Joshua Tree, California
Joshua Tree, California travel guide
Welcome to my Bite Sized Travel Guides series. What exactly is a Bite Sized Travel Guide, you ask? Well, it’s essentially a short and sweet travel guide, a summarized version of where to eat, where to stay, what to do and quick tips, my favorite “bites” of a destination, if you will. Because sometimes I haven’t spent enough time in a location, or don’t know it well enough, or don’t have enough professional photos from somewhere, to qualify for a full blown travel guide, but I still want to share the spots I do know, love and recommend, as well as ones I have bookmarked for future visits, in a simple, minimal and easy to digest format with small tips and tidbits as well as any relevant and correlating blog posts and links. The Bite Sized Travel Guides are perfect for someone just looking for quick recommendations, and not wanting to scroll through a whole guide and paragraph after paragraph just to find a spot for dinner. The Bite Sized Travel Guides will also be added to and refreshed anytime I re-visit the featured location and have something new to add. I hope you’ll find these bite-sized bites of a destination just as tasty as I do!
Joshua Tree is one of my most frequented getaways from Los Angeles. I just love how peaceful, remote and otherworldly it is. But despite visiting so many times, since it is where I like to go when I need to shut-off and get a bit of a break, I don’t actually have a ton of content from there, and certainly not enough info to put together a full fledged guide. However, I couldn’t gatekeep my favorite JT spots any longer, so continue reading for all the nitty gritty deets on my favorite places to eat, stay, play and more in this bite sized Joshua Tree Travel Guide.
WHERE TO EAT + DRINK
COFFEE
JOSHUA TREE COFFEE COMPANY- the OG desert coffee spot (I’m sure you never could have guessed by their name, right?! Ha!); they roast all their own beans (you’ve probably seen their infamous pink bag with a blue joshua tree before) so go for beans, stay for a latte
MÁS O MENOS- cute coffee spot that also doubles a fun little bar for those days you need to start with a latte and end with a cocktail
LUNA’S SOURDOUGH
This sourdough bakery is always a must stop for me! They have everything from fresh bread (the caraway and dill rye is amazing) to baked goods to fresh prepared foods, sandwiches and sourdough pizza dough. Go for a bite before or after a hike and pick up goods to have for your stay or your ride home. But be forewarned that they do sell out of a lot of things (and early), especially on the weekends!
JELLY DONUT
(not pictured, I don’t have a picture from Jelly Donut because apparently we have no control and inhale sugar-coated carbs far too quickly)
A family run spot with delicious (and cheap) donuts; they tend to sell out of a lot of flavors (especially on weekends) so get there early and bring cash if possible (you can pay with card but they do charge an extra fee); also their double chocolate donut is maybe the best I’ve ever had (Dave even likes it and he never likes a chocolate donut!)
PAPPY + HARRIET’S
Where you come for dinner and stay for a show, located in Pioneer Town, this is definitely one of the most infamous spots that’s been around town for a while; the menu is open fire Santa Maria bbq focused (The tri tip is so good and so are the loaded fries!), portions are generous and they also serve brunch on the weekends. Definitely expect a wait no matter when you go, but you can either grab a drink at the bar or stroll around Pioneer Town while you wait. Also, if you’re grabbing dinner pre-show, let them know when you add your name to the waitlist as they have a separate, shorter list for ticketed guests.
COPPER ROOM
Ok, I LOVE this spot! It’s so fun and unassuming and you can even fly in (real casual) since it’s located next to the airstrip. Great vibes, great drinks, yummy food (The Vietnamese salad is so good!), happy hour and live jazz on the weekends. Highly recommend reservations if you’re coming to eat, or on the weekend, or you can grab a seat at the bar (full menu is available), but there may be a bit of a wait
THE TINY PONY TAVERN
Don’t be fooled by this unassuming tucked away spot because it’s an absolute GEM! Yummy food featuring some unique and/or local ingredients (like yucca fries or bison sloppy joes), fun drinks (that also happen to be huge), funky vibes, weekly specials, great weekend brunch option.
