Why Joshua Tree and California's High Desert Towns Are Having a Moment
Known to locals as the High Desert, the area—which includes Yucca Valley, Twentynine Palms, Pioneertown, and the unincorporated community of Joshua Tree—has been home to indigenous peoples for millennia. It's also been drawing visitors for centuries; legend has it that Mormon settlers gave the region's endemic yucca trees the biblical name of 'Joshua' in the early 19th century. And who could forget that the iconic band U2 named their seminal 1987 album after the desert region?
Recently, a new wave of visitors has discovered the charm of the High Desert—and many have decided to stay. Lured by the promise of wide-open spaces and more affordable homes, people from Los Angeles and beyond flocked to the area during the pandemic—an in turn, further fueled an already-thriving creative scene and set up a host of new businesses along the way. 'Artists and seekers have long been drawn here, and it's exciting to watch the area evolve further and to be a part of such a lovely and welcoming community,' says Jessica Pell, founder of the design firm Manola Studio and owner of the recently opened Hotel Wren in Twentynine Palms. 'There's something incredibly humbling about the High Desert and how it holds silence, space, and time differently. There's an ache and a beauty in the contrast: the softness of light against sharp rock, the resiliency of wildflowers blooming in impossible soil, the brilliance of its creatures designed to endure such extreme conditions.'
With all that spellbinding natural beauty and a host of newly opened shops, restaurants, and lodging options—rumor has it that a Joshua Tree outpost of Miami's Faena is also soon to arrive—it's no wonder the High Desert holds everlasting appeal. Below, a look at some of the best places to stay, eat, and play should you decide to make the trip yourself. Just a word of caution to the heat-adverse: In the summer, temperatures can reach triple digits, so you may want to plan your trip for the cooler months between October and April—or, at the very least, make sure you have access to a very cold pool.
Where to Stay
Courtesy: Autocamp
Courtesy: Autocamp
For those who crave a quintessential camping experience without any of the discomfort, AutoCamp's Joshua Tree location offers 47 custom Airstreams and eight sleek, tiny-home cabins. Nestled within 25 acres adjacent to the National Park and its West Entrance—and a stone's throw away from the village of Joshua Tree's main strip—it makes for an ideal launch pad from which to explore the area's many delights. (So much so that it also served as the base for Vogue's June 2025 cover shoot featuring Hailey Bieber, photographed by Mikael Jansson.)
And no wonder: Aesthetes and nature lovers alike appreciate both the high design and the attention to detail, which includes original art from local artists, dark sky-compliant lighting, native landscaping, organic-modern architecture by HKS, and handcrafted interiors by Narrative Design. In the mid-century modern-inspired Clubhouse, for example, you'll find floor-to-ceiling windows, wood-slat walls, a free-standing fireplace, and plenty of clean-lined furniture in natural materials that echo the landscape outside.
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Associated Press
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Media Contact: Renata Rolefes Renata Rolefes Art Owner and Artist Email: [email protected] Website: Facebook: Renata Rolefes Art Instagram: @renatarolefesart Pinterest: Happy Paintings Curacao LinkedIn: Renata Rolefes Contact Info: Name: Renata Rolefes Email: Send Email Organization: Renata Rolefes Art Website: Release ID: 89167473 If you encounter any issues, discrepancies, or concerns regarding the content provided in this press release, or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we urge you to notify us without delay at [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our expert team will be available to promptly respond within 8 hours – ensuring swift resolution of identified issues or offering guidance on removal procedures. Delivering accurate and reliable information is fundamental to our mission.
Forbes
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Yahoo
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His gigs included coaching tennis to young local players trying to get on their high school tennis teams, as well as being an office administrative assistant. Related 'You realise there's nothing you can't do': Why solo travel is the ultimate act of self-care Why Thailand's new luxury Blue Jasmine train will be like a boutique hotel on wheels A lack of social interactions during the pandemic further fuelled his wanderlust, as did a lifelong love for geography, which made him want to visit the far-flung places he had only read about before in person one day. So in June 2023, at 17, Malaviya set out on his epic journey, armed with a plan, a backpack and no safety net- despite having never flown alone before. 'The main reason I wanted to travel the world is because I remembered the family trips we used to go on when I was little and it was always my favourite time of the year when we would go on them because I learned so much about different cultures,' Malaviya says. He adds: 'I've always been a curious person, so it was fascinating for me to explore other countries with different languages and people.' From Oceania's most remote islands to Myanmar's rural landscapes Kicking off with relatively easier Southeast Asian destinations like Japan and South Korea to build confidence, Malaviya soon moved on to more ambitious plans like Oceania, South America and Europe. Some of his favourite travel experiences include teaching English to language exchange students in Iraq, visiting the very remote Rock Islands of Palau, a small island nation in Oceania, and villages in Myanmar, along with time spent in and around Caracas in Venezuela. He's helped rice plantation workers in rural Indonesia and experienced rare religious festivals in Iran. He negotiated special access to Saddam Hussein's Babylon Palace in Iraq to explore it firsthand, despite it usually being closed to the public. Malaviya also spent time in villages across Papua New Guinea and Nauru, the least-visited country in the world, spending time with local children and learning about their culture. His travels took him from Brazil's favelas, to Bolivia's salt flats, giving him an opportunity to see the majestic Northern Lights in Norway, meet elephant families in Sri Lanka and explore iconic castles in Slovenia. Related Flying to Portugal in August? Airport strikes could derail your summer holiday plans Fewer flights, more immersion: What is 'tripchaining' and could it help you travel more sustainably? However, it also uncovered some deeper-rooted issues in remote parts of the world, like Oceania. 