels!

Sounds wonderful. Enjoy Joshua Tree, which we missed this summer. Have a safe trip. Looking forward to seeing your posts.
Thanks! ππ
Sounds like it will be a fun trip! Can’t wait to see your posts!
Thanks Laci! π
Hope you have a great time in Cali! I also hope the shutdown hasn’t had too bad an impact on the parks π
Have fun!
Thanks Jason!
Iβm looking forward to seeing your Channel Islands photos and reading about your trip. Lived in SoCal for many years and only saw them from afar. Have fun in Joshua Tree itβs a great place.
A little late – but welcome to California! Joshua Tree is one of my favorite places to visit (I think I’ve been there 6 times over the past year)!
Thanks Matthew!! Beautiful state and beautiful park. I always enjoy my visits ππ