Mae's Guidebook
Food scene
Pete’s regular watering hole and it’s really the best bar to hit in the area.
909 locals recommend
Joshua Tree Saloon
61835 Twentynine Palms HighwayPete’s regular watering hole and it’s really the best bar to hit in the area.
Mae’s breakfast spot. Chicken fried steak and biscuits with gravy. Don’t pass it up!
307 locals recommend
Country Kitchen
61768 Twentynine Palms HighwayMae’s breakfast spot. Chicken fried steak and biscuits with gravy. Don’t pass it up!
Surprising to find good Indian in JTree? Family owned joint...very good.
298 locals recommend
Sam's Indian Food & Pizza
61380 Twentynine Palms HighwaySurprising to find good Indian in JTree? Family owned joint...very good.
Vegan spot, very popular on weekends (absolutely crowded!) when the LA crowd rolls into town.
661 locals recommend
Natural Sisters Cafe
61695 Twentynine Palms HighwayVegan spot, very popular on weekends (absolutely crowded!) when the LA crowd rolls into town.
Fantastic little set up. Shared plates. Modern cuisine. Come early and line up! The hours are early, check before you arrive (first call around 4pm and last call around 6:30pm). They are so popular that they don’t accept reservations.
725 locals recommend
La Copine
848 Old Woman Springs RdFantastic little set up. Shared plates. Modern cuisine. Come early and line up! The hours are early, check before you arrive (first call around 4pm and last call around 6:30pm). They are so popular that they don’t accept reservations.
John's Place
56249 Twentynine Palms HighwayThis is a spot for the locals. Burgers are very good.
Right by Pioneertown. After a couple of hours sightseeing the area, swing by for a cold drink, or stay for dinner. Reservations for dinner during peak season is recommended...but try to avoid weekends if you can help it!
1340 locals recommend
Pappy & Harriet's
53688 Pioneertown RdRight by Pioneertown. After a couple of hours sightseeing the area, swing by for a cold drink, or stay for dinner. Reservations for dinner during peak season is recommended...but try to avoid weekends if you can help it!
Joshua Tree Coffee Company
61738 Twentynine Palms HighwayCoffeh!
If you are out by Pioneertown area, Landers isn’t too far off and you can come to this local hangout for some cold beers
105 locals recommend
Landers Brew Co
1388 Golden Slipper LnIf you are out by Pioneertown area, Landers isn’t too far off and you can come to this local hangout for some cold beers
Sightseeing
Stuff I’d do for my first (or second) visit to Joshua Tree and the high desert area!
Great little motel with a lovely restaurant attached to it. The restaurant is a fave of ours when guests are in town. Wander the grounds a bit...there is a veggie garden for the kitchen and a lovely oasis and pond out back.
If you are here in the summer, do check if they offer day passes to the pool!
251 locals recommend
29 Palms Inn
73950 Inn AveGreat little motel with a lovely restaurant attached to it. The restaurant is a fave of ours when guests are in town. Wander the grounds a bit...there is a veggie garden for the kitchen and a lovely oasis and pond out back.
If you are here in the summer, do check if they offer day passes to the pool!
Fantastic little campground very near Stargazers Cabin that you can book for stays, or just park, light a fire, and enjoy the rocks and desert in the night. Make sure to make a reservation with the park in advance...
64 locals recommend
Indian Cove Campground
68917 Indian Cove CircleFantastic little campground very near Stargazers Cabin that you can book for stays, or just park, light a fire, and enjoy the rocks and desert in the night. Make sure to make a reservation with the park in advance...
Pioneertown
53688 Pioneertown RdOld Hollywood western set can now be your social media backdrop!
Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum
62975 Blair LnFun! Classic desert art quirkiness
Lovely section of the park, you can climb these massive boulders. Not too crowded, unlike the skull rock site.
27 locals recommend
Jumbo Rocks Campground
Lovely section of the park, you can climb these massive boulders. Not too crowded, unlike the skull rock site.
Skull Rock
If you are gonna buy a souvenir from JT, this is a must stop! Lovely couple behind this wonderfully designed boutique.
179 locals recommend
The Station Joshua Tree
61943 Twentynine Palms HighwayIf you are gonna buy a souvenir from JT, this is a must stop! Lovely couple behind this wonderfully designed boutique.
When I’ve got plenty of time on my hands, I take this drive out to Amboy and the Mojave National Preserve (another spot where you do get Joshua Trees...besides in JTNP), and the crater is a lovely little spot to climb. It’s quite near the iconic Roy’s Motel signpost that’s often used to symbolize Route 66...so go for the postcard pictures!
53 locals recommend
Amboy Crater
When I’ve got plenty of time on my hands, I take this drive out to Amboy and the Mojave National Preserve (another spot where you do get Joshua Trees...besides in JTNP), and the crater is a lovely little spot to climb. It’s quite near the iconic Roy’s Motel signpost that’s often used to symbolize Route 66...so go for the postcard pictures!
Great spot for stargazing…(of course your first stop would be at our lil cabin and maybe even through the skylight we have installed over the bed)…this gets you really close to the national park entrance and the properly dark skies we get out here. Your views of the Milky Way should be great!
78 locals recommend
Sky’s The Limit Observatory and Nature Center
9697 Utah TrailGreat spot for stargazing…(of course your first stop would be at our lil cabin and maybe even through the skylight we have installed over the bed)…this gets you really close to the national park entrance and the properly dark skies we get out here. Your views of the Milky Way should be great!