'I truly believe that some of the most beautiful, untouched nature in the world was in the remote island nations of Oceania. They are filled with some of the kindest people I met throughout my journey and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I took the lack of internet as a positive and used it as a way to unwind and connect with nature and the local people. 'However, I do feel quite sad that when I went to countries like Nauru and Tuvalu, it seemed to me as if a lot of the youth doesn't have that much of a future ahead of themselves due to the fact that they are on an isolated island nation and the cost of a flight to even get off the island is extremely high.' He found that the limited availability of fresh food in these regions and a high amount of food preservatives had also taken a toll on children's health. Malaviya met with Taliban members in Afghanistan, who treated him with surprising kindness and curiosity, wanting to know more about his life in the US, as well as religious leaders in Iran. By sticking to low-cost hostels and Airbnbs, and using his funds from part-time work and childhood savings, he managed to keep costs in check. Travel apps such as Rome2Rio also helped find the most cost-effective and time-efficient routes to destinations, further slashing his spending, as did eating a lot of cheap street food. Throughout his journey, he realised that people across the world are a lot more similar than they are different, despite the challenges and dangers in their own countries. Most people he met seemed to want the same things as everyone else - a job, a good life for their family, education and food. Related Solo travel: How to avoid paying a 'singles tax' and pick the perfect destination Leave me alone: Introverts recommend the best places for solo travel He also thinks that sometimes the perceptions of a country on the global stage may be heavily influenced by their current government, instead of the locals. His goal was never to sensationalise these places or show off his travel, but to always listen, understand and prove to other people that the world is a lot smaller and more interconnected than it seems. He also believes that a curious and respectful attitude can make all the difference. 'At the end of the day, if a local in another country sees a kid solo travelling and you need help, they are going to want to help. I noticed that the world is filled with so many kind people who did so much to help me, whether it was inviting me to their home for a meal or snack or driving me somewhere.' Some of the places he would especially love to return to include Iceland, Palau, the Philippines, Iran, Venezuela and Bolivia. Warzones, airstrikes and detainment It hasn't always been pristine beaches and stunning landscapes, though. Malaviya has had to keep a calm head and think on his feet to get himself out of some very harrowing situations along the way, including escaping unexpected Russian airstrikes in Odessa, Ukraine, in November 2023. 'I visited Odessa because I was in the capital city of Chisinau, Moldova and I noticed that it was only a three-hour bus ride to Odessa and thought it would be a nice day trip. I took the bus to Odessa in the morning, and when I got there, air strike sirens started going off immediately,' he said. 'All the buses had been cancelled since the road was iced over, so I had to go to the bomb shelter and stay there for a few hours before exploring the city for a little bit, then finding a bus that was going to drive back very slowly so that it doesn't skid on the icy road.' He eventually made it back to Chisinau in Moldova but this was by far his scariest experience as yet. Related Europe's safest cities ranked: The top destination offers both historic charm and peace of mind Looking for a slow travel holiday this year? Head to these top destinations for a mindful break Another time, he was detained and prevented from leaving the country by Venezuelan airport authorities who thought he was running away from his parents, since he was a minor. 'I had to negotiate with them for nearly two hours and tell them to view the security camera footage of when I entered the country so they could see that I entered the country alone and was leaving the same way,' he said. 'They thought I had come with my parents and was trying to leave alone. I eventually convinced them and was allowed to pass through immigration and leave Venezuela right before the boarding ended for my flight to Bogota, Colombia.' 'Get comfortable being uncomfortable,' Malaviya says Throughout his extensive journeys, Malaviya held on to one key life motto: learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, no matter what, when or where. He firmly believes this is what helped him grow the most, even beyond travel, and gave him the courage to step beyond his nice Californian hometown. 'Many times, I was put in uncomfortable situations, but since I trained myself to be comfortable with whatever happened during my travels, my judgment was never impaired by anxiety or nervousness, and that helped me get through my travels,' he emphasised. 'For example, if I looked uncomfortable around the Taliban, they might have wondered if there was something I was up to or if I was hiding something, but since I looked so comfortable and calm, they had no reason to suspect I was doing anything.' His biggest piece of advice for young people like himself who want to take the plunge into travelling? 'Just go for it. Go out there and travel! Nowadays, with so much bias in the news on major issues, it is hard to know what is true and what isn't. However, if you go and see what's happening in a place for yourself, no one can take that away from you.' Malaviya is currently a computer engineering student at UC Santa Barbara and plans to continue travelling until he visits the rest of the 195 countries in the world.
