Joshua Tree

‘Play a U2 record while you’re there’. Joshua Tree - a weird and wonderful desert town in California, named after its plentiful, unusual limbed trees. Most folk visit this quirky place for its National Park, but in true to myself fashion, I had our itinerary set on bars, coffee shops, restaurants and unique local shops. It did not disappoint.

Before I go any further with Joshua Tree itself, I must discuss our accommodation. I’d been following The Joshua Tree House for some time on Instagram - run by a young couple, Sara & Rich, that buy and renovate properties in Joshua Tree and Arizona before turning them into stays with interiors my dreams are made of. Once I knew a stopover in Joshua Tree was on the agenda, I jumped at the opportunity to book their latest project, The Cabin.

The Cabin by The Joshua Tree House

What Stood Out

- The attention to detail is something you’d struggle to look past in the cabin. Yes, all the appliances and are top of the range with the smart oven and a fridge with an interior tap serving the iciest water, but what stood out to me were the subtle details, like the second hand books, the cute mug collection, the record player with the coolest vinyl assortment - it’s the little things that make this place so unique and reflect Sara & Rich’s impeccable taste.
- The first thing I look for when booking a stay, especially when i’m planning to bring my camera along, is the interior design. Sara & Rich have done an insane job on the finish of this place, and all of their other accommodations for that matter (I urge you to check out the before photos on their instagram). The style is the perfect mix of bohemian and California modern which I feel suits the vibe of the town itself perfectly.
- In the backyard (I may be British, but the word garden isn’t working here), you’ll find a small decked area with incredibly comfy cushioned loungers (think double stuffed Oreo in cushion form) with a stock pool perfect for a refreshing dunk after a day under the desert sun. I recommend grabbing some drinks from a local shop and enjoying them out the back whilst watching the sun go down over the hills.
- Spotlessy clean! No more to say here.
- Before arrival, you’ll receive an email from Sara & Rich with a list of their favourite restaurants, bars, coffee shops and hiking trails. As much as I do EXTENSIVE research before visiting somewhere, I do always like to get a locals recommendations.

What Could of Been Better

- As much as the location of the cabin was lovely and private, it does feel slightly remote. The drive back into the town takes around 20 minutes or more, as you need to drive slow depending on your car, because the roads turn into sandy dirt tracks as you near the cabin.
- The cabin does have a minimum stay of two nights. I did actually intend for a one night stop over in Joshua Tree, but as I was keen to stay here, I made slight adjustments to our plans.
- Unfortunately, where the cabin is so far out, we weren’t able to get an Uber to dinner so we (Joey, hehe) weren't able to drink. It might be worth seeing whether other taxi companies are willing to venture out this far if drinking is on your agenda.

A Day Exploring Joshua Tree

After our first nights sleep at the cabin, we woke up feeling refreshed but also craving a slow start to the day to enjoy our precious time in this beautiful accommodation. So, with that, we got the drip coffee on the go and had a slice of Vons pumpkin bread before heading out for a day in Joshua Tree and its neighbour, Yucca Valley.

- First up - breakfast at Joshua Tree Country Kitchen. I’d heard good things about this place and once we were seated and saw a photo on the wall of Anthony Bourdain visiting back in 2011, we knew we’d chosen well. This no frills, traditional American restaurant serves up classic hearty breakfasts to see you through til noon - think fried hash and biscuits n gravy. We loved it here and, even though it was crazy busy (another sign of a good place), we were seated within minutes.
- A few doors down from JT Country Kitchen, you’ll find Joshua Tree Coffee Company, a local roasters delivering an extensive menu of organic coffee. We opted for the ‘Nitro’, a cold brew coffee which has been infused with nitrogen gas to give it a smooth creamy texture - definitely worth a try.
- The part i’d been waiting a long time for - shoppppping. First on my list was The Station. This 1949 service station turned souvenir shop sells everything from magnets to tshirts, cans of drink to plant pots and even vintage magazines. Be sure to get a photo of Big Josh out the front.
- The Beauty Bubble is a J Tree institution which is a must on your itinerary. This salon come museum is ran by Jeff Hafler - a hairdresser who's been collecting beauty memorabilia since 1991! Wander around and take in the filled walls or even pick up a souvenir as some items are for sale! We met and spoke to Jeff himself who told us a mini documentary had recently been made about him and his story, which is still on our list to check out.
- No trip to Joshua Tree is complete without visiting The World Famous Crochet Museum. This teeny roadside attraction is high on the list of most unusual things i’ve seen or will probably ever see. Shari Elf brought life to an old one hour photo hut with a lick of paint back in 2006 and has housed her crochet collection in there since for passers by to visit for free! Stop by the workshop next door to say hello to Shari and purchase a mini crochet museum fridge magnet like we did.
- A shop couldn’t be more up my street than Mojave Flea Trading Post (Yucca Valley). It’s actually a marketplace rather than a shop and home to various venders selling everything a gal could want from second hand books, candles, vintage tees, homeware and even art! Let’s just say, if this place existed close to home, i’d be penniless.
- It wasn’t long before our minds wandered back to food, and since that turkey sub back in Denver, sandwiches hadn’t left my train of thought. The Dez, therefore, was an obvious choice - a local deli serving cold & hot sandwiches, sausage rolls, quiches and buddha bowls - just to name a few. Whilst on the topic of our stomachs, we thought we’d grab a few drinks to take back to the cabin to enjoy out the back before heading out to dinner. Next door to The Dez, you’ll find Joshua Tree Bottle Shop - a cute liquor store where you can pick up most kinds of alcohol you’d need.
- After spending a few hours back at The Cabin, we got ready and headed out for dinner at Pappy & Harriets. The word famous J Tree establishment is a barbecue joint and live music venue rolled into one, who's seen the likes of Paul McCartney and The Zombies play on its stage since it opened in 1982. Pappy & Harriets forms part of Pioneertown, a western themed town which was originally created as a film set back in the 40’s. The atmosphere of this place is incredible and the food is on the same league. They don’t take reservations so you may have to wait during busy periods, but for us, it was no longer than 10 minutes. Another thing to note - the phone signal is non existent here, so if you’re getting a taxi, be sure to book ahead.
- One last stop for a coffee before bidding farewell the next morning - Mas O Menos. I loved this place. The exteriors and interiors felt like a cool little Mexican bar in the desert, the employees were lovely and friendly and the coffee was great. Out the back, a market was happening (not a daily thing) which created a lovely vibe and something to enjoy post coffee without having to drive elsewhere straight after. If we’d of had more time, I would have returned in the evening for cocktails. A real all rounder!

If We’d of Had More Time

- Joshua Tree National Park itself. It felt a bit wrong having visited Joshua Tree without exploring the nation park. Unfortunately, we chose lazy mornings over hikes - something part of me regrets.
- Crossroads Cafe is another breakfast place i’ve heard great things about.
- Smith Drive In for a classic American date night.
- The Copper Room - A retro looking bar and restaurant at an old airport in Yucca Valley
- La Copine - A more fancier restaurant option with serious reviews.
- Explore Pioneertown during the day! I wanted to see this ex movie set in the light of day. You’ll find restauarants, shops and even a motel here. Another fun and special accommodation option.
- Red Dog Saloon - A second Pioneertown based restaurant with outdoor seating an a Mexican influenced menu.
- Roadrunner Grab + Go - A sandwich and drink shop, based at the JT National Park visitor centre, with sexy looking lunch options. A great option for takeaway food to take into the park.