PROLOGUE
Our second day in Palm Springs unfolded at a relaxed pace, blending the simple joy of a whimsical candy shop with the breathtaking beauty of Joshua Tree National Park. The day began leisurely at Lolli and Pops, a delightful shop filled with treats that sparked childhood memories. As the evening approached, we set out for Joshua Tree, where unique rock formations and iconic trees stood under a sky filled with stars. Exploring trails, climbing rocks, and stargazing together created unforgettable memories. It is a journey filled with sweetness and nature’s wonders.
DAY
2
DATE
Wednesday, March 2024
A Sweet Day in Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park: A Journey of Relaxation and Adventure
Part 1. Downtown Palm Springs
Part 2. Skull Rock Trail and Discovery Trail, Joshua Tree National Park
TRAVELERS
Alice, Jazz, Ellie
TRAVEL
PALM SPRINGS RELAX and EXPLORE
RELATED TRAVEL JOURNALS
Travel Plan. Plan Palm Springs Trip: The Perfect Blend of Relaxation and Adventure
Day 1. Downtown Palm Springs Exploration and Indian Canyons Oasis Hiking
Day 2. Joshua Tree National Park Adventure: Skull Rock Trail and Stargazing
Day 3. Downtown Palm Springs Art Museum Free Night
Stays. Review of Hyatt Palm Springs Hotel: Detailed Look at Our Stay in March 2024
Today’s Journey Part 1 : A Sweet Afternoon
Lolli and Pops Palm Springs
Our second day in Palm Springs started off lazily, with the plan to stargaze at Joshua Tree National Park that night. We slept in, with no rush to get out of bed, knowing today was officially a “late-start, late-night” kind of day. After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we ambled out and made our way to a candy shop.
The shop, Lolli and Pops, was a little wonderland filled with every sweet treat you could imagine—gummies, chocolates, toffees, candies of all kinds. Later, we discovered that the wide variety of gummy bears here were nearly twice the price at South Coast Plaza Mall! At home, we try to keep sweets to a minimum, but on vacation, we let a bit more sweetness slide.
For kids, a candy shop isn’t just a store; it’s an adventure. They have limited space in their bags, and the options are endless—each has to choose the most exciting, unique candies. While Ellie explored, I supervised closely, guiding them to use tongs, secure the lids, and take their time deciding. For grownups, it might be a shop, but for kids, it’s a place to learn and explore. After some thoughtful selection, the candy ends up in a small, clear bag, filled with a charming variety: Lego-shaped candies, gummy worms, donut gummies, rainbow gummy bears, banana gummies, shark gummies, chocolate “rocks,” jelly strings, flat jellies, classic jelly beans…
With Ellie’s carefully curated selection in hand, we headed to Starbucks (more about the Starbucks). Alice enjoyed her coffee, Ellie kept busy with coloring, and both happily unwrapped their sweets. We decided today could be a “bit of extra candy” day. With Ellie’s permission, we tried each one together, marveling at the creativity. The Lego candies even clicked together!
Reflecting on it, I realized that when I was young, we had candy too, though maybe simpler. I remember loving the candy “footprints” dipped in popping powder, and the “traffic light” lollipops. Today, it’s fun to see my kid enjoying the same kind of wonder. On the second day of our trip, as I sat with my child, savoring the sweet taste of the candy, I was reminded of simpler times from my own childhood. Unlike now, with all the thoughts and worries that come with adulthood, back then I could just enjoy the pure sweetness without a care in the world. For a moment, that carefree feeling came back, and it was as though I, too, could let go of everything else and simply be in the moment, tasting nothing but the sweetness.
Today’s Journey Part 2 : Hiking and Stargazing in Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
When we planned our trip to Joshua Tree National Park (more about the travel plan), our priority was to experience a safe yet memorable adventure that could only be found here, especially given our limited time. We decided to explore just one area in this vast park, settling on the Skull Rock Trail & Discovery Trail. Though the rocks looked smooth and rounded, they could be rough on the skin, so we wore sturdy clothes and packed thick jackets after checking the evening temperature. Even though this was just a short hike, we stopped at the hotel first to rest and prepare, making sure to pack our dinner for later in the car.
