The Southern Railroad Museum is located at 8901 Willow Lane, Joshua Tree, CA 92252.The museum operators are on-site on regularly scheduled weekends (usually, one weekend a month).The club features 15”, 7-1/2” and G-scale tracks and trains, as well as many full size railroad cars.To arrange a tour date and time, go to http://www.jtsrr.org or call (760) 366-8879 before you come. From The Bungalow’s driveway, go right onto Weaver. At Willow Road make a right. Drive to the end of Willow Road and if the gate is open, drive straight in and park in the parking lot.
 

Regardless of the time of year, it is important that you are prepared before you step out into the wilderness for a hike. In the warm months make sure you’re hydrated before you go out, and take plenty of water with you. Wear sunscreen and a hat and consider wearing a shirt with long sleeves. The desert can dehydrate you just as fast in the winter, so carry water on winter hikes also. It really is important that you treat the wilderness with respect and understand its dangers. If you’ve planned an ambitious hike inside Joshua Tree National Park, it’s a good idea to notify the Park Rangers where you’re going and when you plan to be back.
 

Located in nearby Landers, George Van Tassel’s Integatron is one of the most beloved landmarks of the Morongo Basin. Van Tassel was a retired aeronautical engineer who,during a weekly meditation session in 1953, was contacted by interplanetary travelers. Legend has it that later that year a spacecraft arrived from Venus.The alien travelers invited Mr. Van Tassell onto their ship and presented him with the design for the Integatron, a machine that,through electrostatic resonance, could rejuvenate the cell structure of humans. In 1954 Mr. Van Tassel began building the Integatron and worked on it until his death in 1978. Today you can visit and tour the facility, experience “Sound Baths” and take part in scheduled events. For more information and directions, call (760) 364-3126.

Petroglyphs are images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, or abrading, as a form of rock art. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions of the technique to refer to such images. Petroglyphs are found worldwide, and are often associated with prehistoric peoples. The word comes from the Greek word petro-, theme of the word "petra" meaning "stone", and glyphein meaning "to carve", and was originally coined in French as pétroglyphe.
There are Native American petroglyphs located nearby that you can hike to within 15 minutes of the trailhead. If you are interested in these wonderful examples of ancient art, please call me and I will provide directions.

An authentic old west saloon on the southeast corner of 29 Palms Highway and Park Blvd., the Joshua Tree Saloon is rustic, friendly and convenient. Enjoy karaoke,microbrews, huge steaks, low prices and happy locals. Located at 61835 29 Palms Highway.

The most authentic, delicious and convenient pizzeria in Joshua Tree. New York style, thin-crust pizza is sold by the piece and by the pie. Fresh dough, stone ovens, whole foods – Pie For The People take their pizza making very seriously. Located at 61740 29 Palms Highway.

Highly acclaimed Crossroads is a haven for vegetarians and carnivores alike. Banana pecan pancakes, soups, salads, burgers, polenta, great coffee, great service.what more do you need? Oh yeah – it’s convenient, too. Located at 61715 29 Palms Highway.

Yelp! gives The Natural Sisters Café 4.5 stars, but if you know restaurant reviews, it only takes one whiner to wreck a rating. There are plenty of healthy and even vegetarian foods on the menu in wide variety. After a morning hike, the Natural Sisters is a natural selection. Open 7am-7pm, 7 days a week. Located at 61695 29 Palms Highway.
 
 
 

Originally built in 1946 as an old west movie set,Pappy and Harriet’s has a colorful history that includes cowboys, outlaw bikers and hippies. In its present form, Pappy & Harriet’s is a family establishment where you can eat, drink and dance in an old west style saloon. There’s $2.00 beer, good food, live music and nice people to take care of you. The entertainment is legendary -- even Sean Lennon and Robert Plant have dropped in for performances. Go west on 29 Palms Highway and take Pioneertown Road north (right) about 4.5 miles to downtown Pioneertown.

If you’ve never visited Joshua Tree National Park (formerly Joshua Tree National Monument), you’re in for a treat. To get to the park, from Rincon Road make a right turn onto Quail Springs Road. You’ll find the western entrance to the park at the end of Quail Springs Road. Make sure you get a map of the park when you pay your entry fee.

There’s plenty to see, but here are three of our favorites:

Keys View

For those who are not really up for hiking but want a spectacular panoramic experience, drive to Keys View. Once you park you’re only about ten minutes from the lookout. At the Keys View lookout you can look west (to the right) and see Mt. San Jacinto and San Gorgonio. If you look to your south (to the left) you can see the shimmering Salton Sea. Laid out before you, like a big crack in the world, is the famous San Andreas Fault. Consult your Joshua Tree map for details.

Keys Ranch Tour

Against all odds, in 1919 Bill Keys established a ranch on Joshua Tree and began to raise his family. The National Park Service preserves Keys Ranch as it was when the Keys family lived there and you can experience it yourself. For more information or to make tour reservations, call (760) 367-5555.

Barker Dam Hike

Considered by many to be the best hike in the park, the Barker Dam hike is a one-mile loop trail that is easy enough that you can even bring small children. As you meander along you will see the beautiful and distinctive Joshua Trees, rock formations, and in the spring, wildflowers bursting with color. The trail is mostly flat with some minor rock maneuvering required along the way. Some have complained that the trail is not well marked, so carry a map and keep your bearings as you go. You may find water in the dam if there have been rains recently so be prepared with a camera – the reflections in the water are stunning! As always, carry drinking water and use sunscreen.