Desert Getaway

This past December was an absolute whirlwind for me. Every holiday season is daunting in and of itself working in retail but with the added responsibility this year, I basically didn't know which was up. Luckily, I weathered the storm and felt that it was best for my health and well-being to take a much needed vacation. Somewhere semi local, beautiful, and without PEOPLE. Joshua Tree had been on my bucket list and for good reason. It's absolutely breathtaking! I spent five glorious days exploring and taking time to relax.

Winter in Yucca Valley is known to be cool, crisp and fairly quiet this time of year. As we embarked on the quick two hour journey from Los Angeles with music and coffee in hand, I knew I needed to be out in nature and get a change of scenery. The town is basically a long stretch of quintessential small town restaurants, shops, and bars. There are a few standard groceries stores along the way that we were able to pop into to grab food for the next few days for our Airbnb.

Airbnb is always my go to on trips because it's usually a cheaper route and it's a great way to see a new place. We got such a great deal on our stay, being that the season is slower in winter. Our place was definitely off the beaten track and tucked far away from town, but was so worth the drive. Now, there are no street lamps or paved roads if you decide to stay farther from town, and I will admit we didn't stay out much after dark but the sky at night made it all worth it. Every night we sat beneath the stars with all the lights out, only to be illuminated by the moon...which was beautiful and big and gave us plenty of light! Our place was cozy and small, only for two, but built with a cute old kitchen and an awesome vintage, western vibe.

Joshua Tree National Park is one of those parks you have to visit while your staying in and around Yucca Valley. The landscape is vast and rolling and beautiful. There are many points all along the way to stop and hike. We wanted to check out Hidden Valley and the Cactus Garden specifically since we had heard great reviews. Go check out the visitors center and speak to one of the local guides to help! They were super friendly and helped us figure out the best trails for us.

Because it was the dead of winter, not much was going on while we were there. Which we were totally fine with, but definitely set an itinerary if you want to pack in your trip. We wanted to check out this crazy sound bath spot called the Integratron, but of course, closed in January... There's a lot of vintage shopping and eateries to visit. Local art and at least two bars make up the city. We happened to stumble on an art walk and music night our first night there. It was really great! Like I mentioned before, because it got dark so early we didn't stay out too late because of the lack of light. It's crazy living in LA where anywhere you go things are open and there's *shocker* street lamps to guide you. Not out here. We mentioned we wanted to come back during the summer when we can stay out late and enjoy more of the evening!

The Beauty Bubble Salon and Museum

Big Josh

Overall, the trip was just what I needed. It was great to spend time in a new place and get to cross off another bucket list destination!! Have you been to Joshua Tree before? What are some places to check out next time I go?

Xo, Claire

#joshuatree #vacation #travel #desert #personal #airbnb #lifestyle #yuccavalley

*All reviews are personal and my own!