IG: @iedaytripper #iedaytripper

GREETINGS EARTHLING ……Welcome to my travel diary. I adopted the handle IEDaytripper for this journal after numerous (enormous!) posts on Facebook and received a well deserved suggestion from a friend to create this site and transfer previous Facebook posts to this blog.

I moved to Palm Springs in November 2018 from Northern California – the Bay Area – and resided for most of the 30 years there in Oakland. I know NorCal well and still love its beautiful rivers, valleys, coastline, wine country and mountains. My move to Palm Springs placed me in the middle of the Inland Empire (IE). This has presented new adventures and opportunities to see another part of the beautiful state of California.

As an entrepreneur and sole proprietor I have evolved/learned to be virtual and create my own schedule. Now that I am walking toward retirement (actually, actively living in semi-retirement) there is time and a longing to see the sites and natural wonders surrounding me. Thus the need to day trip around the IE to become better acquainted with my new surroundings.

The reputation for Southern California is a mass of freeways and to some extent that is true. However, I have chosen to explore the back roads both paved, unpaved and to some extent not well traveled.

My first page is about home – Palm Springs. For a quick look and my suggestions for some cool things to do click here. And for restaurant picks click here. Here’s what Palm Springs Life says in a synopsis about the 9 Coachella Valley cities. Each offers a unique history and lifestyle.

Do you have a suggestion for a place to explore? Leave me a comment below.

I will look for you out on the roads of the IE and Southern California ….

_{update…. December 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic: All travel came to a halt. To keep from going stir crazy my day trips became very important for my mental and physical health. The purchase of a RAV4 Hybrid AWD (the “Shuttlecraft”) has made day tripping and backroading much easier than my Prius. I have enjoyed discovering the geological, cultural, gastronomical places in the IE and Southern California. I hope this blog will entice you to do the same.}

_{update…. October 2022. Inflated gas prices after the pandemic shutdown may give second thoughts to travel by car. However, I believe a well planned day trip by car is still worth the expense of gas used for discovering the wonders of this area. Being mindful of the speed limit and using cruise control on the freeway can help save gas usage. There is a transition in vehicles purchased to hybrid and more so to EV. Hybrids like mine when driven correctly (not meaning slow) can increase the total mileage received for your tank of gas. EVs are a sign of the times and get better range of miles with each new model year. I’ll be looking at buying one in the near future. Here’s what Fodor’s has to say about saving gas on road trips.}

As an entrepreneur and sole proprietor I have evolved/developed a way to be virtual and create my own schedule. I enjoy my work and I also enjoy time to play and enjoy life. Now that I am walking toward retirement well, actually I am actively living in semi-retirement there is a longing and a thirst to see the sites and natural wonders surrounding me. Having moved to the IE from the SF Bay Area in 2018 and not knowing much about Southern California I have to explore and become better acquainted with the area. Spending 30 years in Northern California I know where to go and what to do there but Southern California is very different and new to me. I have documented many of my excursions on my Facebook page and friends have encouraged me to create a blog which may entice others to seek out similar adventures right here in the IE that are close, easy to find and can be done for the most in one day. I will pull from my FB posts so dates will be reflective. This is a work in progress, all opinions and photos are mine except where noted– – – Let’s go…..

The Inland Empire consists of San Bernadino and Riverside Counties in Southern California. I also incorporate Imperial County in my journeys.

Name:

Email: