Nich and Chris's Joshua Tree guidebook
Food scene
A more upscale offering with a seasonally rotating menu -- fresh and local with a comfortable atmosphere. Their hours are highly variable and they often close in the hotter months, so check in -- or make a reservation -- before trekking out to Flamingo Heights.
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La Copine
848 Old Woman Springs RdA more upscale offering with a seasonally rotating menu -- fresh and local with a comfortable atmosphere. Their hours are highly variable and they often close in the hotter months, so check in -- or make a reservation -- before trekking out to Flamingo Heights.
A nicely curated wine and sundries shop right on Highway 62 as you come into Yucca Valley. Great selection of natural wines, snacks, cheese, and some charcuterie, but their main claim to fame is the largest selection of mezcal in California!
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Desierto Alto
57205 Twentynine Palms HighwayA nicely curated wine and sundries shop right on Highway 62 as you come into Yucca Valley. Great selection of natural wines, snacks, cheese, and some charcuterie, but their main claim to fame is the largest selection of mezcal in California!
Crossroads is a local favorite just down the hill from the house. They serve a great mix of classic Americana fair with some modern takes and plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Often crowded on weekends for breakfast and dinner, but open for three meals a day. A standby for anyone visiting Joshua Tree.
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Crossroads Cafe
61715 Twentynine Palms HighwayCrossroads is a local favorite just down the hill from the house. They serve a great mix of classic Americana fair with some modern takes and plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Often crowded on weekends for breakfast and dinner, but open for three meals a day. A standby for anyone visiting Joshua Tree.
A Joshua Tree institution and good place to stop for a quick breakfast, lunch, or smoothie just 3 miles from the house. On the crunchier side, with an all-vegetarian menu.
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Natural Sisters Cafe
61695 Twentynine Palms HighwayA Joshua Tree institution and good place to stop for a quick breakfast, lunch, or smoothie just 3 miles from the house. On the crunchier side, with an all-vegetarian menu.
A great place for morning coffee, pastries, or a quick bite -- about tens minutes from the house in the JT Village.
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The DEZ fine food - grab & go
61705 Twentynine Palms HighwayA great place for morning coffee, pastries, or a quick bite -- about tens minutes from the house in the JT Village.
Tasteful, comfortable cafe that's great for morning or afternoon coffee or an evening glass of wine.
Más o Menos
Tasteful, comfortable cafe that's great for morning or afternoon coffee or an evening glass of wine.
A great place for sunset - expert cocktails and great small portions. Arrive early or make a reservation on weekends.
The Copper Room
A great place for sunset - expert cocktails and great small portions. Arrive early or make a reservation on weekends.
Tasty Caribbean and New American restaurant with great outdoor seating. Make an evening of it and route to Twentynine Palms through the national park: enter via the West Entrance before sunset, catch the last light of the day in the park, and exit via the North Entrance ~10 minute from Kitchen in the Desert.
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Kitchen in the Desert
6427 Mesquite AveTasty Caribbean and New American restaurant with great outdoor seating. Make an evening of it and route to Twentynine Palms through the national park: enter via the West Entrance before sunset, catch the last light of the day in the park, and exit via the North Entrance ~10 minute from Kitchen in the Desert.
Luna Bakery
A great local bakery for fresh pastries and breads.
Great natural wine selection ~10 minutes from the house in the Joshua Tree village.
Joshua Tree Bottle Shop
Great natural wine selection ~10 minutes from the house in the Joshua Tree village.
A quick place to stop off for meals to go on your way into the national park.
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Roadrunner Grab+Go
6554 Park BlvdA quick place to stop off for meals to go on your way into the national park.
A good fallback if La Copine has a long wait.
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Giant Rock Meeting Room & Coffee House
1131 Old Woman Springs RdA good fallback if La Copine has a long wait.
Sightseeing
One among many high desert oddities, the Integratron was built to contact life on other planets, but is now used for theraupuetic sound-baths. An out-of-the-ordinary compliment to the other health and wellness opportunities in the Joshua Basin.
Spaces fill up quickly, so make a reservation at the time of your booking.
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Integratron
2477 Belfield BlvdOne among many high desert oddities, the Integratron was built to contact life on other planets, but is now used for theraupuetic sound-baths. An out-of-the-ordinary compliment to the other health and wellness opportunities in the Joshua Basin.
