About two weeks ago, my best friend Torrey and I took a trip to Joshua Tree to shoot content for my blog and her upcoming blog (be on the lookout health & wellness fans!). We wanted to go to a place that was calm & relaxing so we could really focus on creating content the entire time we were there. I have to say, if you need to go somewhere to get creative Joshua Tree is the place. There’s something about being in the middle of the desert amongst the spirituality of Joshua Tree that sparks so much inspiration.
We stayed in the cutest little Air BNB called The Joshua Tree Cabin. It was a bright studio out in the middle of nowhere that was absolutely perfect for our mini trip. We spent the days shooting photos & the nights editing and coming up with new blog ideas. It was probably one of the most productive few days I have had in a while; I am looking forward to doing another trip like it soon!
Since we were shooting during most of our trip, we did a ton of research on where we wanted to go before we got there. We had trouble finding a straight-up guide on where to shoot; so after our long hours of Googling & adventures around the town, I wanted to share with you the most photo-worthy spots in Joshua Tree!
Joshua Tree National Park
This one is obviously a given. You can’t go to Joshua Tree without going to the national park. I went not really knowing what to expect aside from what I saw in photos and let me tell you, pictures don’t even do it justice. I didn’t really realize how HUGE this park was. We didn’t even get to go through half of it in a day. The park is full of gorgeous rock formations, wildlife, and of course Joshua Trees. You can seriously hop out of the car and instantly be in the perfect photo op.
Keys View
Inside the national park there is a place called Keys View. It’s about a 30 minute drive or so from the West Entrance of the park and is a must-see during sunset. The road takes you up the mountain and once you get to the top, you get a view of the entire Coachella valley area. Be prepared to get their early as many people go there for sunset. Grab a picnic blanket & some snacks and be ready for the view. It is truly gorgeous and one of the best sunsets I have ever seen.
The Station
If you do a bit of IG creeping before heading off to Joshua Tree, you will probably find photos of people at a vintage looking gas station. The Station is located right off the main highway and is the perfect place to stop for a quick pic. This gas-station-turned-retail-shop is very photogenic and has a lot of opportunities for the perfect Insta pic. The shop was closed when we were there, but we peaked inside and it looked super cute! I definitely want to come back when it’s open to check it out.
29 Palms Inn
The 29 Palms Inn is a bit of a drive past the town of Joshua Tree. But if you’re looking for some pink colored buildings in a desert vibe, it’s worth the trip. Honestly, I’m not sure if you are allowed to enter the inn but we did it and no one said anything to us. The property is pretty big and if you did some exploring, I bet you could find multiple places to take some great photos.
Carla’s Route 62 Diner
I’ve been wanting to take photos in a diner for a while. I love the old-school vibes that diners have and think they make for great photoshoot locations. Carla’s Route 62 Diner is in Yucca Valley on your way into Joshua Tree. It’s definitely a spot for locals with the diner in the front and a huge dance hall type space in the back. It was the perfect spot to take a quick photo sipping on a milkshake. Just a fair warning, the staff was a big confused at what we were doing (lol), but they were totally fine with us taking photos in their restaurant.
P.S. Get the onion rings. They are amazing.
Cactus-Mart
I love going to little local shops when I’m traveling and somehow Torrey and I discovered this cactus nursery while doing some research on J Tree. They were totally fine with us taking photos in their green houses, which was super nice of them. Plus, they have so many cute cacti, you’ll probably end up leaving with a purchase. I do want to warn you, there are chickens in the inside shop. If you are deathly afraid of birds like I am, I would avoid going in there. I lasted about 2 seconds before I made Torrey buy my cactus for me haha.
Shop On The Mesa
Okay, so we were SO sad because Shop On The Mesa was closed when we visited. It’s the cutest little home and lifestyle shop on the way to Joshua Tree that’s full of the cutest goods and pretty Moroccan rugs. We showed up to Shop On The Mesa not knowing it’d be closed. We took a peek through the windows and trust me, it is definitely worth the shop! I am so disappointed that I couldn’t go in and check out the shop for myself, but my bank account is totally happy because I probably would’ve bought the whole store. (pic above from their website!)
Want to see more of my Joshua Tree adventures? Check out my Instagram!
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