Looking For Fun In the Palm Desert Sun? Here are the Best Things to Do Near Joshua Tree

Hello and welcome to my article on all the best things there are to do near Joshua Tree, California. Since Joshua Tree is a national park you can count on most of these activities being outdoors and in the California sun. I’ll give you the address for all of these placs and I’ll even link you to their website when I can. And when it’s possible I’ll let you know when one of these great activities near Joshua Tree accepts one of our convenient digital gift cards.

You don’t need to worry when you’re in Joshua Tree looking for restaurants, stores, and attractions. You can check out GiftYa and search for gift cards by Joshua Tree and find everything they offer in a Joshua Tree. 

The cool thing about this is that you can get a GiftYa digital gift card for you or a loved one and send it wirelessly in seconds. Not only can you send and receive a GiftYa wireless, you can also keep track of the balance all right from your phone, Unlike a standard gift card where you have to write the balance on the back everytime you use it, a GiftYa keeps track for you on your phone all the time, 

Not to mention their digital format makes GiftYa perfect anytime you want to send a gift card with a large sum to a loved one in Joshua Tree *wink wink*. With a GiftYa there’s no writing multiple balances all over a card and hoping you can keep it organized. You also don’t have to worry about the card being lost or stolen with a GiftYa. You can keep track of them all digitally. 

Before You Head Out for a Day in Joshua Tree

But before you head out for an afternoon in the desert sun, be sure to stock up on all the supplies you will need. Be sure to grab everything from sunscreen to bottled water.

Home Depot

Before You Head Out Adventuring All Over Joshua Tree, Grab Some Supplies!

Text a Home Depot gift card

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58705 29 Palms Hwy | Yucca Valley | homedepot.com/l/Yucca-Valley/CA

There’s probably not too many of you out there who are totally unfamiliar with Home Depot, but I’ll take some time to let you know what they are just in case. Home Depot is largely a store that focuses on home improvement and gardening supplies, but they have plenty of good stuff to offer. If you are off to do one of the many wonderful outdoor activities there are around Joshua Tree, then you are going to want to stop and stock up on the essentials like sunscreen and bug spray. And Home Depot will have all those kinds of things that you need for a fun afternoon in the sun.

“We've had only great experiences here. The staff is always friendly, helpful and attentive. Especially the front end.” - Yelp Review 

Buy a Home Depot gift card

Lowe’s

Another Great Spot to Stock Up On Outdoor Supplies

Text a Lowe’s gift card

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35900 Monterey Avenue | Palm Desert | lowes.com/store/CA-Palm-Desert

Lowe’s is another great national brand that will have all kinds of things you need to prepare for a day out in nature. On top of the basic things like bug spray and sunscreen that you can find at Home Depot, you will also be able to find plenty of excellent camping supplies at Lowe’s if you decide to make your day in the sun into an overnight stay. 

“I enjoy visiting Lowe's because the team members don't make me feel like an idiot when I don't know what I'm talking about.” - Yelp Review 

Buy a Lowe’s gift card

Now that you’re all stocked up, here are the best things to do in and around Joshua Tree National Park!

1. Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace

A Hidden Gem Loved By Locals and Travelers ALike

53688 Pioneertown Rd | Pioneertown | pappyandharriets.com/

Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace is at the top of the list today for a couple reasons. First of all is the fact that it’s a local favorite. They have an overwhelming amount of positive response from their customers and consumers. And on top of that, it’s a pioneer themed restaurant that is heavy on the authentic old west style. But be warned, it is pretty difficult to find. You really have to go out of your way to get there, so don’t worry if you have a little trouble finding your way there the first time. It’s well worth the drive out there because everybody seems to absolutely love it. And if you don’t believe me, just check out one of the countless five star reviews below. 

“Loved everything about my experience here. The food is great and the atmosphere is very fun. From what I see, this place gets pretty busy. Looking forward to coming back.” - Yelp Review 

2. Noah Purifoy Foundation

Fun Outdoor Sculpture Museum Near Joshua Tree!

