Fun Things to Do in the Desert
Inland Empire Xperience · Places to Visit
Fun Things to Do in the Desert
The desert region of the Inland Empire covers millions of acres, from Joshua Tree through Mojave National Preserve to the California border. The quiet, spiritual landscape draws visitors from around the world 365 days a year.
Joshua Tree
Inland Empire Joshua Tree is an escape for outdoor adventurers, families, and leisure travelers. People come from around the world to Joshua Tree National Park to climb, hike, bike, take in unobstructed views, golf, shop, and stargaze. Nearly 100 places to stay — from bed-and-breakfasts to snug bungalows — support a different kind of desert trip: spas, live music, history, culture, and art.
Twentynine Palms
Twentynine Palms is the desert oasis and gateway to Joshua Tree National Park. The town is home to one of the last outdoor drive-in movie theaters in California, plus distinctive lodging, museums, a stargazing observatory, shopping, and the nearby Twentynine Palms Marine Base.
It is also home to Joshua Tree National Park headquarters and the north entrance, and it is the official gateway to Mojave Trails National Monument. The terrain is scattered with monolithic rock and, in spring, wildflowers. Skies turn color at dawn and dusk; at night the Milky Way takes over.
The Marine Corps base has been here since 1952. The town draws artists and anyone looking for wide-open space and quiet. Stargazing, hiking, rock climbing, wildlife, bird watching, wildflowers, cultural arts, events, food, lodging, desert hospitality, and a long local history — Twentynine Palms is built as a desert getaway.
The Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert has been called one of the most beautiful places in the world by National Geographic. Colorful wildflower carpets, singing sand dunes, a volcanic cinder cone, and historic Route 66 give the region something for almost every kind of traveler.
Palm Springs
Palm Springs is the desert oasis for hot springs, hotels, and shopping. Walk the mid-century modern architecture, then eat and shop in the main shopping district. The city also offers hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Pioneertown
Pioneertown was founded in 1946 by Hollywood investors that included Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. They wanted an Old West set 125 miles east of Los Angeles that was also a real town: 1880s-style false-front stables, saloons, and jails on the outside; ice cream parlors, a bowling alley, and motels on the inside. It was not built only for tourists. More than 50 films and television shows shot here in the 1940s and 1950s.
Location work has slowed. Mock gunfights still appear on Mane Street. The busiest stop by far is Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, which books surprisingly large live acts — Robert Plant and Leon Russell have played here, and later tours have included Iron & Wine and CHVRCHES. The kitchen is known for ribs, Santa Maria barbecue, burgers, sandwiches, and salads.
The town has a second life as a hip getaway. Artists, owners, and people leaving city noise keep arriving. The Pioneertown Motel, a rustic single-story 20-room inn, now has fire pits, an outdoor bar, and hammocks. La Copine, an upscale restaurant in nearby Flamingo Heights, is part of that same shift.
On Mane Street: MazAmar Art Pottery gallery and shop, and vintage Pioneer Bowl. Nearby tables include Giant Rock Meeting Room & Coffee House (near La Copine in Flamingo Heights) and Frontier Café, about four miles down the road in Yucca Valley.