Palm Desert, California, USA

Our first posting so feedback welcome! We arrived safely despite Beau vomiting at the departure gate in Auckland - an ominous start?!
Cleared customs easily at L.A then collected our hire car and drove south for 2 hours to the desert area. We are staying at a lovely resort in Palm Desert alongside the better known Palm Springs where Sonny Bono was the mayor until he died a few years back after crashing into a tree whilst skiing...
Temperature's a warm 45 degrees here and we have a nice apartment overlooking a fabulous green oasis that is one of the many golf courses here. The area is also known for oldies, celebrities and gays!
Visited the nearby Joshua Tree National Park the other day, a 1 hour drive from here. $10 US admission and you can spend the day driving around the protected park and even camp overnight if you choose. The park ranger advised us of what wildlife may be visible including rattlesnakes, jack rabbits, kangaroo rats and road runner birds. I think the kids thought it was more a zoo than national park and were disappointed when loads of animals did not appear. Jonty in particular was disappointed that he didn't spy a rattlesnake. Oh well, I was pleased to hear however that the tarantulas weren't out and about until October.
Kennedy was interested in pointing out the 'capsicums' everywhere (cactus).
Jonty has made a friend at the resort called Dylan who is 8.
Mum and Dad still de-stressing and learning to adjust to driving on the right again - it's been a while.
I sign off now on this balmy day at 4.00 p.m while Tim is at the pool with the boys and I listen to the echoes of Kennedy snoring on our bed...