Tag: High Desert

  • Joshua Tree Inn

    Joshua Tree Inn

    61259 29 PALMS HIGHWAY
    JOSHUA TREE

    It was at this “eccentrically eclectic” roadside motel that Gram Parsons spent his last days. Said to have been a favorite getaway for the country star (as well as a frequent stomping ground for John Barrymore, Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi and John Wayne), the property sits just a few miles from Joshua Tree National Park. Parson’s final stay took place in Room 8, where the singer overdosed in the early morning hours of September 19, 1973, before being rushed to nearby Hi-Desert Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at the age of 26. His memory remains alive and well on site, though, with a guitar statue on display in the courtyard and a sign on the office door reading, “Home of Gram Parsons’ Spirit.”

    Website

  • Pioneertown

    Pioneertown

    53688 PIONEERTOWN ROAD
    PIONEERTOWN

    This collection of rickety wooden buildings lining a small stretch of desert road about 30 miles outside Palm Springs began life as a movie set. Created by Hollywood heavyweights Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in 1946, Pioneertown promptly became a popular destination for shooting Westerns. When the genre died out in the late ‘60s, the complex was left intact and still looks much the same as it did when John Wayne and Bud Abbott roamed the dusty grounds. Today, you’ll catch tourists wandering the premises, popping in and out of the wood-shingled specialty shops, taking in Wild West shows, grabbing a meal at local favorite Pappy + Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace(which made my lunch list above) and reveling in the charmingly kitschy atmosphere.

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  • Joshua Tree National Park

    Joshua Tree National Park

    6544 PARK BOULEVARD
    JOSHUA TREE

    A day trip to Joshua Tree National Park, located about 40 miles northeast of Palm Springs, is a must for any desert visitor! While the entire 800,000-acre park is worth checking out, offering some of the most beautiful scenery known to man, there are a few stand-out spots that shouldn’t be missed, including the aptly-named Skull Rock (pictured), Jumbo Rocks, Arch Rock, the Cholla Cactus Garden and Keys View, an awe-inspiring lookout point featuring panoramic vistas of the entire Valley, with even the San Andreas Faultline visible on a clear day! (Note – there are three entrances to the park. The address above denotes the visitor center for the entrance closest to downtown Palm Springs.)

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  • Crossroads Cafe

    Crossroads Cafe

    61715 TWENTYNINE PALMS HIGHWAY
    JOSHUA TREE

    Another out-of-the-way spot, this one is also worth the drive, especially if you are visiting Joshua Tree. Featuring an eclectic menu with a slew of vegan and plant-based options, the food is truly out of this world, and the atmosphere is extremely welcoming. The chicken tacos are my personal favorite and, while no longer listed on the menu, are still readily available to patrons in the know.

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    Website

  • Pappy + Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace

    Pappy + Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace

    53688 PIONEERTOWN ROAD
    PIONEERTOWN

    Located 30 miles north of Palm Springs, this eatery is a bit out of the way but is a must-stop if you’re heading to Joshua Tree or Yucca Valley. Boasting a vibrant and thoroughly unique high-desert vibe, the historical movie set turned biker/burrito bar turned bustling restaurant/fabled live music venue is hip, happening, and standing-room-only most days. And don’t let the place’s ramshackle appearance fool you – the food served on the premises is some of the best you’ll find in the entire greater Palm Springs area. As such, Pappy + Harriet’s has attracted the likes of everyone from Paul McCartney to Helen Mirren to Emma Stone.

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