Joshua Tree + Palm Springs.
We left on our 4 month adventure on our RV on January 8, 2020 and have no plans of returning home to Minnesota until May. But things did not start out how we imagined and we purposed to go with the flow and not have everything as planned out as we previously had.
That being said, we found ourselves staying In California for much longer than we originally expected. We arrived in Cali on January 19th and headed out on February 5th. In that short time, we saw the coolest things and probably only a fraction of what Cali has to offer.
We went and stayed at a beautiful RV park right by the ocean in Malibu for a week and then headed to the much anticipated Joshua Tree, California.
We got the most incredible experience to stay at 2 different airbnb’s nestled right in Joshua Tree.
The first AirBnb was an off-grid completely solar powered beauty nestled right in the middle of the desert. It’s called MoonCamp and I would go back in a heartbeat. The dome home is eloquently designed and so perfect for your getaway. It had spacious room for all 8 of us plus had 2 shipping container buildings on the land as well. One served as a guest house and another as a lounge house. There was star gazing, hammocks and a firepit and we could have stayed an entire week there. It was glorious!
The second Airbnb we stayed at was called The Bohemian and it was in the most adorable house and all 8 of us wanted to buy the house and move in right upon walking in the door. It was unbelievable! The decor was outstanding and so welcoming and we felt this intense feeling of comfort and home there. The back porch was spacious with seating, a picnic table and grill. There was a sauna, hot tub and outdoor shower that we took full advantage of as well as the hammocks. We would honestly come back to Joshua Tree just to experience staying in this house again.
After our evenings in these cozy Airbnb properties, we headed to Joshua Tree National Park and right on the south entrance of the park was land that we could boondock on and we found a campsite and took root for a few days there. We opened our doors in the morning to desert and mountains and peace. It was absolutely stunning. We laid low and explored all that Joshua Tree National Park has to offer. We loved the Cholla Cactus Garden (even though it legit felt like they jumped out at you, as legend has it.) We played on the jumbo rocks and went on hikes together. We only got to grasp hold of a tiny portion of all that Joshua Tree is but it was wonderful. We can’t wait to come back again!
We were then off to Palm Springs. There are 9 distinct cities that make up the area of Greater Palm Springs:
Palm Springs
Palm Desert
Rancho Mirage
Indian Wells
La Quinta
Desert Hot Springs
Indo
Coachella
We had the pleasure of experiencing just some of them. We stayed in Rancho Mirage at the Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa. We were utterly blown away by how amazing this resort was. The activities for parents + kids + families was perfect. We had so much fun with our kids. Swimming, having lunch at the Pinz & Pints and playing duckpin + at the arcade. In the evenings, Seebz and I would take a quick dip in the adults only hot tub right outside our room. We would have loved staying here longer too because there were just so many fun activities for everyone. We can’t wait to come back again!
We also spent a few days exploring some of what Greater Palm Springs area has to offer. Big thanks to Greater Palm Springs Visitor Bureau for all the help on planning our days of adventure!
We went to some of the coolest places and I am so glad the kids got to experience each and every part of it. Honestly, each of these places could take up an entire day of their own to experience.
We went to Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and I have never done anything like that before. We rode the tram up and down a steep mountain (8,500 feet) and the views were breathtaking. Honestly, the way up was a bit freaky for me but the conductor and the sound track on the tram eased my nerves a ton. It’s something I will never forget seeing with my children by my side.
We headed to Shields Date Garden in Indio to try their farm fresh dates and we sat at their counter and had the most tasty shakes! And we didn’t realize how many things you can make from dates! It was a fun excursion for sure!
Next up was the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert and there was so much to do! The kids moved from exhibit to exhibit and couldn’t absorb enough information or fun. There was a world of experiences and possibilities and they played for hours on end!
The last place we checked out was The Living Desert Zoo and I had heard so much buzz about this place and it did not disappoint. There was so much to see and do and the kids even got to feed the giraffes which was so fun to see! We loved the African exhibits most and got so giddy to see all the animals we’ve never seen before. The hyena and warthog and cheetah were some of our favs! This is a must see if you are in the Palm Desert area.
We absolutely loved our time in California (my personal favorite parts were Joshua Tree and Greater Palm Springs area.) The plant life is so interesting to me and there are some really great family experiences to enjoy! Hope to be back again one day soon! I think I might be a desert girl at heart.