Travel

6 Sensational Reasons to Visit Yucca Valley and Its Quirky Hidden Gems

Are you looking for a unique and charming desert getaway? If you’ve already been to Palm Springs and or want someplace cooler in temps, consider visiting Yucca Valley, California. Here are 6 sensational reasons you need to add Yucca Valley to your travel bucket list.

1). Desert vibes without the unbearable temps!

Yucca Valley tends to be at least 10 degrees cooler than the nearby, Palm Springs which can be a game changer and total relief especially when comparing the 3 digit temps of Palm Springs during the hottest season. We found the high 70s-low 80 degree temps late September during our Yucca Valley visit to be perfect! (DWhereas Palm Springs was in the high 90s-Los 100s)! 😅😅

Plus, Yucca Valley offers a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere than touristy Palm Springs. Being city slickers ourselves, we absolutely cherished the peaceful, often other-worldly vibes. You will surely feel transported here. It was the perfect place for a girls’ getaway from the hustle and bustle of LA.

Nature enthusiasts will especially enjoy the awe-inspiring star and sunset gazing, the iconic Joshua tree /boulder / mountain landscape, plus the hiking and the rock climbing opportunities throughout this picturesque desert town. If you’ve never immersed yourself in this sort of environment, it will absolutely blow your mind!

2). World Famous Crochet Museum

Immerse yourself in a whimsical wonderland filled with stunning crochet creations from talented artists around the globe at this one-of-a-kind, pit stop created by local artist, Shari Elf.

Marvel at the intricate patterns, vibrant colors, and extraordinary designs that showcase the true artistry of crochet. Whether you’re a seasoned crochet enthusiast or simply appreciate the beauty of handmade crafts, this tiny but extraordinary museum promises to captivate your imagination and leave you in awe.

📍 61855 29 Palms Highway. Closes at 5PM

3). Beauty Bubble Salon and Museum

Part hair salon (by appointment), part art exhibit, and part museum, this is a fun and unforgettable find! The pastel exterior featuring a fun photo opp in front of the store with its vintage beauty salon chairs totally sets the stage for the vintage vibes inside, doesn’t it?

Walk inside and you’ll feel like you’ve gone back in HAIRstory! The lovingly curated, pastel beauty palace is a feast for the eyes!

Think mannequin heads artfully topped with colorful curlers, nostalgic and never-seen-before hair products, vintage brooches and starburst sunnies. Think glamour shots, mixed in with articles, ads and unusual, rare products from the beauty industry. This place is so unique it warranted a documentary called, “Inside the beauty bubble” featuring its founder, Jeff Hafler.

📍 61855 29 Palms HWY. open 10am-6pm (It’s right next to the crochet museum so park once and see both)!!

4). Yucca Valley’s thriving arts scene,

is also a huge draw. Amongst the charming choices, I’d recommend Noah Purifoy outdoor desert art museum if unconventional, modern art is your thing.

Set amidst the unique desert landscape, isolated in what seems like no man’s land, I truly enjoyed wandering around and exploring the eccentric installations, makeshift houses, and arches built with toilets, and tires. This place proves that one man’s trash truly is another’s treasure and reminded me of a similar desert exhibit we once visited called Slab City by the Salton City.

📍 63030 Blair Ln. Joshua Tree, CA. TIP-go when the sun is down to avoid harsh sunlight and excessive heat and also to avoid other people in your photos. This gallery is open to the public sun up to sundown at 8pm without an entrance fee and dogs are welcome.

5). Vintage shop at The End.

Fashionistas flock to this vintage store! If you’re into vintage, jewelry, and rare fashion finds, this is a must-stop! I bought a pretty cottage core style nightgown here and an art deco golden necklace which I can’t wait to wear. Btw shopping was our only cardio on this trip and I much preferred it that way! And my eyes (maybe not so much my legs) got the most fun workout here!!

📍 55872 29 Palms HWY. open 11am-5pm

6). Go back in Time at Pioneer Town

Pioneertown in Yucca Valley is a hidden gem nestled in the mesmerizing beauty of the Mojave Desert. Stepping foot into this charming town feels like traveling back in time to the era of the wild west, with its rustic buildings and dusty streets. The old-fashioned saloons, authentic western-style shops, and the famous Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace exude an aura of nostalgia and old-fashioned adventure.

