Why Joshua Tree belongs at the top of your travel list

There’s something about Joshua Tree that doesn’t quite feel like the real world…in the best way possible. Maybe it’s the way the sky lights up with stars at night. And I don’t mean a few twinkles in the distance. I mean a full, glittering dome that actually makes you stop mid-sentence just to stare at it. It’s the kind of sky that reminds you how small you are, in the most comforting way.

A starry night captured from the outdoor bed at Cholla Hills Home

A starry night at Cholla Hills Home

And then there’s the daytime. The desert turns into this surreal, sun-washed sculpture garden. The Joshua trees twist and reach like something out of a Dr. Seuss book, each one with a personality of its own. Spiky yuccas dot the landscape, attracting the absolute cutest bunnies and roadrunners (yes, they’re real — and yes, they’re ridiculously charming). And the cholla? They literally glow in the early morning and late afternoon light. Their cream-colored spines catch the sun and make the green trunks underneath look like they’re lit from within. When they bloom, it feels almost unreal.

Everything out here looks like it was painted on purpose. Every trail you take leads to new shapes, new shadows, new textures. You think you’ve seen the best part of the landscape, and then you round a corner and it surprises you all over again.

A desert plant in Joshua Tree park

Captured while hiking Joshua Tree park’s Hidden Valley trail

And while the landscape is the main draw, the music scene out here is amazing. Legendary artists have played at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown. Its a one-of-a-kind desert venue where you might catch a big-name act in an intimate setting. You can check out their upcoming shows here.

If you’re visiting in October, you’re in for another treat. The Highway 62 Art Tour runs for three weekends and gives you the chance to explore the high desert’s creative side. Local artists open their studios to the public, turning the whole area into a sprawling gallery crawl. It’s part open house, part community celebration, and a perfect way to meet makers, pick up something truly one-of-a-kind, and experience the art scene that thrives out here.