WHAT TO DO IN BORREGO SPRINGS

When you are planning a visit to Anza-Borrego, you will want to take some time to explore Borrego Springs. The desert town is surrounded by Anza-Borrego State Park and makes for a great stop with kids. With over 2,000 residents, the town offers a unique view of desert living. Although small and seemingly quiet, Borrego Springs has a variety of restaurants, hotels, and shops that line the downtown area. So, if you are looking for a hotel, restaurant, or market in the Anza-Borrego Desert, Borrego Springs is where you will need to be.

In this portion of our guide to Anza-Borrego with kids, we cover what to do in Borrego Springs. You are in the right place if you are looking for more information on what to see, where to eat, and where to stay when visiting Anza-Borrego State Park.

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WHAT SHOULD WE DO IN ANZA-BORREGO STATE PARK?

STOP BY THE ANZA-BORREGO STATE PARK VISITOR CENTER
YOU ARE HERE (PART 2) – EXPLORE THE TOWN OF BORREGO SPRINGS
MARVEL AT THE LARGE ANIMAL SCULPTURES OF GALLETA MEADOWS
ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF DESERT WILDFLOWERS
EXPLORE THE GEOLOGY OF THE AREA ON THE TRIANGLE TOUR DRIVE
OFF-ROAD TO THE THE WIND CAVES
HIKE BORREGO PALM CANYON
HIKE SLOT CANYON

EXPLORE THE TOWN OF BORREGO SPRINGS

The town of Borrego Springs is the most popular and central place to stay (with the exception of camping) and dine when visiting Anza-Borrego State Park. There are no stoplights in town, and all roads lead to different parts of Anza-Borrego State Park. Scattered around town, you will see the massive animal sculptures of Galleta Meadows. Most shops and restaurants are a walking distance from the town center, Christmas Card Circle (a park inside a roundabout). At night, the skies above Borrego Springs transform from cotton candy pink to a star-studded panorama.

STARGAZING IN BORREGO SPRINGS

Borrego Springs is the only town in California designated as an International Dark Sky Community, making it an incredible place for stargazing. In addition, the city works to preserve the night sky for generations to come by using responsible outdoor lighting and educating citizens about light pollution. Between these conservation efforts and the wide-open landscape, stargazing is a must when visiting Borrego Springs.

SELEY RANCH RED GRAPEFRUIT

When I first heard about grapefruit in Borrego Springs, I was skeptical. It did not fit the typical desert landscape I thought of when I pictured our visits to Anza-Borrego. However, I will never visit Borrego Springs without taking home a bag of these delicious, oh-so-sweet Seley Red organic grapefruits.

There are several farm stands in town. We opted to check out the farm stand by the ranch entrance at 901 Borrego Valley Road. The fruit stands operate on the honor system, so cash is necessary. At the farm stand by the ranch, we grabbed a bag of 13 giant grapefruits for $4. Unfortunately, the farm was closed on the day of our visit, but you can always reach out to Seley Ranch to see if you can stop by to say hello. The citrus orchard has been a family-run business in Borrego since 1957.

Just along Christmas Circle, you will see the blue Kiwanis building pictured below in the heart of town. Here, you can grab a bag for $5 as you explore the city of Borrego. Either way, you will be thrilled to have these to enjoy once you are home.

WHERE TO EAT IN BORREGO SPRINGS

CARLEE’S PLACE

When we first drove through Borrego Springs, the large neon sign had me thinking Carlee’s Place was a liquor store or biker bar. I wanted to know more about it, and I am glad I looked into it! It has become one of our favorite places to eat in Borrego Springs. Carlee’s Place is a staple in the community and has been a part of town for many years. Carlee’s Place serves classic American fare and is open for lunch and dinner.

We visited during COVID, so we could not enjoy the pool table or live music that is a staple on weekends at Carlee’s Place. However, we enjoyed our time on their outdoor patio. We had Carlee’s burger because I had heard so much about it, and it was delicious! Everything is made from scratch, and the burger was cooked to perfection. Carlee’s Place is a family-friendly place with a wait staff that makes you feel welcome and comfortable. In addition, they have a full bar and craft beer list to please any beer lover!

RED OCOTILLO

Red Ocotillo serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner just off Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs. They have delicious farm-to-table cuisine. The menu includes fresh garden salads, burgers, steaks, pasta, soups, and desserts. Red Ocotillo has a full bar with signature cocktails, mimosas, beer, and wine. The patio has been expanded due to COVID restrictions on dining, and the patio is pet-friendly. The twinkle lights wrapped all around the surrounding have me dreaming of a steak and glass of wine under the twinkling stars of Borrego’s fantastic night sky. Next visit!

We loved our breakfast here. The breakfast burrito ingredients were all chopped finely and not overwhelming. The variety of signature benedicts all sounded delicious, and we opted for the crab cake benedict, which did not disappoint. The garlic and rosemary potatoes as our breakfast side dish were perfectly crispy on the outside and smooth inside. Our OJ was freshly squeezed, and they even surprised us with slices of coffee cake while waiting for our meal.

KESLING’S KITCHEN

I have wanted to try Kesling’s Kitchen for a long time. The menu changes daily, and the focus of the restaurant is the wood-fired stove in the kitchen. Next door to the Borrego Art Institute, the food and desserts are forms of art themselves. The menu plays on all cuisines, and the food is unique. Unfortunately, there are no options for kids, so if your child is not open to various new flavors, be prepared to get creative while paying full entree prices. Check their Facebook page for the updated menu to know if it will work for your family that day!