Whether you’re a Western enthusiast, or simply a content creator like us seeking unique backdrops, Pioneertown promises to leave an indelible impression on your memory!

BONUS Bucket List stop in Yucca Valley?

Make sure to eat at La Copine while in the Yucca Valley.  It has been featured in the NY Times and Vogue and we can attest to its deliciousness!!  We ordered 7 items and loved them ALL!  It’s a must stop..trust us!  

 

Ok! Thanks for reading!  Make sure to follow along on Instagram for more videos and photos of this amazing girls’ getaway to Yucca Valley.  I hope you get to visit one day and hope that this list is helpful to you and inspires you to visit one day!!

Click HERE for 5 wild and wacky things to do with kids in Tokyo, Japan!  

 

 

Carlsbad Family Travel Guide! Where to Stay And What To Do

Carlsbad, CA is such a beautiful coastal, Southern Californian destination that it really should be on your travel bucket list.  From the South Bay area like in the Palos Verdes Penninsula where we live, it’s an easy 1.5 hour drive making it perfect for us to easily drive to for a weekend getaway.  And it has lots of family-friendly attractions that make it totally worth the excursion. Read on for my guide on where to stay, and what to do while there!

WHERE TO STAY

The Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa proved to be the perfect home away from home.  We were hosted there this past spring break and were quite impressed with their roomy suite.  We couldn’t ask for anything more as a family of 3 but this extra large hotel room could have comfortably accommodated a family of 5.

It included a King sized bed, a separate room with 2 twin beds, a lounge area in between the two, a balcony overlooking sunset every evening, 3 TVs, a bathroom with separate bath/shower/toilet area, and your other typical 4star amenities in the room (fridge, conditioner, coffee station, wifi etc). What surprised us besides the 3 in-room TVs were the complimentary gelato certificates, fun pool slide and the fact that our key could unlock the neighboring Westin hotel’s facilities.  With our one hotel key, we had access to 2 gyms, 2 pools, a beautiful spa, and 2 restaurants and lounge areas.  I loved that!

We found that the 4 star ranking here was well-deserved.  The grounds were immaculate and the grand palm tree lined, floral entrance was wow-worthy and would make any jaded traveler excited upon arrival.  The receptionists were SO friendly and helpful, and our server, Anna at The 7 Mile Kitchen, (the gorgeous indoor/outdoor restaurant on – site) made us feel so at home.  We especially loved the 7 Mile Kitchen.  Everything tasted so good there that we insisted on having two of our family friends come join us for a meal there.  It’s such a beautiful and family – friendly atmosphere with kids’ menus, crayons, heat lamps for the outdoor area, and good old American fare.

I also appreciated that the hotel had a Starbucks on-site too which allowed for a quick grab and go breakfast for our busy days out.  Speaking of…

WHAT TO DO

Besides hitting their fabulous restaurant, pool and spa on-site, you might want to venture off property and check out all that Carlsbad has to offer!  Here is our top list for a weekend getaway in Carlsbad:

1).  Legoland.  You can walk to Legoland from The Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa! What a perk!

2).  The flower fields and the outlets are next to one another and like 6 minutes away from the hotel.  Shopping and flowers?? Yes please!! Plus this flower field is amazingly popular with the kids.

They’ve thought of everything from engaging scavenger hunts, to gem mining, to an insanely Instagramable playground to the most colorful tractor ride the kids will ever take.

3).  The beach and (city highlight) Carlsbad Village are just about a mile away.  And the hotel provides complimentary trolley transportation to/from!  The colorful architecture, and beachside, mom and pop stores and restaurants are really quite charming and worth the visit! And the beach, well it’s as glorious as you’d imagine from a Californian beach!

4).  golfing (The Crossings at Carlsbad Golf Course) is right by the hotel.

5).  San Diego is also just about 35-40 minutes away, so you can also easily access all that San Diego has to offer. (Think the San Diego zoo, the Safari Park, Sesame Place, Balboa Park and museums)

All in all, we highly recommend visiting Carlsbad and the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa.  We hope you enjoy your future trip there and hope that this list gave you some great starting points for planning that trip!  Thanks for reading! Please leave a comment telling me what your favorite place to visit in Carlsbad is if you’ve been or what you’d most look forward to from this list if you’ve never been!