63030 Blain Ln | Joshua Tree | noahpurifoy.com

The Noah Purifoy Foundation is made up of ten full acres of large-scale sculptures built right on the desert floor. Founded by Noah Purifoy who dedicated himself to using “found objects” as art pieces and using art as a tool for social change. Which means that all ten acres of sculptures are made up from junked materials. Which means the entire thing is entirely made up of recycled materials. So not only is it something fun to do, it’s also something you can feel pretty good about supporting with your dollar. You get to take in a day of great original art, but you also get to feel good about supporting an artist that recycles and reuses the waste our society creates and turns it into something beautiful instead. 

“Very cool place to visit if you're in the area.  At first I thought it was a burning man type of situation where random kids are making things out of their junk but it turns out, the artist was actually relaying a message, which made interpreting the art exhibits even cooler.” - Yelp Review

3. World Famous Crochet Museum

A Great RoadSide Stop in Palm Desert

61855 Hwy 62 | Joshua Tree | sharielf.com/museum.html

So I’ll be honest, this one doesn’t really seem like it would be for me. But a lot of people really seem to enjoy it, so I don’t want to not mention it and have anybody miss out on something they might really enjoy. The World Famous Crochet Museum is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. A museum that features primarily a history and exhibition of crochet. But a museum might be a bit of a stretch. Don’t expect to  spend several hours here. It’s really more of a quick stop after a long day of other activities. But if you love crochet, or things that are kitsch, then this is going to be a must stop near Joshua Tree for you.

“Kitschy to the max and oh so worth the stop! If you're driving through Joshua Tree or if you want a small activity after a long day of hiking this is a fun stop.” - Yelp Review 

4. Barker Dam Trail

A Short Hike Through Beautiful Landscapes

Park Boulevard | Joshua Tree 

Barker Dam Trail is a great one mile hiking trail that loops back around to where it started from. And since it’s around a lake, there is a good chance you see some sort of wildlife while you are hiking. Not only is there a beautiful lake and nature trails, there are also plenty of beautiful rock formations. Which is nice, because since it's in the desert, there are times when the lake dries up. But even if it's completely dry, it’ll still be a scenic hike. 

There are plenty of great hiking trails near Joshua Tree, but I put this one at the top of the list because I think it is the most accessible for anybody. A one mile hike might not sound too long, but trust me, once you are out in the California sun it’s going to seem a lot longer than you thought at first. So I highly recommend doing this trail first to get used to the desert conditions before trying any of the loinger hikes. 

“It is very hard to decide, but Barker Dam Trail might be my favorite one in the whole Joshua Tree Park!” - Yelp Review 

5. Fortynine Palms Oasis

Another Great Hiking Trail Near Joshua Tree

49 Palms Canyon Rd | Twentynine Palms | nps.gov/jotr/index.htm

Fortynine Palms Oasis is another great hiking trail you can go on in the Joshua Tree area! But it is a much longer hike than Barker Dam Trail is. In fact it’s about 4x as long, which makes it a 4 mile hike the whole way around. So just be sure you are prepared for a hike of that length in the desert before you head out!

“Beautiful hike and great work out. I just wish people would keep their dogs off the trails. Signs are clearly posted. It's dangerous for your pets and bad for the wildlife. If you come to the oasis to hike, leave your dog at home.” - Yelp Review 

6. Joshua Tree Certified Farmers Market

A Great Way to Have A Relaxing Afternoon In Palm Desert

61651 Twentynine Palms Hwy | Joshua Tree | joshuatreefarmersmarket.com

So this is another one that wouldn’t necessarily be at the top of my personal list, but there are tons of people out there who love going to farmers markets. And I’m not so selfish that I wouldn’t include something for them too. So if you enjoy farmer markets and you are around Joshua tree then you aren’t going to be able to go wrong here. And since everything is locally grown you can feel good about supporting small farms with your dollar.

“It's a small market but for the size they have a very good variety of products to buy. I stopped by the water district booth and the older man working it was very friendly and informative about the water quality and availability in the area.” - Yelp Review 

That’s it for our list of the most popular things to do near Joshua Tree.

There you go! That is a list of all the amazing things there are to do in Joshua Tree and around Palm Desert California. Like I said at the beginning of the article, a lot of the stuff to do is outdoors, so just be sure you take enough water and put on some sunscreen first before you commit to hours in the desert sun.