Jon and I have made a hobby out of scouting for property in the middle of nowhere. You know, in case a zombie apocalypse actually does strike L.A. Or if a less dire weekend getaway is in order, we’ll have a place to flee. This past weekend we ventured out to the desert. Destination? Joshua Tree, a National park located in Twenty-Nine Palms California, about a two hour drive East of Los Angeles. This is a destination that’s just far enough from the city that you get the beauty and desolate living of the desert, but close enough that Angelenos make it their vacation spot. You’ll escape the rush of the city, but not the people. Here’s a guide to Joshua Tree based on our experience.
Attractions
Joshua Tree National Park – The park itself is named after Joshua Trees, which are the twisted spiked trees (pictured above) and made mainstream by the best U2 album ever. It’s a beautiful natural wonder with several options for rock climbing, hiking, camping and sight seeing. It’s best to stop at a visitors center and pick up a map of the park to get a clear sense of where you’re going. Admission is usually $15 per car, but because we went the weekend of Veteran’s day we got in for free.
“Survivalists” & Sustainable Homes – I obsess over the locals whenever we travel because I enjoy seeing how other people 
live. Even though Joshua Tree is only a hop and a skip away, the desert’s neighborhoods are definitely other worldly. We drove deep into the backroads and at first glance, it was obvious that several doomsday preppers have made a home there. There are also some very sophisticated sustainable homes to admire. But, drivers beware of the sandy roads. If you’re not driving a 4 wheel drive, pick your streets wisely. You really don’t want to get stuck off the grid in a gun-toting prepper’s front yard like we almost did.
The Stars – Call me cheesy, but you never realize how lucky you are to be able to look up and see a sky full of stars until you can’t anymore. In the city the “light pollution” erases the stars, but in the desert you’re surrounded by a beautiful blanket of them. Many astronomers have made Joshua Tree their home because of the awesome opportunities for stargazing. If you’re lucky, you may even see a shooting star or two!
Food
There are several food options to choose from, but my favorites include:
Pappy & Harriets Pioneertown Palace – To me, this place is more about the ambiance than the food, but the food is good too. There are musical acts and food specials nightly with a full bar. You will likely need to make reservations -We happened to drop in on their 10th anniversary celebration and the wait time was two hours! We managed to squeeze into the bar area, but even that took some persuasion. Be sure to make reservations or go later… like 9ish to miss the dinner crowd. Dinner for two and a few rounds of drinks cost us about $50
Cafe Ma Rouge – Located in the Yucca Valley about 10 minutes away from Joshua Tree. This is a cool local cafe with an artistic vibe, good food and good people watching. We went there for brunch and inhaled a ham and cheese croissant, a whole wheat bagel and two lattes (for about $25) So good!
DIY Food – There are several grills and picnic tables located in the park. Packing a picnic is always a fun idea.
Best Time to Go
The prime time to visit is mid October – early April. The summers can be unbearably hot, and are considered an off season for this area.
What to Pack
Your must-haves may differ from mine, but you should definitely bring athletic shoes for hiking or climbing and extra clothes to layer. The weather this past weekend was warm, then breezy and finally freezing. You’ll also need sunblock, chap stick and lots of water. It’s very dry and sunny, so you’ll have to be diligent about protecting your skin and hydrating regularly.
Where to Stay
Joshua Tree is a campers paradise, so if that’s your thing take advantage of the camp grounds in the park. If you prefer to sleep in the comforts of a home, AirBNB offers several options off the beaten path and you can experience what it’s like to live as a local. Most of these places fill up pretty quickly, so be sure to book ahead of time. Jon and I stayed at the Travelodge because of our last minute decision to go and because I refuse to sleep in a tent. The Travelodge was the closest to roughing it that I could bare, but there’s also a Best Western for you highbrow people.
Other
Leave early, to miss the traffic that can easily turn a two hour trip into a five hour journey. Also, here’s a warning that may seem like a no brainer, but whatever you do… don’t step on a cactus. The hubby and I both ended up with thorns in our feet after getting carried away with our impromptu desert gypsy photo shoot. I still have pieces of the desert in my foot #Ouch!
photo credit: sandy.redding via photopin cc
