Welcome to Joshua Tree — Here’s What We Want You to Know
Joshua Tree is one of those places that can look deceptively simple from a distance.
Desert. Rocks. Joshua trees. A few roads.
Then you get here.
The landscape changes by the hour. The rocks turn different colors as the sun moves. A place that looked completely empty suddenly has rabbits, quail and coyotes wandering through it. At night, you look up and remember there are actually stars above Southern California.
And somewhere along the way, most first-time visitors realize Joshua Tree isn't really a place you come to do everything.
It's a place you come to slow down.
A More Practical Guide to Joshua Tree
That's what we're building here at JoshuaTreeRental.com.
Yes, Desert Willow Retreat is our vacation rental in Twentynine Palms, just a few minutes from Joshua Tree National Park.
But we also want this site to be useful whether you stay with us or not.
We'll share the things we'd want a friend to know before visiting: what to do, what not to do, where to eat, which hikes are worth considering, what to bring into the park, and how to enjoy the desert without spending your entire vacation racing from one attraction to another.
Some of it will be practical.
Some of it will be opinionated.
And occasionally it will come from lessons learned the hard way.
For example: Don't touch the cholla.
We'll get to that story.
Start With Two Days
If this is your first visit, start with our Two-Day Joshua Tree Itinerary.
We put it together for people who want to experience Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounding communities without turning their vacation into an endurance event.
There are hikes, scenic stops, places to eat, time for sunset and stargazing — and, equally important, time to sit down and enjoy where you are.
Because that's really the trick to Joshua Tree.
Come prepared. Bring water. Don't trust every dirt road. Give the wildlife some space.
And every once in a while, stop doing things and just look around.
Welcome to the desert.