Desert Julep

The Perfect Getaway — What to Do in Joshua Tree

Claire Carrasquillo — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 01:02:37 +0000

Desert Julep
The Perfect Getaway — What to Do in Joshua Tree

You have one weekend to get out of the city. You’ve heard about Joshua Tree, but what exactly will you do in the middle of the desert for two days? Here is your cheat sheet to the perfect getaway in Joshua Tree in just two days or less.

First Night

Get Stocked at Desierto Alto

If you are driving into town eastbound on CA-62 Hwy, you really shouldn’t miss picking up some fine drinks and snacks from Desierto Alto. You can get an incredible spread with cheese or salsa, snacks, plus wine or Mezcal from an astonishing selection. You can get all the supplies you need for stargazing and relaxing at your airbnb or room. Order ahead on their website for pickup or delivery.

Immerse in Pioneertown

For the main part of your evening, we recommend Mane Street in Pioneertown. Here you can have dinner and a stroll through a living old western movie set. Pioneertown’s Mane Street was developed by actor Dick Curtis in the 1940s. He and other investors such as Roy Rogers and Gene Autry wanted to make a real-life movie set for films and shows such as The Cisco Kid and The Gene Autry Show. While some of the buildings are movie set facades, most are actual live in homes, shops and even a bowling alley.

Dine Outside at Red Dog Saloon or Pappy & Harriet's

First get a bite to eat and take in the breathtaking views from Pappy & Harriet’s or The Red Dog Saloon. Both restaurants are historic in their own right and have outdoor seating. Perhaps you have time for both? Next, head out back and take a stroll down Mane Street for old western movie-set sightseeing, shopping and tumbleweed watching.

Pioneertown is about 20 minutes west of Joshua Tree, so stop here first before checking-in if you are coming from that direction. If you are coming from the east, you might as well check-in first and then head out. It is a very dark and winding narrow road, so be safe driving afterward and make sure you have a designated driver.

One Full Day in Joshua Tree

Grab Breakfast at Natural Sisters Cafe or Roadrunner Grab+Go

You’ll probably spend longer than you think in your accommodations on this first morning. Most stays in Joshua Tree are comfortable, esthetically pleasing, have great coffee, and even better outdoors. Once you are ready, plan to quickly grab a bite to eat at Natural Sisters Cafe or the new local and woman owned, Roadrunner Grab+Go. Natural Sisters Cafe is a mainstay in Joshua Tree offering fresh, local and healthy vegetarian sandwiches, wraps and salads for breakfast or lunch. Roadrunner Grab+Go also has great coffee and breakfast to go options plus lots of lunch and snack boxes to take with you for a full day in the park.

Spend the Day at Joshua Tree National Park

Start at the Visitor’s Center to learn about the trails and sights you want to see. Everyone is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and will help you plan the perfect day. Here is our advice for anyone who wants to do a couple of small nature trails and see accessible and notable boulder formations.

One Day in Joshua Tree National Park

Hidden Valley Nature Trail is a 1 mile loop that is beautiful, easy and right in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park. Checkout the Hidden Valley Campground across the street for some good rock climber watching as well.
Keys View is the highest viewpoint in Joshua Tree National Park. You will get panoramic views of the Mojave Desert, Colorado Desert and the Coachella Valley—on a clear day, you can even see Signal Mountain in Mexico.
Split Rock Loop Trail is a 2.5 mile trail which will take you about 1.5-2.5 hours. The trail is slightly more technical than the nature trails (such as Hidden Valley) as you will start out on rocky terrain. You will cross through washes, boulder fields and oak, pine and Joshua Tree woodlands. This trail is not as crowded as Hidden Valley or Keys Views, so we recommend the others early in the morning before the crowds and for this to be your mid-day trail. However, as it is longer and more difficult, you should either skip it entirely or do it early in the morning if it is hot.
Skull Rock is a 1.7 mile flat and easy loop through boulder piles and desert washes, plus the namesake rock. Skull Rock is visible from the road so you can also skip the trail and just take a look.

See our list of Easy Hikes & Trails, Joshua Tree on Google Maps for more.

How you ultimately spend your day in the park, should depend on the weather. During hot weather, we recommend only short, flat nature trails and look-out points. You should always bring plenty of water and wear sun protection. If you go through half of your water on any trail, it is time to turn back in any weather.

Start here:

Night in with 2 Guys Pies, A Fire Pit & All The Stars

Now that you already got out last night and had a great day in the park today, it is time to relax and enjoy the accommodations you were so excited about booking! We recommend your second night be a night in (technically out in the backyard) with pizza, a fire-pit (if they have one—absolutely no making your own!) and stargazing. Our favorite pizza is Two Guys Pies in Yucca Valley. Their pizza is creative and phenomenal—honestly, better than we’ve had in much bigger cities.

