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DAY ONE
DAY ONE
First stop ~ Pioneertown
First stop ~ Pioneertown
Read some fascinating history! https://www.visitcalifornia.com/places-to-visit/pioneertown/
Originally a movie set and now one of my favorite places when in town! Not to mention Pappy & Harriet's which has made a name for itself with big live acts and fitting up to 350 people indoors and 1000 outdoors at a show! Just be ready for wall to wall people and a late nite!!
This trip however, I stopped for lunch and a drink at the aforementioned Pappy & Harriet's. Gotta give a shout out to their Cantina Nachos! House made chips, cheddar cheese, blue cheese, Pico de Gallo, sour cream with chicken and BBQ sauce drizzle. Oh my!
Where to Stay
Where to Stay
This trip I settled for a place that shall not be named. Haha. It was fine, but not nearly as cool as these two from prior trips! Sacred Sands and Harmony Motel. Two very different experiences, both fabulous!
Sacred Sands (Favorite boutique/very private lodging)
"At Sacred Sands, the Onyx and Jade rooms feature private outdoor patios centered around couples’ soaking tubs and open-air showers beneath the desert sky."
Harmony Motel (Favorite old-school roadside motel)
This retro-cool 1950s motel was made famous by the band U2, which stayed here while recording their iconic album The Joshua Tree in 1986
After lunch and dropping my stuff at the hotel, it was back on the road to JTNP!
JOSHUA TREE
JOSHUA TREE
NATIONAL PARK
NATIONAL PARK
It is hard to put into words why I so enjoy coming to this place. After five visits—three of them solo—the magic only seems to grow. The landscape is a stunning mix of vibrant colors and surreal rock formations, including the eerie but fascinating Skull Rock. Then there are the Joshua Trees; despite their name, these Mojave Desert icons are actually giant succulents that grow almost exclusively in the Southwest.
The park also enjoys 'International Dark Sky' status.. During one trip with my husband, we visited the Sky's the Limit Observatory and met someone with a telescope powerful enough to let us see Saturn. Seeing those rings with my own eyes was amazing.
Go here for more information! https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm and view the rest of the blog below for my list of favorite highlights!
This was my prime destination for this trip. As I came a bit earlier in the year than usual (March) I was hoping I might catch a glimpse of water at Barker Dam, notoriously dry most of the time. While I was excited to catch any water at all, I was informed that just a week prior the water would have covered more of the marsh, making reflection photos more dramatic. But hey, I'm happy! I didn't make it to the actual dam as it was blocked off for repairs, but this oasis and reflection is what I came to see. (I'm embarrassed to admit it took me about an extra 30 minutes to find. If you stick to the trail arrows pointing to the dam you'll miss it. Luckily, I'm stubborn, and retraced my steps on the way back until I saw the detour. LOL).
Some history (for those like my husband who has to read every info board in sight).
Barker Dam is a historic water-storage facility and a popular hiking destination located within Joshua Tree National Park. Originally built by early cattlemen around 1900, the dam was later raised by rancher William F. Keys in the late 1940s to support livestock in the arid Mojave Desert. Today, it serves as a critical gathering place for local wildlife, and the surrounding loop trail offers a blend of natural beauty and cultural history.
The primary way to experience the area is via the Barker Dam Nature Trail, an easy 1.1 to 1.5-mile loop that typically takes about 45 minutes to an hour to complete.
A short spur trail off the main loop leads to a rock cave featuring vivid Native American petroglyphs. Note that some of the colors were historically enhanced by a film crew, making them appear unusually bright. I didn't get to see this part because as I mentioned, some of the trail near the dam and beyond was closed for maintenance.
The hike is relatively flat with minimal elevation gain (approx. 50 feet), making it suitable for families and novice hikers, like me.
Desert Bloom
Another fortunate timing event! I often miss the desert bloom, and 2026 is an especially good year! I love the history of the Creosote Bush (in the caption).
Desert Bloom
Another fortunate timing event! I often miss the desert bloom, and 2026 is an especially good year! I love the history of the Creosote Bush (in the caption).