THE RED DOG SALOON
If you need a quick, casual and delicious lunch or dinner, and happen to be craving tacos, this spot is a hit. Great for everyone as there are plenty of plant based options, and the queso (not plant-based) is some of the best of I’ve had! They also have Taco Tuesday specials and it’s also a great place to grab drinks in the evening (they also have frequently have live music).
ON MY LIST TO TRY // The Dez, Crossroads Cafe, La Copine, Giant Rock Meeting Room (for pizza, bevs + live music), Kitchen in the Desert, Frontier Cafe, Joshua Tree Saloon, Morongo Valley Cafe, Palms Restaurant
WHAT TO DO
I like to say that there’s everything and nothing to do in Joshua Tree. Because sure, if you want to go out for drinks or to shop, you can find places to do it. But where Joshua Tree really excels is in the art of doing nothing. And by nothing I mean spending time in nature, hiking, relaxing, star gazing, soaking (in a pool/hot tub/cold plunge), sitting by a fire, playing records, etc. For me personally, it’s where I go when I need to go off-the-grid, unwind, relax, get fresh air and movement, not feel pressure to get ready or go out or really do much of anything. It’s where I go to just be.
EXPLORE JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
Definitely block out off some time to explore the park, especially if you’ve never been before. It’s beautiful to drive through and, of course, has wonderful hiking trails, but there are also some spots to stop throughout the park if sightseeing is more your thing. Definitely don’t miss the cholla gardens!
HEAD OUT ON A HIKE
There are an abundance of hikes, both in and out of the national park, for all distances, elevations, experiences, etc.We always do a different hike every time we’re out there but one of my favorites in the park is the Lost Palms Oasis hike.
CATCh LIVE MUSIC
There’s no shortage of live music happening around town, from ticketed shows at classic spots like Pappy and Harriet’s to jazz at the Copper Room to Saturday night’s at The Red Dog Saloon and so many other spots in between. Trust me, if you’re looking for live music, you’ve come to the right place.
CHECK OUT LOCAL SHOPS
A few of my favorites include:
Acme 5- home + lifestyle boutique
Habitat- nice curation of home goods
Wine & Rock Shop- for natural wines
Desierto Alto- a well curated selection of liquor, beverages and goods
White Label + The Hoodoo- for records
GO THRIFTING
There are some real gems to be found out in the desert if you’re up for a little treasure hunting. We like to just drive around and pop into whatever is catching our eye at the moment, Pioneer Crossing Antiques is a good one to check out as they have a little bit of everything, but this list has a few other great spots to check out.
WHERE TO STAY
Home rentals and Airbnbs really have a stronghold on the Joshua Tree lodging scene. In other words, if you’re looking for a 5-star resort you better look elsewhere. However, what the area lacks in resorts it more than makes up for with a plethora of beautiful (and sometimes unique) accommodations to choose from, everything from luxe multi-bedroom homes to geodomes, glamping, camping and everything in between.
Personally, I’m a big fan of the Homestead Modern portfolio (you can rent directly through their site, but they also list on places like Airbnb, VRBO and Expedia) and especially love this home they designed in partnership with Todd Nickey (of Nickey Kehoe). However, if you’re looking for a bit more of a hotel-adjacent experience they also have The Bungalows, where you can book a room, and Autocamp also has a Joshua Tree location.
TIPS TO VISIT
BEST TIME TO VISIT Joshua Tree
In my opinion, the best time to visit Joshua Tree is fall through spring. The weather is more mild and enjoyable, especially if you plan to hike, than the toasty hot days of summer. Do note- it can get quite chilly, especially in the evenings, during the winter months (and it occasionally even snows), but it typically warms up to more pleasant temps during the day and you’ll definitely be fine with a jacket or if you’re out hiking.
HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED
While you could easily spend a whole week in the Joshua Tree/Yucca Valley area, especially if you’re going into the park and hiking, 2-3 nights is a sweet spot. Keep in mind if you’re going into the park, especially on a weekend day (or during any peak time), and want time to explore and hike, I’d plan at least one day just for the park alone.
DID YOU FIND THIS GUIDE HELPFUL?
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