Final Morning in Joshua Tree

Quick Hike at Desert Queen Mine

If you have a half day before you get on the road, we recommend one last quick trip into the park. This time enjoy the drive and head out through the 29 Palms exit. Along the way, take a short dirt road out to Desert Queen Mine. This is a 1.6 miles out and back trail to the historic Desert Queen Mine. You will quickly pass an old stone foundation with an iron bed frame inside, even. It is great to explore and the views of the rock cliff along the trail are incredible.

A Glimpse of 29 Palms

If you have time, catch a glimpse of 29 Palms as you drive out. After you leave the park you will first see Sky’s the Limit Observatory and Nature Center. During the day, this is nothing to write home about, but it is quirky enough if you have time. I like the meditation rock garden. At first it looks a bit silly, but then you realize it is quite zen. Next up is the 29 Palms Art Gallery which features local artists and is really very impressive. You will see two local exhibits plus some great wood and even palm tree bark paintings. You can also make a quick stop at the Old Schoolhouse Museum to see the first school in the area for homesteaders.

Shopping & High Desert Art in Joshua Tree

If you are getting out of the house late, you may want to go straight to Joshua Tree Coffee Company and start shopping and checking out the arts across the street. First off, you can’t miss the large cowboy statue at The Station Joshua Tree. The Station is a midcentury desert gas station where you can shop as well as lounge and relax in their communal area out back. The gifts here are quintessential desert and will also make you laugh. Next walk back westward on 62 Hwy to checkout the various outdoor and small storefront shops, but don’t miss The Courtyard at Art Queen You will usually find some fascinating and large scale art exhibits, plus a few shops. This is also where you will find the World Famous Crochet Museum made out of a vintage Photo Booth.

Want to find the best gifts, decor and art in Joshua Tree? Read 7 Best Places for Shopping in Joshua Tree

Start here:

Coffee for The Road at Frontier Cafe

If you are heading out through Yucca Valley to the I-10, you may want to stop for one last coffee at Frontier Cafe in Yucca Valley. They have great food as well plus some trendy clothing stores and ACME 5 Lifestyle store for any boho desert decor you need to bring home.

Start here:

Looking for more things to do in Joshua Tree? Please checkout our list of articles for where to eat, shop and play in Joshua Tree.

All of these restaurants and shops, except for Pioneertown, and more are less than 5 minutes from the Desert Julep. Our home is curated with local art and sits on a hill filled with Joshua Trees and native plants, just minutes from the park. Come be inspired. Checkout our availability on Airbnb.

The Perfect Getaway — What to Do in Joshua Tree
Claire Carrasquillo

14 Best Things to Do in Joshua Tree with Kids

Claire Carrasquillo — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 00:43:34 +0000

Desert Julep
14 Best Things to Do in Joshua Tree with Kids

Visiting Joshua Tree with kids? Babies, even? We’ve got you covered. We bought our home in Joshua Tree in 2019 with a one year old in tow and another on his way. We’ve taken them climbing, camping and on endless drives through the park for nap time. Nap time is a great time to drive to the southeastern part of the park, by the way. I’ve done very pregnant hikes in the park that kids of most ages could do and we’ve traveled the park with friends and family enough to know what most kids want—to climb boulder piles—as well as what in town fascinates them the most. So here is our recommendations for things to do in Joshua Tree with kids. This is also the Covid edition so everything we recommend is outdoors and mask ready.

7 Great Hiking Trails for Kids

Hiking is the best thing to do in Joshua Tree with kids. Pretty much every parking lot in the park has a short, less than a mile, nature trail to offer. Kids will especially love scrambling and climbing up boulder piles and watching the more experienced rock climbers. Here are our favorite trails for kids in Joshua Tree.

1. Barker Dam

Barker Dam is a 1.1 mile loop trail out to a reservoir built by ranchers in the early 1900s. You can usually find water in the spring or late winter, but don’t always count on it as California has some dryer years than others. When the waterbed is dry, you can trek through and scramble boulders on the other side.

2. Hidden Valley Nature Trail

Hidden Valley Nature Trail is a 1 mile loop that is beautiful and easy, right in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park. Checkout Hidden Valley Campground for excellent climber watching. The trail is across the street from the campground.

3. Keys View

Keys View has a quick 0.25 mile loop trail and is the highest viewpoint in Joshua Tree National Park. You will get sweeping views of the park, the Mojave Desert, the Colorado Desert, and the Coachella Valley from this viewpoint. The whole family will be amazed.