Creosote Bush
Individual plants can live for centuries, and clonal colonies can be among the longest-living organisms on Earth, with one famous colony estimated to be over 11,000 years old.
Creosote Bush
Individual plants can live for centuries, and clonal colonies can be among the longest-living organisms on Earth, with one famous colony estimated to be over 11,000 years old.
Joshua tree flower bud
This iconic plant is the namesake of Joshua Tree National Park and a defining feature of the Mojave Desert.
Joshua tree flower bud
This iconic plant is the namesake of Joshua Tree National Park and a defining feature of the Mojave Desert.
Desert Globemallow
Drought-tolerant, attracts pollinators like bees, and is a source of food for bighorn sheep.
Desert Globemallow
Drought-tolerant, attracts pollinators like bees, and is a source of food for bighorn sheep.
Spring Bloom
The prominent yellow flowers are Brittlebush that thrive in these arid environments. Such blooms occur when there has been significant winter rainfall followed by mild spring temperatures, transforming the usually dry landscape.
Spring Bloom
The prominent yellow flowers are Brittlebush that thrive in these arid environments. Such blooms occur when there has been significant winter rainfall followed by mild spring temperatures, transforming the usually dry landscape.
Hedgehog Cactus
Known for producing small red fruits that are edible and reportedly taste similar to strawberries.
Hedgehog Cactus
Known for producing small red fruits that are edible and reportedly taste similar to strawberries.
Quirkiness
Quirkiness
You can't talk about the town of Joshua Tree (yes, it's a town AND a park of the same name) without the quirky. While I took most of my day this trip to focus on Barker Dam, I have, on prior trips, checked out a few quirky stops!
Glass Outhouse Art Gallery
Glass Outhouse Art Gallery
"The Glass Outhouse Art Gallery in Twentynine Palms is a popular, free-to-visit, quirky art spot near Joshua Tree featuring indoor galleries, outdoor sculpture installations made of found objects, and its namesake one-way mirror restroom. Open daily from dawn to dusk, it showcases local art and eccentric desert treasures, with a monthly artist reception on the first Saturday."
And yes, my husband and I tried out the Glass Outhouse. It is very weird!! The person inside can see everything, I could not see in. Two way glass is crazy for when you really need to use the outhouse! LOL!
Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museam
Noah Purifoy Outdoor Museam
Visit https://www.noahpurifoy.com/about-the-foundation. Very good read!
"Noah Purifoy's earliest body of sculpture, constructed out of charred debris from the 1965 Watts rebellion, was the basis for 66 Signs of Neon, the landmark 1966 group exhibition on the Watts riots that traveled throughout the country. As a founding director of the Watts Towers Art Center, Purifoy knew the community intimately. His 66 Signs of Neon, in line with the postwar period’s fascination with the street and its objects, constituted a Duchampian approach to the fire-molded alleys of Watts. This strategy profoundly impacted artists such as David Hammons, John Outterbridge and Senga Nengudi. For the 20 years that followed the rebellion, Purifoy dedicated himself to the found object, and to using art as a tool for social change.
In the late 1980s, after 11 years of public policy work for the California Arts Council, where Purifoy initiated programs such as Artists in Social Institutions, which brought art into the state prison system, Purifoy moved his practice out to the Mojave desert. He lived for the last 15 years of his life creating ten acres full of large-scale sculpture on the desert floor. Constructed entirely from junked materials, this otherworldly environment is one of California’s great art historical wonders."
Time for a cold one after a long day in the desert!
Time for a cold one after a long day in the desert!
I have stopped here many a time on my desert days. Laid back outdoor bar (indoor too...but why would I do that on a beautiful spring evening?) with live music and great cocktails!
DAY TWO
DAY TWO
First stop ~ Kitchen in the Desert
First stop ~ Kitchen in the Desert
Kitchen in the Desert Located in Twentynine Palms and worth the extra drive depending on where you're staying when visiting Joshua Tree National Park. Since the first time I tried it, it's my go to for breakfast/brunch. Their Anjou Pear pancakes with macerated blackberries and chantilly cream are out of this world! Add a side of crispy bacon and fresh squeezed mimosa and the day is off to a fabulous start!
