Instagrammable Joshua Tree Weekend
Instagrammable Joshua Tree Weekend
Christina Holtom
Available for hire
It's all about the aesthetic. The most photogenic desert hiking trails, rustic bungalows, quirky cafes, and stunning boutiques for unique souvenirs. This guide includes everything you need for a weekend that will look pretty on your 'gram.
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Where to Stay
Food
Pappy + Harriet's
@christinaholtom
Western style restaurant with live music and classic American food, located in Pioneertown *make reservations, it’s very popular. Check online for concert schedule.
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Crossroads Cafe
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Classic american breakfast spot to hit up before your adventures. Can get crowded, prepare for a wait if you go on a weekend.
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Yucca Kabob
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Middle Eastern Cusine. Casual, but high quality food perfect for a lunch to go.
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Frontier Café
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Artsy cafe with live music in the evenings. Absolutely love their coffee and array of drinks, healthy and delicious salads and sandwiches. They have an outdoor patio to relax and enjoy a break from the sun.
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La Copine
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This restaurant is up the road a bit, and features funky black and white murals that are begging for a photo. They have a wide variety of modern dishes from salmon latkes to brown sugar coffee glazed beignets. Yum!
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Snake Bite Roadhouse
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The "iconic desert hangout of Yucca Valley." When in Rome...this place has photogenic and delicious brunch dishes, comfort food, handcrafted drinks, and upbeat entertainment. It has an eclectic desert diner vibe that can't be missed.
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The DEZ fine food - takeaway - catering
@christinaholtom
Exactly like the name suggests, it's high quality food to. Perfect for a picnic in the National Park, or a night to relax at your cool airbnb. They go all out on all their dishes. You can also get wine, cheese and meats for a simple, romantic meal.
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Yucca Valley Outpost Café
@christinaholtom
Casual spot for smoothies, healthy vegan options. Right off the road as you come into town. Stop here after your long drive to fuel up on nutritious food or pick up food to take and eat in the park. Lots of options for wellness shots, hot and cold drinks, smoothies and loads of entrees.
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Pioneertown
Soukie Modern Pioneertown
@christinaholtom
Stunning ethnic home decor, handcrafted rugs, linen clothing, fun artistic gifts and souvenirs
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XēBA BOTáNICA
@christinaholtom
Bright, natural store with wellness products and souvenirs, handcrafted jewelery and desert goods. A must visit in Pioneertown.
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Pioneertown General Store
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Old town shop with vintage western style clothes and accesories, cowboy boots, apothecary, textiles, knives and more. Unique experience and a must visit in Pioneertown.
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Joshua Tree National Park
Hidden Valley Nature Trail Trailhead
@christinaholtom
An easy trail that you can go explore for as long or as little as you'd like. Great for kids. See desert flowers, joshua trees, climb on the rocks and take insane photos! There is a parking lot right by the trailhead. Plan to arrive early in the day for better lighting, more moderate temperatures and more parking spots.
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Discovery Trail
@christinaholtom
Another easy trail, perfect for kids. Lots of options for scrambling on rocks if you are into that. Go across the street from the Discovery Trail and see the skull rock, located a few steps off the main road. You can park on the road or in the parking lot. This spot gets busy, lots of people stopping to see the skull rock.
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Hall of Horrors Area
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Lots of rockclimbing here. A good, flat walking path with offshoots to explore. There is a "hall" made from a split in the rock that is a cool photo op. Lots of rock scrambling, and a large valley of joshua trees that is a great photo spot. Large parking lot that fills up quick.
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Split Rock Loop Trail
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A short loop trail, good for kids. Lots of unique cactus, cool rock formations. There is a parking lot and bathrooms at trailhead.
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Barker Dam Nature Trail
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One of the few spots in the park with water during certain times of the year. A fantastic loop trail with a variety of desert landscapes to walk through. There are petroglyphs on the trail that are worth checking out. A fairly easy trail, kids can do it. Parking lot and bathrooms at the trailhead.
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Cholla Cactus Garden
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A valley full of cholla cacti, a view you don't see in the rest of the park. It's a unique landscape that makes for a cool photo! You can walk just a few steps from your car to experience this.
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Shopping
SUN OF THE DESERT
@christinaholtom
Mens & women’s clothing, fun souvenirs like handmade pottery, apothecary, rocks and gems, and jewelry. They have a photogenic back patio to eat & hang out at - complete with a disco ball. You have to go and "gram" this spot!
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Mojave Flea Trading Post
@christinaholtom
A massive marketplace of goods from merchants and makers in the Coachella Valley and Joshua Tree area. It is full of the BEST home decor, unique clothing, artwork, florals, and just SO much more. If you go to one store...
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an-nx home
@christinaholtom
A DREAMY home store. A mix of bohemian, coastal, and desert style, you will find lots of raw fibers, natural colors and quality made furniture and home decor.
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Hoof & The Horn
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A fun store to pop into after grabbing a coffee at Frontier Cafe. This store has a variety of souvenirs and gifts, cute local clothing brands for men & women, as well as a small baby/kids section.
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Explore an Abandoned Mine
Desert Queen Mine
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Mastodon Peak Loop Trail
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Wall Street Mill Trail
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Walk among the palms at an Oasis
Lost Palms Oasis Trail
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Around 7 miles RT. Recommended for the more moderate hikers. Bring plenty of water.
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Oasis of Mara
@christinaholtom
Easy walk, located in the same area as the 29 Palms Visitor Center. Short, great for kids to get the wiggles out.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christina Holtom
Available for hire
Seattle based travel designer for the design minded + culturally curious.
With professional experience in the airline industry, and a background in design, I specialize in creating travel experiences that get to the heart of a place and its local culture through design and food. I have been traveling with my husband for the past decade and we added a daughter to our crew a couple years ago. I firmly believe that travel and adventure doesn't stop when you have kids, but can be enhanced through the eye of a child seeing the world. I'm here to share tips on how to travel with kids, without sacrificing luxury and relaxation. I'll help you see the world through the lens of design and local cuisine. My destinations of expertise include Europe (Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, England) and the US, but I'm always expanding my knowledge and love taking on requests for other places.
Shop my curated travel guides or check out my custom travel design services to elevate your experience and minimize the stress of travel planning.
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