THERE’S MORE THAN JUST TREES
Top things to do in Joshua Tree: Restaurants & Activities
Even if hiking is not your thing, Joshua Tree can still be a great destination. Stop by one of these local wine shops on the way to your Airbnb or campsite. They have an awesome selection of natural wines.
You can find the best sandwich in town at The DEZ Fine Food. I’m genuinely torn between what’s better – the food or the service. Whenever I’m visiting Joshua Tree, I have lunch here EVERY day.
My other go to spot is Frontier Café. Good coffee and food, with an overall chill vibe. There are also some great shops nearby.
CABOT’S PUEBLO MUSEUM
Interested in spending a day outside the park? Take a 45-minute drive to Cabot’s Pueblo Museum. The tour costs $13 and provides a self-guided, audio tour throughout the entire Pueblo. The audio recording is unintentionally humorous and worth the experience alone. You really get a feeling for the history of the location.
PIONEERTOWN
This is actually a fake town. Pioneertown was a popular set for old western movies. I wouldn’t classify this as a ‘must-see,’ but if you’re in the area, it’s worth a visit.
This is a very cute way to kill some time in the area. There are fun little novelty shops and endless photo opportunities to be had. Pop into the pottery shop and buy a little ceramic worry wart.
INTEGRATRON
Venture out to the Integratron for an idyllic sound bath experience. Be sure to make your reservation well in advance.
You’ll want to wear loose, comfortable clothing. Consider bringing a light blanket for extra comfort. They provide a cozy mat topped with a clean sheet for you to lie on. Try not to fall asleep!
I recommend showing up early for your reservation so that you can enjoy their beautiful courtyard and relax in one of their shady hammocks.
LA COPINE
One of my favorite restaurants in Joshua Tree is located off Old Woman Springs Road (great name), on the way to the Integratron. You can’t go wrong with anything at La Copine, but the brown sugar coffee beignets are a MUST. Expect this place to be extremely busy, but it’s worth the wait.
OTHER NOTABLE MENTIONS
Visit the Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum. This unique museum showcases what appears to be artsy abandoned junk, but even weirder. It’s located just about 10 minutes outside the park on the west side.
This is a free exhibit but donations are encouraged. Check out their website for a bit of backstory before you visit.
On my next visit, I plan to check out the Crochet Museum and Joshua Tree Art Gallery.
