Oasis of Mara

 Joshua Tree National Park

April 2023

The Oasis of Mara is the standard 1/2 mile paved ADA accessible paved trail behind a visitor center in a national park. It has informative signs spaced out along the path for visitors can learn about the local features of the desert. We shared the trail with a few visitors, but didn't observe any wildlife. Viewing different cactus was a highlight and seeing houses scattered across the desert was a unique sighting.  

2013 Flashback:

Pictures from July 2013 Visit

TRAILS

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The Good House Spa - A Wheelchair Accessible Guide with Pictures

 Desert Hot Springs, CA

April 2023

While looking over a map, I noticed a town between Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park called Desert Hot Springs. It brought back memories of when Kellisa and I stayed at Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa in British Columbia, Canada, for a few days. We both enjoyed the relaxation and soaking while the hot springs did temporary miracles for Kellisa's cerebral palsy. I searched online to see if Desert Hot Springs actually had hot springs and it didn't take long to confirm they did. With several options available, I zeroed in on the Good House Spa which offered day passes for the pool and jacuzzi area if you weren't staying overnight in their hotel. When I read, "Adults only," I paused with disappointment for a second before remembering that Kellisa is no longer a child, in fact, she's a 23-year-old adult.

After carefully studying the pictures and reviews I could find online, I decided it looked accessible enough and called to purchase our day passes. I explained our situation and needs and the lady on the phone thought we would be able to navigate around their grounds with little problems.

The one disabled parking spot was taken when we arrived, but one of the end spots was open. It was a little tight, but I was able to get Kellisa out and back in without too much trouble. We were greeted at the gate and shown the grounds. Kellisa and I decided to enjoy a nice lunch before soaking in the pool. Kellisa ordered a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich, and I enjoyed mushroom nachos with fresh fruit.

We let lunch settle a little before getting ready to soak. The changing room was a little small and the attendant opened a massage room for me to change Kellisa into her swimsuit. We made sure we left the room exactly the way we found it and really appreciated the accommodation.

Kellisa pointed to the pool with excitement and two minutes later we were up to our chins in beautiful mineral water. We found the 94F water heavenly and spent the next three hours relaxing and playing. We were careful not to make too much noise since it was an "adults only" resort. I do have to admit that it was nice to enjoy our time without children running, splashing, and making a lot of noise. I would have taken a nap while floating under the blue skies if I weren't solely responsible for Kellisa. I thought we would end with some time spent in the jacuzzi, but we used all our time enjoying the pool. If/when we return, we will consider staying here overnight to enjoy their oasis beyond the limited hours of a day pass.

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Desert Adventures: Red Jeep Tours - A Wheelchair Accessible Guide with Pictures

 Indio, CA

April 2023

While researching things in the Palm Springs region for Kellisa, the Red Jeep Tours was the one that jumped out at me immediately as a winner and we weren't disappointed. It was hard to tell how accessible the tours are from the website since many involve hiking and I knew we wouldn't have any of Kellisa's hiking chairs on this trip, so I sent an email asking questions. 20 years ago, when Kellisa was just starting to push what's possible for a kid trapped in a wheelchair, I usually didn't ask questions because too often, we would receive a quick, "No" or "You can't do that" or "Wheelchairs aren't allowed." We would just show up and I wouldn't take "No" as an answer and we would figure something out.

I'm happy to report that times have changed for the better, but the disabled community still has a long way to go before total acceptance. A representative quickly returned my email with a few follow-up questions so they could understand what we needed. I took this as a promising sign and summarized our vision of a dream jeep tour. After several more emails and finally a phone call, we decided to hire a private Jeep for the afternoon. We would be pared with the most experienced driver who knew all the remote and rough canyons better than anyone else. Our main ask was for the bumpiest trails possible since that is Kellisa's favorite part of off-road driving. We would not be disappointed.

We met our tour driver as planned and he made the transfer of Kellisa as easy as can be in the middle of a desert. I carried Kellisa from our SUV, and he had a step ladder at the back of the Jeep, and he stood ready to help if I needed a little extra support. He also had a cooler filled with ice cold water and a baggy of snacks for us. For the next three hours, we got the off-road adventure of a lifetime as we navigated narrow canyons while learning about the geology of the area, including the San Andreas Fault. Our driver was also knowledgeable of the local wildlife, including lizards and birds. We were disappointed to learn that we were a few weeks too early to see rattlesnakes on the tour. After getting to know us a little, our driver pointed out several rugged trails that he knew we could do if we ever returned to the area. I'm sure it would have been fun to share the Jeep with other people, but it was worth it to have a fully customized tour with a company that listened to our unique needs and more than exceeded our expectations.

Kellisa had the time of her life and I guarantee we will be back!

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