LUCY GOES TO JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

I spend my days day dreaming about places I have yet to visit. I am beyond lucky to be living in California where there is so much to see and do. This weekend my family and I drove 2 hours east to visit Joshua Tree National Park. I had heard incredible things about this part of the desert so I had to check it out for myself.

We arrived to the park Friday afternoon. The roads were empty, the air was dry, and on top of that there was absolutely no service. But this made the trip more enjoyable because we were not easily distracted.

First stop: Cholla Cactus Garden

The cholla (cho-ya) cactus garden was such a sweet view. There was a small pathway for visitors to walk through the garden, but you had to be careful. These plants are known to penetrate through your skin if you touch a single spine. 

Second stop: Hidden Valley

We drove further down the desert and that is where the Joshua trees finally appeared. We wandered hours under the California sun looking at these infamous trees, the jumbo rocks, and at the small wildlife. My mom accidentally stepped on cactus spines that went through her toe. She said the pain was a 12/10, but she is okay now!

Third stop: Skull Rock
By this time it was the golden hour so the desert looked breathtaking. The skies were colored like cotton candy and the air was fresh. I had read about the skull rock online and was thrilled to finally see it in person.

I have a confession: I have never gone camping. I am afraid of staying overnight in the middle of nowhere. However, if you do go visit Joshua Tree I HIGHLY recommend to camp! You get to sleep under the stars next to the jumbo rocks and Joshua trees.

We did not camp, but we did enjoy a few snacks and waited until the sun went down. When it became night we laid down on the lunch table and stared at the twinkling stars that filled the night sky. It is crazy to think how we don't get to see stars as clear living in a city. I am a lover of stars so being able to genuinely see them was a dream. We stayed at a small motel in 29 Palms (there are so many motels in 29 palms that are super affordable and very nice looking so if you are afraid to camp like me, then stay in one of these!)

The next day we had an early breakfast at a locals favorite Crossroads Cafe. The interior of the cafe was minimalistic with a cozy vibe to it. The waiters were friendly, the design was beautiful, and the food was delicious. There were many vegan options along with Mexican food options that was a win-win for all of us.

If you ever visit this cafe, order the tofu scramble with ranchero sauce. I have had multiple tofu scrambles at vegan restaurants but this one for sure has been the best one. Also order their potatoes- they are to die for! 

After breakfast we explored around the town of Joshua tree. There is a small yoga studio, a few restaurants/cafes, vintage shops, health stores, and the very popular Joshua Tree Coffee Company. Lucky for us they were having their Saturday's farmers market that had so many fresh fruits and veggies.

These two days were nothing but magical. I do love LA, but it is nice to escape from the city and go on small adventures that are fairly close by. There is still so much more I want to see in Joshua Tree, but that just means I have to come back and that is fine by me!

What is your favorite place to escape to in California? Let me know so I can plan a future trip there! And of course thanks so much for reading!

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