Palm Trees, Date Shakes, and Desert Magic

While I was going through the process of moving, I was revisiting some of my old pictures and going down memory lane. I realized just how many adventures we’ve been fortunate to have. 

A few years back for my birthday, some of my friends came to stay with us while we were living in Las Vegas. In addition to having a tea party, we took a day trip to the China Ranch Date Farm in Tecopa, CA. 

I had come across descriptions that this farm was an “oasis” in the middle of the desert. I was intrigued, and thankfully my friends were game for this kind of adventure. Getting there was a little tricky, as we had to drive through some rocky and uneven dirt roads. My birthday’s in April, so it was also pretty warm. 

The descriptions did not disappoint. This farm was indeed lush and green, a stark contrast to the brown, dry desert surrounding it. There were rows upon rows of palm trees with hiking trails throughout the area, with tons of native wildlife like bunnies and quails. 

The farm also sells an assortment of date products like shakes, cookies, and bread. I had a date shake and date cookie, which were pretty good! I don’t usually have dates (they tend to be on the pricier side compared to other snacks), so this was a nice treat. The staff was incredibly friendly. 

From my understanding, this oasis is due to a desert spring that has flowed consistently for centuries, making it possible to grow crops and raise animals. The farm gets its name from a Chinese man who settled there around 1900. He built irrigation systems and cultivated fruits and vegetables to sell to nearby mining camps. Locals began referring to the area as “China Man’s Ranch” and eventually it was shortened to China Ranch. 

While it would have been fun to explore more of the hiking trails, it was getting pretty hot, so we continued on to the next part of the adventure. We were already in Tecopa, so we figured we might as well check out some hot springs, even if it was warm out. 

There is a resort called Tecopa Hot Springs, which we didn’t go to. But we were in the general vicinity, and there are some natural hot springs you’ll find not too far from the main roads in the area. 

From what I’ve read, I’m not alone in preferring my water temperature on the warmer side. I love baths and hot tubs. So hot springs definitely fall in the heck yeah category for me. This was my first time going into a hot spring though, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. 

In retrospect, this type of trip is probably much better during cooler temperatures. We only ended up putting our legs and feet in, as it felt too warm to go any further than that. My skin felt really soft after though!  This particular hot spring had a sulfur-y smell to it, which makes sense given the natural mineral content. There were also some giant bugs flying around, which I wasn’t a fan of, but I was in their space so I guess I can’t complain too much about it.

Even though the weather may have been a tad too warm, I had a great time with my friends. At the end of the day, that’s what life is all about – making memories with the people you love. 

Now to think of what to do for my next birthday, which will already be here next month!