I recently saw someone write that they often feel home-sick for the desert even though they’ve never lived there. This resonated with me. It’s such a great way to describe how I feel about the desert (and being away from it). Sometimes I wonder if maybe I’m drawn to it because it’s completely different from what I grew up with (evergreens and grassy landscapes in Connecticut). But another part of me feels that we’re all drawn to certain places for unexplainable reasons… and maybe we should just go with the flow.
Now that we’re back in California, we’ve been taking advantage and visiting the desert as much as possible. With every visit, I find myself dreaming more and more about it while we’re away. It’s a never ending cycle really. If you need proof of my obsession, it’s here. Also here.
Walking through the Joshua Tree National park, my breath is constantly being taken away. The landscape of peaches and greens just so happens to be my two favorite colors. And while the desert is considered to be desolate, I find it inspiring to see the variety of life that does exist there. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of all the varieties of cacti.
These ones for example are the cholla cacti, also known as teddy bear cacti because they look so soft and cuddly. I’ve been told not to hug them though.
The village of Joshua Tree also has a lot to offer, especially for being a small town. There are vintage shops, art galleries, Indian pizza, a coffee shop…there’s even vegan food here! Everything about being in Joshua Tree has a buzz of creative energy. It reminds me of Marfa, TX in some ways. All of the shops and restaurants here could easily be found in cities, yet they are purposefully grouped together here at the edge of nowhere to form their own creative community.
Second to my obsession with Joshua Tree is staying at Airbnbs. It always makes the experience of visiting a place so much more personal – cooking food at ‘home’, going to the grocery store, and making your own bed. This time around, we stayed at this one. I could tell they had a lot of fun decorating the space – the best kind of Airbnb!
To top it all off, here’s my lucky #13 just chillin’ on a Noah Purifoy sculpture. See? The desert is just calling me.
+ My favorite new sunglasses that accompanied me through the desert
I so love Joshua tree and when I used to lived in San Francisco I went several times. Such a gorgeous place! I miss it ! Thanks for this post!
It’s one of those special places that really pulls you in! My first visit was just last year and I’m already in deep. 😉
Awesome post! I love the desert too and I feel so alive when I’m there. I’m heading back to Joshua Tree on April 15th all the way from Minnesota (I hope to move much closer some day). The Noah Purifoy outdoor museum is on my list!
Oh awesome! Perfect time to visit!