4. Desert Queen Mine

Desert Queen Mine is a 1.6 mile out and back to the historic Desert Queen Mine. You will quickly pass an old stone foundation with an iron bed frame still inside. It is a great place to explore and offers different views of Joshua Tree—the rocky cliffside here is breathtaking.

5. Skull Rock

Skull Rock is a 1.7 mi flat and easy loop through boulder piles and desert washes. The namesake rock is actually right off the road, so you can skip the trail if the kids just want to checkout the main attraction instead.

6. Cholla Cactus Garden

This nature path and the next require a long drive through the park, especially the next. But these were actually my favorite places as a kid so I would be remiss to exclude them. The first is Cholla Cactus Garden, a 0.25 mile loop through an incredibly dense forest of fairytale like chollas. Most kids (and adults) don’t like a long drive, but I always (and still do) found it fascinating to drive through the desert and see the different microclimates. As you drive to the Cholla Cactus Garden you are dropping in elevation and start to see less and less Joshua Trees, but then there is this small but densely populated area of chollas that looked to me like cotton candy cactus.

7. Cottonwood Spring

Cottonwood Spring is a quick 0.1 mile walk out to a fan palm oasis with cottonwood trees as well. This short trail is not worth driving for more than an hour across the park alone; however, this is a great place to stretch your legs if you do decide to do so. I love the Cottonwood side of the park as it is part of the Colorado Desert and so resembles the oasis trails in the Coachella Valley where I grew up. There is great birdwatching here and lots of shade, but it can be warmer than the westside of the park so bring water and be prepared.

3 Great Family Friendly Eating Spots

There are plenty of great places to eat in Joshua Tree. Currently, eating is all outdoors or take-out, so here are the restaurants I recommend for all ages based on food, and less on restaurant theme. You can either take a seat on their patio or bring it with you.

1. Natural Sisters Cafe

Natural Sisters Cafe has become a staple in Joshua Tree since it opened in 2009. It is open for breakfast and lunch and is just 2 minutes from the Desert Julep. Their food is organic, local and plant based. In the morning you will find climbers loading up on fuel for their day. We’ve even seen some celebrities like Jason Momoa waiting outside for a breakfast smoothie and sandwich. For breakfast they have bagel sandwiches and egg and vegetarian sausage sliders, smoothies and fresh juices and pastries. For lunch you will find delicious vegetarian sandwiches, wraps and salads.

2. Crossroads Cafe

Every main dish a kid could want, plus quality and a little sophistication for their parents is what you’ll find at Crossroads Cafe. The menu is extensive and while their burgers may steal the show, parents can be pleased they are natural and grass-fed. Kids can have their grilled cheese or quesadillas while their adults can try seared ahi tacos or a plentiful salad. Or vice versa. This restaurant is also open early for breakfast and is right on your way to the park, just 3 minutes from Desert Julep.

3. Country Kitchen

While many restaurants in Joshua Tree cater to those looking for a clean and healthy bite before visiting the national park, Country Kitchen has been serving the best diner food in the area since before Joshua Tree was even accorded national park status. If you want to get excited about this place, check-out Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations episode, U.S. Desert to see local rock star Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age share about this great desert restaurant. Joshua Tree Country Kitchen is also just 4 minutes from Desert Julep.

4 Best Art & Shopping Spots for Kids

Joshua Tree is eclectic, to say the least. Everyone in the family will find something to enjoy, or laugh at, or be amazed by in the shopping and arts scene in Joshua Tree. Walk through the shops right in downtown for trendy outdoor gathering spots, local artists’ shops, local art and sculptures and quirky souvenirs and gifts. Also checkout our complete guide to shopping in Joshua Tree.

1. The Station Joshua Tree

Start at The Station Joshua Tree for fun photo ops, hilarious gifts, and a place to sit and relax with your family while enjoying the desert vibe. The Station is a midcentury desert gas station where you can shop as well as lounge and relax at your own table with your family, with beverages and snacks sold inside. It is so inviting, in fact, that you will inevitably make friends with either the shopkeeper and/or other patrons and wonder how you spent the entire day at a gift shop.

2. The Courtyard at Art Queen

There are a lot of great shopping courtyards next-door to the Art Queen (Shops at Zanny’s and Sun Alley have great local artists and curated items), but your family outing must include walking back to see the sculptures and exhibits in the Art Queen courtyard. The exhibits change every few months, but there is always something there to checkout. If not, the Art Queen gallery is filled with “good and sturdy art (made from trash)” worth checking out and the World Famous Crochet Museum made from a vintage photo booth is right next door.

