We have stayed several different times at Fountain of Youth RV resort. near Niland, CA. and the Salton Sea. FOY (as it is known) is a gated RV resort in the middle of a salty desert. There is a lot of friendly energy here, even though the "Fountain of Youth" part doesn't exactly seem to be working (we are still at least middle-aged and so are most of the people here). There are enough activities within the resort to keep you as busy as you want to be. These include two large swimming pools, six hot tubs (some fed with mineral springs), game areas (outdoor and indoor), planned activities and entertainment, and even a convenience store and cafe. The FOY website shows off all of the pools and in-park activities much better than our pictures could. http://www.foyspa.com
We've never stayed a full season, because the resort is a bit isolated. Although there's a little convenience store at the resort, you have to drive an hour to either El Centro or (the other way) to the Palm Springs area to shop at any kind of larger store. This year, we stayed a month. We had a nice view of the Chocolate Mountains out our window. We enjoyed swimming and soaking, water aerobics, the exercise room, playing games and visiting with our neighbors.
But even when we're living in a resort, we enjoy exploring the surrounding area. Here are a few of the things we have gone to see in the area. (Click to enlarge)
A convention of pelicans on the Salton Sea and a view of the sea and mountains from the shores of the nearby State Park. Although the resort is isolated, its advantage is that is the only place where you get the winter-time benefits of desert living and also be close to the excellent birding area that is the Salton Sea.
______________________________________________________________________________
There is geothermal activity all around this area. These boiling mud pots are just out in a farmer's field. People are neither encouraged nor discouraged from visiting. There are no keep-out signs or fences, but neither are there any signs pointing the way. It's kind of an explorer's badge of honor to find them.
_____________________________________________________________________________
The Glamis Sand Dunes, about 40 miles southeast. High rolling dunes as far as the eye can see. Highway-type snowplows are stationed at frequent intervals to keep the windblown sand off the roads. There's a fortune in rolling stock parked out there every weekend. There's a common dune buggy hauler bumper sticker that says "It's a sand thing. You wouldn't understand." Yes, exactly.
This is really the low desert. You can see the sea-level mark on this huge tank is at a sugar factory on the highway toward El Centro. There is a huge pile of sugar behind these tanks, just out in the weather. It's almost enough to make you give up desserts.
Comments