The drive wasn’t difficult, but it did take longer than our morning journey to Indian Canyon. After about an hour, we reached the Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center, one of three visitor centers in the park. Since our destination, Skull Rock Trail, was close to this entrance, we stopped here to learn a bit more about Joshua Tree and stamp our National Park Passport. For families with young kids, this is also a great opportunity for a bathroom stop since there are only basic restrooms near Skull Rock Trail. Bringing a portable potty can also be very useful for young ones!
Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center
Open: 8 am to 5 pm
Phone: 760-367-5500
Location: downtown Twentynine Palms, CA
Address: 6533 Freedom Way, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
Exhibits: yes
Available Facilities: flush toilets, water bottle filling station, bookstore, and EV charging stations
We parked alongside the road, with Skull Rock Trail on the left and Discovery Trail on the right as we faced into the park. As the sun was already starting to set, we decided to head to Skull Rock Trail first since navigating the rocks becomes trickier at dusk.
Skull Rock Trails
On these rocky trails, we climbed, navigated through small caves, jumped over boulders, and chose paths around obstacles. We took turns leading, encouraging each other with a little chant: “Follow Ellie, follow Ellie, wonder what we’ll see if we follow Ellie!” Holding hands and discussing which direction to go next, we truly enjoyed this adventure together. As the wind started to pick up with the sunset, we found a cozy spot behind a large boulder, where we shared some biscuits.
Exploring Discovery Trail
Around 6 p.m., before it got too dark, we crossed over to Discovery Trail. This trail is dotted with Joshua Trees, making it the perfect spot for photos. We had fun striking poses next to these quirky trees, playing a game of “Who Can Look More Like a Joshua Tree?” Watching and posing alike was a fun moment for us all.
In contrast to Skull Rock Trail, Discovery Trail had prickly cacti and thorny bushes scattered along the way, so we moved cautiously. I reminded our daughter to be careful around the prickly plants, but as fate would have it, I was the one who got snagged! The wind had blown my shawl into a thorny bush, and as I untangled it, I accidentally pricked my finger. Ellie teared up at the sight. We huddled into a natural sheltered spot to apply some ointment and a bandage. This trail offered a more open view of the sunset over the horizon, a lovely change in scenery right across from Skull Rock.
After navigating rocky paths, thorny bushes, and narrow trails, we ended our hike on a “Maze Rock”, a spot Ellie proudly discovered and named. Tired but happy, we made our way back to the car. As we packed our jackets and bags into the trunk, we noticed a white car nearby that wouldn’t start. We offered our battery charger, but even after a few tries, it wouldn’t work. We offered some water and promised to notify a park ranger as we drove toward the North Entrance. We eventually found a ranger. After notifying a ranger, we made our way to Sky’s the Limit Observatory parking lot. By now, the night had fully settled over Joshua Tree.
Dinner and Stargazing
There’s something magical about a car picnic in the night’s chill under the stars. Outside, it was dark and cold, but inside, we were warm and content as we enjoyed our dinner. After finishing, we put on extra layers and stepped outside. Coming from the bright car, the darkness was intense, but soon the sky revealed a blanket of stars above us.
Ellie, on my back, softly sang “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and then whispered,
“Mommy, I want to come back here. Let’s do this again.”
I promised we would.
“Mom, if we say bye to the stars here, will we see them again at home?” she asked.
“Yes. Just because we can’t always see them doesn’t mean they’re not there,” I replied, thinking the same about my love that’s always with her.
Under Joshua Tree’s sparkling night sky, we even caught sight of a shooting star before heading back to the hotel for a well-earned rest. Joshua Tree’s sky gave us an unforgettable end to a magical day.
