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1. "Oooohhhhh .." (Awesome sunrises.)
2. "Aaaaahhhh ." (Breathtaking sunsets.)
3. STARS! A few billion or so in our incredible night skies. Star Parties monthly. Observatory coming soon.
4. Purple Mountains. Really. (you know from the song)Find a chair just before sunset. Watch.
5. Wide open spaces. Room to make the BIG mistakes. (sorry...from another song) Seriously, unending vistas like you wouldn't believe. Bring the camera.
6. Go Out and Play! World-class rock climbing, hikes and nature walks. Enough for weeks! We're surrounded by California Outback- Mojave National Preserve, Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, Pipes Canyon, Cleghorn Lakes, Sheephole and numerous other pristine Wilderness areas. Or, golf, bowl, swim, or skateboard. Your choice.
7. Joshua Tree National Park. Like no place else on earth. Picnic and camp among incredible rock formations, ancient pictographs. Howl at the "No Swimming" sign at Barker Dam (it's usually dry).
8. Walk through silent desert valleys of Larrea tridentata (Creosote) the oldest living plants on earth. Observe orchids growing in 49 Palms Canyon. Feel small insignificant and honored.
9. Breathe deep. Adjust lungs to clean air. Vow to stop being a city slicker.
10. Drink up! Some of the best water on earth yes, there is plenty of it in our underground aquifers. (Hiking tip: when half your water is gone; head back.)
11. Real old west living history- poke around an old gold mine, watch a Cowboy Shoot, whoop it up at the Pioneer Days Rodeo, wonder about all those homestead cabins, then take a tour of original adobe homesteads. Read, "Sand in my Shoe", "In the Shadow of the Palms" and "The Adobes of Twentynine Palms".
12. The Oasis of Mara. 49 Palms Oasis. Lost Palms Oasis. Oasis salad dressing at the 29 Palms Inn. Awe inspiring, all of them.
13. Wonder Garden coffee. The Jelly Donut. Margaritas as big as your head at Edchada's. Burritos as big as your head at Santana's. The Rib Co.'s awesome outdoor grill. 41 places to eat and drink, historic inns, chain motels, unique vacation homes- you'll be fine.
14. Art, arts and entertainment! The place is crawling with artists, sculptors, actors, musicians, and more. No problem finding something to do: see The Sun Runner Arts & Entertainment Magazine or The Blend Magazine.
15. Discover all 20 giant, world-class, historic murals on buildings around town. Prank your friends with a photo of you with Valentine. Is that bull real?
16. Marvel at the enormous steel Simi Dabah sculptures that dot the city landscape and the giant "Sky Climbers" at the Old Schoolhouse Museum.
17. Geology - 29 Palms ROCKS, dude. Hike to Cima Dome or Amboy Crater for an unearthly view. Visit the "singing" Kelso Dunes and Mitchell Caverns. Check out Geology Tour Road in the Park.
18. Desert Life - Roadrunners, Coyotes, Chuckawallas, Ocotillo, Cholla, Mariposa, Desert Quail, Round tail ground squirrels, Antelope Ground Squirrels, Cactus Wren, Diamondback, Big Horn Sheep. A ton of plants and animals you never thought you'd see outside Cartoon Network.
19. Smith's Ranch Drive-In Movie Theatre. Double feature-4 bucks. Bring the convertible!
20. Challenge a Marine to an arm wrestling contest. Don't be surprised when you lose. Support our troops from Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, the World's Largest(and finest!) U.S. Marine Corps base.
21. Visit Keys View high up in Joshua Tree National Park and look all the way to Mexico.
22. Stop at the last traffic light for more than 100 miles. Get photographed next to our sign: 'Next Services 100 Miles."
23. Drop out of the rat race. Relax. Get lost. Pack a nap in your picnic lunch. Re -discover yourself.
24. Gawk at Huell Howser's steel-plate fence then drive by James Cagney's old place. Realize all the fashion models are not following you; they're here for a photo shoot on the salt flats.
25. Run into Dick Dale at the hardware store. Yeah, that Dick Dale. King of Surf Guitar. Have sudden urge for Domino's Pizza. (Dick and his "Miserlou" surf guitar classic are featured in their T.V. commercials)
26. Listen to Robert Plant's song, "Twentynine Palms".
27. Sing your own song. Sing loudly. Sing badly. No one will care.
28. Discover the same desert happiness that made Alley Wrubel write "Zippety Do Dah" at the Roughley Manor.
29. Listen to "The Lady From Twentynine Palms", also written by Alley Wrubel, and performed by several artists including Frank Sinatra. For the lyrics to this classic, click HERE.
