Sue - Carlsbad, Legoland and the desert beyond

Matt has been desperate to go to Legoland, but all website information indicates that it's for younger kids, so Holly and Anna are not too keen. So Matt and Jim have a 'daddy date' and off they go. Matt has an awesome day! For the girls, "what is there actually to do in Carlsbad?" We discuss heading to San Diego for the day, but decided there isn't really enough time to do any of the main attractions and it's raining, so hanging at the beach isn't much of an option either. We decide to take it easy and explore the shops in Carlsbad - not too much to choose from, but manage to fill in our day happily at the Premium Outlets. Have a great dinner at BJ's, and experience their trademark dessert, Pizookies. (Soft cookie cooked in a small pizza pan, topped with ice cream)  Mmmmmmm delicious!
Next day, we head on our road trip inland towards the desert. We stop in a little town, where they say has heavy snowfalls in winter, then we wind down way to the desert floor. The cooler climate that is being experienced all over California has been felt here too, and in Anza Borrego Desert State Park (the largest state park in California. Named Anza, after a Spanish explorer and Borrego which is the Spanish name for the Big Horn Sheep that live in the desert) it is much cooler than normal. Not the desert temperatures that we expected, but pleasant summer heat. We go for a short desert exploration, and I see a 'red racer' snake just off the path. I was so excited - later I think that I should have been a little scared, but it happened so quickly and it was an exciting sight. It was moving VERY fast....but thankfully not into our path. This is a huge desert park, with 500 miles of desert road - you could spend alot of time exploring here - the few hours that we spent were fun, but we must hit the road. Have a reasonable drive ahead of us to reach Palm Springs - our last stop before our holiday comes to an end :-(

Ouch - a bit prickly!