SouthwestBlend.com presents Step Out of the Ordinary - Explore the Morongo Basin

  It’s peaceful out here. It’s a place to completely relax, give your mind that over-due vacation
and just recharge. Rugged fields of ancient Joshua Trees, magnificent monolithic rock formations, lush oases with majestic palm trees, and ever-changing colors that calm, awaken, and reconnect your soul. Out here, Mother Nature is both enchanting and somewhat mysterious.
  The Morongo Basin is home to Joshua Tree National Park, and the unique desert communities of Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley, Pioneertown, Landers, Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms. The towns are connected by Hwy. 62, which runs east from Interstate 10 - just north of Palm Springs - and wraps around Joshua Tree National Park.

  Joshua Tree National Park is the ‘backyard’ of most of the Basin’s communities. The towns are seeped in heritage and connected by nature with spectacular sunrises and sunsets, warm summer evenings boasting brilliant star gazing with shooting stars, cute desert critters, and incredible scenery. The region is a powerful magnet to the creative spirit and is home to a variety of talented artists and performers of all mediums. One of it’s major draws is it’s people - a friendly, down-to-earth and diverse group that spans artists and musicians, military personnel and small business owners, educators and nature lovers, desert rats, hippies, spiritualists, and travelers. Travelers and locals alike enjoy a fantastic range of shopping opportunities, dining destinations and lodging establishments - and all the unique and unusual attractions.
Be prepared - once you visit the Morongo Basin - be prepared to return.

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK: This 800,000 acre desert park provides a spectacular contrast of scenery from two ecosystems - the Mojave Desert, which is the high desert home to the Joshua Tree and Fan Palm; and the Colorado Desert, a low desert that features an arid terrain with ocotillo and "jumping Cholla" cactus. Visitors are astounded by great granite monoliths and twisted rock formations; the diverse range of mammals, plants, reptiles, and over 240 species of birds. Enjoy hikes, explore remnants of the gold mining eras, rock climb, tour the Desert Queen Ranch (an early 1900 ranch), or camp in one of their nine campgrounds. Entrances from Hwy. 62 in the Morongo Basin include Twentynine Palms, Indian Cove, and in Joshua Tree. (760) 367-5525.www.joshuatree.org

MORONGO VALLEY:
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve: Once the route used by Indians traveling between the high and low desert, this desert oasis is one of the 10 largest cottonwood and willow riparian habitats in California. It’s known for it’s small bird migratory path, and offers hiking and nature trails. Located off Hwy. 62.(760) 367-7190, www.bigmorongo.org
Groves Cabin Theatre: 8768 Desert Willow Trail. (760) 363-6126

PIONEERTOWN: Built in 1946 as a movie set for western movies and as a real town, is was the site of the famous OK Corral ,where the shoot-out scene in the movie ‘Shootout’ was filmed. Stars that filmed here included Gene Autry, Duncan Renaldo as the Cisco Kid, Leo Carillo as Pancho, and Gail Davis as Annie Oakley. A main attraction of Pioneertown is Pappy & Harriets. It’s a great place for a bite and a cold one, but with it’s rustic Old West feel and it’s spectacular desert local, it has become a favorite live venue for headlining entertainers like Lucinda Williams, Shelby Lynne, Canned Heat, Savoy Brown & more. Pioneertown Road off of Hwy. 62, leads up from Yucca Valley, past Pipes Canyon Preserve, to Pioneertown. www.Pioneertown.com

JOSHUA TREE:
Hi-Desert Playhouse: Features fabulous theatrical productions, art exhibits .Home to the famous Gram Fest held every October. 61231 29 Palms Hwy. (760) 367-3777

LANDERS:
Integratron: Built by famous UFO contactee George Van Tassel. He believed he conceived this all-wood structure via instructions of extraterrestrials. A dome-shaped structure patterned after tabernacles described in the Bible, it’s one of the most amazing sound chambers on earth. It was also built with the purpose of cell rejuvenation. To take a tour, experience the incredible rejuvenation of a ‘sound bath’, or rent the facility call (760 )364-3126, or visit www.integratron.com
Giant Rock: One of the world’s largest solitary boulders -seven stories high.
Gubler Orchids: Adventure into the tropics with a free tour of one of the nation’s largest Orchid growers. You won’t want to miss the Morongo Basin Orchid Festival, held the first weekend of October. (800) 482-5377

YUCCA VALLEY:
Desert Christ Park: Collection of giant biblical statuary and tableaux created by Antone Martin. Free. Mohawk Trail.
Hi-Desert Nature Museum: Great family attraction featuring natural history exhibits, a rock and mineral collection, a fun and educational kid’s corner, and a mini zoo jumping with local desert critters. Revolving, temporary exhibits; lectures, and family activities. Open Tues.-Sun. 10am-5pm. Located in the Town of Yucca Valley Community Center Complex, 57116 Twentynine Palms Hwy. (760) 369-7212.

TWENTYNINE PALMS:
‘An Oasis of Murals’: Over 20 outdoor murals in the downtown district displays a brilliant depiction of the area’s nature and heritage. Get a free map and brochure at the Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce.
Theater 29: Offering fabulous productions. 73673 Sullivan Rd. (760) 361-4151
29 Palms Art Gallery: Summer Hours: Sat. & Sun. Noon-3pm. 74055 Cottonwood Dr. (760) 3677819
Smith’s Ranch Drive-In: One of the few drive-ins left in Southern California. Off of Adobe Rd, call (760) 367-7713
Old Schoolhouse Museum: Built in 1927 by the pioneers, it’s features memorabilia of Twentynine Palms’ colorful past. Summer hours: Sat. & Sun, 1-4pm. 6760 National Park Dr., (760) 367-5535.
Roadrunner Dunes Golf Course: A full size 9-hole golf course it features separate front and back tees, setting the course up to play a true par 72 - 18 hole round, and is so rated by the Southern California Golf Assoc. Public is welcome. 4733 Desert Knoll Ave., (760) 367-5770, www.29palmsgolf.com

For information about Twentynine Palms, CA, please click here.
For information about Yucca Valley, CA, please click here.
For information about Joshua Tree, CA, please click here.
For information about Pioneertown, CA, please click here.