best restaurant
by anna64dylan
"best restaurant"
i love beach grass cafe they have the best pancakes in town
amazing menu great salads and sandwiches for lunch and dinner menu at nothing over 15.95 wow!!!
Laid back atmosphere, great service what else you want from a casual restaurant when you are on vacation
Joshua Tree Nat'l Park Feb. 16-18
by DNaturalist
"Winter Hiking & Lounging at the 29 Palms Inn"
There's no wildflowers yet, but hiking in Joshua Tree in the winter is great -- no crowds and peak temperatures around the mid to high-60's. We hiked the Lost Horse Mine, running the last mile or so to beat the sunset; Mastodon Peak; Wonderland of Rocks to Willow Hole (ran the last 2 miles there); and checked out the nature trail in the Cholla Garden (great for photos late in the date) and Skull Rock (too crowded!).
Essential if you're into wild west history -- the Desert Queen Ranch tour, 10am and 1pm on weekends mainly, $5, 90 minutes. Sign-up at the visitor's center. This is the site of desert legend Bill Keys' compound -- tons of structures and equipment still around from his days homesteading near what is now the Hidden Valley Campground. Excellent photographic opportunities -- I loved the weathered windmill and rusted old mining equipment.
Near the Hidden Valley campground, on the dirt road to the Desert Queen Ranch, is rock climber's heaven. Didn't do it this time, maybe next visit.
We stayed at the funky 29 Palms Inn, located adjacent to the North Entrance to the park. Highly recommended -- the place has unique adobe bungalows and cabins; loads of history; quirky, laid-back desert style, good good (rare in these parts), a library, pool, hot tub in an enclose pagoda-type structure, and fireplaces.