24 Hours in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California

Unlike many other winter escapes, the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California provides a sense of escape without the stress of mass tourism. While you’ll certainly get the highlights of resort travel from this location similar to Palm Beach, you’ll experience the real thrill of adventure in this less crowded destination.

We started our trip at the Borrego Springs Resort & Spa, a lovely space for those who (like us) enjoy a slow round of golf. The check-in process was a breeze with our Briggs & Riley Baseline Medium Upright Duffel in olive. Packing only what we needed for the weekend, the bag still had plenty of room for shopping later that day.

On the course we played a couple of holes, and the sun felt wonderful after the chill of New York. Although we brought along our Just Cavalli Twist Sunglasses for the look, we were surprised how well they blocked out the light without sacrificing vision, leading to easier play. After golf, we headed back to the resort for lunch at The Arches. We absolutely recommend the Fried Green Tomato BLT. The tomatoes are fried in cornmeal, giving the whole sandwich a nice crunch.

With lunch over, it was time to see the sights. The desert around the resort looks almost painted, and the colors are so astounding as night approaches that you want to send a picture to literally everyone you know. For our day trip, we brought along the Will Leather Goods Give Will Small Backpack. Although it comes in four different colors, we went with the chic and stylish fuchsia, and loved that it had a padded pocket for our iPad.

There’s a lot more to see in the area than we could accomplish in just 24 hours, but needless to say, if you’re here for a weekend, the tours are essential. In either a jeep, bus, or even a helicopter, professional and courteous tour guides will take you to some of the most gorgeous (and Instagram worthy) spots in the park.

We took a lot of pictures, and the Kipling Defea Handbag was perfect for camera access. Two outside flaps perfectly fit your cellphone or compact digital camera, and the high-quality zippers ensure the pouches don’t accidentally open.

Finally, we went shopping at many of the resort’s desert-centric stores. From clothing to books to maps, we bought it all. As night fell, the stars came out, and we were treated to something rarely seen in The Big Apple—the absolute quiet and beauty of a still, warm night.

Next time you’re thinking of escaping the bitter cold of winter, consider Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. We had a blast, and came home with memories, photos, and for our office, a few cactus mugs for some of our coworkers who had to stay behind in the cold city.