Joshua Tree Holiday
Apparently, the Angelenos are going on vacation in Palm Springs, because when I went to book a house there for me and my family, EVERYTHING was taken. Yet like many families during quarantine, ours needed a change of scenery ASAP. So I continued searching, and I found myself looking in a place I’d never visited before - Joshua Tree.
Besides my husband and Na’im, I had to keep in mind that my dad, mom and two, young siblings would be joining us as well. When traveling with young kids, space is a must. It would be a failure to get away from our normal lives and not give the little ones a place to roam free. To my surprise, my search in Joshua Tree was a great success.
Joshua Tree is absolutely beautiful! We rented a house in the hills, hugged up against the rocks in the desert oasis plants. The natural scenery and desert silence was a much-needed change from our city life. We cooked a lot of food in our rental kitchen, which is always a preference for me, despite the occasional Postmates order. (Thank you, Postmates, for being so straightforward!) Joshua Tree had good food choices, despite being far into the desert.
In the particular house we stayed in, the owners left a fair amount of information in the "Welcome Book" - what to eat, what not to eat, where to go or not to go. This attention to detail helped us avoid any hiccups while we were there. What is better than a host with true hospitality? Take note, friends who desire to rent out your homes.
Three tips came to mind now that our Joshua Tree get-away is said and done:
Ask the homeowner to kindly put on the air conditioner AHEAD of time.
The days leading up to our arrival, Joshua Tree had a week of very high temperatures. When we arrived, the air had just been put on. The first night was a bit miserable for us - my husband is very hot natured and can't sleep unless it's around 68 degrees in the home.
Consider buying groceries in the city before you depart for your desert destination.
All the healthy grocery stores were a minute away, and when we arrived, the kids were starving. I can only imagine what would have happened if we didn't have any snacks to give them. Also, if you’re like me, you are particular and intentional with the ingredients that you use. If you buy groceries beforehand, this will ensure you have everything that you need to make your trip smooth.
Rent a home with a pool.
I didn't know how much I would want a pool until we didn't have one. It was scorching in Joshua Tree, and the kids wanted to be outside the whole time while the adults wanted to chill inside. If you are going back and forth with whether or not your rental should have a pool, take it from me - just get one that does.