Recently, we made our annual trip to Joshua Tree and Palm Springs. We stayed at Green Acres as usual, but this time we got to check out the second amazing cabin on the property. The best part was
this secret chill out room beyond a door in a bathroom that looked like it wouldn't go anywhere special. There was gravel on the floor, a mid-century fireplace and a charming dinner table setup where we ate tacos by candlelight at night. It's a total dream spot.
this secret chill out room beyond a door in a bathroom that looked like it wouldn't go anywhere special. There was gravel on the floor, a mid-century fireplace and a charming dinner table setup where we ate tacos by candlelight at night. It's a total dream spot.
This year we hit up the annual orchid festival at Gubler Orchids. It's amazing to see buildings just full of the tropical plants as far as the eye can see in the middle of the high desert. Unfortunately, we couldn't stick around long enough for a high dez hot air balloon ride. The next local event on the itinerary was the gem and mineral jamboree held at the Joshua Tree Sportsman's Club. I picked up a pretty slice of silver lace onyx to keep rings on and another large pinkish rock I hope to display somewhere in our new place.
We visited Pappy & Harriet's as we usually do, but also ventured further out in the other direction to The Palms restaurant in Wonder Valley. Maybe the most out-there roadhouse I've visited since we went to the Ski Inn in Bombay Beach at the Salton Sea on one of our last trips. Stock up on your desert reading material and local event coverage here — they carry the Desert Oracle and The Wonder Valley Sand Paper 'Your line in the sand.'
We encountered desert wildlife, sometimes of the hackle-raising variety like the scorpion I found in the shower and the black widows who made their homes among the barrel cactuses ringing the water feature and the outlet where we needed to plug in our travel record player. But then there was the cute, fluffy bunny. We made a stop at Bkb ceramics while we waited for a table at Crossroads Cafe and I picked up the last bottle of Wonder Valley olive oil in the shop — maybe even the last bottle anywhere.
We walked into the park from the entrance up the road. The experience of walking into the park through a hole in the fence, following washes and faint trails instead of a sign-posted trail feels even more exhilarating. You can get lost in the landscape feeling the possibility that maybe you could even become truly lost for a spell. What would you do? Of course, it's pretty easy to find the way back with a view from that high up.
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