By Karen Pearlman The Anza-Borrego Desert in inland San Diego County is captivating with its beauty and expansiveness, humbling and powerful in its quietness. A landscape of extremes — sun-scorched earth and hidden blooms, rugged canyons carved by time, and sudden spring wildflowers when the rain gods have been kind — the desert has a raw quality that strips everything down to the essentials of light, shadow, stone and sky. Our desert region includes Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, famous for its spring wildflowers and rugged terrain; the city of Borrego Springs, the nation’s first “Dark Sky” community and ideal for stargazing; Agua Caliente State Park, known for its thermal pools; Ocotillo Wells, a wildly popular draw for off-road vehicles; and Jacumba Hot Springs, a town that has reinvented itself and become a destination on its own merits. Finding your way to the desert where you can slow down, breathe deep and listen to the stillness is best done by taking time to lay the groundwork, map things out and plan in advance. The drive is about two hours to most desert destinations, or an hour to Jacumba Hot Springs, but well worth the effort. When preparing for a trip (if you want to see the incredible desert flora) keep in mind that wildflower season typically begins in late February to early March and continues through April. Although the timing of the bloom and intensity of flower coverage is heavily influenced by winter rainfall — with wet winters increasing the chances of a more vibrant bloom in the spring– the amount of sun and wind in the area can also influence the timing and length of the bloom. OUR DESERT REGIONS Anza-Borrego Desert State Park The expansive Anza-Borrego Desert State Park  is the largest state park in California at 600,000 acres (and third largest in the United States). Beautiful, wide open and tranquil, it includes 12 designated wilderness areas. A must-stop is the visitor center at the state park, which has fascinating exhibits on the park’s geology, history, plants and wildlife. At sunrise and sunset, Anza-Borrego glows with surreal colors, feeling much like a painting. At night, the stars take over, undisturbed by city lights, reminding you of the universe’s infiniteness. The Anza Borrego Foundation shares “insider” information and offers educational programs. Its website has helpful content and is a font of facts and data. The organization has a visitor center in Borrego Springs that it runs for the park service and also has a wildflower hotline (760) 767-4684 with weekly updates on where the flowers are in bloom. Also view flower updates here. The Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association leads seasonal excursions into dramatic landscapes such as the Borrego Badlands, also offering night hikes, classes, lectures and other educational options. Governed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the diverse, distinct landscapes that span from the eastern slopes of the Peninsular Ranges in San Diego County to the western edge of Imperial County offer a step – or thousands of steps — away from the fast-paced, tech-dependent life in the city. Anza-Borrego’s more than 935 square miles offer more than colorful wildflowers in the Spring (when there’s been enough rain to bring the flora to life) and include unique geological features from its plate tectonics history, including deposits of fossil-bearing sedimentary rock. Its 110 miles of hiking trails lead to some breathtaking views and sweeping vistas, slot canyons, cactus-studded slopes, palm oases and even waterfalls. Popular trails to hike in the area include Borrego Palm Canyon Trail, Fonts Point Trail, Canyon View Trail and challenging Calcite Mine Trail. The park has 500 miles of dirt roads and several scenic drives, including the Borrego Salton Seaway and the Tamarisk Grove Road. This is one of the only opportunities many visitors may ever get to stand face-to-face with Bighorn sheep. ABDSP is home to between 300 and 500 of what is estimated to be nearly 1,000 Peninsular Bighorn Sheep that make up the species’ population, which extends from the U.S.-Mexico border to the San Jacinto Mountains. Other creatures inhabiting the area include golden eagles, turkey vultures, hummingbirds, kit foxes, coyotes, roadrunners, chuckwallas, iguanas, rattlesnakes, scorpions and butterflies. There are also places to get up close with giant whimsical metal sculptures by day. Read about artist Ricardo Breceda’s amazing sculptures and find a map to view the sculptures.   Visitors can also stargaze in an internationally designated “Dark Sky” region at night. California Overland Desert Excursions offers a variety of offroad tours, including overnight camping adventures. Borrego Springs Borrego Springs, the cozy city that’s just outside of the ABDSP, offers visitors a chance to not only commune with nature nd also a spot to find cultural attractions — from art shows and museums to musical programs at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center: https://www.bspac.org/ Named for Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish word borrego or Bighorn sheep, Anza-Borrego is unlike anything else in the area Snowbirds are a big part of the local scene, with people looking for warmth arriving in the Fall and leaving before the heat of the Summer. The Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce website lists an activities calendar and a “things to do” section with options such as birding, cycling (including along the Borrego Salton Seaway), off-road driving, hiking, golf, tennis and more. Astronomer and night-sky photographer Dennis Mammana leads tours of the night sky and offers tips for viewing the heavens above in Borrego at his website. In January and February, the Borrego Springs Film Festival brings movies to the region. For more information, visit https://www.borregospringsfilmfestival.org/ While in Borrego Springs Things to do while in Borrego Springs include more than just hiking and seeing the flowers (when in bloom). There are places to play golf — including deAnza Desert Club and Rams Hill Golf Club. Rams Hill Golf Club is an 18-hole Tom Fazio-designed course with breathtaking views and challenging play. It even has a stream running through it. Art aficionados can