Why do people take road trips? Is it to get away from familiar neighborhoods in favor of new vistas? Is it a retreat into nature and the calm of the open road? Or is it the unknown adventures that await you while you’re on your journey to your destination? Whatever your reason may be, road trips are unpredictable journeys that reveal so much more about ourselves than we could ever expect.
In today’s TRC USA Staff Diaries, we invite you to join us for a quick weekend road trip with Job to Joshua Tree, a National Park nestled between Riverside County and San Bernardino County in California. Known for its intersection of both Mojave and Colorado desert ecosystems, Joshua Tree is a popular destination for campers, national parks enthusiasts, and hikers wanting to see the unique geological features of Southern Californian deserts.
An Early Spring Road Trip to Joshua Tree
Good Afternoon! Today, my adventures have brought me on the road with friends to visit Joshua Tree. As a Vancouver native, temperate rainforests with towering Douglas-Firs and Western Red Cedars were typical sights to see when venturing out of the city, but since moving to California, I’ve been awestruck by Southern California’s diverse ecosystems. I’ve never set foot in a desert, so this road trip was a new experience for me. Of course, I had to use my new Road Trip TRAVELER’S notebook on this exciting journey!
The drive from Long Beach to Joshua Tree was supposed to take two and a half hours but with various stops and traffic, it took closer to three and a half hours. One of the notable stops we took on our road trip was a roadside birria taco place, dishing up authentic Mexican birria tacos served with a flavorful consommé dipping broth.
Our rental home was tucked away just shy of the Joshua Tree National Park grounds and was the ideal getaway from the city. We arrived in the late evening, and despite the cloudy skies, the blanket of midnight blue that enveloped the desert skies was already a sight to behold. Despite our longer-than-expected road trip, the desert invited us with open arms, as we took in the beautiful night sights and sounds of Joshua Tree.
Being far from the city allowed us to look within ourselves and reflect on the year so far. Over the fire, we shared meaningful stories and laughs while chowing down on some s’mores to end our first night in the desert.
It was a sunny Saturday morning when we ventured into the Joshua Tree National Park. It was an impulsive decision after we ate a quick breakfast of bagels and coffee when we realized we hadn’t stamped our TRAVELER’S notebooks with the official Joshua Tree National Park stamps.
Seeing the desert landscape was so foreign yet beautiful to me. The way the earth was a perfect ochre color reminded me that the paint colors that I use are truly derived from the natural world. The cacti and succulents scattered among the Joshua Trees felt almost Martian to me, in the way the foliage of these desert plants spiked their spines or fronds up to the sky. It was beautiful to see these trees in person and to admire their unique charm.
We ventured into town to see a few local shops and vendors selling their handmade wares. There were so many craftspeople making beautiful jewelry and upcycling clothes to give them a new life. We spent hours wandering through different shops and stalls looking at the local art, clothing, and homewares until the afternoon heat signaled us to seek shelter back at our rental home.
We spent the afternoon reading and journaling. Some of us took refuge in the outdoor hammocks while others got cozy at the large dining table, spreading out our art and journaling supplies to get ready to document our travels so far in our TRAVELER’S notebooks.
We spent our evening eating burgers and stargazing, as the clouds cleared up and we were able to see the star-filled sky. Away from the light pollution and the bustling energy of the city, we were able to see the twinkling lights of Joshua Tree. It’s amazing how something as simple as seeing the stars in the sky can make you feel so emotional. After heartfelt conversations, a few beers, and a lot of karaoke, we called it a night.
Our last morning in Joshua Tree was a mix of frantic clean-up of our rental home and relaxing during the remaining time in Joshua Tree. We all took turns cleaning up, but also commemorating our road trip by signing postcards to our friends and writing small notes in each other’s TRAVELER’S notebooks. Similar to how we used to sign yearbooks at the end of the school year in high school, signing each other’s TRAVELER’S notebooks felt like a way to wrap up our time in Joshua Tree.
Our final activity before heading on the road was drawing our own artistic rendition of a Joshua Tree to commemorate our shared time together in the desert. All of our illustrations were unique and showed the unique colors of our personalities, much like the Joshua Trees we were inspired by. We clipped these drawings into our TRAVELER’S notebooks and got back on the road to the city.
While it was a short trip, this weekend road trip getaway to Joshua Tree was a healing time away from the city. It was a way to strengthen friendships and a time to look inward. Life, much like a road trip, rarely follows a straight path. Sometimes we encounter unexpected detours that lead us to beautiful discoveries, or we find ourselves navigating challenging backroads that test our resilience. Just as our journey to Joshua Tree took longer than expected, we were rewarded with new memories and laughs. It’s true what they say: life’s unplanned moments often become our most treasured memories.
Thank you for joining me on this weekend road trip to Joshua Tree. We hope you enjoy the early spring weather and take the time to take a short road trip to a new or familiar location with your TRAVELER’S notebook.
Have a nice trip!