3. Joshua Tree Rock Shop

If your kids are anything like my husband and I were, they probably love rocks. Either they love gemstones already or they have just fallen in love with Joshua Tree and now rocks are their thing. Whichever is the case, they will be blown away with the collection at Joshua Tree Rock Shop. Whether they want to start a gemstone collection or are looking for detailed rock books, Joshua Tree Rock Shop has it. This is my last must hit stop before heading out of Joshua Tree proper, so linger and take it all in. You don’t need a trinket that says Joshua Tree, really. Geology says it all.

4. Mane Street, Pioneertown

Last on my list due to proximity, but this is actually my top recommendation for families. Pioneertown’s Mane Street was developed by actor Dick Curtis in the 1940s. He and other investors such as Roy Rogers and Gene Autry wanted to make a real-life movie set for films and shows such as The Cisco Kid and The Gene Autry Show. While some of the buildings are movie set facades, most are actual live in homes, shops and even a bowling alley. Your family will enjoy walking this old town, movie-set for sightseeing, shopping and to simply enjoy the beautiful desert scenery. There are also two good restaurants with plenty of outdoor seating: Pappy and Harriets and Red Dog Saloon.

Looking for more things to do in Joshua Tree? Please checkout our list of articles for where to eat, shop and play in Joshua Tree.

14 Best Things to Do in Joshua Tree with Kids
Claire Carrasquillo

Handcrafted Furniture from Salvaged Wood

Claire Carrasquillo — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 04:31:21 +0000

Desert Julep
Handcrafted Furniture from Salvaged Wood

Let it be, wood. In Joshua Tree, you can’t escape the sense to just let things be. We have not landscaped our home because the natural pattern of Mojave Desert plants that surround our property are the perfect example. We could never beat Joshua Tree’s natural form. As a result, we have hummingbirds, quails, rabbits with us all day, and coyotes coming through at night. It feels like an extension of the National Park just a few minutes away. So inside the home, we try to let nature be as well with our handcrafted wood furniture.

While my retail therapy comes from shopping on 29 Palms Hwy downtown, my husband’s is salvaged wood. He is the first person friends will call if they are cutting down trees on their property. He can also be found browsing aisles of raw wood at reclaimed wood warehouses. Sometimes he’s simply cutting down a branch to carve a spoon. Desert Julep is slowly filling with the bounty of his passion. Our wood furniture, handcrafted by Victor, is not processed. It is minimally shaped. Mainly, it is just lovingly smoothed and finished.

Eucalyptus Stump Side Table

Our first handcrafted wood furnishing came from the need for a small place to set your drink. We needed a small side table and a friend of ours needed to get rid of some eucalyptus. Victor picked up a few stumps and got to work. He had to hand-make his own tools at first. He carefully leveled the stump so our drinks wouldn’t slide off and it sat straight. Then he spent days sanding and naturally polishing the wood. The result is the most gorgeous cream colored stump with a beautiful red ring exposed in the center. My glass has never been supported so well.

Mesquite Headboard

Victor’s next project started after a trip to Reclaimed Wood San Diego. He found a gorgeous piece of Mesquite. Mesquite is native and prolific in the desert and is a sustainable wood to harvest. The shape was perfect as it was. It would be a headboard for our downstairs queen bedroom. He leveled the back so it could hang safely and steadily on the wall. Then he sanded down to expose the beauty of the wood. Some natural polish highlighted it just a bit more.

Salvaged Mahogany Coffee Table

Next Victor came across a small piece of salvaged mahogany. It was a gorgeous piece of wood abandoned because it had a bullet hole on one end. Victor brought it home and started his process of slowly refining the wood to bring out it’s natural beauty. The size was perfect for a small coffee table so he added two iron legs handmade off Etsy and placed it prominently at the Desert Julep.

Salvaged Redwood Entry Table

The same day he found the mahogany, Victor also found a long slender piece of salvaged redwood from a tree that had to be cut down in Balboa Park, San Diego. Victor grew up in San Diego and I grew up back and forth in San Diego and the desert, so Balboa Park was part of both our childhoods. Today we take our sons there and meetup with family and friends to create new memories for them, too. This piece was the perfect size for an entry table, so again, Victor sourced handmade legs off Etsy and prepared the wood for its new life at the Desert Julep.

If you are staying at the Desert Julep, you are part of the story for these pieces, too. If you’ve yet to stay, our home is curated with local art and sits on a hill filled with Joshua Trees and native plants, just minutes from the park. Come be inspired. Checkout our availability on Airbnb.

