Plan Your Next Trip To Joshua Tree
You guys!! The hype is real- we just came back from Joshua Tree a few weeks ago and I am still on cloud 9. If you’ve never been here, get ready to add it to your list. I wanted to share with you all some of the cool places we visited that I would recommend when planning your future travels. Alrighty, let’s head WEST!🤠
Airbnb is the way to go
If you know me, you know that I LOVE Airbnb! It’s my favorite way to travel and discover a new area. I’ve stayed in countless airbnb’s so when booking a trip- this is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle. Finding the perfect place in Joshua Tree was no different. Luckily, JT has a TON of options when it comes to Airbnb, so it really just narrowed down to budget and aesthetics. >> this is the place is where we stayed- and I couldn’t have loved it more! It was an intimate 2 person studio- that had such a lovely view of the national park. The elements inside were carefully crafted and brought such a comforting experience to our stay. Plus the fact, I got to meet the owners dogs while they were playing fetch in their desert backyard so that was just a huge PLUS!
Where the food at?!
As many of you know… IM A FOODIE! I truly get inspiration and joy from trying new foods and eating delicious quality noms. Discovering The DEZ was pure happenstance. We were just walking along the strip and saw this corner store and upon walking in we were pleasantly surprised by all that this small space had to offer! I’m tellin’ ya! For you coffee fanatics they had the brews, for you cheese lovers they had to-go charcuterie boards, oh and for you sandwich fans—- they had fresh off the press panni’s…..My mouth is still watering.
Take a hike!
But literally! I mean, if you do anything in Joshua Tree you have to visit the National Park- that’s a given. We were visiting for minimal time, so I had the tough decision of trying to determine which ( out of the many) hikes we should do. After reading countless reviews on hiker websites, I decided on Ryan Mountain Trailhead. It seemed like the perfect amount of difficulty + epic views. My #1 PRO-TIP if you are visiting during the warmer months as we were, GO EARLY! It is so worth it. We saw several poor souls starting the hike once we were already down- and that’s just brutal… This trail along with many others in JT have minimal shade so getting up prior to the sun makes for a more relaxing hike- and hey you get to catch this beautiful sunrise!
Ryan mountain trail hike is about a 2.9 mile hike in total with a gradual
elevation gain of 1,062 ft. Think of it like a nice long Stairmaster workout with serene views along the way. I absolutely loved it and would go again on our next venture out there!
Other pro-tip I’ll mention is be aware that the national park does have an entry fee. It’s approx. $30 for 7 days or you can buy the national park pass for the year which is around $85. Either way- it’s an incredible park and well worth contributing to its overall preservation!
Nothing like a little wine cooler
To take the edge of the heat! So naturally, I have to share about my favorite wine shop we pursued into while exploring JT. This place is owned by a past school teacher who became a sommelier and opened shop locally. When I say this place has taste I MEAN IT! They don’t just have your average run-of-the-mill wines. No- they have the GOODS. We purchased this lovely white based off the label (duh) and the owners recommendation. Being Sauvignon Blanc lovers, we wanted to be a bit adventurous and try something new but similar. This 2021 “Band of the Stones” was a delicious compliment to our cheese board our last evening in JT. So whether or not you even think you like wine, stop in the Joshua Tree Bottle Shop and find yourself picking up a bottle… or three!
Try something new
One of the most rewarding parts about traveling is having the opportunity to try something new. This go around we decided to give Airbnb Experiences a try. If you’re unfamiliar with what that is, Airbnb has a section dedicated to local experiences in the areas you are traveling to. These experiences can range from cooking with a local chef to practicing goat yoga on the side of a hill—You name it ! We signed up for a “Sacred Sound and Tea Ceremony” which was being held our last evening in JT. We had both done a sound bath meditation before, but let me tell you this was the REAL DEAL! We followed our teacher to her 10 acre property in the middle of the desert. She had set up individual sleeping bag stations with pillows and beautiful crystals. Outside under the full moon, she guided us through a breathtaking sound bath meditation. There’s not quite words to describe how incredible this was. It was one of those outer world experiences that really can’t be made up. I am still in awe. When in doubt- be open to new experiences.
So there you have it you guys! These are my tid-bits and takeaways from our sweet time out west. I’ll admit, if you don’t see me in 10 years I may or may not be living my best life in Joshua Tree. This place took a special hold on me.
And hey, for those of you that want to see a bit more, I had so much fun creating this video recapping our time. Check it out⬇️🤗
