A Local’s Weekend Plans in the Desert: Joshua Tree Vacation Ideas

FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER PLANS IN YUCCA VALLEY

It is a Friday night. Itching to feel a little lighter after the long week, we decide to go out without the kids. Not far down the road is the famous restaurant and bar The Tiny Pony. I love their Ceasar Salad! My husband usually has the crispy chicken sandwich. An eclectic mix of decor surrounds you and there is music just loud enough to make mundane small talk difficult to carry on. We forget about the rest of the world for a minute. Kind of like a Joshua Tree Vacation.

SATURDAY OFF ROADING IN JOSHUA TREE

One of our favorite things to do on a Saturday if I don’t have a wedding photography gig or a family photo Session in Joshua Tree is to go off-roading. We like to take trails like the Geology Tour Trail in Joshua Tree National Park down to Berdoo Canyon, which actually can take you all the way down to Indio not far from the Dutch Brothers. If you know me, you know I love coffee. Definitely do not attempt off roading unless you have four-wheel-drive. There are so many great trails in this area and besides Bridge Canyon old Dale and Burns Canyon are two favorites.

LIVE MUSIC IN PIONEERTOWN

Sometimes if we’ve taken Burns Canyon, after we air up our tires in Rimrock we end up in Pioneertown. There is almost always live music on a Saturday night. Depending on the mood of the kids, we might make a stop at either the Red Dog Saloon or Pappy and Harriet’s. I also like the idea of line dancing with DJ Buck Mild on Saturday nights, but usually after trailing all day it is not an easy sell to anyone else in the family.

LOCAL BREAKFAST IN YUCCA VALLEY

Recently I got turned onto this place called C+S Coffee Shop. In one of my previous food blogs I talked about the frontier Café and this place is actually right across the street. It has a full breakfast lunch and dinner menu with things like pancakes, soup, salad, salads, pork chops, fish and more. I have fallen in love with this place recently after taking my son there for his 13th birthday. I order the "Country" which is one homemade biscuit (to die for- a perfect biscuit!!) with gravy +2 eggs however you’d like them and either hash browns or home fries. I opt for the home fries with peppers and onions. When the food is dropped off I request some house made salsa and I am totally in heaven having a cup of coffee looking out the window at the traffic on Highway 62.

Final thoughts from Sarah

As I reflect upon the dream that would be this weekend described above, I can't help but think of the different multitude of people who might read this. Do you think this sounds like a great weekend? We all have different things that allow us to disconnect. Truly, eating out, and being on a dirt road somewhere with my whole family and no cell phone reception is my dream. I hope you loved my idea of a locals weekend in Joshua Tree!