During our COVID-era visit, the restaurant had packed many dishes to-go, and the patio had plenty of options for outdoor dining. We ordered at the counter, and our son was incredibly excited about the cookie and dessert options. In addition, they have a large cooler with a great beverage selection. This is ideal on a hot desert day! I was thrilled to see kombucha options and LOVED this lavender lemonade option!

We stopped for lunch, and my husband and I shared the fish tacos and Asian pork tacos. We loved all of the flavors and sauces. Our son had the fried chicken sandwich plain as it was the best option for him. We loved adding everything back on the second half to share! Our table neighbors got the Asian BBQ ribs box for two, and it looked great. They said it was delicious as well! It is a fun idea to take for a sunset picnic out by the sculptures in Galleta Meadows.

ONE FINAL THOUGHT

I need to say that although the food was tasty, the woman working was pretty rude and left us feeling like the visit did not live up to what I had hoped. I like to think of us as pretty easygoing, and we both understand what it is like to work in restaurants. The guy working the cash register was super nice, but the woman running food was just… not. We were pretty surprised.

I know COVID has drained everyone, and restaurants in CA have suffered immensely. I will not judge the whole restaurant on this part of the experience, but I do see it in other reviews. We want to try Kesling’s Kitchen again and will update you after our next visit. I feel like I have to be honest with my people! And please let me know if you have a different experience.

BIG HORN BURGERS & SHAKES

Big Horn Burgers & Shakes is the counter order restaurant in the Palm Canyon Hotel and RV Resort. This is an excellent hotel for families, and the burgers and shakes are great here. The menu is super easy to customize, and the restaurant has plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. The menu is simple but will appeal to most visitors of any age.

We had a 1/4 beef burger with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato, ketchup & mustard. It was delicious! We let our son have a taste test between the vanilla and Oreo shake! He voted Oreo, and we all agreed they were both excellent. They also had an “adult” shakes menu that would be fun to sip by the patio heaters under the starry sky. Big Horn Burgers and Shakes makes grabbing dinner with your family easy after a busy day exploring Anza-Borrego State Park.

CENTER MARKET

Center Market is central in town and a go-to place for whatever you need to pick up last minute. Water bottles, band-aids, sunscreen, souvenirs- you can find it all at the Center Market. NEVER head out to explore in the desert without food and water. I was excited about the deli and the idea of picking up deli sandwiches, pasta salads, and drinks on our way out for some desert adventures. However, we quickly realized the deli is not always staffed. Premade sandwiches and sides like pasta salad, potato salad, and broccoli salad were available in the deli coolers.

We tried the deli at Center Market on a Saturday, and nobody was available to make sandwiches. We tried again on a Sunday by texting in our order as it says online and received a text saying they were “unable to confirm our request.” So not too sure the texting option works. On Sunday, we ended up grabbing roast beef sandwiches to-go, but by Sunday, the side salad options were gone. This visit was during peak season, but also COVID, so hard to know if this is the norm.

WHERE TO STAY IN BORREGO SPRINGS

LA CASA DEL ZORRO

La Casa Del Zorro is a luxury resort outside of town. Although we have not stayed here, I know we will soon enough and love it. We have friends that love coming here each year, and it is the place to go in town for a desert resort-style stay. The property is filled with historic adobe buildings, several pools, fountains, lush gardens, and beautiful rooms. Just outside of town, the resort offers food and beverage options along with family-friendly casitas and pools. Prices start around $280-400/night. We always book with Expedia to ensure a competitive rate.

PALM CANYON HOTEL & RV RESORT

The Palm Canyon Hotel & RV Resort is an excellent option for families. The entire hotel is built with a wild west theme that our son LOVED. In addition to your room needs, there are RV sites and vintage Airstreams available as well. There is a pool to cool off in, and Big Horn Burgers and Shakes will take care of all of your food and beverage needs. In addition, we received chocolate chip cookies and two saloon drink coupons at check-in. Something for the whole family!

More of a motel style, the rooms have everything you need for a comfortable stay. We had two queen beds, a refrigerator, and a microwave. Although our room did not have a balcony (some do), we had a great view from our front door. Another highlight was stargazing from right outside our room once our kids fell asleep. I highly recommend this hotel for families planning to be out and about in Anza-Borrego State Park during the day. Palm Canyon Resort runs $120-$180/room on Expedia, depending on the season. Your rate includes free parking, free Wifi, and fresh cookies upon arrival!

GLAMP at the DESERT SANDS VINTAGE RV RESORT

Next door to the Palm Canyon Hotel and RV Resort is the Desert Sands Vintage RV Resort. Although we have not stayed here, the vintage trailers look like a fun way to enjoy the desert. Most trailers require a two-night minimum, but they offer a fun way to feel like you are camping with everything set up for you! I will update here once we can check them out!

CAMPING IN ANZA-BORREGO STATE PARK

Anza-Borrego State Park is unique because they allow dispersed camping in the park. Unlike so many state parks, you do not need to plan months in advance to score a campsite. This is especially helpful in our new COVID-era. Even more remote, 4WD can take you deep into the desert camping under the stars with NOBODY around you. Camping rules require you to not park your car more than one car length off the road and at least 100 yards away from water. Please keep in mind that no campground also means no amenities, so make plans for responsible fires, bathroom use, and pack out what you pack in! Always check the weather before setting up camp yourself. Desert rains can quickly turn into flash floods.

In addition to dispersed camping, Anza-Borrego State Park offers several primitive campsites with vault toilets. You can read more about primitive campsites here. If you are interested in campgrounds, Borrego Palm Canyon Campground and Tamarisk Grove Campground are great options. Both can be reserved on ReserveCalifornia.com. Anza-Borrego is filled with camping options for every camper.