Looking for more things to do in Joshua Tree? Please checkout our list of articles for where to eat, shop and play in Joshua Tree.

Handcrafted Furniture from Salvaged Wood
Claire Carrasquillo

7 Best Places for Shopping in Joshua Tree, 2020

Claire Carrasquillo — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 05:25:31 +0000

Desert Julep
7 Best Places for Shopping in Joshua Tree, 2020

Wanting to bring a piece of Joshua Tree home with you? If you are searching for more things to do in Joshua Tree, you will be happy to know there is a thriving local artists and shopping scene. There is amazing shopping just outside the Joshua Tree National Park, minutes from the Desert Julep. You can find locally made artwork, wall-hangings, candles, gemstones and books and mugs that say it all. Or you can get everything you need to redecorate in that desert boho style. Here is your guide to the best shopping in Joshua Tree right now.

The Shops at Zanny's

The Shops at Zanny’s is an outdoor colony of local artists. You can get to know each artist in their own quaint space, and enjoy the cobblestone courtyard in between. This is where you go when you want to find a product that reflects the creativity of Joshua Tree. It is a beautiful outdoor venue for after a day in the park. Or get started here as you set out on a day of shopping and cultural sightseeing. Grab a cup of Joshua Tree Coffee Co. from across the street first!

Sun Alley Shops

Sun Alley Shops tends to have more local collectors. This is where you go if you want to get records, books, or home decor that reflects Joshua Tree. If you want to recreate the desert boho vibe in your home or with clothing, see the Geode and Gypsum shop in Sun Alley and make an appointment to go to their interior design studio in Twentynine Palms.

Art Queen East Village Gallery

While you are here, you can’t skip the courtyard for Art Queen East Village Gallery. Another outdoor shopping area, but this time with real high desert art flair. You will typically find artist exhibits like these, plus a few shops. This is where you will find the World Famous Crochet Museum by local artist Shari Elf. At Shari’s shop, I usually look for clothing by another local company, Totally Blown. Totally Blown is a local Joshua Tree clothing brand, most known for using shotguns to distress their clothing. A portion of sales go to support ending gun violence via a donation to Everytown. The look of their distressed, incredibly comfortable fabrics is uniquely western, yet very modern.

Joshua Tree Blanket Company

After you visit Joshua Tree, you will never appreciate a quality blanket more. You’ll see climbers, campers and vans with sturdy textiles all over the park. You’ll likely find yourself freezing at night even though it was just 90 degrees a few hours ago. Throw a blanket on the ground, on your legs or any surface you need to lay back and chill out. Joshua Tree Blanket Company makes high quality western, Mexican style woven blankets that you now can’t live without. Find them at their shop in Sun Alley or find their products online or other local stores. This is definitely a quintessential souvenir from the Mojave Desert.

The Station Joshua Tree

The Station is a midcentury desert gas station of your instagram dreams. With modern desert gift ideas, The Station lures you in and will keep you entertained all afternoon. Lounge and relax with beverages, snacks and the most welcoming environment. It is so inviting, in fact, that you will inevitably make friends with either the shopkeeper and/or other patrons and wonder how you spent the entire day at a gift shop. You could also leave here as a newly minted social media influencer after posting your compulsory photo shoot. Contact the shop directly about scheduling events or professional photoshoots.

Mincing Mockingbird

When I am looking for a gift, but don’t have time for a full day of shopping, I go straight here. Actually, I get a coffee and pastry from Boo’s Organic Oven, and then I go straight to Mincing Mockingbird. Every type of contemporary coffee table book, gift, home or clothing accessory you need is right here. Plus there is a bonus local artist gallery in the back and vintage items peppered throughout the shop. Checkout their website, too. You will be hooked and need to order more from home.

Joshua Tree Rock Shop

Either you love gemstones and that love brought you to Joshua Tree, or you have just fallen in love with Joshua Tree and now rocks are your thing. Whichever is the case, you will be blown away with the collection at Joshua Tree Rock Shop. Whether you want some gemstones for your bedside or you are ready for home furnishings made of rock, you will find something here. This is my last must hit stop before heading out of Joshua Tree proper, so linger and take it all in. You don’t need a trinket that says Joshua Tree, really. Geology says it all.

Looking for more things to do in Joshua Tree? Please checkout our list of articles for where to eat, shop and play in Joshua Tree.

All of these shops and more are less than 5 minutes from the Desert Julep. Our home is curated with local art and sits on a hill filled with Joshua Trees and native plants, just minutes from the park. Come be inspired. Checkout our availability on Airbnb.

7 Best Places for Shopping in Joshua Tree, 2020
Claire Carrasquillo