A WEEKEND GUIDE TO JOSHUA TREE, CA 🌵
Unexpectedly, I’m quite the desert girly this summer! TBH, I was never much of a Joshua Tree gal because well, I like civilization. 😅 That being said, after several visits due to Matt’s LOVE for the desert- I have finally found all the fun (and cute) things to do.
Fair warning, it’s an extremely small town with a limited selection of things to do. In my opinion, if you’re not there to visit the park - you’re most likely there to zen out and most importantly, get away from the city.
This brings me to my next point - being that you’re going to be spending a lot of time hanging out.. where you stay is EVERYTHING! My friends and I discovered quite literally the most FANTASTIC AirBnB in April. I shared about it on socials and the owner was kind enough to invite us back!
Full disclosure, this is not sponsored - I just loved our time so much at the home that I wanted to include it in this post. ICYMI - I shared a full AirBnB tour on my IG here. You can see more of the home in my other posts here and here.
Now, let’s get into the fun stuff - your weekend itinterary! ⤵️
As you head into town, you basically take one long road to get through Joshua Tree. Along this road is where you will find everything! Feel free to follow my recommendations but being that it’s such a small town, I also find that stuff opens/closes at random times. Be sure to stop if you see something open! If you’re staying for a few days, I recommend grocery shopping at the many farmers markets that happen on Saturdays!
🏡 WHERE TO STAY
We have stayed in countless AirBnB properties while in town but honestly, this one takes the cake. I wish I could give you a discount code because it’s truly SO fabulous but if I’m being honest, I feel like it’s fairly priced and well worth every penny!
🍔 WHERE TO EAT
There is a small part of town called Pioneertown and trust me, it’s just as adorable as it sounds. It’s about a 20 min drive off the main road but makes for a fun evening, especially if you’re with friends. The people watching at Pappy and Harriets (restaurant) alone is well worth the visit. I’ll be honest, I don’t think any of the food in Joshua Tree is really going to wow you - it’s more about the ✨ vibes ✨ if you know what I mean. Here is a full list of the restaurants at Pioneertown (it’s pretty small, don’t be fooled).
Other restaurants:
Joshua Tree Saloon - the name says it all! They offer live music on the weekends until around 9PM.
Joshua Tree Coffee Company - their coffee is SO freaking good. A must!!!
The Dez - great for grab and go food + sandwiches.
Crossroads Cafe - perfect for brunch after a cozy night in!
Cafe Frontier - we always stop here on our way out of town. Be warned: it gets BUSY! There is a cute store next door - shop around while you wait for a table. There are also vintage shops across the street!
🛍️ WHERE TO SHOP
Flea/Night Market - Depending on the time of year, the flea market changes from a daytime to an evening event. This is hands down my FAVORITE thing to do while in town. The local vendors have a LA meets desert flare and even if you don’t purchase anything, it’s so fun to browse. Learn more about the night market here // daytime market is hosted at Joshua Tree Trading Post when weather permits!
Mojave Flea Trading Post - it’s just as cute as it sounds - linked here.
Hi Desert Daydream - adorable new shop further into town closer to 29 Palms
The Station Joshua Tree - a converted gas station into the cutest and coolest store ever!
That’s it from me! Drop a comment and let me know your recs for J-Tree if you’ve been! If not, save this for later.
Have a happy day! xo RB
