HotelTonight – Joshua Tree, California Hotels
I drive a lot for work, and I spend a lot of time working in Southern California. Many of my days are spent shuttling between San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles and the Coachella Valley. Driving through the desert, as I often do, is something that leads me to examine myself while behind the wheel. There's something mesmerizing about the sand, the windmills on Interstate 10 and the cacti that I see that puts me in a reflective place. Given the pleasure I get from this meditative state of mind, I've never really had the thought of stopping into one of these desert communities to see what life is like there. On my last trip, however, I got a call that told me that my meetings in Los Angeles for later that day had been canceled. I had just left Palm Springs, but instead of trudging ahead I decided to change it up and spend my suddenly free day in Joshua Tree. I wanted to get to know this place. I was traveling with my HotelTonight app, so finding a Joshua Tree hotel room wouldn't be an issue. I'd book my room when I was ready to get some sleep.
The Town
When I pulled into this town of around 7,500 people, I expected to see something that looked like a classic desert outpost, complete with gas stations, chain restaurants and modern conveniences that save people time. I was way off, as it turned out. Downtown Joshua Tree is one of the most unexpectedly artistic communities I have ever seen. Everywhere I looked I saw art galleries, locally-owned clothing stores and buildings that were quite beautiful and well maintained. I got out and walked around a bit, discovering a vibe that was welcoming, safe and friendly.
The Big Park
Of course, Joshua Tree the city mostly exists because of what sits right next to it, which is the Joshua Tree National Park. I had to go see a bit of this place for myself since it was so close. I drove through the parts where you could drive, and I probably got out 10 or 15 times to take photos of desert scenes that looked like something straight out of a movie. Everywhere you turned, the sun was hitting the rocks a bit differently and creating different hues of orange, red and yellow. This is a magical place.
The Dining
I headed back into town to get something to eat. I found a saloon that looked non-touristy, so I stopped in and ordered a very tasty beer while deciding on my entree. I decided to go with the fish tacos, and they were sublime. The mahi-mahi was cooked perfectly and the cabbage and sauce dumped on top of them complemented the protein perfectly. I sat and enjoyed the back-country atmosphere for a bit before deciding to pay the bill and move on.
HotelTonight – Joshua Tree Hotels Near You
I realized at that point that I had yet to book a Joshua Tree hotel room. I opened my HotelTonight app and booked one in seconds. It was a short trip away, and I looked forward to a shower and a night of deep sleep, happy that I had made the most of my limited free time.
