Stop At: Santa Ysabel Mission on Hwy. 79

Directions: Turn left at Hwy. 76 and head to Lake Henshaw. You’ll see the lake on your right.

Stop At: Turn left at Lake Henshaw Resort. Have breakfast or brunch at Lake Henshaw Cafe. If you want to go fishing & boating, go into the grocery store at Lake Henshaw Resort.

Directions: Keep on Hwy. 76. Go right at Mt. Palomar Sign.

Stop At: Follow signs to the Observatory.

Directions: Head back past Lake Henshaw to Hwy. 79. Turn left to Warner Springs. Drive through Warner Springs.

Stop At: Sky Sailing, and Shadow Mountain Winery.

Directions: Go back towards Julian. Turn left onto S2. Go a few miles. Turn left at sign, go towards Ranchita & Borrego Springs. Continue into the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.

Stop At: The Park’s Visitor Center (follow signs), and go shopping in The Mall, and other outlets. Have lunch.

Directions: From Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs, head towards Julian on Hwy. 78. Follow signs.

Borrego Springs is a resort community within the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. A desert oasis surrounded by 600,000 acres of state park, this area has a fantastic variety of activities to offer nature lovers and outdoor lovers. Enjoy a game of tennis, a round of golf, explore the desert by foot, bike or even in a jeep.

For those who just want to relax by the pool, do some unique shopping or indulge in some fabulous cuisine; you have reached your destination. Shopping is definitely an adventure as you explore the town’s unusual mecca of local art galleries and southwestern and ‘desert’ gift shops.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park is California’s oldest and largest, desert state park known for it’s spring wildflowers. From eroded badlands at near sea level to pinion-juniper woodlands at 6,000 ft., you will experience a wide variety of natural beauty. Activities to enjoy include astronomy lectures, nature programs, individual and interpretive hikes, photography classes and naturalist slide shows. There is a Visitors Center and Desert Museum open daily from October through May, and on weekends during the summer, (760) 767-4205. For more information call (800) 559-5524 or visit www.borregosprings.org

Home of the Warner Springs Ranch, it is a popular golfing and equestrian getaway. One of the most exhilarating attractions is Sky Sailing, (760) 782-0404. Further down the road is Sunshine Summit where you can do some wine tasting at Shadow Mountain Vineyards. Warner Springs is off Hwy. 79.

Palomar Mountain is off Hwy. 76. The Palomar Observatory offers self-guided tours including the 200 inch Hale Telescope, special gallery and museum. It is open daily from 9 am - 4 pm and is free. (760) 742-2119.

Located off Hwy. 76, nestled at the foothills of the Palomar Mountains, is a fresh water haven for fishermen, wildlife, travelers, and campers alike.

Directions: Head back to Julian.

Alpine was proclaimed the first Community Wildlife Habitat in the United States, by the National Wildlife Federation. Each spring, The Sage & Songbird Festival celebrates these garden habitats. Nestled at the foothills of the Viejas Mountains bordering the Cleveland National Forest, Alpine has the likings of a quaint village but has the dressings of a good old-fashioned country town. Area attractions include The Viejas Casino, Wrights Field (center photo above) and the Alpine Historical Society/Museum. Getting to Alpine from Julian is one of San Diego County’s most scenic driving routes. You can either wind through the Cuyamacas on Hwy. 79 to Hwy. 8, or you can go through the Lagunas and take in Sunrise Highway - where on a clear day, vistas offer sweeping views of the desert from the Salton Sea to Mexico’s Baja California. For more information on Alpine,call (800) 463-0668, or visit www.VisitSanDiegoEast.com