Palm Springs + Joshua Tree Park + Temecula help needed!

[ZenNudist]

So I have looked at this and thought about it but wondered if any mumsnetters had any good ideas.

I arrive in LAX on Saturday afternoon and am driving over to Palm Springs. Planning on casual meal followed by crashing early to wake up on Sunday still on UK ish time. Was planning on going to the Joshua Tree national park early in the day to see the desert and hike before it gets too warm. Either buy a sandwich on the way or will get lunch somewhere in Joshua Tree Town then likely be knackered and head back to Palm springs to enjoy some pool time. I've booked dinner reservation so I'm going to need a nap so I can manage a margarita or two! Will get to see downtown palm springs as we go for dinner.

Monday is my birthday and it's our day to spend in Palm Springs and so far I'd planned breakfast then head to the aerial tramway. I don't know if I should do things differently and maybe spend the morning looking around Palm springs and then head to the tramway in the afternoon. I have dinner reservations at 7.30 so not sure we would be able to see sunset from the mountain top then head back to our hotel downtown. I think I'd rather sightsee then chill by pool in the heat.

Tuesday we leave for Temecula but I have some potential mooching time in palm springs. I want to get over to check in to our winery by lunchtime and then some tastings in the afternoon but nothing booked. Staying at churon Inn.

Would love to hear some advice or suggestions of where to go. Travel advice by mumsnet always great fun.

Bump

Sounds fairly reasonable, if you’re the energetic type. It’s well over an hour from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree, but it’s an easy drive. I’d recommend going in at the Joshua Tree entrance and then out at the south, so you don’t need to double back and you can see as much as possible. You’ll be driving for 3 - 4 hours in total plus all your stop offs to look at the scenery and maybe do a short hike or two. There should be places to buy sandwiches on your way to Joshua Tree.

On arrival day you may have less time than you think. Last time I was at LAX we shuffled in the immigration queue for more than an hour so it took us two hours to get onto the road, and then another couple of hours to get to Palm Springs.

The aerial tramway is excellent. Other than that all my recommendations are for hiking and supermarkets! There’s no way I’d be doing dinner at 7.30 two days after arrival. On the West coast I’m usually in bed by 6.30 for the first week 😂. You are probably made of sterner stuff than me…

Have an amazing time. I’m envious…

Thank you @SnakesAndArrows I am not that energetic but I do think it will be a shame not to see the Joshua Tree national park . I can do art galleries and culture in san diego so figure 2 days that mix scenery/ hiking and a bit of pool time/ drinking margaritas is the best way to spend time in PS.

Good point about being knackered in the evening. I've not travelled to the West Coast since pre-kids and I don't deal as well with jet lag as I used to.

Very happy for you that the Aerial Tramway is open - we were in PS 2 weeks ago today, and they'd had to extend their annual maintenance closure period - very disappointing.

Some excellent restaurants and cafes in PS - and some not overly pricy either.

Agree with the PP who said to enter the National Park at the North entrance ans exit at the South.

@cyclingmum67 I'm sorry to hear that. How long were you there and what else did you do in PS?

You definitely must do Joshua Tree. It’s wonderful. What time of year are you going?

We fly tomorrow so im going on Sunday! It is very hot by noon but reasonable first thing.

@ZenNudist - only stayed one night, as part of a road trip from Salt Lake City to San Diego. We had most of the day there though: our plan had been to just wander around the town and do the aerial tramway - consequently, our wandering was a lot longer due to the tramway closure.

It was also terrifically hot still 2 weeks ago (33°c in PS and 42°c in the Mojave Desert) but I believe it's cooled down now.

One thing we didn't realise either is that PS is known as America's gayest city - there are plenty of very well dressed, very attractive older men out and about

Oh wow! Have a fantastic time.

I’ve been in late October too. We arrived at Joshua Tree at sunrise - it was pretty cold - and saw all kinds of wildlife as the sun comes up. Jackrabbits, quail and coyote spring to mind. It was very warm by midday.

I think Yucca Valley is probably your best bet to pick up sandwiches or something on your way there if you go very early. There’s nothing at all in the park itself, and Joshua Tree is quite small.