California Official Visitor's Guide 2023 - 178

deserts LOCAL INSIDERS
✺
YUCCA VALLEY
IS ABOUT 11
MILES FROM
JOSHUA
TREE'S WEST
ENTRANCE
The region's biggest
attraction, JOSHUA
TREE NATIONAL
PARK, is adjusting to
a swell of newcomers,
Chakalian says. In 2021,
more than three million
visitors came to the
park, twice the number
of a decade ago. " The
park just opened the
huge new Joshua Tree
Cultural Center in
downtown Twentynine
Palms, which is a very
big deal for the town, "
he says.
YUCCA VALLEY
Paul Chakalian
OWNER OF JOSHUA TREE DISTILLING COMPANY
Even while pursuing his PhD in environmental social science, Paul Chakalian's
passion was distilling artisan spirits. " I always had this idea of opening a
distillery in the back of my mind, " he says. Events coalesced, and in 2021, he
opened Joshua Tree Distilling Company, located just a few miles from Joshua
Tree National Park. " The towns surrounding the park have a very rich cultural
milieu, " Chakalian says. " Right now it's a really interesting place because there
are people out here who are making incredible art. There are also people
who are just enjoying the slow pace of rural life. And there's a whole group of
go-getter entrepreneurs trying to open new businesses. " Chakalian shares
recommendations for exploring the areas around Joshua Tree National Park.
" KASA MARKET is a
carniceria in Twentynine
Palms with a little
restaurant inside.
They make all kinds of
great tacos, including
hard-to-find tripa and
delicious al pastor
and carnitas. I always
like to warn first-time
customers that Kasa
puts pinto beans on
their tacos in addition
to all the normal stuff
like onion, cilantro, and
meat. If you like beans,
stick with it. If you don't,
just tell them 'no beans,
please.' "
" GIANT ROCK
MEETING ROOM
is on Old Woman
Springs Road, about a
10-minute drive north
of Highway 62. They
have great pizza, but a
lot of people miss going
there because it's not
on the main highway.
My wife and friends get
regular pizzas there and
I get their gluten-free
vegan pizza. Everything
178 | VISITCALIFORNIA.COM
is great. You can
easily spot the place
because the owner,
Linus Xavior, has a 1964
Ford Ranchero parked
out front. The place
is named for nearby
Giant Rock, a huge
freestanding boulder
that is supposed to be
the largest in the world. "
" THE JOSHUA
TREE SALOON stays
open until midnight,
which is late around
here. That's about as
late as you're going
to find. The saloon is
a Joshua Tree staple
that's been around
since 1984. They have
live music on weekend
nights and hearty
pub-style food. People
really enjoy the decor-
the place looks exactly
like a funky Old West
saloon with weathered
wood paneling, a
rusting truck parked
outside, and vintage
signs plastered on
the ceiling. "
" BLACK ROCK
CAMPGROUND is in
Joshua Tree National
Park, but on the far west
side in Yucca Valley.
You drive through a
neighborhood to reach
it. It's a little cooler than
other areas of the park,
and it has a very high
density of Joshua trees.
It's a great place to
camp and listen to the
coyotes howl at night,
and there are several
great hikes leading right
from the campground. "
THIS SPREAD: AMANDA FRIEDMAN (7)
http://www.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM
California Official Visitor's Guide 2023

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