I was recently asked, "What is your favorite place in nature?" My initial thought was the beach, but now that I’m older and have experienced more places, I can honestly say the desert is my favorite place in nature. Ben and I had never been to Joshua Tree before and decided to make a fun road trip down to relax in the desert for a couple of nights. When I think of Joshua Tree, I think of cactus-filled land, dirt roads, and quirky museums. Guess what? I was right.

The Moon Cabin

It was a tough decision to make on where to stay in Joshua Tree because there are so many great places on Airbnb. We decided to stay at The Moon Cabin, and I’m glad we did because this house was the perfect place to experience Joshua Tree.






The Moon Cabin is perfect for a romantic getaway. It’s super cozy with a rustic feel with hints of hipster decor. I loved everything about it, and you could tell a lot of thought went into all the details of the house. I especially loved the theme: The Moon. One night we watched the movie: Moon at the Moon Cabin.




My favorite part was the mornings. I loved waking up early to watch the sunrise. We sipped on coffee while I journaled my thoughts, dreams, and goals. The mornings were relaxing and peaceful; it’s the perfect morning spent in the desert.

Joshua Tree National Park

If you come to Joshua Tree, It’s a must to check out Joshua Tree National Park. I’d never seen a Joshua Tree until I went to Joshua Tree. The tree is hairy with spiky leaves and looks like a character from a Dr. Seuss book. When you’re driving through the town of Joshua Tree, you’ll see one here and there, but once you get into the park, they’re everywhere! Big, beautiful, and thriving!






The park has many hikes and picnic spots. Our first stop was Keys View, which is a lookout point where you can see the whole valley, from Palm Springs to Coachella. I highly recommend stopping here for a photo.




We decided to do a small hike to Barker Dam. On the way to the dam, we saw Indian Petroglyphs in caves and learned about the cactus native to the Mojave desert. When we finally got to the dam, we were disappointed to find out that the levee was dry. Regardless, it was a good hike.

Vacation Races

It wouldn’t be a Bennifer vacation if Ben weren’t running in a race. Ben ran in the Vacation Races Joshua Tree Half Marathon. Vacation Races puts on organized running events in beautiful destinations. The Joshua Tree Half Marathon is a night run through the Mojave desert. The race begins at sunset, which then runners get to enjoy the stars during the run. Vacation Races events are great for first race runners. If you’ve been thinking about doing a half marathon, you should sign up with Vacation Races and make a vacation out of it! Win-Win. Check out my blog post on our last Vacation Race: Glamping in Yosemite






I’ve taken a liking to the desert, possibly more than the beach. The desert is quiet and peaceful. The best part, you can see the stars at night! I haven’t seen the stars for years since living in San Francisco. Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever been to Joshua Tree and what your favorite part of your stay was. Thanks for reading!