While visiting Los Angeles for family matters, I took advantage of visiting Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park, two destinations I’ve heard a few things about but never been to. It was a nice little jaunt outside of the gray PNW winters into sunny warm Southern California. My heart was also filled with content from seeing my extended family for the first time since the pandemic. 

Palm Springs

One of the main reasons I wanted to visit Palm Springs was to see the beautiful mid-century modern homes. To do that, we rented a dual e-bike and explored two neighborhoods; Canyon Estates and Old Las Palmas.

The homes were architectural masterpieces with perfect lawns and brightly colored doors. It was also so fun to ride and just carelessly roam around in perfect weather. 

Palm Springs is quite chic. There are funky art pieces across downtown; from a large Marilyn Monroe statue to colorfully painted benches. We also visited the Palm Springs Design and Architecture Center and appreciated a small designer chair exhibit on display. 

I loved the vintage 50s/60s desert vibes in Palm Springs. From the architecture to local home goods stores, it was a time of bright bold colors and patterns. We also visited the Moorten Botanical Garden to admire the desert flora.

There were also lots of trendy outdoor restaurants to try and I could feel this unique excitement while on vacation. We enjoyed a bacon flight at Cheeky’s, steak from Mr. Lyons, lobster tacos at Tac/Quila, and a sweet crepe at FARM.

Chi and I both really enjoyed our time in Palm Springs. It was relaxing, slow, and fun. It very much scratched my travel itch. I’d love to go back and just lounge by the pool under the sun.

Joshua Tree National Park

A must-visit attraction near Palm Springs is Joshua Tree National Park, about 1-hr drive away. As national park enthusiasts, we had to visit.

I also had seen and learned about many cool Airbnbs stays near the park, so I had to find a unique one. We picked a renovated airstream RV in the desert— very fitting to Joshua Tree. While there were some kinks to our stay, we had a satisfying stay. Our second night was spent stargazing against a wood fire after an outdoor hot shower. Our final morning started with a stunning sunrise from the side of our bed. 

As for the park itself, we spent about 1.5 days exploring the most popular sights. We first visited late afternoon to catch the sunset and hike through Barker Dam. Golden hour never disappoints and the large granite rock formations were lit in purplish pink. 

We started the next day with sunrise in Cholla Cactus Gardens. The colors of the sky were stunning against this unique cacti backdrop. 

We explored Arch Rock, Split Rock, and Skull Rock. My favorite was Arch Rock of them all. We also hiked through Hidden Valley, which was a short and easy flat hike with large granite rocks and Joshua trees to admire. 

With extra time, we also hiked the “High View” trail near Black Rock Canyon and this short hike hit me in the right spot with its sweeping panoramic views. 

The final attraction was seeing the sunset from Keys View. This was impressive with purple and pink skies against jagged bare mountains. It was surreal with moon-like terrain—perhaps one of my top memorable sunsets. 

Joshua Tree National Park was fun and beautiful in its own way. While it topped Chi’s list of favorite national parks, I feel like Mount Rainer, Glacier, Yellowstone, and others were better. Next time, I need to visit Redwoods, Channel Islands, Yosemite, and Death Valley! 

On our last day, we visited Pioneertown. This western-themed block is about 20 minutes from Joshua Tree and a fun quick stop to transport you into an old western movie.

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While we only spent about 3 days in Palm Springs & Joshua Tree, Chi and I felt like it was a long and far getaway. It was great to sightsee, wander outdoors in sunny weather and just be carefree. My soul was also warmed to see my relatives, catch up with my cousins and celebrate my grandma’s life. I hope to revisit asap and spend more time with family.