by Jessica Pawl

Joshua Tree National Park in California is an otherworldly destination—a palette of warm tones stretching over vast desert expanse and boulder mountains. It’s dotted throughout with its namesake Joshua Trees, twisted arms and all, which we came to describe as a visual blend of a cactus, palm and maple tree. But prettier than the trees perhaps, are the rock formations that feel downright extraterrestrial.

In the summer months, temperatures that rise into the triple digits make it a no-go for most families. But the off-seasons (March to May and October to November) are nearly ideal in their comfort level. In winter, when we’ve ventured not once but twice, to the empty and wide open spaces. This time of year, daytime temperatures creep up around 60 degrees and nights dip close to freezing with wild winds.

You might be wondering: But why? I’m not even close to sold.

If you’re craving a JOMO-type of trip, one that’s focused on reconnecting as a family without distraction, in a geography that mystifies and mesmerizes all ages, this is a U.S. destination that answers the call. Plus, winter rates are shockingly affordable. Almost immediately, our toddler plopped into the sand of our vacation rental’s yard, tracing shapes, digging for bugs and racing around an imaginative track. I booked yoga classes in town. My husband mapped family-friendly hikes. And in the mid-day sun, we all prepared for nap time with a soak in the (temperature-lowered) hot tub that overlooked the craggy mountains.

How to get there

The Palm Springs Airport (PSP) is one of the cutest and easy to manage that I’ve seen. If you can find a reasonably priced flight, you’ll definitely want to arrive here, then drive the hour or so to Joshua Tree. Or, fly into Los Angeles (LAX) and rent a car. It’s a roughly three-hour drive to Palm Springs or a 3.5-hour drive to Joshua Tree.

Where to stay

While we stayed in a delightfully retro and remote VRBO, there’s a beautiful Autocamp resort that offers family-sleeping Airstreams, and nearby in Palm Springs, you’ll find a several hotels like this one that can easily serve as a home base.

In the Kid-Friendly Stays travel directory, you’ll find vacation home gems like this IG-worthy, family-friendly desert oasis; a shipping container pool in a spacious and mod retreat, a putting green and baby kit-outfitted vacation rental in Indian Palms; a pool with safety fence in Palm Springs; as well as a legitimate backyard playground.

Family hikes

Within 30 minutes, we were able to drive from our vacation home in Twentynine Palms into Joshua Tree National Park and get to most of the hikes we were interested in. Traveling with a toddler and infant, our aspirations were admittedly limited, but we strapped the littlest in a carrier (in the later hours, wearing a bunting!), and explored:

• Arch and Heart Rock: Just shy of 1.5 miles, this popular trail takes you off the main road to a rock arch that you can scramble up and further off, to a heart-shaped rock standing on its tip. An easy, flat trail with great photo opps.
• Skull Rock: Just like it sounds, a big old skull-shaped rock that’s right off the side of the main park road. Simply park and explore. Head to the other side of the road to find a rock tunnel that our toddler ran through over and over, and over.
• Barker Dam: A winding one-mile loop that snakes along a sometimes full dam and through flat desert vistas. Requires a bit of rock navigation but also features petroglyphs.
• Keys View: Breathtaking views over the valley and San Adreas Fault, which happen to be totally spectacular at sunset. Wear loads of layers; it’s windy up there.

What to do

A blink-and-you-might-miss-it town, Joshua Tree proper is worth a stop. You can park near the corner of Highway 62 and Park Blvd., and check out:

• World Famous Crochet Museum: The tiniest and most endearing “museum” you’ll ever see.
• Cabazon Dinosaurs: A gimmicky roadside attraction that’s great for photos for also fun for the kids.
• Coyote Corner Gift Shop: A tiny gift shop packed to the brim with small and sweet curiosities.
• Joshua Tree Coffee Company: A popular stop for brews and bagged coffee beans (though they’ll grind it for you if needed!)
• The Station: You’ll see the tall cowboy statue first. Follow it for cold drinks, cute tees and vintage kids ride-ons.
• Saturday Farmer’s Market: Pick up fresh fruit, meats, baked goods and kombucha.

Day trips

Pioneer Town: An old western movie set that, while occasionally used for films, has actual shops and restaurants and is open to the public. I read that it was particularly kid friendly and also that it was best to stop on the weekend mornings, when you were likely to see more open storefronts. We headed over on Saturday and walked the grounds, popped into shops and grabbed a quick lunch at The Red Dog Saloon.

Palm Springs: About an hour’s drive away, you can’t head this way without a day trip into Palm Springs. You can simply drive through the city and neighborhoods, soaking up the mid-century design aesthetic, but it’s worthwhile to plan for lunch (and a dessert of city’s iconic date shakes). The shopping is great, you can visit the zoo, or simply hit up the playground.

Wellness: If you’re seeking reconnection with yourself, the desert seems to be a natural place to do it. During our stay, I began the slow process of practicing yoga again and started with a Hatha Flow and Soundbath class at Cedar and Sage Wellness Studio in Yucca Valley (highly recommend). And along the route, I spied several intriguing spaces, including the rock labyrinth at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center that are geared toward spirituality and wellness.