Back on the road! Heading back to Palm Springs, but via a new path for me. This time I drove the entirety of JTNP starting at the North Entrance all the way to the South Entrance (exit in my case). This takes you through both the upper Mojave and lower Colorado deserts. Note that there is no cell service within most of the park and no services such as water/gas. Make sure you load up first! And most importantly:
The drive takes 1.5 to 2 hours if you don't stop...but sheesh. Who would do that? So yeah, took me several hours, but worth it. Must stops are Cholla Garden and Skull Rock
These beautiful but nasty little critters are called Cholla (choy-ya) Cactus. Also referred to as 'Teddy Bear' Cholla...and boy is that misleading! The more accurate description is 'jumping' Cholla!
All those glowing little fuzzys are like fish hooks! And they will attach with the least bit of provocation. I had read up on these before my first trip, but another photographer apparently did not. I heard a loud yelp as he bent over to connect his camera to a tripod...yikes.
Skull Rock is one of the most famous landmarks in Joshua Tree National Park, known for its uncanny resemblance to a human skull. It is a massive granite boulder located along Park Boulevard, the main road through the park. Below is what I discovered from my research. Better known as, 'HereLetMeGoogleThatForYou'. Hehe.
Despite its appearance, Skull Rock was not carved by people. It is a product of cavernous weathering, a process that began millions of years ago when the rock was still underground.
Chemical Weathering: Ground water seeped into the granite, turning hard minerals into soft clay.
Erosion: Over thousands of years, rainwater pooled in small depressions on the surface.
The "Eyes": As the water sat in these depressions, it slowly eroded the granite deeper than the surrounding areas, eventually forming the two hollow "eye sockets" seen today.
Welcome to Palm Springs!
Welcome to Palm Springs!
Since this is where I fly in and out of, I always stay a night or two. This was a quick trip, we're here for just one night!
Caliente Tropics is my go-to now for overnight stays in Palm Springs. Yeah, I know...there are MANY glamorous and wonderful resorts in the area but 1) I'm not a golfer and 2) as more of my travel posts become available you'll notice I prefer roadside motel or vintage places. Not that I haven't done some luxurious resorts (stay tuned for Cap Maison, St Lucia, West Indies...but I digress) I just happen to love 'kitsch'. LOL.
Enter, Caliente Tropics. My husband and I first found this place on one of our last days in town on a prior trip. We were headed to the airport later that night but wanted to find a Tiki Bar, something we both have a fondness for. Caliente Tropics came up on the search so we tried it. Gold! Totally classic Tikiness with a hotel attached. I stayed on my next trip and now it's my home base when in town.
So, after coming through the desert on a horse with no...wait. I was in the car. So upon my arrival in Palm Springs, I quickly threw on my swimsuit and cover up, grabbed a quick drink and bite to eat at The Reef and into the pool for the rest of the evening!
DAY THREE
DAY THREE
Andreas Canyon
Andreas Canyon
I found this gem two trips ago and never miss it now. While I love getting out and taking photos, circumstances limit too much 'serious' hiking or climbing over obstacles. So this little beauty of an oasis is a dream come true. I laughed outloud the first time I arrived...I mean you don't get 20 steps out of the parking lot before you're shaded by huge fan palms and listening to the sound of running water through the grove! You can of course hike the trail up and beyond, but I'm happy right here!!
Got an early start to head to the canyon so taking the advice of a friend, I stopped at Sherman's Deli for brunch. Highly recommend! I didn't leave room for dessert but next time I'll come just for that!
Now, since Caliente Tropics has a noon checkout (bless them!) I still had time for the pool before packing up and heading to the airport! Then after dropping off the car I settled at the little airport bar until my flight was called. 2pm Thursday. 52 hours later! We did it!
Palm Springs Airport food and drink at the gates.
Honorable Mentions
Honorable Mentions
There are obviously many, many things to do in Palm Springs that I have not touched on. But a few that I've done on prior trips deserve mention!
Thank you for tagging along!
Thank you for tagging along!
While you're here, check out some other pages!
While you're here, check out some other pages!
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