The Closest I'll Ever Get to Oz
I have lived in California for 9 years, but I hadn't heard about the super bloom until it happened 2 years ago. Tons of wildflowers bloom at once in the California desert. It's extremely rare. It usually occurs once every decade but we have been lucky to have had one in 2017 and one now. I finally got to see what the hype was about and it did not disappoint.
After doing some research we decided to visit the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve. It's about an hour and a half outside of LA and so worth the trip! It had amazing blooms, less crowds, no shuttle, and ample (lot/street) parking which is all mandatory with a 10 month old. Lots of wheelchairs and accessibility for everyone. We parked on the street since the lot was full and walked about a half mile to the park pushing our little babe in the stroller. Driving in, there were poppies everywhere for miles before even reaching the park! What an amazing drive! Some people didn't even make it to the park because you can stop on the side of the road and get your photo op. The most important thing is to always stay on the trails. If you step on a poppy it can prevent regrowth which is why the reserves have been set up and so properly cared for.
We got there early in the morning and took one of the less traveled trails and managed to see all of this beauty without a ton of people. There were other trails that featured several different flowers but the poppies were my favorite, captivating and magical!
I had no idea what to expect and we were completely blown away! Poppies for miles. It seriously felt like we were in Oz, the closest I will ever get to Oz. Breathtaking! It turns out we had so much rainfall that it was truly a phenomenon with the biggest blooms California has seen in years!
When we left the park around noon the crowds were coming! It looked insane and there were super long lines for the one real bathroom and surrounding portable toilets. GET THERE EARLY! Walking back to the car was congested and the traffic had really started to pile up right around the entrance, but exiting was super smooth! I hope you have the chance to see this amazing sight in person! Enjoy!
A couple fun facts:
The super bloom has caused millions of butterflies to migrate to southern California. They are everywhere, not just the desert, and it's such a sight to see as if the poppies weren't enough. They are all over West Hollywood right now and it's awesome!
You can see the super bloom from space!