When It's 110 Outside...
1. Go bowling at the Bowladium; for kids it's only $2 for shoes and $2 to play. 367-9502
2. Check out the Hi-Desert Nature Museum in Yucca Valley. 369-7212
3. Story hour at the 29 Palms San Bernardino Branch Library. 367-9519
4. Set aside one night to go stargazing.
5. Ride the Aerial Tram to the top of Mt. Jacinto in Palm Springs. 325-1449
6. Children's Discovery Museum in Rancho Mirage. 321-0602
7. In August, check out Yucca Valley's outdoor concert series. 369-7211
8. Grab an ice cream at Foster's Freeze in downtown 29 Palms.
9. Grab your swimsuit and head to the pool at Luckie Park. 367-7562
10. Visit the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor's Center in 29 Palms. 367-5500
11. See a movie at the Smith's Ranch Drive-In Theatre; only $5 per person. 367-7713
12. Check out the Wild West shootout reenactment by the Pioneertown Posse. 228-0494
13. Grab a bite to eat at Pappy & Harriet's while visiting Pioneertown. 365-5956
14. Look for petroglyphs along the Barker Dam trail in Joshua Tree National Park.
15. Skateboard at the 29 Palms Concrete Skate Park. 367-7562
16. Take in a show at Theatre 29. 367-6563
17. See a play or concert at Blak Box Theatre/Hi-Desert Cultural Center. 366-3777
18. Take a rock climbing class at the Joshua Tree Rock Climbing School. 800-890-4745
19. Geocaching is the new craze, there are local sites and it's free! www.geocaching.com
20. Visit the Old Schoolhouse Museum in 29 Palms. 367-2366
21. Check out the meerkats right here in Morongo Valley. www.meerkat.com
22. Visit the Integratron in Landers for an acoustical experience of a sound bath. 364-3126
23. Go fishing in Joshua Tree Lake. 366-1213
24. Hit the trails on a horse. www.visit29.com
25. Sign up for a class at The Creative Center in 29 Palms. 361-1805
26. Take a class at the Desert Institute. 367-5535
27. Critique the art at the 29 Palms Art Gallery. 367-7819
28. Drive around town to see 22 murals and why 29 Palms is nicknamed "Oasis of Murals".
29. Watch a movie in Luckie Park during the summer months. 367-7562
30. Walk around Desert Christ Park in Yucca Valley. www.desertchristpark.org
The Mojave Desert is a wonderful and beautiful place with some harsh conditions. If well prepared, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable visit. Here are some practical tips to avoid dangerous mistakes:
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Let someone at home know your itinerary and when to expect you to return home. If you are delayed or stranded theyll have some idea of where to start looking for you. If your plans change be sure to let them know.
Learn about the area. Visit theChamber of Commerce or California
Welcome Center for maps and other important information.
Be prepared for the unexpected. Weather can change drastically in a
matter of minutes. Everything from flash floods to extreme drops in temperaturecan happen in no time at all in the desert. Mornings and evening can be much cooler than the middle of the day--even during the summer!
PACK THE ESSENTIALS
Water; take no less than one gallon per person, per day.
Wear appropriate clothing: dress in layers to accommodatechanging temperaures.
Wear good walking shoes,boots, or well-fitting riding boots.
Protect your eyes with sunglasses.
Use sunscreen and be sure it isunscented; if you smell like a flower, desert insects may love you a little too much.
Take food if you are planning to spend the day; you may find
yourself quite far from any restaurants or stores.
Carry maps, a compass, and have knowledge of the area prior to
trip; note landmarks as you travel.
Take along a first aid kit.
Carry a cell phone and extra\battery.
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCY
Stay with your vehicle or otherwise make yourself visible.
Stay put so rescuers have a better chance of finding you.
Avoid walking during the heat of the day; morning and evening
walking is better for conserving your bodys moisture.
Seek shelter from the elements.
City of Twentynine Palms Official Website - The City of Twentynine Palms is dedicated to securing the quality of life through development and preservation. Home to the globally recognized Mural Project, Joshua Tree National Park Headquarters, and the largest and fasted growing United States Marine Corps base (Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center) the city offers a skilled labor force, business incentive programs, pristine air, beautiful natural surroundings, and family lifestyle.
