Joshua Tree, California
The air really is different in the high desert; a place that is equally good alone or shared with others. The thing I love most about Joshua Tree is that you are surrounded by nature and vast space, yet there are so many great spots that are buzzing with people.
STAY: The places that I have stayed and liked in J Tree are simple, raw and feel close to nature. It’s a place that I don’t I need much more than those cotton candy skies and a decent bed to sleep in. Pioneertown Motel is a good spot to plant yourself for the weekend. Pioneertown is a unique little pocket unlike any other. An old west style, one horse town, yet alive with people and modern, cool culture.
The motel itself is very minimal, a long row of a handful of hotel rooms, but it’s the surrounding magic of Pioneertown as a whole that makes it shine. In close walking distance, basically a stone’s throw from the motel, is the iconic Pappy & Harriets for great bbq and live music every night, a good little row of shops and Red Dog Saloon for breakfast, drinks and a taco. While the rooms are simple, they are spruced up and comfortable. Sunrise and sunset from the motel’s backyard are pretty darn good, the coffee starts early in the canteen.
There are oodles of good Airbnbs in the area, one I really like is The Original Joshua Tree Homesteader Cabin. A cabin with quirk, coziness and love poured into it. It's unpretentious yet clean and has everything you would want and need. Surrounded by desert on all sides, about a 15 minute drive from the turn off of Route 62 with a dirt road for the final stretch to the cabin, you are out there and it feels good. It's definitely a place to stock up while out and hunker down post sunset.
DO: During the day, take advantage of the park. While rock climbing is Joshua Tree National Park’s claim to fame, there is great hiking as well. Ryan Mountain is a go-to, it's somewhat challenging, takes about 2 hours and change and gets your sweat on. It's about halfway between the Joshua Tree entrance and the 29 Palms Entrance and has a solid trail head.
49 Palms Oasis Hike is another favorite of mine. It’s a fun out and back, 3 mile hike that leads you to an oasis of Palm Trees amongst a rock canyon. Oftentimes the water spring is full under the palm trees and bighorn sheep can be found frequenting the spring. The trailhead for 49 Palms is located away from Park Blvd, making it slightly less busy, with no entrance fee. There are so many things to do in Joshua Tree so I typically do not want to spend my whole day hiking. Both of these hikes are a few hours long and quite fun.
Fortynine Palms Oasis
SHOP: If you are visiting on a weekend, the Joshua Tree Farmer’s Market is a good anchor for a Saturday morning. In the same block is my favorite local shop, Sun of the Desert, amongst others that are fun to bop around to. I try to time my visit to Joshua Tree with the nearby Palm Springs Vintage Market, which happens the first Sunday of the Month, October through May. It’s one of my favorite open air markets for vintage finds and I try to plan the trip so I am traveling back home, whether through Palm Springs Airport or LAX, on a Sunday after a morning at the market.
EAT: I usually stop at Frontier Cafe for breakfast, love their lox and bagel. As mentioned above, you can always find me in Pioneertown for a few meals, be it bbq at Pappy & Harriets or a quick taco from the window at Red Dog Saloon. Pappy & Harriets is always crowded so reserve ahead, or stay at the motel and mosey on over early. My hands down favorite restaurant in the high desert is La Copine - do not sleep on it, incredible food.
If you are trip planning, probably a good idea to subscribe to the Pioneer Gazette weekly email. It arrives in your inbox with everything going on for the upcoming week, quite handy!