Spaces fill up quickly, so make a reservation at the time of your booking.
If you're visiting the Integratron and La Copine in Landers, detour to the Giant Rock -- once considered the world's largest freestanding boulder, and the home to an eccentric German cave-dweller intent on contact extraterrestrial life. Note that access to the Giant Rock is on an unmaintained dirt road and can be difficult after rains.
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Giant Rock CA
If you're visiting the Integratron and La Copine in Landers, detour to the Giant Rock -- once considered the world's largest freestanding boulder, and the home to an eccentric German cave-dweller intent on contact extraterrestrial life. Note that access to the Giant Rock is on an unmaintained dirt road and can be difficult after rains.
Sky's the Limit Observatory is home to a large collection telescope. On Saturday nights around the new moon amateur and professional astronomers and skywatchers get together to share their telescopes and expertise with visitors. Free and open to all, this is a great way to take advantage of the dark skies of Joshua Tree National Park.
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Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center
9697 Utah TrailSky's the Limit Observatory is home to a large collection telescope. On Saturday nights around the new moon amateur and professional astronomers and skywatchers get together to share their telescopes and expertise with visitors. Free and open to all, this is a great way to take advantage of the dark skies of Joshua Tree National Park.
Noah Purifoy was an outsider artist who made his home and studio in the desert north of Joshua Tree. That homesite is preserved by a foundation, and serves as a plein air monument to his prolific, eccentric practice.
Take a moment to wander around, ask yourself about what constitutes assemblage art vs "junk farming," and ponder the curatorial challenges of maintaining a collection as-is in the harsh environment of the high desert.
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Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum
62975 Blair LnNoah Purifoy was an outsider artist who made his home and studio in the desert north of Joshua Tree. That homesite is preserved by a foundation, and serves as a plein air monument to his prolific, eccentric practice.
Take a moment to wander around, ask yourself about what constitutes assemblage art vs "junk farming," and ponder the curatorial challenges of maintaining a collection as-is in the harsh environment of the high desert.
If you're driving to Joshua Tree from Los Angeles, visit the Malki Museum in Banning along the way. It's the first museum in California founded and run by the indigenous peoples of Southern California and treats the tribal and natural histories of the region. Check their hours in advance.
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Malki Museum Inc
11795 Malki RoadIf you're driving to Joshua Tree from Los Angeles, visit the Malki Museum in Banning along the way. It's the first museum in California founded and run by the indigenous peoples of Southern California and treats the tribal and natural histories of the region. Check their hours in advance.
At the risk of stating the obvious: no trip to Joshua Tree would be complete without a visit to the National Park.
Mojave Fleur is less than 4 miles from the main (West) entrance. The park really comes to life around dawn and dusk.
If you want to stay out of the elements but enjoy beautiful scenery and photo opportunities, drive the loop from the West Entrance in Joshua Tree to the North Entrance in Twenty-Nine Palm (or reverse that path and enter through the less-crowded North Entrance during busy times).
If you're interested in hiking, check out the Jumbo Rocks (easy), Barker Dam (mild), Ryan Mountain (intermediate), or Eureka Peak (difficult). We provide guidebooks and maps at the house and are happy to offer recommendations based on your interests.
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IJoshua Tree National Park
At the risk of stating the obvious: no trip to Joshua Tree would be complete without a visit to the National Park.
Mojave Fleur is less than 4 miles from the main (West) entrance. The park really comes to life around dawn and dusk.
If you want to stay out of the elements but enjoy beautiful scenery and photo opportunities, drive the loop from the West Entrance in Joshua Tree to the North Entrance in Twenty-Nine Palm (or reverse that path and enter through the less-crowded North Entrance during busy times).
If you're interested in hiking, check out the Jumbo Rocks (easy), Barker Dam (mild), Ryan Mountain (intermediate), or Eureka Peak (difficult). We provide guidebooks and maps at the house and are happy to offer recommendations based on your interests.
Less than 10 minutes from the house and as spectacular as the national park, the Desert View Conservation Area is a less crowded, dog-friendly alternative to JTNP for hiking.
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Desert View Conservation Area
Less than 10 minutes from the house and as spectacular as the national park, the Desert View Conservation Area is a less crowded, dog-friendly alternative to JTNP for hiking.